Q & A with Nate Salley – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 6, 2005
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Q: You are the veteran in the secondary this season, what have you learned from previous vets like Dustin Fox, Will Allen, Mike Doss and Donnie Nickey that you will apply to your leadership skills this season?
A: “I learned a lot my freshman year. I did not play much, but I learned as much as I could from (Mike) Doss and Donnie (Nickey). That national championship year was a great opportunity to learn from those guys and to understand the defense. I have watched a lot of film of what previous guys have done and try to learn and carry that into what I can do.”
Q: When you came to Ohio State, you started at cornerback. How did that experience help you at safety?
A: “Playing corner my freshman year helped me a lot with learning safety. I was getting bounced around from safety to corner after some injuries. It was frustrating at first. I would start to get one position down and then I would have to learn the other. It hindered me at first, but has turned out to be a big help now. I have a better sense of what the corners assignments are and that helps me focus at safety.”
Q: Talk about playing behind such a talented group of linebackers? How does that help a secondary?
A: “For one, they make my job easier. It is great to play behind such a talented group of linebackers. Having A.J. (Hawk), “Mike D” (Mike D’Andrea), “Carp” (Bobby Carpenter), “Shleg” (Anthony Schlegel) and Curtis Terry in front of me makes my job easier a lot more fun. That group brings an excitement and energy to the field that can’t be matched.”
Q: You have built a reputation as a heavy-hitter in the OSU secondary and you have won numerous Jack Tatum Hit of the Week awards. How much of an honor is it to win that distinction after a game?
A: “It is an honor. It means a lot. I did not know a lot about him (Tatum) coming here from Florida, but he came in and spoke to us. Then, I read some of his book, “Assassin.” Also, whenever Mike Doss would make a big hit, everyone would yell, `Tatum, Tatum, Tatum.’ It’s an honor to be associated with someone who set a standard as a physical DB.
Q: Have you always been a “big-hitter” or was it something you developed into as you matured as a football player?
A: “I have always been a defensive guy, mainly because I played physical as opposed to finesse. I have always been hard-nosed and have fit the mold on defense. It started in little league, when my coaches called me “Terminator.” I played fullback and middle linebacker. My first year, I played offensive and defensive line and then moved to fullback and linebacker. I had the most fun up front, because I got to hit someone every play.”
Q: Talk a little about the anatomy of a “Big Hit”?
A: “For the most part, big hits can just be out of luck sometimes. You happen to catch someone over the middle and you pop them. It is about being at the right place at the right time and making the best out of that opportunity. It sends a message when you get a big hit. I hope I can keep doing it this year.”
Q: One hit that might stick in the minds of the fans is the one on the sideline against Washington in the 2003 opener. It appeared that both you and the receiver were shaken up after that one. Describe how you felt after such a hard collision?
A: “Their quarterback was scrambling toward the sideline. Chris (Gamble) had Charles Fredericks (Washington wide receiver) covered from the front and their QB tried to lob the ball over Chris’ head and lay the ball into the wide receiver’s hands. I saw the ball float. At first, I thought I could get an interception, but then I decided to play the man. We hit and I actually knocked the wind out of myself.”
Q: Last season you were hurt and missed a couple games. You were doubtful for the Michigan game, but you played. After the game, coach Tressel commented that Michigan week has great healing power. Was that the case with you?
A: “I hate to miss games. Actually, last year was the first time in my life that I missed any game in any sport. I felt like I was letting the team down, but in reality, sitting out was the smart thing to do to avoid serious injury. Michigan week came and we decided that if I got banged up in that game, I would have six weeks to heal before the bowl game. I just could not miss the Michigan game.”
Q: You are known for your toughness and ability to supply the big hit, but is it true that you like to write poetry in your free time?
A: “I like to write poetry a lot. College and life, in general, pose you with a lot of things that can get bundled up in your mind. Poetry is a therapeutic way to put those thoughts down on paper and get them out of your mind. It is a great way to express yourself.”
Q: Does writing poetry help you relax? What else do you do to unwind in the spare time that you do get?
A: “Poetry definitely helps me relax. I use music to relax too, but also listen to music to get pumped up. They are different types of music. When I want to relax, I listen to some old Tupac (Shakur), Usher, John Legend or Kayne West.”
Q: You are a Florida native. How long did it take you to adjust to the Ohio weather … mainly the winter months?
A: “My freshman year was one of the worst winters in Ohio history. I had to get used to it real fast. I figured I am going to be here for four years, so I better get used to it. In Florida, there is not much of a weather change during the year. It has been nice to experience change from time-to-time.”
Q: Your freshman season, you spent the winter months as a member of the OSU men’s basketball team. Talk about that experience.
A: “It was an honor to play basketball. Coach O’Brien knew it was a dream of mine to play college basketball. Basketball was one of my first loves, next to football. Brent Darby, Terence Dials and Zach Williams all showed me love from day one. Playing on that team was a great experience. It would be fun to play against some of those guys – like J.J. (Sullinger), Terence and Ron Lewis – in the summer leagues, but my schedule doesn’t leave me time in the summer.”
Q: You also competed in track and field in high school. What events did you participate in and what was your favorite one?
A: “I only ran track one year because I was always playing summer basketball, but I ran on the 4×100-meter relay team and also did the long jump. I made the state finals in the long jump at about 23 ½ (23 feet, ½ inches.)”
Q: What is your favorite part of games at Ohio Stadium?
A: “It is definitely the crowd. They are insane. The best is when they get O-H-I-O going. When you walk out of that tunnel and everyone is going crazy, it is awesome. It is also great when we are on the road and we start to hear the O-H-I-O. It is like we came into someone else’s place and made it our house.”
