The Return of Anthony Parker : That’s What Is Worrying Donahue About Arizona State

Only one thing can prevent Arizona State’s Anthony Parker from retaining his ranking as the best punt returner in college football for at least another week.

It is UCLA’s punt coverage team, and perhaps that is why Coach Terry Donahue seems to be even more worried than usual this week.

Of course, Donahue is the acknowledged master of worry, which he said might even lead to a second career.

“When I retire from coaching, I expect to be appointed to the faculty and lecture it,” Donahue said.

But this time, there may be good and sufficient reason for Donahue to be concerned. The Bruin punt coverage team that Parker will run against is the same one that gave up an 85-yard touchdown return against Cal State Long Beach last Saturday night.

That did nothing to mellow Donahue.

“Extremely disappointing,” he said.

That bad?

“Well, the week before I was very, very pleased with the special teams, and this week I’d like to expel all of them.”

And this week, against Parker?

“If we’re not in a different league than we were, then the guy will set an NCAA record for return yardage in a game.”

Now that’s worry. But Parker is the kind of player who can make a coach’s game plan melt in his very hands. He is an artist in the open field and he isn’t shy about it, either.

“I can make the difference in the game,” Parker said.

So when the Bruins finally open their Pacific 10 Conference schedule Saturday morning against Arizona State at the Rose Bowl, and that first UCLA punt spirals through the air, all eyes will be on Anthony Parker.

Donahue just worries that there won’t be enough hands on him.

There haven’t been many tacklers around Parker so far this season. Last year, he led the Pac-10 in punt returns with a 9.7-yard average. This year, he’s doing even better. He leads the nation with a 21-yard average.

How does the best do it? “I run,” he said. “I don’t think.”

He doesn’t worry much, either, especially about his statistics. Parker said he had no idea he was leading the nation in punt returns until his girlfriend told him this week.

At Arizona State, Coach John Cooper places a lot of emphasis on special teams and the natural progression of that has meant that Parker is becoming more and more a factor.

“He’s really looked good,” Cooper said. “He uses good judgment and he’s an extremely good open-field runner. As a whole unit, maybe that (punt return team) is an area we probably are a little stronger and experienced in than they are.”

If the UCLA game is to be close as expected, then Parker hopes for just one timely punt to drop into his hands.

“I’ve thought about being the difference,” he said. “I know they had one returned all the way on them last week, so maybe a punt return will be the big play in the game. I think someone on special teams will be the difference. I’d like to be that guy.”

Parker’s is the voice of experience. His biggest game this season was against SMU, which the Sun Devils won, 30-0. Parker set up one touchdown with a 54-yard return, then scored the final touchdown himself on a 65-yard return. For the night, Parker returned 5 punts for 148 yards.

If there is a secret for success in returning punts, Parker said it is this: “Remember to catch the ball first.”

Once it is caught, the Sun Devils have four return formations. Parker is an expert in all of them. He likes middle returns the least, the ones on which he fields the punt and looks for gaps in the defensive surge.

“You can really get blind-sided on middle returns,” Parker said. “I do not like to get blind-sided.”

There are returns to either side and another, called “the wall.” Parker runs behind it as though he were behind a moving fence.

He makes fair catches on punts that are high and short, but line drives are almost always returned.

“And if I ever get a deep ball, watch out,” he said. “I love those.”

The Bruins do not figure to show much affection for Parker, but they ought to respect this avowed game-breaker, who believes that the Sun Devils may be just one punt return away from beating UCLA for the first time.

“We’re definitely due,” Parker said. “We just need to play and I just need to play. I’ve got enough to worry about just catching the ball.

“But I’ll be honest. I love the aspect of the game that one play might win it. If it’s a close game and I get a good punt, well, let’s just say I think I’ll be the difference.”