Ed Reed Chat Wrap

Oct. 23, 2001

Edward Reed: Hello everyone .. I’m ready for your questions!!!

Pittsburgh: Hi Ed,Is this team better than last year’s team?

Edward Reed: I think it’s a lot better than last year. When we lost to Washington the team matured a lot. We lost some key guys but they molded some of the younger guys so we are better and the focus is there.

Gordon – Heighland Heights, KY: Ed, what song(s) do you listen to before a game to get pumped up? Any chance you take “In the air tonight” on the road with you? See you in Pasadena

Edward Reed: It depends on my mood. Sometimes I watn to be relaxed and listen to church music. But sometimes rap.

Griff (Nashville, TN): The Canes’ passing defense has looked wonderful all season long. The rush defense still needs alot of work. Do you think the defense will be ready for Virginia Tech?

Edward Reed: Yeah, we’ll be ready. We still have lots of games to play but we are doing lots of drills to better our tackling but we will be alright.

Chelsea (Coral, Gables): Are you personally concerned with the BCS standings as of now? I guess you guys are patiently waiting for UCLA to lose, and either Nebraska or Oklahoma will fall this weekend. GO MIAMI!

Edward Reed: A couple guys are kind of hurt including myself but we have to play football. We can’t control that.

chuck daddy diesel: really, what, if you can describe, goes through your head everytime you pick off a pass? i’ll be down on november 24 from san antonio, texas too watch you take one back to the house! man i wish you guys could still pop off the helmets after scorin’, you can do it when you go to pasadena!

Edward Reed: Catch it!!! Catch it first before I do anything else with it!!

James, Miami: Hey Ed, having played FSU the past few seasons, have you noticed a big dropoff in talent, or do you think that they have a lot of youth and inexperience at key positions?

Edward Reed: It’s just that they are young. The talent is there. Most of us know those guys and we know what they can do. We just played better than them and were more mature.

Margie (Thames, SD): Who do you dislike more, FSU or Florida?

Edward Reed: Probably FSU. We play them year in and year out, that’s our rivalry game. You have to hate them.

Brian: How can the BCS cry about your strength of schedule? It’s not your fault the Big East isn’t a strong conference. Plus, you played Penn State (typically a tough opponent) and at FSU

Edward Reed: All the teams across the nation schedule the teams they play. You can’t control what those teams do though. We are getting the short end of the stick but that’s the BCS. Somebody will get screwed. We should be on top but I’m not the BCS. We just have to play the teams we have on our schedule. They can schedule our games weekly if they want. Maybe that would be better. If they want the best teams playing week in and week out then do that.

Gordon – Heighland Heights, KY: Ed, when you were playing football out in the backyard or wherever who was the player you pretended to be?

Edward Reed: I played so many positions as a kid!! I looked up to my brother. I was trying to be a RB, receiver, DB, everything!!

cappy (NYC): I’m sure you watch all the highlights of other teams. How do you think the canes stack up against the sooners, huskers, and UCLA? miami #1

Edward Reed: I don’t think no one can beat us. I look at teams and see they are good, but just like any other player you ask, I don’t think anyone can beat us.

Lance (Hagerstown, MD): Did you ever envision UM being back so strong just a few years from probation?

Edward Reed: Oh yeah. I thought we were back last year. This year is just a dream come true for me.

Myrick (Tampa, Fla): Hey Ed how close did you come to going pro last year? And are you as a player in favor of the BCS or a playoff system?

Edward Reed: Not close at all. Not close at all. I knew I was staying. I enjoy college and being around these guys.

Todd (Atlanta): You’ve played under Butch Davis in the past and now Larry Coker. As a player, how do you see the differences in terms of coaching styles?

Edward Reed: Coker is more laid back. He’s a jokster. He always has something to say. Davis was more demanding. Coker lets the coaches do their job.

Brian (Springfield, MA): I can’t wait for the battle against BC. I hope you guys don’t lose focus with VaTech up right after that! How good do you feel BC is, and do you see a lot of blitzes going after Brian St Pierre??

Edward Reed: I don’t think they will blitz alot. In all we haven’t done it much this season. That will be a big test for us, they are very good.

Bill, Boca Raton: Hey Ed, whose faster, Daryl Jones or Santana Moss?

Edward Reed: They are both fast but I would give it to Santana!

Brett (Vienna, VA): You guys have had difficulty playing Virginia Tech in Blacksburg the past three times. The ‘Canes are back, so I am not worried. Do you think the cold temperature on December 1st is going to affect the team’s performance?

Edward Reed: I think it will but we still have to play ball. We will get warmed up really quick.

Chris (Gainesville): Is Ken Dorsey the best player in college football, and if not, who in your mind is and deserves the Heisman?

Edward Reed: I don’t know about the best player but he is the best QB. I see what he puts into the game and he is one of the best, if not the best.

Rod- Toms River: Obviously lifting weights plays a vital role in your performance…How much do you (Team) lift during the season and do you follow a strict diet?

Edward Reed: We don’t lift that much really. I just try to eat well and make sure I”m taking care of my body.

Eric (Houston): Ed, the teams look great but gotta cut back on penalties. What’s being done in practice and in the huddle to address that? Peace! (Class of ’89)

Edward Reed: The penalties, we are trying to take care of that. It’s hard because guys are so aggressive. But we really do have to cut back. Guys are staying after practice to work on it and we are talking about it a lot. Guys just have to play smart.

Cappy (NyC): Personally whats more enjoyable. Laying out a wide-out coming across the middle, taking a pick to the house, or a QB sack? how bout them yanks?

Edward Reed: You gotta love laying a guy out coming across the middle. Taking it to the house is great too but hitting a guy across the middle is great. It doesn’t happen too much.

mike (allentown, pa.): what kind of steps do you take to keep your focus now? im a big fan, and i know that this team has not played at 100% yet. i hope this team understands that to be the best you must play like the best. good luck and hopefully the system wont deny your team the rose bowl.

Edward Reed: It’s all W. Virginia. We don’t do anything but W. Virginia. We don’t look forward to Temple or Va. Tech. Guys lose focus all the time and get beat so we don’t let that happen to us.

Brian (NYC): First off, I want to say that your half time speech during the FSU game was very inspiring and made me proud to be a Hurricane. Do you have any regrets about staying at UM for your senior year even though you thought Butch would still be the coach?

Edward Reed: None at all. No regrets. I’m having all the fun I wanted to have. Hopefully I can cap it off with a national championship and a bowl win!!

I appreciate all the questions and hope everyone keeps rooting for us this season. We’ll have to do this again soon .. thanks everyone!