Parker Preparing Umbrella Defense

Let the mudslinging begin.

Actually, it’s never stopped. Not since Coach Lin Parker of Highland High soaked his field by running the sprinklers for five hours before a Golden League game against Palmdale in 1997.

“I’ve been teased about that for two years,” said Parker, whose Bulldogs again host the Falcons on Friday night.

Palmdale leads the series between cross-town rivals, 6-1, including a 21-13 victory in what the Falcons call “The Romp in the Swamp” in 1997.

The loss hasn’t dampened Parker’s spirits. He’s threatening to pour it on again.

“I told them that if they thought it was wet the last time, well, they better bring their snorkels this year,” he said. “I was prepared to turn the water on Monday and not turn it off until game time.”

In 1997, some Palmdale students allegedly sneaked onto Highland’s campus late the night before the game and spray-painted derogatory words on the field.

Parker insists the sprinklers were turned on to wash away the paint. They were just, uh, left on a bit too long.

The event drew more than its share of attention.

At a coaches’ association meeting, a former Palmdale player gave Parker a ceremonial sprinkler key that read, “In case of emergency, use this.”

“But that was only for turning sprinklers off, not on,” Coach Jeff Williams of Palmdale said.

Last summer during a school district seminar titled, “Character Counts,” Parker became the center of attention when a debate erupted over whether his actions were unethical or clever gamesmanship.

The vote was a wash.

Williams doubts Parker will follow through on his threat to flood the place again.

“They’ve got a good team this year and I don’t think he’d sell his own team’s talent short by doing something like that,” Williams said.

“I think everything will be above ground.”

Except, hopefully, a huge puddle.