Max Parker reflects on his time as a Tiger and being a four-time AFL champion

On November 1, Dalhousie Football Club captured its second consecutive Atlantic Football League (AFL) Championship, defeating the University of New Brunswick (UNB) 25–7 in front of a lively home crowd at Wickwire field.

In his first year as head coach, Freddy Diab instilled in his players the importance of preparation and perfecting the small details so that come championship Sunday, the Tigers left nothing to chance.

It was an up and down season including a tough overtime loss to UNB at home that put question marks on the fate of the Tiger’s season. After that loss, the Tigers proved their resilience, winning 3 games in a row to secure their 4th AFL championship in the last 5 years.

I sat down with Max Parker, a graduating Dalhousie linebacker, to reflect on the season and his experience playing football for the Tigers:

How are you feeling one week after a championship win in your final game at Dalhousie?

Very good. I'm very proud of the team and what we accomplished this whole season. The emotions have finally set in that it was my last year, but it was very, very good.

You mentioned the emotions you felt as the year came to an end. Take me through that last week with the last practice, last game, last walk-through, last warm-up. What was that like for you?

Yeah, the last full-gear practice kind of hit me a little bit different. I knew it was the last time putting the practice jersey on and being able to hit in practice, and then the last walk-through as well. It was pretty tough at the end. Me and a few other guys on the team stayed a little bit longer at the end of practice just to take it all in.

It's pretty special to have four championship rings with Dalhousie Football. You don't get that with a lot of teams in any sport. What did it mean to you to win that fourth one?

It means everything to me, honestly. It feels great to know that the four years that we did win the championship, it wasn't given to us at all. We had to fight for it. We were the most prepared. We prepared since the offseason. We don't win the game on game day. We win the game during preparation. It's just nice to see and feel the results of all that preparation and to be able to show that I've won four championships with the Dalhousie football team.

Your team had outstanding defensive performances in pretty much every game this season, including the final where you held UNB to just seven points scored late in the game. How were you able to build that defensive dominance that you had all year?

It all started in the offseason. We had a great training program. These last few years on the team, my knowledge of football has just grown exponentially. Credit to all the coaching staff. I never expected to be this knowledgeable in how O-lines move. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that our defence and our defensive coaches are just at another level. They go so in-depth with everything. I think it is huge for the young guys to start learning this early.

This was Freddy Diab's first year as head coach. What did you think of the season with him?

Coach Freddy really taught me the ins and outs of how an offence does things and why. I never really had that knowledge up until that point. I think this year was a huge step in the correct direction for the whole team. I think Coach Freddy is going to be fantastic in the following years. This team is just going to keep growing and building and keep developing.

One of Freddy's big goals is to get the team up to varsity eventually. What are you looking forward to in watching the Dalhousie football legacy grow as the club's dominance from the last several years continues?

I'm super excited to watch it grow. I've been honored to be a part of the first steps of the evolution of the football team. I think the foundation has been set with all the coaches, all the guys we have on the team right now. Regardless of a large number of seniors that are leaving, the rookies, I know they can hold it down. The second years, third years, they all have crazy potential. This team can only go up from here. 

One big thing for you in your time playing football at Dalhousie was your family's involvement with the team. What was it like to know that they went with you through this whole process in such a big way? 

It's huge. Family means so much to me. My parents and my brother, we've all been in and around football for almost as long as I can remember. I've been playing football for about 13 years. My brother played before me. He got me into football. My dad's been coaching. He coached me. My dad and my brother are coaching a team right now. My mom always loves doing sticks. She's the loudest person in the stands. It's just huge to have them there supporting me.

Do you have any plans for what you're going to do after you graduate and how you might try to stay involved with football?

Yeah, I think I'm definitely interested in coaching. I don't know what level yet, but I would love to coach and be able to spread the knowledge that I've acquired through great coaching and hopefully become that person for other players one day.

What does it mean to you to be a Tiger and have played football here at Dalhousie?

Oh, it’s huge. It means everything.