The toughest question any NFL athlete asks himself after he retires is, "What do I do now?" After eight great seasons as a star running back in the NFL, Earl Campbell was no different. He had left the sport that had brought him so many wonderful memories and that had given him a place to turn to when everything else seemed to fall apart. The game, along with the strength from God and his family, had given him a sense of guidance throughout his childhood.

Football had been a constant companion in Earl's life. What would he do every fall while football season was in full swing? How would he fill his time now that he was not required to report to training camp and spend countless hours working his body into shape? Earl accomplished things on the football field that some men only dream of, but what was next for the "Tyler Rose?"

His first order of business was to spend some long overdue time with his mother and siblings, his wife, Reuna, and his young son Christian. And on October 26, 1986, Reuna gave birth to their second son Tyler Christian. He was so grateful that he could finally spend quality time with his two boys. Earl also filled his time by enjoying his celebrity status in Houston, joining many powerful businessmen and politicians on golf outings and charity events.

Soon, realizing the prize recruiting possession they had living so close to Austin, officials from the University of Texas, Earl's alma mater, asked if he would consider working in a newly-created position for the school as an ambassador and mentor for incoming athletes. Earl decided to accept the position on a trial basis, unsure if he wanted to move his family from Houston.

One Friday afternoon, after spending a long week in Austin counseling young athletes and participating in various recruiting activities, Earl received the scare of his life, more frightening than any bone-jarring hits he received in the NFL. While sitting at a stoplight in a small town outside of Houston, Earl felt an intensely sharp pain in his chest. The pain got stronger and stronger, and soon, his heart felt like it was going to pound out of his chest. Drenched with sweat, Earl was sure he was having a heart attack. But after what seemed like hours of unbearable pain, just as fast as it had struck him, the pain suddenly disappeared.

Earl had never been so scared in his entire life. He drove the rest of the way to Houston, wondering if he should tell his family about the incident. After all, he didn't want to scare them. Falling asleep that night was difficult for Earl. He was afraid of the kind of pain he felt that afternoon. Although he had been hurt many times before on the football fields, this pain was more frightening because he was unsure of the cause. Just as he was falling asleep, Earl had another attack. The pain was so strong that it sat this 225-pound ex-football player straight up in his bed, leaving him gasping for air and drowning in a pool of sweat. After being rushed to the hospital and examined for an entire week, the doctors sent him home with a clean bill of health. Their final report? There was nothing physically wrong inside the body of Earl Campbell. Earl was mystified. He knew something was wrong, but without any medicine to ease his fears, Earl secluded himself into his bedroom for an entire month, ashamed that another attack might strike at any moment. He did not want his family, especially his two young sons, to see him in that condition. Finally, one day Earl decided to call the new head trainer at the University of Texas for advice. He urged Earl to see a doctor and made him an appointment with one of his friends, Dr. Lockett. The doctor confirmed what the other doctors had told him before: there was nothing wrong with him. Earl visited one more doctor. After consulting with Earl and Reuna, the doctor diagnosed Earl with panic disorder. The doctor explained the illness to Earl, assuring him that it was part of a chemical brain imbalance, he was not "crazy" and the illness could be treated with medication. Although still hesitant, Earl began the medicinal treatments and within months, he was exercising and socializing again, without the intense fear of another anxiety attack. Earl overcame the frightening image of a disease that had no face. It could not be seen on an X-Ray and it could not be detected with a microscope. But Earl knew the disease was there and with help from his family, friends and doctors, Earl Campbell triumphed over the disease, just like he had so many other roadblocks in his life.

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