The Drill: Q&A with the Packers' Nick Collins
Nick Collins, one of the heroes of the Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, made one of his first public appearances since that game, bringing his family to the Daytona 500 Sunday as guests of Wisconsin driver Travis Kvapil. Collins, who attended Bethune-Cookman University, a few miles from Daytona International Speedway, talked with a handful of reporters before the race:
Q. What have you been up to, lying low?
A. Spending family time, catching up. They were here in Florida while I was up in Wisconsin working, so I spent some time with them, and just relaxing and soaking everything in. . . . My hometown of Cross City, Fla., is going to put on a big parade for me - that's on March the 5th - and I think that's when it's really going to hit me, like, I am a champion.
Q. You went to school down the street, and I guess you spent some time here?
A. Yeah, you know, I used to come out here and clean up. I was a college student, trying to earn an honest living, trying to earn a few dollars. The Daytona 500 is very big for this city, and I'm just glad to be a part of it.
Q. What did you think when you got the invitation?
A. My son (Nicholas Jr.) is a big NASCAR fan, and I've started to follow the sport a little myself. They called . . . "Are you willing to do it?" I was like, "Sure! That's right up the road." We've been keeping it a secret from my son for a while. We pulled up today, he was like, "NAS-CAAAAAAR!!" That was a great moment.
Q. What other cool things do you get to do that you never expected?
A. It's unreal. You always said you wanted to do these things. I wanted to experience the Daytona 500. I want to go to the Kentucky Derby. Now that I'm a champion, it might come through. Things just fall into place.
Q. Where do you have that football (from the Super Bowl interception)?
A. I'm trying to get Big Ben (Roethlisberger, who threw the interception) to sign it for me. They're going to put a nice quote on it saying, "37-yard touchdown, Super Bowl XLV," and I'm going to hang it up in my house. I've got a spot picked out. The referee tried to take the ball from me, and I was, "No, no," like a little kid, "that's my ball.