Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
Earlier this summer, I had an interesting interview with Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini.
Along with discussing his coaching philosophy and breakdown of the Cornhuskers' talent, Pelini talked to me at length about getting his master's degree in journalism from Kansas State.
Pelini clearly gets the media responsibilities of his job and it's helped him become one of the better interviews in the conference. That side is seen in an interesting tongue-in-cheek sit-down with Omaha television station KETV about the perils of celebrity, where he jokes with interviewer Matt Schick about some of the notoriety he's received since taking the job. It's definitely worth a look.
"Every time I watch TV, every time I turn on the radio, every time I pick up the newspaper, it's Carl this, Carl that," Pelini said. "Honestly, I can do without the attention."
Of course, it's actually happening with Pelini's younger brother, Bo, who has transformed the Nebraska program in three games heading into Saturday's huge game against Virginia Tech. And he's become bigger than a rock star in the process.
But it's funny in the interview to see Carl Pelini display some of the t-shirts that he considered selling since he's arrived at Nebraska.
While some Nebraska fans might be wearing "My Bo Friends Back," and "Bo Knows Defense" to highlight their new head coach, Carl Pelini has his own collection of merchandise that he decided not to put on sale.
Few coaches would joke about themselves like Carl Pelini does in the interview, which shows that he has a good sense of humor along with a pretty good handle of defense.
Watch at the end of the interview for an interesting cameo appearance -- and notice what kind of t-shirt the mystery guest is wearing.
The Pelinis likely aren't quite as jovial this morning as they were during their off week. But that's OK. Their humorous side is something that isn't found very often in the all-too-uptight world of college athletics.
The games aren't brain surgery or nuclear science, despite what some coaches like us to sometimes believe. And that's why Carl Pelini and his interviews are so refreshing.
Tim Griffin joined ESPN.com in February 2008. He has covered the Big 12 since its inception, among a variety of beats during a 24-year career at the San Antonio Express-News. Griffin, a Memphis State University graduate, lives in San Antonio with his wife and son.
