Lee Grosscup
Encyclopedia
Clyde Lee Edward Grosscup (born December 27, 1936, in Santa Monica, California
) is a former American football
player and broadcaster.
in 1955. He and three of his former high school teammates left the school after their freshman season; deciding to sit out a year instead of continuing to play for the "tyranical" John Cherberg
. He played at the University of Utah
in 1957 and 1958, leading a passing offense that was advanced for its time. Monday Night Football
analyst Al Michaels
credits Grosscup for developing the shovel pass or "Utah pass", although Grosscup acknowledges that the play was used in the 1920's.
Grosscup finished the 1957 season completing 94 of 137 passes (68.6%) for 1,398 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was named a first-team All-American by Look
, the Newspaper Enterprise Association
, the Williamson National Football Rating, and Today and finished tenth in that year's Heisman Trophy
balloting.
with the tenth overall pick in the 1959 NFL Draft
, Grosscup would only appear in eight games in his three seasons with the Giants. His contract was purchased Minnesota Vikings
in 1962, but was cut before the beginning of the season. This allowed Grosscup to return to New York, this time with the New York Titans
of the American Football League
. He began the season as the starter, but missed six weeks with a knee injury. Grosscup was cut on the final day of the 1963 preseason and signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders
three days later. That same year, Groscup released his first book, entitled Fourth and One.
After failing to make the San Francisco 49ers
, Grossup spent the 1964 season on the Oakland Raiders
' taxi squad. He was cut by the Raiders the following season and signed with the Hartford Charter Oaks of the newly formed Continental Football League
.
games for NBC
before beginning a twenty year stint as a college football analyst for ABC
.
Grosscup was also a broadcaster in the United States Football League
, first as a radio analyst for the Oakland Invaders
, then as a television analyst on ABC from 1984-1986.
From 1989-2003, Grosscup was the radio analyst for California Golden Bears football
broadcasts. He was let go in 2004 in favor of former Cal quarterback Mike Pawlawski
, despite Grosscup's willingness to continue until 2007. Since 2004 he has hosted "Post-Game at the Paragon!", a postgame radio show that is broadcast live from the Claremont Resort
's Paragon Bar & Cafe after Cal football games.
Grosscup was the radio analyst for the Sacramento Gold Miners
of the Canadian Football League
during the 1993
and 1994 CFL season
s.
Grosscup is a current voter in the Harris Interactive College Football Poll
.
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
) is a former American 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 and broadcaster.
Collegiate career
Grosscup was a quarterback for the Washington HuskiesWashington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
in 1955. He and three of his former high school teammates left the school after their freshman season; deciding to sit out a year instead of continuing to play for the "tyranical" John Cherberg
John Cherberg
-External links:*...
. He played at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
in 1957 and 1958, leading a passing offense that was advanced for its time. Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
analyst Al Michaels
Al Michaels
Alan Richard "Al" Michaels is an American television sportscaster. Now employed by NBC Sports after nearly three decades with ABC Sports, Michaels is one of the most prominent members of his profession...
credits Grosscup for developing the shovel pass or "Utah pass", although Grosscup acknowledges that the play was used in the 1920's.
Grosscup finished the 1957 season completing 94 of 137 passes (68.6%) for 1,398 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was named a first-team All-American by Look
Look (American magazine)
Look was a bi-weekly, general-interest magazine published in Des Moines, Iowa from 1937 to 1971, with more of an emphasis on photographs than articles...
, the Newspaper Enterprise Association
United Media
United Media is a large editorial column and comic strip newspaper syndication service based in the United States, owned by The E.W. Scripps Company. It syndicates 150 comics and editorial columns worldwide. Its core business is the United Feature Syndicate and the Newspaper Enterprise Association...
, the Williamson National Football Rating, and Today and finished tenth in that year's Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
balloting.
Professional career
Selected by the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
with the tenth overall pick in the 1959 NFL Draft
1959 NFL Draft
The 1959 National Football League Draft was held on December 2, 1958 and January 21, 1959 .-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:...
, Grosscup would only appear in eight games in his three seasons with the Giants. His contract was purchased Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
in 1962, but was cut before the beginning of the season. This allowed Grosscup to return to New York, this time with the New York Titans
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
. He began the season as the starter, but missed six weeks with a knee injury. Grosscup was cut on the final day of the 1963 preseason and signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
three days later. That same year, Groscup released his first book, entitled Fourth and One.
After failing to make the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, Grossup spent the 1964 season on 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...
' taxi squad. He was cut by the Raiders the following season and signed with the Hartford Charter Oaks of the newly formed Continental Football League
Continental Football League
The Continental Football League was a professional minor American football league that operated in North America from 1965 through 1969. It was established following the collapse of the original United Football League, and hoped to become the major force in professional football outside of the...
.
Broadcasting career
After the 1966 season, Grosscup began a career in broadcasting. His spent one season calling AFLAmerican Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
games for NBC
NFL on NBC
NFL on NBC is the brand given to NBC Sports coverage of National Football League games until 1998, when NBC lost the NFL American Football Conference rights to CBS...
before beginning a twenty year stint as a college football analyst for ABC
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...
.
Grosscup was also a broadcaster in 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...
, first as a radio analyst for the Oakland Invaders
Oakland Invaders
Oakland Invaders was a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League from 1983 through 1985.-In reaction to the Raiders relocating to Los Angeles:...
, then as a television analyst on ABC from 1984-1986.
From 1989-2003, Grosscup was the radio analyst for California Golden Bears football
California Golden Bears football
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...
broadcasts. He was let go in 2004 in favor of former Cal quarterback Mike Pawlawski
Mike Pawlawski
Mike Pawlawski Mike Pawlawski Mike Pawlawski (born July 18, 1969 in Los Angeles, California is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League, Arena Football League, and XFL. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the eighth round of the 1992 NFL Draft...
, despite Grosscup's willingness to continue until 2007. Since 2004 he has hosted "Post-Game at the Paragon!", a postgame radio show that is broadcast live from the Claremont Resort
Claremont Resort
The Claremont Hotel Club & Spa is a historic hotel at the foot of Claremont Canyon in the Berkeley Hills, providing the resort with scenic views of San Francisco Bay. The hotel building is entirely in Oakland, bordering Berkeley....
's Paragon Bar & Cafe after Cal football games.
Grosscup was the radio analyst for the Sacramento Gold Miners
Sacramento Gold Miners
The Sacramento Gold Miners were a Canadian football team based in Sacramento, California. The franchise was the first American team in the Canadian Football League. The Gold Miners were originally the "descendants" of the Sacramento Surge from the defunct World League of American Football...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
during the 1993
1993 CFL season
The 1993 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 40th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 36th Canadian Football League season.-CFL news in 1993:...
and 1994 CFL season
1994 CFL season
The 1994 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 41st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 37th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1994:...
s.
Grosscup is a current voter in the Harris Interactive College Football Poll
Harris Interactive College Football Poll
The Harris Interactive College Football Poll is a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football teams. The rankings are compiled by Harris Interactive, a market research company that specializes in Internet research....
.