Sitting Down With Tanner Parker

Junior OL/LB Tanner Parker was gracious enough to sit down with us recently to discuss the season thus far as well as give us his thoughts as the Jackets enter District play. No. 52 has played a dual role. especially in the chizzum and weatherford games, covering for injured Noah Friesen and has done a great job. Friesen, by the way, got a great report from the doctor and will be returning to action this week.

Fans, let me tell you, if you have never talked to Tanner 1 on 1, you are missing out. This kid is nothing but energy, excitement, and a bit of orneriness that you love to see in a student athlete. Our conversation went like this:

Porterhouse: Tanner, thanks for meeting with me. How are things going? What are your thoughts on the season so far?

Tanner Parker: So far this season has gone really good. We are playing some better competition which is good for us going into district play.

PH: You had some injury issues last season. How's the knee feeling and tell the new fans what happened.

TP: Yeah the knee is great. Last year, I lost my footing while playing D line and dislocated my knee cap. I came back for the Douglass game and did some 1x1 pass pro and I popped my knee cap out again. Finally during the Heritage Hall week, I was playing guard and my knee buckled on me and my knee cap popped out again. The doctor said that I would need surgery to fix up all the misalignment.

PH: That's an awful lot to deal with, but you are out there with a vengeance this season thus far. What are some challenges you've been facing this year?

TP: Probably just keeping my head up when I make a mistake. I tend to get down on myself which then affects the next play.

PH: Shake it off and on to the next is what I've always told myself. Your next game is against Perkins (town not restaurant) whose mascot is the Demon Deacons, whatever that's supposed to be, and they have "Forks Up" on the front of their helmets where we have KHS. What is the first thing that you think will come to your mind when you see the "Forks Up"? Personally, my first thought was where's the pancakes? Perkins (restaurant not town) has some excellent banana nut pancakes.

TP: (Classic Tanner Parker laugh) Yeah man, that's a tough question but food always comes to mind when I see forks.

PH: Which side of the ball do you prefer to play on?

TP: Defense. I like to hit people and I love it when the crowd goes "OOOOOOOOOOO".

PH: That happened against chizzum. Did your victim make any funny sounds or say anything?

TP: The ball carrier didn't say anything but his teammate was yelling "that's targeting" which made me laugh.

PH: Damn right it was targeting. Your target being the player who has the ball!

TP: I can't argue with that statement.

PH: What are some keys for the Jackets to make a long run in the playoffs?

TP: We need to stay focused and everyone do their own job as well as trusting our coaches.

PH: 11 guys pulling on 1 rope. Got it. What are some things you do to get ready for the game? Any superstitions or anything?

TP: Harrison and I play ping pong before every game.

PH: Excellent way to build up your hand-eye coordination. Favorite pre game meal?

TP: The Shed

PH: Ahh the Shed, located at 1505 S Main St in Kingfisher. Good food, good friends and great times! So, I watched Castaway over the weekend where Tom Hanks was marooned on a desert island and became friends with a volleyball. If you were on a desert island, which one of your teammates would you want to have with you?

TP: Dallen Barton. He and I are super close and he will do anything to keep us alive and I'm pretty smart so I will be the brains and he will do what I say.

PH: Definitely a smart answer there. Tanner, that's all I've got Work hard this week and let's keep the win streak going against Perkins (town not restaurant). Thank you for your time.

TP: Will do, thanks for having me.