By George Johnson,
Calgary Herald
And the coincidences just keep piling up. Their dads, never teammates in the red and white, now happen to share the same workplace here in town.
“Weird, isn’t it?” asks slotback Anthony Parker Jr.
In the extreme.
Parker is the rookie receiver, all-purpose threat carving out his niche, Woodson the second-year rushing phenom just 168 yards from becoming only the sixth back in school history to exceed the 1,000-yard barrier in a season.
Parker Sr., a runningback, was a Stampeder in 1990 after spending time with the B.C. Lions. Woodson Sr., a linebacker, spent 1985-86 at McMahon Stadium.
“I guess we’re like ships passing in the night,” says the elder Woodson.
Now they’re like ships moored in the harbour beside one another. Both work at FedEx. Both are sharing the Canadian university football experience through their sons.
An episode of: All in the families.
The capture of Woodson and Parker, both heavily recruited across Canada out of high school, were major coups for the Dinos, significant building blocks in coach Blake Nill’s blueprint for creating a national contender centred around the best local talent.
Woodson emerged from that Northwest football factory, St. Francis, Parker from Foothills Composite.
“I never knew Anthony. I mean, I knew of him,” says Woodson Jr. “It’s not as if we grew up across the street from one another. I didn’t actually meet him we played on Team Canada together” — at the Global World Football Championship held in conjunction with Super Bowl XLI in Florida.
“But my dad would come home from work and tell me ‘You know, Anthony Parker’s son is a fantastic athlete.’ Turns out, he was right. As he is about a lot of things.” Growing up in a football-oriented household provided a platform for both kids.
Neither was pushed into the game, though, by fathers obsessed with recreating past glories or in kids taking up the family business.
Left to their own decision, each just naturally gravitated in that direction.
“People might think there’s pressure, but it’s not hard,” says Parker Jr. “In fact, I think it might actually be easier because there’s someone at home who’s an example that it can be done; that you can reach that level.” “I have,” echoes Woodson, “the best reference material available, any time I want to ask a question.” Genes must play some part.
“You look at the names in the CIS right now,” says Parker Sr. “Passagalia. Chapdelaine. Parker. Woodson. Everyone knows what Jesse Lumsden’s accomplished in Hamilton. There’s definitely a correlation.” Woodson the Younger gave scouts a glimpse of his extravagant ability by the conclusion of his rookie season, 2006.
So Nill isn’t falling over in a dead faint at the spectacular numbers he’s followed up with this year — a 6.2 yards-per-carry average, a 138.7 yards-per-game average. The leading rusher in the conference.
“I’ve already had CFL people ask me about him,” says Nill, “and I tell them that Anthony’s biggest asset is that we run a pro-style offence, where the back is supposed to make the read: there is no set hole.
“His balance and agility, added to his being able to run between the tackles makes him a prototype CFL back. He has CFL speed. He needs work on his receiving but, c’mon, this is only his second year. There’s lots of time to improve.” Parker, meanwhile, has used this introductory campaign to establish his significant credentials.
His value to the Dinos, who face an all-or-nothing-at-all game to determine a playoff spot at home next weekend to UBC, extends far beyond the eight catches for 99 yards in six games you’ll find on the stat sheet.
He’s also the conference’s leading punt and kickoff return man.
“This is a kid who won’t be 18 until next month!” exclaims Nill. “And he’s competing, in some instances, against guys 10 years older. He plays the most difficult receiving position in our offence. He’s on all special teams. He’s our returner.
“Even if we asked more of the kid, he couldn’t give it to us. He’s doing it all now.” Woodson understands the fragility of football.
His dad’s career was cut short by a torn ACL. So, he’s studying petroleum land management in the Haskayne School of Business. Parker, too, plans on majoring in business.
Both are planning for a life either after or outside of football. It’s no surprise, though, that they’re also in agreement about the possible chance to play professionally.
So are their dads.
“Yes, certainly,” says Anthony Parker Sr.
“It’d be a fantastic experience,’ echoes Anthony Woodson Sr.
There’s a long road left to travel before then.
A game to be won today, a playoff spot to be nailed down next week, a national collegiate contender to be built in the next few years. Life can throw all manners of curve balls in a short space of time. But given the talent and pedigree, it’s not out of line to daydream.
“Both of us in the pros?” says Parker Jr., grinning.
“That’d be great.”
Maybe even, at some juncture, on the same team. Hey, they’ve managed to stretch coincidence this far.
