Campbell would be the first to say he's a figure head. The basic coaching (fundamentals, discipline, etc) is player driven. They are all responsible to each other and no one needs to make a worldly play to help the team. Just do what you need to do and let your teammates do what they need to do and everything will work out. Campbell often says that for ISU to win they need to do it in the margins. It's one reason they don't win big... or lose big.
The culture of ISU will not allow players to be destroyed by the fans. What I mean is everyone is part of the culture. I lived in Nebraska for over 30 years and when things were going good, NU could do no wrong. But when things started to change players were ripped. Coaches are one thing, it comes with the job. But at the end of the day these kids are just that kids. 18-22 year olds.
When Campbell coached Toledo and they played in Ames, he was overwhelmed with the support Iowa State had for what he would later call "the laughing stock of college football." It wasn't the facility, or stadium, or money, that brought him to Ames, it was the fans, that had him believe that Iowa State could be successful.