WILL PARKS now has a new opinion about how much influence college coaches have on high school football players' decisions.
"I always thought it was 80 percent," he said. "Now I'm going with 85."
The 6-1, 175-pound Parks, a first-team Daily News All-City defensive back from Germantown, has switched his commitment from Pitt to Arizona.
He gives much of the credit to assistant Tony Gibson, who recently joined Arizona's staff and beforehand coached at - you got it - Pitt.
"He's the one I've trusted the most through all of this," Parks said. "Every time I talk to him, he makes me feel like I'm his only friend.
"I wasn't sure where I stood with Pitt's new coaches. It was hard to keep my confidence up. It felt like everything was going down the drain. Even on my official visit, which took place after the coaching change, there was no real communication.
"Coach Gibson stayed in touch. He said he knew I was a good kid and wanted the best for me. He said he'd talk to [new Arizona coach] Rich Rodriguez and show him my tape. He said coach Rodriguez watched the tape and told him, 'Offer that kid right now.' "
Parks returned last night from a visit to Arizona.
"I called my mom and told her, 'You won't believe this. It's January and I'm riding with the window down!' " he said, laughing. "It was 75 degrees. I actually watched a little bit of a swimming meet. All these people in bathing suits. In January. I couldn't believe it."
