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Bill Parcells
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==Playing career== Upon graduating from high school, Parcells arrived at [[Colgate University]].<ref>http://wsu.wichita.edu/the-shocker/story.php?eid=15&id=268#.Xjiwac5KiHs {{Dead link|date=May 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> As a freshman, he was offered a contract by the [[Philadelphia Phillies]]. His father disapproved of a career in sports and wanted him to study law, so the younger Parcells declined the offer. He soon transferred to the University of Wichita (now known as [[Wichita State University]]), where he played linebacker and earned a physical education degree.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/08/28/0828parcells.html?cxntlid=inform_artr|title=Charles viewed sports as a healthy diversion, but wanted his son to study law. Bill decided to play football in college. He was a freshman at Colgate when the Philadelphia Phillies offered him a contract. Charles quickly nixed that idea. Parcells then transferred to the Municipal University of Wichita (now Wichita State), where he played linebacker in 1958β59 and earned a physical education degree.}}</ref> It was here that Parcells' famous nickname "Big Tuna" took hold. The name itself is a mis-statement of his actual nickname "Tuner". There were few radio stations in Wichita at the time, so players often trained without music. Parcells, showing the kind of preparation that would make him a successful coach later, frequently arrived early to training sessions, in order to set up a radio. Parcells would try several locations in the gym to get a signal. His diligence and attention to detail earned him the nickname "Tuner". This subsequently became "Tuna", likely due to the accents of the New York media who covered the Giants.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} He was drafted in the seventh round (89th overall) by the [[Detroit Lions]] as an offensive lineman, but was released by the team before playing a single NFL game after he reportedly quit the team after a hot morning workout.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Booher|first=Christian|title=On This Date: Bill Parcells Quits Detroit Lions after Training Camp Practice|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/on-this-date-lions-history-bill-parcells-quits|access-date=July 24, 2021|website=Sports Illustrated Detroit Lions News, Analysis and More|date=July 22, 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Litsky" />
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