A Sea Of Red

I think I've heard this answer but wonder if there is anything more to it. Why do some of the players in the introductions only claim their High School? I've heard b/c they did not graduate but I can almost guarantee that over half of those that say their college didnt actually graduate from that school

some of them probably didn't even truly graduate from HS either...

Willie Parker claims Clinton High School because he didn't like John Bunting at Carolina and didn't think he used him right. He holds a grudge and that's one way he thinks he can get back at Carolina.

A lot of guys will claim their HS when their college loses the day before.

Some just claim High School (or even middle school) because they can. It was cool the first time someone did it, but it's been done a lot since then, and it's pretty much just another option.

Tony Hargrove from Port Charlotte High name dropped for the 941 and Port Charlotte the one time he was on MNF with the Rams. It was pretty awesome for our smaller community, even if he was from my Rival High school. Plus, it was cool to see someone who's shot I had blocked in middle school ball playing a professional sport on national TV.

my favorite, ike taylor- SWAG. love it!

I'm gonna sound like an idiot here because I can't remember all of the details like who it was or what team they were on, but in Week 1 I heard one guy say "Florida State in the 90s".

antonio gates said his high school too. he went to kent state and played basketball, but no football, maybe that's why. last time he played football was high school

SuperJon wrote:Willie Parker claims Clinton High School because he didn't like John Bunting at Carolina and didn't think he used him right. He holds a grudge and that's one way he thinks he can get back at Carolina.

Another way to view it (and probably the most logical reason, in my opinion) is that his introduction was less of a jab at UNC and more of a show of appreciation towards his hometown, which has been very supportive throughout his entire football career. I can understand how he'd want to "thank" them on national television, since they've treated him like a hero since he was 16 years old.

Willie has been back at Carolina numerous times & has helped with fund raising. He went on record stating he did not hold a grudge against the Heels. He said he withdrew more during his sophomore year when his best friend in Clinton was murdered. He wouldn't open up to anybody & that created a bigger gulf between him & the coaching staff....and it just snowballed from there.

Also, Bunting was an idiot to try & turn Parker into a power running back. The kid grew up racing pit bulls in the streets.