Craig James
Encyclopedia
Jesse Craig James is an American
sports commentator
for games on the ABC
and ESPN
television networks. Prior to becoming a sportscaster, James was a professional football
player for the New England Patriots
of the National Football League
and for the Washington Federals of the United States Football League
.
in Houston, Texas, where he was a star on Stratford's 1978 Texas class 4A championship football team, setting the single-season Texas 4A rushing record with 2,411 yards gained in 15 games. James, a running back
, also attended Southern Methodist University
. In the 1980 Holiday Bowl
(known as the Miracle Bowl
), James' offensive production of 225 rushing yards and 9.9 yards/carry were not enough as SMU lost the Holiday Bowl while he set records that stood for 13 and 15 years respectively. In 1982, he scored on a 96-yard touchdown
reception to set a new record as the longest scoring play in Southwest Conference history.
After his senior season in 1982, James was drafted by the Washington Federals of the USFL with the 4th overall pick in the spring league's inaugural draft. James subsequently signed with the Federals a week after being drafted.
His first pro season in Washington saw James and the Feds struggle to a 4–14 record. He rushed for 823 yards and 4 TDs in 14 games (starting 14). He also caught 40 passes out of the backfield that season.
The following year, 1984, James suffered a knee injury on Sunday, March 4, in a game at RFK against the Philadelphia Stars. He was placed on injured reserve later that week. He was subsequently released by the cash-strapped Federals a month later, allowing him to join the Patriots for their training camp in August that year.
According to James, speaking on an ESPN broadcast of the Florida State Seminoles
vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
, the first player to tackle him in the NFL was Lawrence Taylor
.
With the Patriots, he was named Offensive Player of the Year by the Vince Lombardi Committee in 1985
and started in both the 1985 Pro Bowl
and Super Bowl XX
.
In the 1985–86 season
, James rushed for 1,227 yards, becoming the last white
player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season, until Peyton Hillis
reached that mark in 2010. This achievement has garnered him the nickname "The Great White Hope". He was a major factor in the Patriots' 31–14 upset win over the Miami Dolphins
in the AFC title game, rushing for a career postseason high of 105 yards. However, he was dominated by the Chicago Bears'
defense in Super Bowl XX
, which held him to only 1 yard on 5 carries.
James retired from the NFL after the 1988 season
, having rushed for 2,469 yards and eleven touchdowns in his five seasons with the Patriots. He also had 819 yards receiving and two touchdown catches.
as a studio analyst on the College GameDay and College Football Scoreboard programs. Craig worked the Game Day Desk with Lee Corso and would pick up the nickname Mustang Breath from Lee in the 'Not So Fast' segment on their pick 'em segment. In 1996, he joined CBS
where he served as a studio analyst on their College Football Today
as well as The NFL Today
programs before becoming a game analyst on NFL on CBS
with Kevin Harlan
. During his CBS
stint, he also served as a reporter during the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship as well as the 1998 Winter Olympics
. In 2003, James moved to ABC
. He served as a studio analyst on their college football coverage
through the 2008 season. He also appears as an analyst on ESPN's Thursday night package
as well as other college football programs such as College Football Live
. He is now teamed with Mike Patrick
and sideline reporter Heather Cox
as game analyst for the 2009 season, working ESPN on ABC
Saturday afternoon broadcasts, while still working the Thursday night package
.
James also operates his own broadcasting school, eponymously called the Craig James School of Broadcasting.
James said in 1998 that the Wisconsin Badgers
were "the worst team to ever play in the Rose Bowl
." Wisconsin went on to defeat #6 UCLA
38–31 in the 1999 Rose Bowl
. Afterward, Badger coach Barry Alvarez
fired back, "Well, I know we're at least the second worst."
James is a voter in the AP college football poll
, and has received some attention and criticism for his reported tendency to give low votes to teams from outside the Automatic Qualifying conferences, such as Boise State
and TCU
.
with his wife Marilyn and their four children. His brother Chris
was a Major League Baseball
player from 1986 through 1995. His son Adam is a redshirt
Junior receiver for Texas Tech
.
