One of the fiercest positions in football is the defensive line. Not only does it require exceptional physical ability, but also exceptional mental toughness as each play is a battle in the trenches.

WSU defensive line coach Joe Salave’a is certainly a warrior on the field after playing nine seasons in the NFL as a defensive tackle. He attended the University of Arizona where he played college ball before being drafted in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL draft by the Tennessee Oilers, now known as the Tennessee Titans.

The Daily Evergreen was able to gain some insight on his playing days in the NFL and pick the coach’s brain about a few other topics.

The Daily Evergreen: Who would you say was the most entertaining teammate you had while playing in the NFL?

Joe Salave’a: As a teammate? Probably Cornelius Griffin. Ya know, he’s a big kid in a big body and he always had a smile and a way of keeping everybody at ease in the locker room and in the games.

DE: Which offensive lineman that you went up against talked the most trash?

JS: Ahh shoot. Olin Kreutz. U-Dub (University of Washington).

DE: Whose the biggest character/funniest guy on the defensive line?

JS: I’ll Say Cooper. Xavier.

DE: Who wins in a race, Pole or Cooper?

JS: I’ll throw my hat in there, I’ll say I’d be contested but it’d be, probably be me coming in there.

DE: You’re trapped on an island and there’s no way out, what three items do you bring with you?

JS: A barbeque grill, a fishing pole and a ukulele.

DE: If you could sack any quarterback from any generation, who would it be?

JS: Brett Favre. Had a chance, but he retired too soon.

DE: What’s the one thing about football that makes you love it as much as you do?

JS: I think just the grind and the preparation and the fellowship.

DE: What was the biggest mental change from being a player to a coach?

JS: I can’t run in there and smack the other team’s quarterback in the face.

DE: What is it about Pullman that makes you love being here and the Washington State football program?

JS: It’s truly a college town.

DE: Favorite movie and music genre?

JS: I say music would probably be island reggae and movie would be the latest one, which one is that movie the war movie, the four guys that were stranded?

DE: “Lone Survivor?”

JS: Yeah “Lone Survivor.”

DE: What is your favorite Mike Leach story?

JS: Him playing rugby.

DE: Was he athletic? Did he look good out there?

JS: I’m not sure, ya know, but it’s refreshing to listen to him speak highly of some of the guys and some of the Polynesian players that he befriended through those days and so you never think him and rugby side by side, so I think that’s a funny story.