Greg Papa is bringing his show “Chronicle Live” to Stanford on Friday to help promote the 112th playing of the Big Game on Saturday. You know Papa as the voice of the Oakland Raiders now, but he of course has broadcast the Warriors, the A’s and even some of Stanford and Cal among many others.
I had an opportunity to talk with Papa about his connections to Stanford football and his thoughts on the upcoming Big Game.
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Stanford football head coach Jim Harbaugh is an obvious connection. Papa first met Harbaugh when he played in Indianapolis and San Diego, but he really got to know Harbaugh when he was the quarterbacks coach for Rich Gannon and the Raiders for a year.
“I like him. I pointed out to him that I think he is a lot calmer on the sideline than initially. I remember that first year when he was at Stanford he was maniacal on the sideline, he was real animated. I just think he has mellowed a little bit, he has a feel for the flow of the game a little better. Obviously coaching is in his blood from his dad and his brother.”
On “Chronicle Live” during the preseason, Harbaugh made the statement that he is more of a collegiate coach than a pro coach. Papa said he could coach wherever he wants:
“I think that is a personal assessment that only he can make. I think because he had a good run in the NFL we just assume that is where is heart is. But I don’t think that is necessarily true. His dad was a very successful college coach for decades. His brother has been more of a pro guy. It is all how you want to relate to the athlete. College is more recruiting, the NFL is completely different. You have to take him for what he is worth. I think that he is on a college campus now and currently employed by a college he is going to make that comment. But with the success he is having at Stanford, he is going to be on the radar of a lot of teams whether it is the top college teams or the NFL. I am sure the NFL people are looking at him because of his background. I think why he is attractive to the NFL people is because he can walk into a meeting room, and because he played the game at a high level in that league, he will get respect. There are not many of those guys that can do it. Guys that can coach at the level that he can coach but still have the cache of being a player which is a big part of selling yourself to the athlete.”
Papa is very impressed with what he has seen from the Cardinal offense:
“Their offense has progressed throughout the year to the point now where it is one of the state of the art offenses there is at any level of football. High school, college, pro, what they do and the sophistication and volume with which they do it is as impressive as any offense currently in football. I think the combination of that quarterback, that running back, the fullback, the line (is great). I know Ryan Whalen personally. I did a lot of his games at Monte Vista. I have been watching him. Boy he is a smart player, very good hands, knows how to get open. Obviously (Chris) Owusu is a deep threat. It is a wonderful offense to watch, it is beautiful. They never miss a beat. They formationally go from a power-I, to a spread, to a shot gun, and they do it impeccably. It is very tight. It is very difficult to defend. I can’t imagine a defensive coordinator getting ready for everything. There is nothing they don’t do, and there is nothing they don’t do well.”
Papa has a close connection to junior wide receiver Ryan Whalen. I asked him if he knew what Stanford was going to get from the walk-on receiver?
“I know his dad. He is a sharp kid, he is very smart. He is physically strong, he is mentally tough. You just don’t know if the athleticism is going to translate from that level to the next. You have a feel but it is difficult. He is kind of doing the same thing he was doing in high school. Obviously in high school he was dominant, but he just has a feel for getting open. I am even wondering if that kind of ability can translate to the NFL. You would not think so with his measurables, but there are just certain guys in football at that position that just have a way, they know the passing game, they know what the defense is doing and he is able to find the open spots both in man and zone. He has good hands, he is fearless, and he can run all the routes. It has been to watch him.”
Papa had nothing but great things to say about Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. Apparently Cardinal fans are not the only people excited about the redshirt freshman’s future:
“I am immensely impressed with him. I can not believe he is only a freshman. He is a fantastic player. He does everything. I have not studied, studied him, but I have watched him closely and I have not seen anything he can not do. I know he has gotten better as the season has progressed. But the last two games, he handles everything. This is a very complicated offense. There are a lot of pros that would not be able to handle the volume of what they do and they do it flawlessly. He is obviously an intelligent guy, book smart, and football smart. If God went into a laboratory and concocted a quarterback, it would be him. He is 6’4, 235-pounds, long body, great feet, he can handle all the movement stuff of the stretch run game, he can drop seven steps, he is accurate deep, he is accurate short, he is a phenomenal talent. I know the pro scouts think that no matter when he comes out he will be the first pick in the draft. Even if he were to come out this year, his measurables are off the charts.”
We delved a little deeper into the subject of Luck’s future in the NFL and where he might get selected. (A player is not eligible for the NFL draft until he is three years removed from high school. So Luck would not be eligible until after the 2010 season):
“Slam dunk. Whenever he chose to leave, from what I have been told, he is the number one pick anytime he comes out. He could walk in right now and compete in the NFL.”
Papa thinks his lineage probably has something to do with Luck’s early success:
“These second generation athletes are just so far ahead of guys that did not grow up around it. His father was a good player, and an excellent player in college. There have not been too many prospects when you factor everything in, the mind, the body, the heart, the lineage, I guess Peyton Manning. Peyton does not throw the ball deep like this guy (Luck). This guy has a much better arm throwing the ball deep.”
Papa says it makes sense that Stanford is the favorite, but he thinks Cal will make it a good game:
“To me it is the progress of Stanford’s defense that has been the story for me. When I watched them earlier in the year I felt for Ron (Lynn) because I know him and I just did not think they had a lot talent on that side of the ball. And they had given up some hellacious plays. Those two runs late in the game against Arizona were just horrific. Cal is very good offensively, even without Best, they can score. Shane Vereen is not quite Best but he is pretty darn good. In a lot of ways he gives them more of a pounding inside the tackle runner. I think if (Kevin) Riley plays the way he is capable, I think Cal can give them a game. But if he is errant, which he has been prone to do in the two big games, Oregon then USC, I think it will be tough. I think Cal will be able to slow them (Stanford) down some. But the way the Cardinal are playing now, 51 points on Oregon and 55 at USC is certainly eye-opening. Obviously Stanford is the favorite and if they play their game they will win. But I would not be surprised if Riley has a good game, Cal can keep it close.”
You can see Greg Papa and the crew of “Chronicle Live” on Friday November 20th at 5pm from Stanford University. The public is welcome to view the show which will occur at the football practice facility.
An all-star lineup of guests are scheduled to join the show, including Darrin Nelson (former Stanford football All-American, 11-year NFL veteran), Bob Murphy (‘Voice of the Cardinal,’ legendary Stanford radio broadcaster), Mike McLaughlin (former Stanford offensive lineman, current Stanford radio broadcaster), and Joe Kapp (member of the College Football Hall of Fame, former Cal quarterback and head coach). For more information on guests and to view video highlights from Chronicle Live’s special 112th Big Game show, visit CSNBayArea.com.
Chronicle Live, hosted by veteran Bay Area sports announcer Greg Papa, airs live Monday-Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., replays at 11:00 p.m., and features high-energy, interactive roundtable discussions covering the hottest sports stories and topics on the minds of sports fans throughout Northern California.
Comments
So this TV show is live on campus? Will there be some nut waving a Washington State flag in the background all broadcast?
Not sure what the background will be, but hopefully it does not include anything from the great northwest. :)
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