. Leach allegedly had Adam twice stand in a shed for two hours during practice. In light of the allegations, ESPN removed James from announcing the Alamo Bowl, replacing him with Bob Davie. In a lawsuit filed by Leach against Texas Tech, he alleges that Adam "voluntarily placed himself into the electrical closet and apparently took pictures with his phone camera." In response, James stated, "Since the James family is not a party to the lawsuit, we deem it inappropriate to discuss it."
Leach later filed suit against James and others for defamation related to the publicity surrounding this incident.
. James is a self-described "conservative" and states that government intervention in business and health care are his main concerns. He has founded a political group called Texans for a Better America. James has said that he would not rule out running for the United States Senate
seat currently held by Kay Bailey Hutchison
in 2012
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sports commentator
Sports commentator
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
for games on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
and ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
television networks. Prior to becoming a sportscaster, James was a professional football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and for the Washington Federals of the United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
.
Football
James attended Stratford High SchoolStratford High School (Houston)
Stratford High School is a secondary school in Houston, Texas, United States. The school is one of four high schools in the Spring Branch Independent School District , the district's westernmost secondary school...
in Houston, Texas, where he was a star on Stratford's 1978 Texas class 4A championship football team, setting the single-season Texas 4A rushing record with 2,411 yards gained in 15 games. James, a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, also attended Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
. In the 1980 Holiday Bowl
Holiday Bowl
The Holiday Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that has been played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, since 1978. Beginning with the 2010 playing the bowl will officially be known as the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl after...
(known as the Miracle Bowl
Miracle Bowl
The 1980 Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 19, 1980 in San Diego, California. It was part of the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. The game is famous due to a furious fourth quarter rally - including a last-second "miracle" touchdown - that gave the BYU Cougars a...
), James' offensive production of 225 rushing yards and 9.9 yards/carry were not enough as SMU lost the Holiday Bowl while he set records that stood for 13 and 15 years respectively. In 1982, he scored on a 96-yard touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
reception to set a new record as the longest scoring play in Southwest Conference history.
After his senior season in 1982, James was drafted by the Washington Federals of the USFL with the 4th overall pick in the spring league's inaugural draft. James subsequently signed with the Federals a week after being drafted.
His first pro season in Washington saw James and the Feds struggle to a 4–14 record. He rushed for 823 yards and 4 TDs in 14 games (starting 14). He also caught 40 passes out of the backfield that season.
The following year, 1984, James suffered a knee injury on Sunday, March 4, in a game at RFK against the Philadelphia Stars. He was placed on injured reserve later that week. He was subsequently released by the cash-strapped Federals a month later, allowing him to join the Patriots for their training camp in August that year.
According to James, speaking on an ESPN broadcast of the Florida State Seminoles
Florida State Seminoles
The Florida State Seminoles are the men's and women's sports teams of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State participates in the NCAA's Division I . FSU joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1991, and competes in the Atlantic Division in any sports split into a...
vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina Tar Heels
The North Carolina Tar Heels are the athletic teams for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the Tar Heel State...
, the first player to tackle him in the NFL was Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
.
With the Patriots, he was named Offensive Player of the Year by the Vince Lombardi Committee in 1985
1985 New England Patriots season
The 1985 New England Patriots season was the 16th season for the team in the National Football League and 26th season overall. The Patriots had a record of eleven wins and five losses, and finished tied for second in the AFC East division. They lost in Super Bowl XX to the Chicago Bears...
and started in both the 1985 Pro Bowl
1985 Pro Bowl
The 1985 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on January 27, 1985 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final Score was AFC 22, NFC 14. Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets was the game's MVP. The referee was Chuck Heberling....
and Super Bowl XX
Super Bowl XX
Super Bowl XX was an American football championship game played on January 26, 1986 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1985 regular season...
.
In the 1985–86 season
1985 NFL season
The 1985 NFL season was the 66th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XX when the Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots.-Major rule changes:...
