Eastern senior defensive end Michael Torres from Miami sat down with Associate Online Editor Nora Maberry and talked about the interception against Jacksonville State, being a coach after graduation and working on his dreads.

Talk about the touchdown against Jacksonville State.

I’ve got to make the play. And it happened to be a pass, and it was a screen play. I’ve seen it, and take the ball and realize I caught it and started to run. After I made the first move, I was like, man, I could get to the end zone, ’cause I’d seen out of the corner of my eye. So, I just started running as fast as I could to the end zone. Not only did it help us win the game, but it was just the best moment of my life. A lot of the guys on the team were real happy for me.

What happened after the touchdown?

First, Jeff Sobol jumped on me. And I was telling him from there, ‘I can’t breathe.’ He was trying to get up. Then everybody jumped on him. The next thing you know, like, half the team was on me. So, I was just trying to breathe from the top. I was so excited.

Can you describe the process of your hair and the dreads?

I’ve had dreads for four or five years. I cut them my sophomore year here. Now, these here, I’m growing them. I’ve been doing them for like two years. It only takes five months to actually dread them up. Yes, I pre-wash my hair. I wash it every day. I use Head and Shoulders. It doesn’t matter.

How would you describe the transition from Miami to Charleston?

It was tough. I don’t know how I made it. It was real tough. Camp was hard. You know, it was different. It was harder. It was faster. Miami was the city that never sleeps.

Who are your best friends on the team?

My best friend on the team would be Nick Kray, Norris Smith. Them two are my real, real, real good friends. And also, Nate Galan; he’s like my little brother.

What is your relationship like with the rest of the D-line?

We usually try to get together every Thursday and eat somewhere. We’ll either go to Jerry’s or find somewhere to eat. Saturday, after the game, we’ll find out what party every one is going to. We always just try to meet up.

We all got a sense of humor that’s hard to explain. The team calls us the crazy guys on the team. We’re always playing and joking. During camp, every day, we came out role playing. One day we did the Macarena, one day we came out as Spartans.

There are 15 of us and everything we do, we do it together. Whatever we do, we always do it together.

What’s your interest in music?

My favorite media group would have to be USDA. They’re a rap group, I guess. I like their music.

What was it like to wrestle in high school?

In high school, my sophomore year, they asked me to wrestle. I was pretty heavy. I was 220. And my football coach wanted me to do some wrestling to lose some weight. My junior year, I finally decided to do it. It was a great experience. I had fun with it. It was hard for me to keep on weight. Once I lost all that weight, it was so hard for me to keep it in. I didn’t do it my senior year ’cause I didn’t want to come to college with the weight.

What will you do after graduation?

I’ll graduate in May. I’m planning to moving back to Miami and going back to my high school and being a P.E. teacher and a football coach. I’ll always do something in football.

What has your relationship with your coaches been like?

My head coach and the supporting high school coaches, I still talk to them on the weekend. My head coach told me, “If you want something, you got to get it.” He taught me how to work hard and what it took to be a good football player. I like all the coaches here.

Coach Roc (Bellatoni) has been like a father to me here. He’s recruited me here. He’s kept me here. He kept me out of trouble. A lot of guys love to play for him. You take pride in playing for him. I always give him my best effort. Shannon Jackson is just cool. He’s only been here a few years. He’s knows when to be your coach and when to be your friend.

How would you describe your family life?

Back home, I live with my mom, my sister and my niece. They’re basically my family. And a cousin. My dad and my mom divorced when I was like 10. (My Dad’s) there, but I talk to him once in a while. I love my little niece like she’s my own. This year, my mom’s already come here once. My mom, my sister and my niece are coming up here to cheer for me. I can’t wait to pick them up Thursday.

What’s your favorite food?

My favorite food is rice, black beans and steak.

How has your Cuban culture influenced your life?

It’ll help me a lot just because I’m bilingual. But I don’t know if it’ll help me a lot in football. I speak two languages. I was born and raised in Miami.

What are some pre-game traditions?

I always go to church on Wednesday. Saturday, before the game, I’ll put on my game shirt, which has numbers of guys that are injured this year, quotes, people who’ve played a role in my life, my d-linemen.

How would you describe your tattoos?

I consider myself a religious person. I’ve been always going to church since I was young, so I have God on my (right) arm. It says “God bless.” Then I have “In God We Trust” on my (right) arm. This was my first tattoo, “In God We Trust.” My sister paid for it for my 17th birthday. Then I have my initials here (left arm), “MMT.” Then I have my signature (chest), which is a scorpion. I have a scorpion that says King Scorpion on the top with my date of birth, 11/04/84.

How would you describe your transition into football?

I used to play street ball with my friends outside and stuff. I used to have to wait till my mom came home from work and some days, I wouldn’t be able to play because my mom would get home late from work. She enrolled me in a league down at the park. All I had to have was someone to walk me down there, and then we could play supervised. I’ve been playing since age 6. The only year I didn’t play when I was 14. I was too big to play Little League.

Can you describe the red-shirt year?

You have time. You have so much time. Thursday is the last practice day. You have Friday, Saturday, Saturday and Sunday off. This is the time you make off most. You get to hang out. You get to work on your position stuff.

What’s you favorite TV show?

My favorite TV show would be the First 48. I watch Court TV. I won’t watch Monday Night Football; I’d rather watch Court TV. I just love Court TV.

Who do you live with?

I live with Norris Smith. It’s great. He’s one of my best friends up here. We got a real good thing here. We respect each other. We live 10 minutes from each other back in Miami. We hang out a lot when we go back home.

What is your favorite place in Charleston?

My favorite is place in Charleston is in my room. I always say if I am in my room, I can’t be in trouble.

What is your favorite place on campus?

My favorite place to eat on campus is Stevenson breakfast. They have omelets, biscuits and gravy.

How do you think the Samford game will play out?

What we control is to practice hard Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We’ve got goals to prepare for the game. This game, right here, increases our winnings.

Who do you want to play in the playoffs?

I’ve got a friend that goes to Appalachian State. I’ve always wanted to play them. I never go into a game thinking I can’t win.

You have unique teeth (a gold grill). Tell me about them.

I’ve had my teeth like this since I was 17. I don’t have a chipped tooth. I don’t wear it because I have a chipped tooth. I don’t know why I wear it. When I don’t wear them, I feel naked. A lot of people look at my hair and think, “Oh, do you wash your hair,” or look at my teeth and think I have a chipped tooth. They never think that I’m just like this, that it’s just me.

Senior defensive end Michael Torres returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown last week in Eastern’s 37-23 win at Jacksonville State.

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Online Editor Scott Richey talked with Eastern defensive end Michael Torres to find out more about his dreadlocks, the importance of his teammates and scoring his first touchdown ever.

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