Clemson QB Parker: 'I’m not a quitter'

CLEMSON – Kyle Parker ended speculation about his December plans Tuesday, saying he will stick around for Clemson’s bowl practice and bowl game.

The sophomore quarterback said he arrived at a decision to stay Monday night after ironing out several issues and seeking counsel from several people. Parker said he weighed the benefits of focusing on baseball this month versus leaving and potentially tarnishing his legacy at Clemson

“I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do,” Parker said. “I knew I wasn’t going to quit. It took me awhile to come at peace with that and try to make things right and better. … Is it really worth spending a month here? I don’t know how much it will benefit me down the road. The question in my mind was would it help to put in that extra time into baseball.”

Parker said he spoke with Dabo Swinney Monday, and the Clemson coach indicated Parker was still likely to be the starting quarterback in the bowl game.

Parker said he felt it was important to speak Tuesday to battle the public perception of the situation.

“What’s really frustrating is the opinion that I’ve given up on the season already,” Parker said, “that I didn’t give it my best effort. I can sit here today and say I’m totally at peace with the amount of effort I’ve put in.”

Parker said he is academically eligible.

“I’ve been academically eligible every semester I’ve been here,” Parker said. “I’d be one of the first people to be declared academically ineligible before the semester is even over.”

Parker also indicated Swinney was disappointed with how the sophomore quarterback handled his benching Saturday.

"If you look at the situation (Saturday) I didn't want to throw that interception,” Parker said.” With that being said he thinks there are some things he could have done differently after that. "In my opinion I was just out there competing. We kind of butted heads.”

Parker said he made the decision to return on his own.

“I think it would be easy for me to change the page and move on to the next part of my life and start practicing baseball,” Parker said. “With that being said I wouldn’t want an issue to ruin what I had here for so long and I didn’t want a bitter taste between me and the fans and the university and my teammates. … I’m not a quitter.”