Football | 8/27/2014 12:02:00 AM
Gameday CentralATLANTA –
Parker McKenzie always dreamed of playing in Atlanta's Georgia Dome. He just never imagined the circuitous route he would take to make that dream a reality.
Born and raised just outside of Atlanta, McKenzie grew up a fan of the Atlanta Falcons, dreaming of one day running onto the turf of the Georgia Dome to play a game. If he had stayed in Georgia, he might have had that opportunity as a high school athlete.
However, before he started middle school, the McKenzie family moved to Texas and Parker went on to star at quarterback at Smithson Valley High School. However, the former Georgia resident was sending high school game film back to Georgia State and telling the former coaching staff of his interest in returning. However, he never heard back from the Panthers' coaching staff.
He did, however, end up at ACU just as the Wildcats were beginning serious discussions about a move to NCAA Division I affiliation. And now his first start as the Wildcats' quarterback will be in the Georgia Dome when ACU takes on Georgia State at 7 p.m. (6 p.m. Abilene time) in Wednesday night's season-opener.
He'll be playing the game in front of some 200 family and friends who are making the trek to Atlanta for a pre-game party and then the game.
"It's just a dream come true," McKenzie said. "I grew up watching the Falcons and have always wanted to play in the Georgia Dome, so having my first start with all my family and friends in attendance is a great honor."
McKenzie won the starting job in the spring and summer by – as head coach
Ken Collums says – putting together a sold resume, and by that he means learning the offense, not turning the ball over, delivering the mail and leading the offense.
And now he'll get a chance to direct an ACU offense that has become, year in and year out, one of the best units in all of college football. Last year's team averaged more than 45 points and 485 yards of offense per game. However, most of the players who registered those numbers won't be lining up with McKenzie, who will be lining up with the offense as the starter in a game that will be nationally televised on ESPNU.
"I'm sure I'll be living in the moment, but right now I can't even imagine what it's going to be like when I get out there on the field," McKenzie said.
McKenzie will be playing behind an offensive line that will start two seniors, one sophomore and two redshirt freshmen, as well as a receiving corps that lost more than 80 percent of its production from 2013. McKenzie, however, said he's anxious to get the season kicked off.
"This season will be a challenge because we play so many really good team," he said. "But as long as we keep working and coming together as a team, everything will take care of itself. Those young guys have begun to really play well. They knew they had to come on to help us this year, and they've really stepped it up and are going to be great players this year."
