Q&A With Senior Strong Safety Ed Reed
July 31, 2001
CORAL GABLES, FL (www.hurricanesports.com) – –
Meet Thorpe, Nagurski and All-America Award Candidate Ed Reed. Reed returns to UM for his fifth season as one of college football’s most outstanding defensive backs. He recently sat down with SID Intern David Cruz to discuss the past, the present and future.
Q: Describe your off-season, particularly your workout schedule.
Reed: “My workout schedule is six days a week, Monday through Saturday. I work out Monday through Friday at 5:30 a.m, except Wednesday, which is our stretch day. Off the field, I relax, go out with the fellows every now and then. We might catch a movie and dinner. I am also taking a class Tuesday and Thursday.”
Q: What if anything has made this off-season more productive?
Reed: “Our strength coach, Coach (Andrew) Swasey. He is pushing us and coming up with new things. He has us running more and working out harder. The guys are participating more and showing good attendance to what we have to do.”
Q: What are your personal thoughts on Coach (Larry) Coker?
Reed: “I like Coach Coker a lot. I have been liking Coach Coker since I got here. He has always been very kind and willing to coach a person. He is there for us. I take my hat of to him and the other coaches that stayed.”
Q: What are your personal goals for this upcoming season?
Reed: “To do better than I did last year. That’s pretty much it.”
Q: Where do you see yourself off the field in the future?
Reed: “I could see myself probably helping out kids and mentoring kids. Probably teaching or maybe even coaching someday.”
Q: What is the strongest aspect of your game?
Reed: “All my effort. I do whatever it takes on the field and giving it all for my team. “
Q: Have you made any significant changes over the off-season that might change the way you approach the game?
Reed: “It has become a lot more serious and intense for me. It is getting to be a lot more personal for me and I am trying to get guys to come along too. This is going to be my fifth year. This is my last year of college ball, so it’s more personal than anything.”
Q: How can you apply the experiences of football into life?
Reed: “You can’t do a lot without others helping you. You can’t get what you want to accomplish without others helping you.”
Q: What was your favorite summer movie?
Reed: “I just saw Scary Movie 2, that is the only one I’ve seen this summer. I am supposed to go see other ones. Scary Movie part 2, though, was pretty good.”
Q: What was the last book you read?
Reed: “My bible.”
Q: What do you do to relax and relieve stress?
Reed: “Sleep. I like to sleep. I may go out to eat by myself or even catch a movie by myself. I find that very relaxing, doing things by myself.”
Q: What do you like most about the city of Miami?
Reed: “I would say the weather, but it’s just so rainy. You can’t predict it. It’s just being around people. The people I know personally like my teammates, their friends, my friends. Just getting to know different people. “
Q: Who is your favorite actress or actor?
Reed: “My favorite actress? I love Mia Long, I love Mia Long, that’s my girl. My favorite actor is Denzel [Washington]. He is a very good actor.”
Q: What advice would you give to kids?
Reed: “Don’t give up at what you want to do. Try your best and make sure you give it your all. Try to succeed at what you do and don’t give up.”
Q: Who is your biggest influence in life?
Reed: “My parents. They have been working hard to support five boys. My dad is like the “Iron Man”. He has been doing the same job ever since I was born and even before. I take my hat off to my parents.”
Q: What is your most prized possession?
Reed: “My car. I have a Grand Prix Pontiac. My dad bought it for me. He did whatever it took to get it for me. “
Q: What is your favorite T.V. show?
Reed: “That’s My Bush, on Comedy Central (a burst of laughter). That show is so funny!”
Q: What is your favorite meal?
Reed: “I am a pasta person. I like pasta. I am a shrimp pasta type of person. I like that a lot.”
Q: Who is your all-time favorite athlete?
Reed: “I grew up watching Ronnie Lott. Me being a safety, I am going to have to say Ronnie Lott.”
