The series is called “Where are they now” but in the case of Mike McLaughlin we already know. The former Stanford football center currently can be heard on the Stanford radio broadcasts. McLaughlin starred in the middle of the Stanford offensive line from 1996 through the Rose Bowl in January, 2000. Mike was nice enough to join me for a nice conversation about what he is doing now, his past at Stanford, and also his thoughts on the upcoming season.
Q: What are you doing now?
I guess my real job is working for Cisco Systems. I work in their emerging technology group where I help launch new businesses for Cisco
Q: how long have you been with Cisco?
Four years. I came in as a consultant with a group that Cisco had, and now I have been at this job for two years.
Q: Is this something that your majored in or is this something you developed after school?
I was an economics major and worked on my masters in sociology, so this is something sort of similar but not terribly similar. It is a little entrepreneurial. There are a lot of things I have learned in time and in college that has helped in this role.
Q: The other role people know you very well from is broadcasting, are you still doing that?
I just talked to Learfield sports a couple of weeks ago. I am all signed up to do all the radio broadcasts and the Inside Stanford Sports Show. I am still not sure what I am doing for TV, if I am going to do a game for Comcast or not. Hopefully I will do that and then I will be on Chronicle Live throughout the season.
Q: How do you like broadcasting?
A: It is a lot of fun. It is a great way to stay involved with the program. I just enjoy it. For me it is a good thing to keep me involved, knowing who the players are. As you come out of the program you know the players you played with. But as a fan it really makes me understand the players more and who they are and where they come from and how they are doing. So that is fun from that aspect. I just really enjoy being able to help the program out because it gave so much to me.
Q: Do you still keep in touch with your former teammates?
Yeah, not too long ago Greg Schindler moved into the house across the street from me. Yeah, we keep in touch. Todd (Husak) and I are really close from the broadcast. Facebook is a great way to keep in touch with everyone which has been a lot of fun. A lot of guys have been able to get on there and you can catch up with guys. Hey if I am going to a city, I can see who is there and catch up with them when I am in town. It is a close nit family even beyond what we have experienced in college.
Q: The comraderie that comes from playing college football, that bond has to be a little stronger than most of us who go to school and have friends?
Coach Harbaugh loves to say the greatest fraternity in the world is a football team. It is true. When I was playing for Coach Willingham, there would be a large percentage of the team, 60, 70 guys, that would go and do something as a group, which can be scary, but also a lot of fun. You spend so much time together. Not everyone likes everyone but everyone respects everyone else and gets along. Your teammates are always there for you whether it is on the field or off the field. I always felt that way.
REST OF THE SERIES
PART TWO: Remembering the Rose Bowl year
Comments