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FSU's Parker Ready To Get Back

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 18, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Preston Parker didn't realize how much he was going to miss playing football until the Friday night before the season opener as his Florida State teammates boarded the bus to go out of town.

"I shook everybody's hand before they left to go to Thomasville Ga.," Parker said. "And I'm just thinking, 'I can't go to Thomasville.' And tears started to come to my eyes. And I was like, I knew I really loved it, so I've really got to sacrifice and do everything I need to do to be back."

He is back now.

After serving a two-game suspension for an offseason arrest on gun and drug charges, the Seminoles' 2007 offensive MVP is back for Saturday's game against No. 18 Wake Forest.

His dreadlocks are not.

"Just a fresh start, just a better look," Parker said, referring to his shaved head. "People will just view me, instead of seeing dreadlocks and everything else that comes with that. So I just cut it off so they can just forget about that."

Through the first two games of the 2008 season, with the Seminoles piling up 115 total points, many FSU fans might have forgotten what kind of dynamic presence Parker can be with the ball in his hands.

He plans to take care of that quickly Saturday.

"Oh, they're going to remember me," Parker said with a smile.

Though Parker could not play against Western Carolina or Chattanooga, FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said that didn't affect Parker's enthusiasm or effort.

"He's our energy," Fisher said. "In practice and things, he's our energy. He's our life. When he comes to practice now he's going 1,000 miles an hour. So it will be great to get him back."

Last season, Parker caught a team-high 62 passes for 791 yards and three scores, rushed for 270 yards and two TDs, and had 452 return yards.

He joins an FSU offense that has obliterated two lower-level teams to start the season and is second in the nation in scoring at 57.5 points per game.

"They're doing good," Parker said of his offensive teammates. "They've got a lot of tools. I'll just be another extra little tool they can use."

JONES OUT: Coach Bobby Bowden said Ty Jones (Middleton) will not be available Saturday because of an ankle injury. Bowden also said kicker Graham Gano could be available for extra points and short field goals.

Corey Clark

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