A few minutes with ...

FOXBOROUGH – Center Dan Koppen spent a few minutes this week at Gillette Stadium talking about his background in football and his life outside of the game:

When did you first get started with football?
“I was in second grade, 7 years old. Little Leagues. I think I started out as a running back and eventually moved down the line and found a spot.”

Do you remember what drew you to the game?
“I had just moved to Pennsylvania. I was a new kid in an area, and a couple of kids I met in the neighborhood were playing. It was more to meet people.”

Where were you moving from, and what led to the move if you remember?
“I was pretty young. We came from Wisconsin, and I remember the first day we moved in, I was out in the neighborhood, playing around, making friends. So it wasn’t that big of an adjustment. My dad got transferred. He worked for John Deere.”

What was it like growing up in Pennsylvania?
“It was great, in Whitehall, right outside of Allentown. A nice little town. Normal childhood.”

How often do you get back?
“Not often, because my parents moved down to North Carolina when I went off to school. I don’t get back there much. My family is pretty spread out.”

Are you a New England guy now?
“Yeah, going to college here and being up here for 10 years … my wife is from Rhode Island. This is home.”

How is married life?
“Married life is great. We have a little baby on the way. We’re getting closer there and couldn’t be happier.”

When you’re not at Gillette Stadium, what is a nice day for you?
“Getting up early, playing golf, coming home, and just hanging out with my wife, maybe going out for a nice dinner. Relaxing.”

What would be the dinner of choice?
“You have to go with a steak. We’re a fan of Ruth’s Chris down in Providence. Really, any steak place.”

What are some of the things you like to go outside of football?
“Golf, yard work, hanging around the house and laying down [laughs].”

A lot of John Deere equipment?
“I’m building up my stock.”

What would be your favorite football memory?
“It would probably have to be winning the first Super Bowl, in ’03. The ’04 Super Bowl is right up there, too. Probably throw in my first start in the NFL.”

Toughest part of the job?
“The physical demand of it. It’s a long season, and then you have the whole offseason work and mini-camps and training camps. It’s a very rigorous job.”

Favorite part of the job?
“The team and being in the locker room with these guys, and being able to come to work every day with my friends.”

What was something you bought after signing that big contract a few years ago?
“I didn’t really buy anything. Saved it.”

How has life changed since then? Is there a feeling of security?
“There is definitely a feeling of security, but you’re still as hungry, if not hungrier than you were. You love to play the game and it’s about competing on Sundays. It’s not about the money. It’s a job and that’s nice, but it’s about going out there and performing well.”