Zoltan Mesko doesn't put much stock in preseason prognostications.

What Big Ten team will finish where and who's the best this and the best that make for good water cooler discussions for fans, he says. But when Mesko - Michigan's senior punter - wound up on Playboy magazine's list of preseason All-Americans, he found himself as the target of plenty of talk.

Among his teammates.

Mesko spoke with Ann Arbor.com about making the team and the opportunity it led to for his overseas family to pick up the popular men's magazine that carries the reputation of being about more than just the pictures.

We'll let Mesko take it from there.

Q: So when you found out you were on the Playboy team, was there any explanation required for your family members?

A: At first I did have to explain, but now they're catching on. But it's a great honor, but I'm all about the team. All that preseason stuff is human opinion, and I may not agree. Maybe I'm not the best punter. I may be in the mix, but there are definitely a lot of good guys out there.

Q: Does it seem strange to you that Playboy even has an All-American team? A: At first, a couple of years ago when I found out about it, it did seem a little weird, but people read it and people like sports, and so it makes sense.

Q: Wait, when you say 'people read it,' does that include you? A: Well, Playboy's not just about the pictures. It has some great articles in it. I'm not really saying anything, but it's been around for 50 years, it's built its brand up really well and it's known worldwide. Back in Romania, my grandpa is probably making an excuse so he can get a copy of it. So I had heard of (Playboy) all the way back when I was in Europe.

Actually our long-snapper, Tom Pomarico - his dad played for Notre Dame and he was on the (Playboy All-American) list like 30 years ago. I think he's got a lifetime membership for the magazine now.

Q: So you say you don't read preview magazines, what do you read? A: Well, I'll read something about a teammate and then bug him about it and I'll say, 'Oh, I saw you're supposed to be the next shutdown corner' so I'll put the pressure on them. But I see the same thing happening with me. If I mis-hit a punt, they'll say, 'Oh, Mr. Playboy - what are you doing?' So that's why I really don't like all the preseason stuff.

Q: So have your teammates given you any grief over being on the Playboy team? A: Yeah, they've started calling me 'Playboy' and I think we have a play called Playboy and so every time I hear it, I think they're calling my name, and so I'm getting a little ticked off by now.

Q: So I know you read the book "Zen Golf," which you were referred to your former coach Lloyd Carr. Is there a link between Zen, golf and punting? A: I'll take anything, any perspective I can get. It really gives you a different perspective on the game - that's it's really 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical. By the time you're a fifth-year senior, you've pretty much maxed out my muscle-building ability. But there's a lot of parallels you can draw between golf and punting and kicking or snapping."

Jeff Arnold covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2554 or jeffarnold@annarbor.com