MAKING A SMART DECISION SAUGUS QB LOOKS FOR CHANCE TO EXCEL ON, OFF FIELD AT COC.Byline: Scott Magoloff Staff Writer VALENCIA - David Parker David Parker is the name of:
n. 1. An imperfection, often concealed, that impairs soundness: a flaw in the crystal that caused it to shatter. See Synonyms at blemish. 2. quarterback while at Saugus High and it had nothing to do with his mechanics or comprehension comprehension Act of or capacity for grasping with the intellect. The term is most often used in connection with tests of reading skills and language abilities, though other abilities (e.g., mathematical reasoning) may also be examined. of the offense. Countless universities and colleges inquired about Parker during his junior and senior seasons. Once they saw his grades, the recruitment stopped. Parker had a 2.2 GPA GPA abbr. grade point average Noun 1. GPA - a measure of a student's academic achievement at a college or university; calculated by dividing the total number of grade points received by the total number attempted his junior year and raised it enough his senior year to graduate with a 2.6. If Parker played any other position, schools would have been interested in him anyway. Instead - and it might work out better for him - Parker finds himself one of four quarterbacks vying vy·ing v. Present participle of vie. vying vie for the starting role at the College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. . ``(Quarterbacks) are team leaders and have to be smart; if you don't have good grades, they think you're not smart and you can't be a leader,'' Parker said. ``They'll think, ``If he wasn't doing that good in high school, college is a lot harder. What if he lets us down and becomes ineligible in·el·i·gi·ble adj. 1. Disqualified by law, rule, or provision: ineligible to run for office; ineligible for health benefits. 2. ?' ``I agree with those coaches that didn't want me because of my grades. It would be dumb to get someone on your team who's not responsible or reliable.'' Parker, who led Saugus to its best season ever last year, when it advanced to the Southern Section semifinals, said he was just lazy when it came to schoolwork. But the realization struck when inquiries from Division I programs stopped. Parker began concentrating more on his academics, and he continues to do so. At COC See chip on chip. , he has taken the opportunity to make a fresh start. And coach Chuck Lyon couldn't be more pleased that Parker's transformation has brought him to the Cougars. ``I think he's a winner,'' Lyon said. ``He can win for us and he's going to get every chance to play.'' Lyon also liked the fact that Saugus' home field is Cougar cougar: see puma. cougar or puma or mountain lion or panther Species (Puma concolor) of large, graceful cat that lives in a wide variety of habitats in the Americas, from southern Alaska to Patagonia. Stadium, which was also the stage for Parker's heroics in the playoffs. The familiarity of playing on the field, along with having family and friends in the stands, should facilitate Parker's development. As excited as Lyon is about Parker, he is quick to point out that Parker ``has a long way to go.'' While Saugus ran a similar offense to COC's, the terminology is different and the sheer volume of plays and formations is greater. ``There's a lot of room for growth, which is a good thing,'' Lyon said. ``He's a long way away from where we think he can be. But we really haven't started with him yet.'' Summer football just doesn't allow a new quarterback the chance to absorb an offense and create a rapport The former name of device management software from Wyse Technology, San Jose, CA (www.wyse.com) that is designed to centrally control up to 100,000+ devices, including Wyse thin clients (see Winterm), Palm, PocketPC and other mobile devices. with other players. So Lyon has been concentrating on the fundamentals with Parker and was satisfied enough to announce that Parker would play in COC's season opener Sept. 9 against Citrus. Parker might not start the game. That role might fall to one of the three other quarterbacks in the fold, including Travis Winn, who won two games as a starter last year before losing the rest of the season to a shoulder injury. Brian Hamilton Brian Hamilton (born July 24, 1964) is an American actor and voice actor. He was born at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York and raised in nearby Thiells. Hamilton has appeared in scores of television commercials. , who did not have enough credits for eligibility, and Tommy Criner, who started at Hancock College two years ago, are also in the hunt. Just as Parker has improved his approach to academics, the outlook he's developed on the quarterback situation at COC is refreshing and positive. ``Right now, I think in my head I'm the lowest on the depth chart,'' Parker said. ``The other three quarterbacks already know the offense and I'm the new guy. I'm trying to learn from all of them and get them to answer my questions. ``I'll still get some playing time. Just as long as I can still learn the offense, it's not a big deal. Hopefully, I'll be able to start next year.'' PARKER FILE Name: David Parker Sport: football Position: quarterback School: College of the Canyons Year: freshman Outlook: A starting quarterback has not been named yet and coach Chuck Lyon said Parker will be given a chance to win the job. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: (color) David Parker, shown working out during summer football camp at College of the Canyons, is hoping for a ``fresh start.'' David Crane/Staff Photographer Box: Parker File (see text) |
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