
DATE: Thursday, May 29, 1997                TAG: 9705280203

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 13   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, SUN SPORTS EDITOR 

DATELINE: SMITHFIELD                        LENGTH:   83 lines

PARKER IS THE MAN FOR ALL SEASONS AT SMITHFIELD HIGH THE JUNIOR HAS PLAYED ONE SPORT AFTER ANOTHER AND BEEN THE CENTER OF JUST ABOUT ANY SUCCESS THE PACKERS HAVE HAD.

Chris Parker impressed the onlookers with his speed and abilities at the high school football combine three weeks ago. Yet, there was no time for adulation or self-praise following the workout. He had a baseball game at York that evening.

``I took a nap on the ride over,'' Parker said.

Parker, a junior and the oldest of three siblings, has played one sport after another for the Packers this year. And he's been the center of just about any success the teams have had.

During football, some of Parker's notoriety came at defensive back.

Against Franklin early in the season, Parker fell behind his receiver but made up ground while the ball was in the air during a fourth-quarter play. When the ball arrived, Parker made an interception which secured a 16-12 victory in coach Joe Jones' first game against his former team.

Offensively, Parker was the team's leading passer and rusher and tied for the team lead in receptions. Parker is so crucial to the Packers' attack that Jones is scheming to create the ultimate one-man play.

``We're trying to find a way where he could snap to himself, pass and then catch it,'' joked Jones, who is also the school's athletic director. ``We're almost there.''

Football is the sport Parker hopes to play after high school.

Parker has received letters from colleges in the Big Ten, ACC and Big East, among others. At this time, Parker is interested in Virginia Tech - Jones' alma mater.

If Parker is to go big-time, however, Jones feels he needs to bulk up.

``He participates in so many sports that he doesn't have time to get in the weight room,'' he said of the 5-foot-9, 151-pound Parker.

But Coach plans to get Parker in the gym during the summer.

In the winter, Parker played basketball and averaged 7.5 points. Then came the spring, when Parker pulled double duty, playing baseball and running track.

Monday through Friday most weeks, Parker either practiced or played baseball. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, he generally participated in track dual meets or invitationals.

While he never seriously contemplated giving up one sport this spring, Parker noticed the effects of participating in two activities.

``This year, I concentrated more on baseball,'' Parker said. ``I ended up better in baseball. My track times were the same as last year and they should have been better.''

In the district track and field championships, Parker placed third in the 200-meter dash (22.99). In baseball, he was named second-team all-district after batting .411, with 19 runs scored and 22 stolen bases while playing second base, shortstop, pitcher and the outfield.

Much of Parker's success has been credited to his speed - which had coaches and peers in awe at the football combine.

During the square run - an activity in which participants sprint, side-shuffle and back-pedal around four cones - Parker was the only athlete clocked under eight seconds. And for good measure, he ran sub-8 in each of his three attempts.

With his mom clocking him and screaming, ``Go Chris,'' Parker ran 4.5 twice in the 40-yard dash. However, the time was below his standards.

``My 40 time was kind of slow even though it was the fastest time that day,'' Parker said. ``I wanted to run a 4.4.''

For all of Parker's success, a dark cloud has hung over his head - academics.

Parker struggled in the class room for much of his first two years, a major reason why he did not play football until this season. But just as she had encouraged him in sports, Kathy Hagood stayed on her oldest son about the grades.

``Look Chris, you've seen from other examples that kids fool around and fool around,'' Hagood told him. ``You have to wake up.''

And during the last grading period, Parker earned grades that were evidence of his new commitment to class work - three ``Bs'' and one ``A.''

``I'm proud of that one,'' Parker said.

Even more proud than he was of going 2-for-4 in the baseball game at York following the combine. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER

Smithfield football player Chris Parker has received letters from

colleges in the Big Ten, ACC and Big East, among others. At this

time, Parker is interested in Virginia Tech, coach Joe Jones' alma

mater.