, James rushed for 1,227 yards, becoming the last white
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season, until Peyton Hillis
Peyton Hillis
Hillis was selected by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.-2008 Season:At the start of the 2008 season, Hillis was listed as the Broncos' starting fullback...
reached that mark in 2010. This achievement has garnered him the nickname "The Great White Hope". He was a major factor in the Patriots' 31–14 upset win over the Miami Dolphins
1985 Miami Dolphins season
The 1985 Miami Dolphins season was the 20th season in franchise history. The club won their fourth consecutive AFC East championship and appeared in the AFC Championship Game.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Monday Night game vs...
in the AFC title game, rushing for a career postseason high of 105 yards. However, he was dominated by the Chicago Bears'
1985 Chicago Bears season
The 1985 Chicago Bears season was their 66th regular season and 16th post-season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 15-1 record, earning them the top seed in the NFC for the playoffs. The Bears defeated their three post season opponents by a combined score of 91-10 en...
defense in Super Bowl XX
Super Bowl XX
Super Bowl XX was an American football championship game played on January 26, 1986 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1985 regular season...
, which held him to only 1 yard on 5 carries.
James retired from the NFL after the 1988 season
1988 NFL season
The 1988 NFL season was the 69th regular season of the National Football League. The Cardinals relocated from St. Louis, Missouri to the Phoenix, Arizona area becoming the Phoenix Cardinals but remained in the NFC East division....
, having rushed for 2,469 yards and eleven touchdowns in his five seasons with the Patriots. He also had 819 yards receiving and two touchdown catches.
Radio and television
After his retirement from playing in 1989, James went on to become a radio analyst for SMU college football games and then the sports anchor for KDFW-TV. During this time, he also appeared on ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
as a studio analyst on the College GameDay and College Football Scoreboard programs. Craig worked the Game Day Desk with Lee Corso and would pick up the nickname Mustang Breath from Lee in the 'Not So Fast' segment on their pick 'em segment. In 1996, he joined CBS
CBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
where he served as a studio analyst on their College Football Today
SEC on CBS
The SEC on CBS is a presentation of the college football television package owned by CBS Sports...
as well as The NFL Today
The NFL Today
The NFL Today is an American sports series that precedes the American football program The NFL on CBS on CBS Sports. The program usually airs at noon on Sundays of the National Football League regular season...
programs before becoming a game analyst on NFL on CBS
NFL on CBS
The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
with Kevin Harlan
Kevin Harlan
Kevin Harlan is an American television sports announcer. The son of former Green Bay Packers executive Bob Harlan, he currently broadcasts NFL and college basketball games on CBS. Harlan is also a play-by-play announcer for the NBA on TNT...
. During his CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
stint, he also served as a reporter during the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship as well as the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
. In 2003, James moved to ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
. He served as a studio analyst on their college football coverage
College Football on ABC
ESPN College Football on ABC presented by Kay Jewelers is a presentation of the American Broadcasting Company's regular season American college football television package...
through the 2008 season. He also appears as an analyst on ESPN's Thursday night package
ESPN College Football Thursday Primetime
ESPN College Football Primetime is a live game presentation of Division 1-A college football on ESPN. In the past, the presenting sponsor was Cooper Tires, but since the 2006 season, the current presenting sponsor is Applebee's. The game telecast airs every Thursday night at 7:45pm ET during the...
as well as other college football programs such as College Football Live
College Football Live
College Football Live is a show that airs weekdays on ESPN or ESPN2, and ESPNU. Its premiere was on Monday, July 23, 2007. Rece Davis is the lead host, but it also features ESPN college football analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Lou Holtz, Mark May, Desmond Howard, Bob Griese, and others...
. He is now teamed with Mike Patrick
Mike Patrick
Mike Patrick is an American sportscaster.-Career:Patrick began his broadcasting career in the fall of 1966 at WVSC-Radio in Somerset, Pa. In 1970, he was named Sports Director at WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Fla., where he provided play-by-play for Jacksonville Sharks' World Football League telecasts...
and sideline reporter Heather Cox
Heather Cox
Heather Cox is an American Sportscaster who is a sideline reporter for WNBA, NBA, college basketball and college football games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC Sports. As Heather Schoeny, she played college volleyball at University of the Pacific...
as game analyst for the 2009 season, working ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
Saturday afternoon broadcasts, while still working the Thursday night package
ESPN College Football Thursday Primetime
ESPN College Football Primetime is a live game presentation of Division 1-A college football on ESPN. In the past, the presenting sponsor was Cooper Tires, but since the 2006 season, the current presenting sponsor is Applebee's. The game telecast airs every Thursday night at 7:45pm ET during the...
