For two years, Harlon Barnett was the first person to interview Nick Saban after Michigan State football games.
Close to 20 years ago, long before Barnett became one of the Spartans' co-defensive coordinators, he was interested in pursuing a broadcasting career.
Saban knew that, having coached Barnett at both Michigan State from 1986-87 and later with the Cleveland Browns.
So with Michigan State's radio team in need of a sideline reporter in 1998, Saban, the Spartans' head coach from 1995-99, called Barnett, who had recently retired after seven seasons in the NFL.
Barnett was Michigan State's sideline reporter in 1998 and 1999.