Mike Rubin
It is always nice hearing when athletes take advantage of the incredible platform that sports provides.

The media does a great job of uncovering all of the athletes that fail to live up to the almost superhero status the public gives them, whether it's performance enhancing drugs or criminal conduct, but rarely do you hear inspiring stories of athletes who use their athletic ability for greater good.

For Biglerville High graduate and Lycoming College senior running back Parker Showers, college has been about more than just football.

Showers knew early in his football career that the game he loved would provide him that platform, and he was determined to make an even greater impact off the field than he did on it.

One of those opportunities came last season after the 1-2 punch of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee hit much of Pennsylvania.

Montoursville was one of the towns severely impacted by the storm and it is located less than five miles from the Lycoming campus.

"The creek was totally wiped out," Showers said. "We are stuck on campus and you don't really see anything. We knew it had rained for seven straight days, but that is it. When you went two miles off campus, you saw devastation and destruction. There was water up to the houses and covering the streets. It was unreal."

That was when Showers and several other captains of the football team decided they could not just sit around idly while members of the close-knit community were suffering.


"We took the team down to the areas affected for two or three weekends and helped remove debris," he stated. "We helped deliver groceries to people who were unable to get them due to age, disability or how they were affected by the storm."

It is those memories off the field that have as much of an impact on Showers as any accomplishment he achieved on the field.

"One day, we went and helped these two people," he recalls. "We went over there for the whole day and helped tear down one of their sheds and campers that was washed up in the flood. There was a ton of debris. They had us all inside for lunch and you could just tell in their eyes how grateful they were for us. We were only there for four hours and helped out just a little, but it meant so much to them."

It was that community outreach, coupled with his performance both in the classroom and on the football field, that earned him the honor of being named a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist. To be nominated for the award, the athlete had to be a senior, possess a grade-point average of at least 3.2, have outstanding football ability and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

"It was an honor being nominated," Showers said. "At first, it didn't impact me that much, but my parents and grandparents were calling and congratulating me and then I started to appreciate it a little more."

In the classroom, Showers is excelling and majoring in business management with a minor in biology. His future employment plans are unclear. He is leaning to a career as a strength and conditioning coach, but also likes the idea of being an entrepreneur.

On the field, Showers is a two-time Middle Atlantic Conference Academic Honor Roll selection. He is the eighth player in Lycoming history to reach 3,000 all-purpose yards. He finished his career with 1,977 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns, good enough for ninth place all-time in both categories. This year he was named second-team All-MAC for offense and special teams, an honor he was awarded in 2011. He set the school career kickoff returns record and was ranked 13th in NCAA Division III in yards per return this year with 26.82.

Despite the accolades, the humble Showers refuses to focus on the individual numbers, rather looking at the team's performance.

"Our class was the second that has graduated in 30 years that did not win a conference title, so that is tough," Showers said. "Regarding that, I am not very pleased. Aside from that, I am proud. The guys I met, it's been fun. I had some success myself, and as a team we went from 4-6 my freshman year and went 8-2 this year."

Now that football is over, he will have more free time, time he plans to spend making a difference in the community. Showers first became passionate about community service in high school when he helped with the Special Olympics, Relay for Life and at the YWCA of Gettysburg and Adams County for several of the 5K's they hold.

For Showers, the reason to give back was easy.

"It's a close community," he said. "When we were raising money for our turf field, probably half of it was donated by alums and half by the town. They just care about you and the college. Helping people is just one of those things that I love. I am one of those people that sees the challenge in helping people and making a difference."

As he winds down the remaining months of his senior year, the legacy of Parker Showers will extend far beyond the football field in at least one small town.