.
James also operates his own broadcasting school, eponymously called the Craig James School of Broadcasting.
James said in 1998 that the Wisconsin Badgers
1998 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 1998 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season.-Season:Wisconsin finished the regular season 10-1 overall and were co-champions of the Big Ten Conference for the first time since 1993...
were "the worst team to ever play in the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
." Wisconsin went on to defeat #6 UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
38–31 in the 1999 Rose Bowl
1999 Rose Bowl
The 1999 Rose Bowl was the 85th Rose Bowl game and was played on Friday January 1, 1999 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. It was a college football bowl game at the end of the 1998 college football season. Wisconsin defeated by a score of 38-31. Ron Dayne of Wisconsin was named...
. Afterward, Badger coach Barry Alvarez
Barry Alvarez
Barry Alvarez is a former American football player and coach and currently the Director of Athletics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He served as the head football coach at Wisconsin for 16 seasons from 1990 to 2005, compiling a career college football record of 118–73–4...
fired back, "Well, I know we're at least the second worst."
James is a voter in the AP college football poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
, and has received some attention and criticism for his reported tendency to give low votes to teams from outside the Automatic Qualifying conferences, such as Boise State
Boise State Broncos football
This page discusses the Boise State football program. For more Boise State athletics, see Boise State Broncos.The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I as a member of the Mountain West...
and TCU
TCU Horned Frogs football
The TCU Horned Frogs football team is the intercollegiate football team of Texas Christian University. TCU competes as a member of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, but will move to the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season. TCU began playing football...
.
Family
He now lives in Celina, TexasCelina, Texas
Celina is a city in Collin and Denton County, Texas, United States. Celina has a population of 5,200 according to the 2010 census.-Geography:Celina is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
with his wife Marilyn and their four children. His brother Chris
Chris James
Donald Chris James was a utility Major League Baseball player with a 10 year career from 1986 to 1995. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros all of the National League and the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals and...
was a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player from 1986 through 1995. His son Adam is a redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
Junior receiver for Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
.
Texas Tech controversy
James' son, Adam, was the center of the controversy that resulted in Texas Tech suspending, and later firing, head football coach Mike Leach shortly before the 2010 Alamo Bowl2010 Alamo Bowl (January)
The 2010 Alamo Bowl was the seventeenth edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday, January 2, 2010. The game featured the Michigan State Spartans against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.The 2010 game was the last one to feature a team...
. Leach allegedly had Adam twice stand in a shed for two hours during practice. In light of the allegations, ESPN removed James from announcing the Alamo Bowl, replacing him with Bob Davie. In a lawsuit filed by Leach against Texas Tech, he alleges that Adam "voluntarily placed himself into the electrical closet and apparently took pictures with his phone camera." In response, James stated, "Since the James family is not a party to the lawsuit, we deem it inappropriate to discuss it."
Leach later filed suit against James and others for defamation related to the publicity surrounding this incident.
Politics
In an interview with WFAA-TV in Dallas, James revealed that he is interested in getting involved in politics as a member of the Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. James is a self-described "conservative" and states that government intervention in business and health care are his main concerns. He has founded a political group called Texans for a Better America. James has said that he would not rule out running for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seat currently held by Kay Bailey Hutchison
Kay Bailey Hutchison
Kathryn Ann Bailey Hutchison, known as Kay Bailey Hutchison , is the senior United States Senator from Texas.She is a member of the Republican Party. In 2001, she was named one of the thirty most powerful women in America by Ladies Home Journal. The first woman to represent Texas in the U.S....
in 2012
United States Senate election in Texas, 2012
The 2012 United States Senate election in Texas will be held on November 6, 2012 along other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives. Incumbent Republican U.S...
.
External links
- Craig James ESPN Bio
- Craig James bio on CBS SportsLine
- Craig James statistics on Pro Football Reference
- Craig James articles on ESPN.com
- Article on 1978 Stratford Spartans football team, Houston Chronicle