Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell expressed concern about the "hype train" around his team at the outset of training camp. But he is also professing a "prove it" mentality, heading into a season where the Lions are the favorites to win the NFC North. Any burden of expectations is new for this franchise.
From the outset of his tenure in Detroit, with his "knee biting" comments at his introductory press conference, Campbell has authored plenty of memorable quotes. Before Saturday morning's practice, he added another to the list.
Big news was made this week with the Lions' announcement that season tickets have been sold out for the first time since they've called Ford Field home. So fans are buying into the expectations around the team this year, quite literally.
When asked about the expectations conveyed by Ford Field being sold out for the first time, Campbell showed some music knowledge beyond his noted love of Metallica.
Dan Campbell adds to his list of memorable quotes when talking about feeling any pressure from expectations
Quoting Bette Midler's biggest hit, "Wind Beneath My Wings", is certainly a unique way to say he and the team are not being weighed down by those expectations. But that's where Campbell went, in response to the concept of any pressure brought on by the expectations around the Lions.
#Lions coach Dan Campbell says he doesn't feel any pressure from season tickets being sold out or any outside expectations. "I don't feel weight. I feel wind underneath my freakin' wings," he said. "Truthfully."
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) August 5, 2023
It's something you have to see and hear on video to get the full effect.
#Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell on if he feels the weight to live up to the hype that the Detroit Lions have been getting #OnePride
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) August 5, 2023
"I feel wind underneath my fricken wings..."
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▶️: https://t.co/mDEOKI4OGY pic.twitter.com/1i589XyZ2a
Campbell went on to fully embrace the enthusiasm from Lions' fans.
"“I love this, man,” Campbell continued. “This is outstanding. I love our fans. I love it. And they feel it like we feel it. No, this is not a burden, this is not pressure, this is not weight. This gives me inspiration is what it does for me and our guys.”"Dan Campbell
Expectations as inspiration and not weight is the right mindset for the Lions. And Campbell, as could have been expected, had a unique way to put it out there.