Ekbatani Q&A

NICK EKBATANI
1. What was the funniest trash-talk that you had heard during a game?

I'm really focused. I don't pay much attention to trash talking. But I remember one time in high school, some guy actually asked me if I wanted to take a play off because he was tired. I thought that was pretty funny. He was dead serious. I said all right, then just pancaked him.

2. Favorite Thanksgiving food - turkey or ham?
Ham. I don't like turkey. It's dry. I don't know. It's just me. My family usually gets one of those Honey-baked hams. We just get one, but I eat most of it.

3. What's the one team out of conference that you hate more than any other
school? Why?
If Brian (Dohn) was here, I'd say Rutgers. Nah, I'm just messing around. I don't have anything against Rutgers. I really don't like Ohio State.

4. What's better -- a pancake block on a LB/DL or all you can eat pancakes?
Pancake block, for sure. Nothing against pancakes, but I'll take a pancake block over a shortstack any day of the week.

5. Who has the best and worst tattoos on the team?
Best? Jerzy Siewerski because he has a full sleeve of really cool stuff on his left arm. He's got a tattoo of skulls and roses and stuff on his chest. The worst? Aaron Perez had a self-portrait of him punting the ball on his right arm, I believe. He got it taken off, surgically removed recently. But, that was the worst thing I've ever seen in my life, No. 17 punting the ball and he even had a shadow under his foot. I think a couple years down the road he said I can't believe I got this.

6. Guitar Hero or Rock Band? How good are you?
Rock band. I can go expert on singing guitar and drums. I'm pretty good.

7. Does your Mom still hang and stuff your Christmas stocking? If so, what cool
things do you get in there?
My mom's the one that does. I appreciate everything she gives me, but I wouldn't say I get anything cool. I usually get candy or a Christmas ornament. I got Batman band-aids last Christmas. I was into Batman when I was 5 years old.

8. Who is the biggest eater amongst the O lineman?
I'd say it would be me, because I'm the only person I know that ate three Chipotle burritos in one sitting. Micah Reed is my witness. He didn't have any. We were in San Diego, and he didn't want anything but went with me. That's my favorite food. I felt awful after that. I usually eat two, and he said, `You won't eat three?' And I said, `I won't?' Kind of a dare.

9. If the O-line were to play the D-line in a game of basketball, who would win? Who would score the most points?
I would say the o-line, especially if Chris Joseph from last year was here. He was like the modern day Steve Kerr. He had a wicked jump shot. We used to do a competition deal at a park and do free throws, and he'd get nine of 10. It was pretty impressive.

10. What is the biggest meal that you have eaten? If you were REALLY, REALLY
hungry, how many In-N-Out double-doubles could you eat?

Biggest meal ever... Logan Paulsen is my roommate, and during the offseason on Fridays, which are the worst day - the hardest workout - we do that at like 6 a.m. and go to the dorm diners and it's buffet style. We'd eat so much, I can't even tell you how much. Then we'd take a nap. It was like lunch. We didn't have class on Fridays last quarter. Let's just say, extreme mass quantities of pasta, chicken, steaks, burgers sometimes, a lot of rice, salad and soup. Everything in the diner hall.

And In N Out? I usually have three when I go there, but I feel kind of grossed out from the grease and stuff. I'd probably say four. Have you ever heard of the Triple King Challenge at Fatburger? It's the biggest burger I've ever seen in my life. If you eat it, you get a free T-shirt. I ate it. I'm pretty sure I could eat two of those. My uncle was there with me.
His uncle, Andy Akerlund, who's standing nearby, said: ``He ate that thing, and I was on my third bite. I was going to give him half of mine.''
Nick: It's funny that whenever I have these mass eating fests, I always have a witness somehow.

In case you were wondering, here's an update from last week's Q&A with Taylor Embree. He was asked whether he would pick Jason Taylor or Taylor Swift. He chose Jason Taylor but didn't know who Taylor Swift was. He looked up Swift on the Internet, but is still sticking with Jason Taylor.