Willie Parker Quotations

When I came here, I wasn't even expecting to play. He (Bettis) was a type of guy who took me under his arm and saw something in me and he just helped me out along the way.

More interviews, ... I'm just happy for this team that we got a win. The accolades will always be there. It's not really about who gets offensive awards, defensive awards, it's about the team and the win.

I wouldn't blame it all on the coaches. I will take some of the blame also. We just weren't seeing eye to eye. It was one of those situations where the coaches are going to be always right and the player is never right. They decided not to play me, and I had to live with it.

I wouldn't blame it all on the coaches. I will take some of the blame, also. We just weren't seeing eye to eye.

I can't explain what I was going through at that time. I knew I was doing some good things on the field, and I was feeling really confident, but I also knew that one phone call could destroy all of it. Like I said, I had confidence, but there's also this feeling you have. It's a crazy feeling, one that isn't very fun.

I don't think anybody at UNC thought I could make it up here. That's what motivates me every day when I wake up, knowing that there are people out there saying I can't do something. That's like fuel on your fire.

If that came down, if that was the issue, I'm all for it. I'm all right and ready to go. Everybody gets sick now and then.

I always look at myself as a role player anyways, so I wasn't looking at myself as the starter, ... Even though I was starting I looked at it as though I was filling in. When those guys got back I was ready for whatever.

He had me crying every night. He's too much.

I was in the training room and that's the first time I saw ESPN. I stay away from it.

I was in the training room and that's the first time I saw ESPN, ... I stay away from it.

Records? I don't really care about that record. The biggest record is that we were the sixth seed and we came in and shocked the world.

I thought it was going to come back to me. But Hines was wide open.

Man, watching Jerome all day long, he just is what he is.

We know there is a lot of history. We don't look at that, because when things are said and done, what happened then, and what happened yesterday, won't have any control over what happens on Sunday. We just go out and play this game.

We wanted to come out and score right away and get some momentum. Alan paved the hole and then it was just me and the safeties. I had the easy part.

I shelled out a lot of money for tickets for this game,

I've been dreaming about this chance. It should be interesting. I just hope we live up to the expectations.

It would be nice ... But it's not about me, it's about the team.

I usually don't tell people this. Michael, while I wouldn't say he's faster than me, he beat me in a race before. But I try not to give him any credit.

That play was supposed to go left, but the hole was so big to the right that I took it. I never thought I would lead the Steelers in rushing or get 1,000 yards. It's an emotional moment for me.

That's for the home coming, ... That's for North Carolina.

This is his team. That dude runs this city. I respect everything about that guy.

A lot of people can run behind those guys. Those guys are good.

They are coming from everywhere. They are crawling from under the rocks. They are coming out of the woods. I am like, 'How did you get my number?' I have to change my number again.

That's a blessing. I didn't take many hits in college and now my career is beginning really. I felt good out there today. And to all those guys who asked if I could last the whole game; I should ask you that question now. You got your question answered.

Thats a blessing, ... I didnt take many hits in college and now my career is beginning really. I felt good out there today. And to all those guys who asked if I could last the whole game; I should ask you that question now. You got your question answered.

It's Jerome's day. That's all I want to talk about it.

It was a good play call and we kind of got them with their pants down.

It was great. I just knew it was going to be a great play.

This is just a dream come true, to be at the Super Bowl and starting in a big game like this. At North Carolina, I really couldn't even get on the field.

I want to make something happen when the ball's in my hands,

I'm going to quit talking about the coaches. From now on you'll never hear me say anything about the coaches at UNC.

I'm in the record book, and who would believe it?

I'm just ready for whatever, ... I'm ready for what the NFL brings, I'm ready for what the defense brings and I'll just go out there and play my game.

I had a dream that one day I'd would run through that tunnel, and I'll get my chance if they call the offense. It's been a lot different for me this week. I'm in the playbook all the time. I'm just trying to pay a little more attention to Tennessee.

I probably should give him a fourth of my yards because of what he's done for me.

I really didn't take any hits in college, so my career's really just beginning. I had to make a name for myself, open up some eyes that I can play.

He's like having another offensive lineman out there. Make that a great offensive lineman, if you look at it. He does a great job of moving people out of the way. You've got to give him a lot of credit for the success I've had.

I don't pay any attention to that stuff. But I don't mind being the underdog. I kind of like being the underdog. I've been an underdog all my life.

You could say that. Some guys don't take the road I took. They don't have to. Some guys have been headed this way for a long time.

A lot of my family and friends called. I probably had 28 text messages and 30 voicemails. I (didn't) know half the people but I checked them and listened to them.

A lot of my family and friends called, ... I probably had 28 text messages and 30 voicemails. I (didn't) know half the people but I checked them and listened to them.