Cameron Jordan talks Cal football, the NFL and more (via Lindsay Brauner)
Lindsay Braunder (LB): Hey, it's Lindsay Brauner with Cameron Jordan. Cam, thanks for joining us.
Cameron Jordan (CJ): Thanks for having me. it's a pleasure to be here. Wonderful city.
LB: Is it nice to be back in the Bay?
CJ: Of course it is. This is where I started off my college career and this is where I like to come back, and I have a couple guys who are coming out for this pro day in the next two weeks or so, so it's an exciting time in Berk.
LB: What was your original interest in coming to Cal?
CJ: My original interest in coming to Cal was to enjoy the beautiful city that is Cal. I mean, there's Berkeley, there's Oakland, San Francisco. So many sights to see. So many places to go. There's Marin. Walnut Creek. Dansville.
LB: I think it's "Danville." No "s."
CJ: Are you sure about this?
LB: I'm pretty sure.
CJ: Because I know a guy named Dan in Danville, so therefore, it'd be Dansville.
LB: When you were at Berkeley, what was the biggest challenge for you, intellectually or athletically?
CJ: Of course, the biggest challenge is always just finding the correct balance of school and sports, and trying to find some sort of median where you can do both at a high rate.
LB: What was it like growing up with an NFL-star dad?
CJ: You don't really notice such things until later on in life. He's just Dad; he goes to work like everybody else's dad goes to work. The only difference is, I got to go to his job quite more often than the next kid.
LB: What's your relationship like with your position coach, Tosh Lupoi-or, old position coach?
CJ: Great. I talked to him a couple weeks ago. I was really sad to see him go because he developed a lot of D-linemen, and he's a technician at what he does, and I definitely honor his craft. But I understand that sometimes you have to move on, such as I had to move on from Cal and went to the Saints and still come back to Cal. I hope one day Coach Lupoi will come back to Cal; maybe we'll see that in his future, if we can get him back.
(Ed.: It pains me to have to transcribe that. I feel so dirty.)
LB: What's it like to be a first-round NFL draft pick? Do you feel more financially secure in your future than most young players?
CJ: I feel honored and blessed to be a first-round pick. Finances-can't really complain about that part, but honestly, it's just the appreciation you get from being such a high-level pick that really spurs on the motivation to keep going. It's nice to be a first-round pick, but that's not going to keep you in the league, that's just going to get you there.
LB: What's the hardest thing about playing in the NFL?
CJ: Playing in the NFL.
LB: That...seems a little bit tautological.
CJ: I mean, that sort of sums it up. NFL, acronym being "not for long."
LB: What second career outside of the NFL would you consider?
CJ: I will be a PE teacher one day.
LB: Oh, I remember you telling me that, like, a year ago! You're really sticking to that?
CJ: I've been talking about it since I was 17. NFL. PE teacher.
LB: You just love kids, don't you?
CJ: Mm hmm. They're fun.
LB: How many pairs of socks did you buy the other day?
CJ: I don't know. I didn't buy any socks the other day.
LB: Who bought them?
CJ: I'm sponsored by Nike. So... I got them for free.
[That's all folks! If you're the kind of fool who missed the previous entries in the series, parts one and two can be found here.]