Craig Whelihan
Encyclopedia
Craig Dominic Whelihan is an arena football
quarterback
with the San Jose SaberCats
in the Arena Football League. He attended the University of the Pacific.
and was a letterman in football
, baseball
and basketball
. In football, as a senior, he passed for 1,314 yards and 11 touchdowns.
, sitting out freshman season as a redshirt
. He transferred to the University of the Pacific playing both his sophomore and junior years. He ended his college career
ranked third on the school's list for completions (300), attempts (591) and TDs (27).
in 1995
in the sixth round and played for the team for four seasons, mostly as a backup quarterback. He threw 3,160 yards, scoring 14 touchdowns and threw 29 interceptions for a QB rating
of 52.4, according to NFL.com. He signed with the Oakland Raiders
and attended training camp in 2000. Whelihan played in the XFL
in 2001 with the Memphis Maniax
and the Chicago Enforcers
.
career at a stalemate, and the XFL defunct, Whelihan took his talents to the Arena Football League. Since 2001, Whelihan has played for three different AFL teams: the Orlando Predators
(2001-2002, 2004), the Indiana Firebirds
(2003), and Las Vegas Gladiators
(2005-2006).
Whelihan signed with the San Diego Riptide
in 2005, but left for the Las Vegas Gladiators
before he ever took a snap. In 2007, he served as the backup quarterback and holder
for the ArenaBowl XXI
champion San Jose SaberCats
.
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
with the San Jose SaberCats
San Jose SaberCats
The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
in the Arena Football League. He attended the University of the Pacific.
High school years
Whelilhan attended Santa Teresa High SchoolSanta Teresa High School
Santa Teresa High School secondary school located in the suburban southern region of San Jose, California, United States. The school is part of the East Side Union High School District , serving students in grades 9-12...
and was a letterman in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. In football, as a senior, he passed for 1,314 yards and 11 touchdowns.
College years
Whelihan originally attended Oregon State UniversityOregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
, sitting out freshman season as 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...
. He transferred to the University of the Pacific playing both his sophomore and junior years. He ended his college career
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
ranked third on the school's list for completions (300), attempts (591) and TDs (27).
NFL and XFL careers
Whelihan was drafted by the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1995
1995 NFL Draft
The 1995 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1995 at the Paramount Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City...
in the sixth round and played for the team for four seasons, mostly as a backup quarterback. He threw 3,160 yards, scoring 14 touchdowns and threw 29 interceptions for a QB rating
Passer rating
Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. There are at least two formulae currently in use: one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League, and one used in college football...
of 52.4, according to NFL.com. He signed with the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and attended training camp in 2000. Whelihan played in the XFL
XFL
The XFL was a professional American football league that played for one season in 2001. The league was founded by Vince McMahon, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of WWE...
in 2001 with the Memphis Maniax
Memphis Maniax
The Memphis Maniax was an American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team was part of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States...
and the Chicago Enforcers
Chicago Enforcers
The Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States...
.
Arena Football League career
With his National Football LeagueNational 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...
career at a stalemate, and the XFL defunct, Whelihan took his talents to the Arena Football League. Since 2001, Whelihan has played for three different AFL teams: the Orlando Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
(2001-2002, 2004), the Indiana Firebirds
Indiana Firebirds
The Indiana Firebirds were a team in the Arena Football League.The team was based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Home games were played at the Conseco Fieldhouse, also the home of the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association and Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball...
(2003), and Las Vegas Gladiators
Las Vegas Gladiators
The Cleveland Gladiators are an arena football franchise based in Cleveland, Ohio which plays in the Arena Football League. The team is part of the East division of the AFL's American Conference. The Gladiators play all of their home games at Quicken Loans Arena, which they share with the NBA's...
(2005-2006).
Whelihan signed with the San Diego Riptide
San Diego Riptide
The San Diego Riptide is a defunct Arena Football League af2 team. The team played its home games at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, California.The team was originally coached by Cree Morris, then Mouse Davis and then Sean Ponder....
in 2005, but left for the Las Vegas Gladiators
Las Vegas Gladiators
The Cleveland Gladiators are an arena football franchise based in Cleveland, Ohio which plays in the Arena Football League. The team is part of the East division of the AFL's American Conference. The Gladiators play all of their home games at Quicken Loans Arena, which they share with the NBA's...
before he ever took a snap. In 2007, he served as the backup quarterback and holder
Holder (American football)
In American football the holder is the player who receives the snap during field goal and extra point attempts made by place kick. The holder is usually positioned between seven and eight yards behind the line of scrimmage. The holder kneels down and places the hand farthest from the line of...
for the ArenaBowl XXI
ArenaBowl XXI
ArenaBowl XXI was the 2007 championship game of the Arena Football League and was played at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday, July 29, 2007. It was the third-ever neutral site title game in league's history and the first held in the state of Louisiana...
champion San Jose SaberCats
San Jose SaberCats
The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
.