Entertainment

Defensive lineman, eyebrow-raising professional wrestler, Hollywood player: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has worn a lot of hats in his 34 years. But it all started with one he was happy to put down: juvenile delinquent.

He stars as real-life football coach Sean Porter in Gridiron Gang , based on a documentary about a juvenile prison team that found hope playing and beating high school teams.

We caught up with him late last month shortly before he addressed students at Madison High School in South Dallas.

You played football at the University of Miami from 1991 to 1995. Did you bring some of that experience to Gridiron Gang?

Absolutely, on a lot of levels. No. 1, as a player who loves the game of football, there were a lot immeasurable values I was able to take from Miami about commitment and sacrifice. A lot of those things we take for granted when we hear them, but we don't realize how important they are until much later in life. Especially when it comes to things like dealing with failure and being gracious with your successes.

Barbara Davidson / DMN

The Rock says he was in and out of trouble as a kid until he accepted a football scholarship at the University of Miami.

How did these things help you play a coach?

I understand the value of having a good coach and what that means. That means being a good mentor and a godparent to these kids. I played under a lot of great coaches, including [former Miami coach] Dennis Erickson. I played under a lot of crappy coaches as well, and you get to know the difference.

Could you relate to the at-risk teens in the movie?

I was one of those kids. I had multiple arrests by the time I was 17. I was doing everything from theft to assault. Running the streets, making bad decisions, hanging around the wrong people. I could have easily been locked up for a long time, so I understand what it's like coming from that world. There were a lot of parallels that moved me when I watched the documentary and read the script.

What changed for you during that period?

I was lucky that I had a couple of people in my life who cared enough about me to invest some time in me. My arresting officer when I was 14 was the one who said, "Listen, you're gonna stop screwing up and I want you to start playing football for your high school team." I didn't learn my lesson then, and I continued to get in trouble. When I was 17, my high school coach told me, "Listen, you're getting offers from all across the country to play football on a full scholarship. You can't afford to go to school. You have no money. Take advantage of this opportunity."

But the defining moment was the last time I was locked up. My mom came to get me out of jail, and there was a huge disappointment factor. Life had been tough on us, living from apartment to apartment to apartment. I was adding to her difficulties. The last time she came to pick me up she was crying, with no more words. That made me realize I had to start making the right decisions and stop adding crap to our lives. I didn't want to be that burden to her anymore.

You tore your Achilles tendon shooting an upcoming football movie, The Game Plan. Can you describe the pain?

As soon as it happened, I knew. It's that sickening feeling where you say, "I'm not gonna to be able to walk for a long time."

E-mail cvognar@dallasnews.com