On and Off the Field, Nelson Can Draw Attention

Article reprinted courtesy of Fargo Forum and reporter Eric Peterson. Picture courtesy of Fargo Forum photographer Dave Samson.


Moorhead - Carl Nelson is a gummy-bear eating, techno-music listening nose guard from a small town in North Dakota.

"People laugh at me a lot," Nelson said with a smile, referring to his pregame routines.

The 6-foot, 280-pound Nelson is expected to play a key role Saturday when the No. 22-ranked Cobbers play at No. 12 Bethel, which features a physical running game. Both teams are unbeaten in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.

"Carl demands a double team every play," said Cobbers senior defensive end Nick Leen, from Sauk Centre, Minn. "That's a huge asset for our defense."

Nelson is from Rolla, N.D., which has a population of around 1,300 and is located near the Canadian border in the central part of the state.

Nelson has liked techno since high school, but most people assume he likes country music.

"He loves to listen to techno music, which you wouldn't expect from the Norwegian kid who is so far up in North Dakota he's almost in Canada," Leen said with a laugh.

Nelson is soft spoken and the "nicest guy" he knows, Leen said. The normally laid back Nelson, however, gets excited when techno is pulsing from his iPod.

Concordia head coach Terry Horan said before a game this season, he saw Nelson milling around the locker room wearing his headphones and pumping his fist in the air.

"I'm laughing hysterically because I know what he's listening to," Horan said.

Closer to game time is when Nelson cranks his techno favorites. "We Like to Party" by Showtek is one of his go-to songs at the moment.

"There's something about the beat that gets you going," Nelson said with a smile.

Nelson eats a handful of gummy bears prior to each game, too. That's been part of his pregame since high school, he said.

"I do like doing things the same way because I think that is how I best prepare," Nelson said. "I'm not superstitious, but I do have a routine."

Nelson has been in the Concordia defensive line rotation since he was a sophomore. Through four games this fall, Nelson has 12 tackles, including two for a loss.

Nelson's impact is often greater than what shows up in the statistics, since usually his job is to tie up two blockers on most plays.

"He's a linebacker's best friend," Horan said.

"You can't play the position trying to be individual about it," Nelson added. "It's for the whole defense."