Friday Night's Bright Light

Speaking of which, I heard a rumor you dated the principal’s daughter of your high school, kind of like your character, Sarecen, dates the coach’s daughter on FNL.

(Laughs.) We went out like twice. I wouldn't say we dated. She went to a different school, it wasn't quite...it was awkward. But it was so long ago. I think I was a sophomore in high school. Luckily I didn't see the principal that often.

Only the Coach and Mrs. Taylor, and incoming senior Landry are locked in for next season, if there is one. Saracen is about to graduate. Does that make you nervous?

I would really hate to see Saracen go. (Laughs.) No, anybody would be bittersweet. It's tough. But it makes sense. Going in we knew we had a lifespan on the show if it really succeeded. It's about high school football. It's not 90210, where, in theory, it's about the kids so you can follow them once they're out of high-school. Keep the show about what it's supposed to be about. We're going to have to take off and leave. You could see storylines to keep some of the characters around that are perfectly legitimate, but you can also see ones that would have to have them going away…

Anything else you have in the works right now?

Right now I really want to make this documentary about wilderness therapy—taking kids in the wilderness for drug-addiction problems or behavioral disabilities. My little sister does it. She works for a company in Utah. So right now I'm in the process of figuring out legalities and seeing if there is a company that would give me plans to film, and get releases from the parents and the kids—trying to figure out how possible it actually it is. I want it to be more in the vein of that movie American Teen. You let the kids kind of become the story. It won't be voiceover, or me in front of the camera interviewing people. It would be very real life.

I do a lot of work with kids—I majored in theater and education. I've led backpacking trips for high-school kids. I've worked everywhere from Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, the Grand Canyon. When I was in college, I taught for a year and a half at an alternative school with behavioral-disability kids. Now, I'm an assistant coach for a junior high school basketball team up in the Valley. It's fun. They're fun to play around with.

Last question—I have to ask, because I’m a huge (semi-bitter) Philadelphia Eagles fan. What was it like playing in the NBA All-Star Game with Terrell Owens?

Ha! I’m a huge [Chicago] Bears fan. And I like [Eagles quarterback Donovan] McNabb, he’s a Chicago boy.

I thought T.O. was nice. He wasn't my best friend, but he wasn't aloof or anything like that. When I had a good play he'd say, “Hey, nice job.” But I think it's because I kept passing him the ball. There were several times where I would rebound and look down court and see T.O. I think the quarterback in me said, "Just throw it up and T.O. will catch it and so that's what I did and he put it in. I think he liked me because I was getting him the ball and helping him score. I can't believe he went to Buffalo. We need a wide receiver!

Miriam Datskovsky is an associate editor at The Daily Beast. She has written for Conde Nast Portfolio, New York magazine, and nymag.com.