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October 5, 2016

Touch-down Tommie

Defensive back Tommie Campbell during a game on July 29, 2016 (Photo by David Moll)

Nothing makes Tommie Campbell happier than touch-downs.

And we’re not just talking about the Stamps’ league-leading 48 majors.

The rookie defensive back – who ironically was employed by the Pittsburgh International Airport from 2008-09 – has a severe fear of flying dating back to when he initially took to the sky.

“It was my first year in college,” the 29-year-old recalled. “I just felt like I wasn’t supposed to be up there. But they say it’s safer than driving statistically. I don’t know, man, it just doesn’t sit well with me. I worry about birds getting into the engine and bringing the whole airplane down. I worry about all of that.”

Unfortunately for Campbell, his chosen career path calls for a significant amount of air travel, a requirement he is willing to tackle in order to play the sport he loves.

Defensive back Tommie Campbell during a game on Canada Day in 2016 (Photo by David Moll)

Tommie Campbell fights his fear of flying to be able to play professional football (Photo by David Moll)

“When I was in Division I we flew, and it was the same exact way,” detailed the one-time Tennessee Titan and Jacksonville Jaguar. “I just held on and tried to listen to music and things like that. When I left there, we drove on a bus at California-Pennsylvania because that was a Division-II school. In the NFL, we had TVs in the seats, so I would just watch TV so it wouldn’t bother me as much.”

However, the Red and White did recently conclude a five-game stretch without ever going wheels-up thanks to four home dates and a bus trip to Edmonton.

“I loved it,” Campbell quipped in an instant. “I wasn’t worried about flying or anything else like that. The only thing now is we have to go all the way back out East again. That’s four hours there and three-and-a-half back. But we’re going to get home field (in the playoffs) if we keep doing what we’re doing. We’ve only got two or three more flights left until the season is over, so I’ll be good.”

After embarking on just their second Eastern road outing of the season last week to Hamilton, Sunday morning will see Calgary endure a lengthy voyage to Toronto. The Stamps will then wrap up their regular-season schedule in Montreal on Oct. 30.

“I’m usually by (Adam) Berger and Rene (Paredes on the plane),” noted No. 25, who is especially fearful of take-offs and landings. “DaVaris Daniels sits in front of me and Juwan (Brescacin) sits in front of me. They’ll all be laughing, and Micah (Johnson) and I always joke around. I’ll tell the pilot to get this thing up to 30,000 feet and then quit playing with me.”

Having experienced more than his fair share of air travel to date, Campbell now sticks to a certain routine while inside the aircraft cabin.

“I always put my blind down no matter what,” said the Aliquippa, Penn., native. “I’ve got to get up and go to the bathroom sometimes even when the seatbelt sign is on and I just stand in there because it’s less bumpy standing up then when you’re sitting down.”

Campbell is determined to conquer his phobia, and a late-November trip to the 104th Grey Cup some 2,718 kilometres away would definitely be a well-received flight.

“I’ll get over it,” he shrugged, “sooner or later.”