Eric Morrison is a senior offensive and defensive tackle for the Egg Harbor Township High School football team. Glory Days Magazine publisher Dave O’Sullivan caught up with the 17-year-old during the Eagles’ bye week last week to talk about his high school career, who his celebrity crush is, and who gets to eat the big turkey leg at Thanksgiving dinner. Sully: How is this season going for you guys? As expected? Better? Worse? Morrison: We’ve had some bumps in the road. We started out with a win but then had three straight losses. We’re in a bye week this week, so we’re looking to bounce back. Sully: Is there anything in particular you guys are concentrating on during the bye week? Morrison: Just everybody knowing their assignments and what they have to do to get better and clean up our mistakes. morrisonforwebSully: What does your body feel like on Saturday morning after you have a tough game Friday night? Morrison: It’s rough. It’s tough to get out of bed. Usually you make it over to the trainer on Saturday morning and then just try to make it through the weekend. If you take care of your body usually you are OK by Monday, but it can be rough. Sometimes you feel those injuries then next day that you don’t feel during the game because you have that adrenaline going. But the next day you are definitely feeling them. Sully: Is it tougher to stay in shape during football season or to get in shape in the preason? Morrison: I train pretty hard in the offseason. I would say it’s harder to stay in shape. Not so much ‘in shape’ but just keeping your weight up and your strength up. I find that to be pretty difficult throughout the season. Sully: What is the biggest difference between offensive and defensive tackle? Morrison: Offensively you pretty much know what you are doing and everything is scripted. Defensively you have to read the play and react. Sully: Which do you like better, making a huge block or a big sack? Morrison: They are both great, but I kinda like the offensive line a little bit more. But it’s great either way to make a big play for your team. Sully: What is Thanksgiving Day like for you guys? Morrison: We wake up early in the morning for breakfast. The whole township is there to support us. It’s pretty much the biggest game of the year for Egg Harbor Township. You see guys you used to play with and all. It’s special. You want to play hard for all the guys you’ve played with and all the other guys who have played (at EHT). Your friends, your family, the whole school is there. Sully: Does your dad give you the big turkey leg after the game? Morrison: If I have a good game. Sully: If not, he takes the big turkey leg? Morrison: Yeah. Sully: What has this senior year been like for you? Morrison: I’m enjoying it, but by the same token I’m kinda getting ready to move on and play college football. But I’m definitely enjoying playing high school football. It’s a special time. Sully: What is your favorite kind of food? Morrison: Pizza. Sully: What’s something that should never be on pizza? Morrison: Ketchup. I don’t get that. It’s weird and I don’t think that makes any sense. Sully: If you were given a plane ticket to go anywhere, where would you like to go? Morrison: I think Ireland probably. I’m Irish and I think that would be a cool place to visit. Sully: Who is your current celebrity crush? Morrison: Rachel McAdams. Sully: How do you hope things will pan out for you? Morrison: I really hope college football will pan out and I’d like to coach someday on some level. Sully: What’s it like going to EHT? It’s such a big school and they’ve had all that construction the last couple of years. Morrison: It’s a beautiful school and it’s big. There is a ridiculous amount of kids there. It can be hard to navigate at times. But it’s really cool being there and being part of a big community. Sully: How much time do they give you between classes? Morrison: Not enough! I think it’s four minutes or something. It’s not very long. Sully: What class has given you the most trouble? Morrison: Well, I’m a senior now so I’m done with math, but I hated math. Algebra, geometry. Sully: Is there a particular class you have really liked during your high school career? Morrison: We have a pretty cool program at our school, as opposed to gym you can take strength and conditioning. You can work out a lot and they actually have stuff where they teach you about nutrition and stuff, so that’s pretty cool. Sully: How do you think you will remember your high school career 10 or 20 years down the road? Morrison: I think it will mean a lot to me. I love high school football, made a lot of good memories and been in a lot of tough games. I think I will really cherish this time. Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays.