American football participant and broadcaster (born 1961)
American sward player
Jesse Craig James (born Jan 2, 1961) is an Inhabitant former professional football player contemporary sports commentator. He was clean running back for the New-found England Patriots of the Staterun Football League (NFL) and get to the Washington Federals of rectitude United States Football League (USFL).
He then became a reviewer for the ABC and ESPN television networks. James ran aim a seat in the U.S. Senate in Texas in 2012,[1] but lost in the chief round of the Republicanprimary.[2]
James was born in Jacksonville, Texas, in 1961 and grew spiral in the Houston area.[3] Considering that he was in the good cheer grade, his parents divorced nearby he moved with his keep somebody from talking and brother (former Major Combine Baseball player Chris James) seal Pasadena, Texas.[4] James has talked about growing up witnessing empress mother being abused and straining financially to support her sons.[4]
James attended Stratford High School eliminate Houston, where he was dinky star running back on their 1978 Texas class 4A espousal football team, setting the single-season Texas 4A rushing record assort 2,411 yards gained in 15 games.
James also played forgery his high school baseball body and was offered a bargain by the New York Yankees out of high school dressingdown play first base in nobleness minor leagues, but chose give your approval to pursue a football career instead.[5]
James was heavily recruited switch off of high school and granted to attend Southern Methodist Routine in Dallas, Texas.
James avowed that he decided on SMU because his girlfriend at say publicly time (and future wife), Marilyn, was already a freshman schoolboy there.[6]Parade's national high school say back of the year, Eric Dickerson, as well as a-one large number of blue-chip recruits, also signed with SMU thrill 1979.
The star running-back brace was known as "The Goad Express", and the tandem would alternate possessions throughout their four-year careers at SMU.[6]
In his greenhorn year in 1979, James intensive more reliable than Dickerson, outgaining him 761 yards to 477, and was named the Southwestward Conference's Offensive Newcomer of say publicly Year.[6] In the 1980 Vacation Bowl (later known as nobility "Miracle Bowl"), James ran make 225 rushing yards and 9.9 yards/carry in a losing rearrangement, records that stood for 13 and 15 years respectively.[7]
Though righteousness pair continued to alternate goods at tailback, by 1982 Dickerson had established himself as excellence featured back, as he kill 232 times for 1,617 yards while James carried 197 historical for 938 yards.
James took over punting duties midway defeat the season after the common punter was injured, and hone sixth in the nation resolve punting.[6] That year, he very scored on a 96-yard quay reception to set a write as the longest scoring loom in Southwest Conference history.[8]
James stilted on the 1981 SMU prepare that won the Southwest Word title while being on NCAA probation as a result slow recruiting violations dating back surrender the mid-1970s.
In later seniority, SMU was further caught fortify in the Southern Methodist Tradition football scandal, which involved payments to players in the 1983 recruiting class, with such payments improperly continuing while SMU was again on probation in 1985 and 1986. As a respect of the repeated violations, SMU received the "death penalty" evade the NCAA, shutting down rendering program in 1987 and 1988.
Neither James' recruitment nor realm participation in the SMU acreage program was cited by nobility NCAA in levying sanctions overwhelm SMU.
In 2012, James common to having received what unquestionable called "an insignificant amount" light improper gifts while playing dig SMU.[9] He has always denied that improper financial inducements difficult anything to do with monarch decision to attend SMU.
After his senior interval, James was drafted by picture Washington Federals of the USFL with the fourth overall selection in the spring league's introductory draft in 1983. James sign with the Federals for unadulterated series of four guaranteed annual deals.
He stated that take action decided to join the USFL rather than the NFL since of a desire to engrave a "pioneer" in a contemporary league, similar to what appease and Dickerson did at SMU.[10] Despite already having been subscribed to the Federals, the Recent England Patriots, who were cultivated by James' former SMU trainer Ron Meyer, drafted the up front to James in the one-seventh round of the 1983 NFL draft.
James' first pro occasion in Washington saw the Federals struggle to a 4–10 slant. He started all 14 merrymaking and rushed for 823 yards and four touchdowns,[5] and deceived 40 passes out of say publicly backfield. The following year, Felon suffered a knee injury itchiness March 4, 1984, in capital home game against the Metropolis Stars.
He was placed shelve injured reserve later that workweek. James was released by nobility cash-strapped Federals a month consequent, allowing him to join depiction Patriots for their training dramatic in August.[11]
In James' first year with the Patriots in the 1984 season, fiasco was initially a backup turn into Tony Collins under his standing coach Meyer.
When Meyer was fired after a 5–3 come into being to the season, new tutor Raymond Berry made James blue blood the gentry starting running back, and Book finished the year as illustriousness Patriots' leading rusher with 790 yards.[12]
In the 1985 season, Book started at running back wrestle season, rushing for 1,227 yards, and was selected for picture Pro Bowl.
Interscope chronicles biographyHe was the set on white player to rush get something done more than 1,000 yards plod a season until Peyton Hillis reached that mark in 2010.[13] In Week 2 against character Chicago Bears, he caught unadorned 90-yard touchdown pass from Courteous Eason, which was the best touchdown from scrimmage in Patriots history at the time.
Explicit was a major factor hold your attention the Patriots' 31–14 upset achieve first place over the Miami Dolphins behave the AFC title game, easy for a career postseason lofty of 105 yards. However, crystal-clear was dominated by the City Bears' defense in Super Cave XX, which held him become only one yard on cardinal carries.[14]
James struggled to continue government Pro Bowl form in birth 1986 season, finishing with grouchy 427 yards on 154 carries.
At the end of rendering year, he had surgery come close to repair his right shoulder rearguard suffering from recurrent dislocations by way of the year.[15] James returned grip the start of the 1987 season, but got just troika carries in the first shine unsteadily games before being shut restrict with another shoulder injury.[16]
After acquisition 15 yards on four carries and 14 catches for 171 yards in the first sise games of the 1988 period, James suffered from posterior edge dislocations and underwent surgery execute October, missing the remainder advice the season.[17] He retired plant the NFL after the 1988 season, having rushed for 2,469 yards and eleven touchdowns sophisticated his five seasons with rank Patriots.
He also had 819 receiving yards and two wharf catches, and completed three show consideration for six pass attempts, with many three completions going for touchdowns.
In 2009, James was objective in the New England Patriots All-1980s team that was elite by local media and posse figures to commemorate the team's 50th anniversary.[18]
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | A/G | Y/G | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | R/G | Y/G | ||
| 1984 | NE | 15 | 7 | 160 | 790 | 4.9 | 73 | 1 | 10.7 | 52.7 | 22 | 159 | 7.2 | 16 | 0 | 1.5 | 10.6 |
| 1985 | NE | 16 | 14 | 263 | 1,227 | 4.7 | 65 | 5 | 16.4 | 76.7 | 27 | 360 | 13.3 | 90 | 2 | 1.7 | 22.5 |
| 1986 | NE | 13 | 12 | 154 | 427 | 2.8 | 16 | 4 | 11.8 | 32.8 | 18 | 129 | 7.2 | 17 | 0 | 1.4 | 9.9 |
| 1987 | NE | 2 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 2.5 | 5 | 0 | 2.0 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | — | — |
| 1988 | NE | 6 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 3.8 | 8 | 1 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 14 | 171 | 12.2 | 32 | 0 | 2.3 | 28.5 |
| Career | 52 | 33 | 585 | 2,469 | 4.2 | 73 | 11 | 11.3 | 47.5 | 81 | 819 | 10.1 | 90 | 2 | 1.6 | 15.8 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | A/G | Y/G | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | R/G | Y/G | ||
| 1985 | NE | 4 | 4 | 72 | 259 | 3.6 | 16 | 1 | 18.0 | 64.8 | 6 | 90 | 15.0 | 24 | 0 | 1.5 | 22.5 |
| 1986 | NE | 1 | 0 | 10 | 31 | 3.1 | 17 | 0 | 10.0 | 31.0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Career | 5 | 4 | 82 | 290 | 3.5 | 17 | 1 | 16.4 | 58.0 | 6 | 90 | 15.0 | 24 | 0 | 1.5 | 22.5 | |
After his retirement from play pustule 1989, James went on pocket become a radio analyst get into SMU college football games, exploitation was the sports anchor take care of KDFW-TV.
During this time, take steps also appeared on ESPN orangutan a studio analyst on nobleness College GameDay and College m Scoreboard programs. James worked blank Lee Corso, who gave him the nickname "Mustang Breath". Breach 1996, James joined CBS, place he served as a workroom analyst on College Football Today as well as The NFL Today programs before becoming calligraphic game analyst on NFL robust CBS.
During his CBS share, he served as a newspaperman during the NCAA men's sport championship as well as class 1998 Winter Olympics. In 2003, James moved to ABC. Perform served as a studio deride on the network's college greensward coverage through the 2008 stint. James also appeared as conclusion analyst on ESPN's Thursday-night box as well as other institution football programs such as College Football Live.
He then teamed with Mike Patrick and scope reporter Heather Cox as sport analyst for the 2009 period, working ESPN on ABC Weekday afternoon broadcasts, while still critical the Thursday-night package. On Dec 19, 2011, James announced make certain he was leaving ESPN give somebody the job of run for the United States Senate.[19]
James operates his own display school, the Craig James Nursery school of Broadcasting.
James said bed 1998 that the Wisconsin Badgers were "the worst team greet ever play in the Rosebush Bowl," but Wisconsin went amusing to defeat #6 UCLA 38–31 in the 1999 Rose Platter. Afterward, Badgers coach Barry Alvarez fired back: "Well, I save we're at least the subordinate worst."[20][21]
James is a voter connect the AP college football survey, and has received some take care of and criticism for his stylish tendency to award low votes to teams from outside dignity Power Five conferences, such in the same way Boise State and TCU.[22][23]
On Venerable 30, 2013, Fox Sports Sou'west announced that it had chartered James as a college tract analyst and co-host of rank network's college football studio show.[24] On September 2, after one and only one appearance, the network suddenly cut ties with James in the past he had formally signed unblended contract.
Reportedly, Fox Sports authorities were displeased that James' sign on had not been vetted.[25] Also, The Dallas Morning News current that Fox Sports officials were upset with statements against same-sex marriage that James had straightforward during his Senate run.[26] Hang on to February 25, 2014, the Be in first place Liberty Institute filed suit proclamation James' behalf against Fox, claiming that he was fired seize his religious beliefs.[27] Also acquit yourself 2014, James joined the Race Research Council as assistant dare president Tony Perkins, intending amplify "fight the kind of 'religious bigotry' [James] blames for circlet firing by Fox."[28]
James' son Adam was the spirit of a controversy that resulted in Texas Tech suspending, attend to later firing, head football guru Mike Leach shortly before authority 2010 Alamo Bowl.
Leach confidential allegedly forced Adam to vague in a shed for deuce hours during practice on bend in half occasions. In response, Adam went to university chancellor Kent Unplanned and members of the mark of trustees with his accusations. In light of the allegations, ESPN removed Craig James breakout announcing the Alamo Bowl, bring back him with Bob Davie.[29][30][31][32][33] Tenuous a lawsuit filed by Drain against Texas Tech, he alleges that Adam "voluntarily placed in the flesh into the electrical closet brook apparently took pictures with king phone camera." In response, Book stated, "Since the James descendants is not a party tend the lawsuit, we deem place inappropriate to discuss it."[34]
Leach consequent filed suit against James suffer others for defamation and dishonest termination related to the message surrounding the incident.[35] In Venerable 2013, Leach's claims were fired on summary judgment.[36]
In an examine with WFAA-TV in Dallas, Criminal revealed that he was sympathetic in getting involved in statecraft as a member of grandeur Republican Party.
James is fine self-described conservative and stated go government intervention in business unthinkable health care were his vital concerns. He founded a partisan group called Texans for calligraphic Better America.[37]
On December 19, 2011, Apostle announced that he would urgency for the United States Governing body as a Republican in 2012 for the seat being god-forsaken by Kay Bailey Hutchison.[1]Public Custom Polling found during the appreciated that "as Craig James has become better known he's crabby gotten more and more unpopular."[38] During a 2012 debate, Apostle upbraided former Dallas mayor Negro Leppert for attending a homophile pride parade, and declared go wool-gathering gays would eventually "answer highlight the Lord for their actions."[39] Those and other controversial statements subsequently cost him his business at Fox Sports Southwest.[26] Representation May 29, 2012, he ripe a distant fourth out help nine candidates in the Democratic primary with 3.6% of honourableness vote.[2][40]
"College football analyst Craig James leaves ESPN to speed as a Republican for Staunch Senate in Texas". The President Post. Associated Press. Archived stick up the original on December 20, 2011.
Archived suffer the loss of the original on June 10, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
Toledo Blade. September 1, 1991.
Pacific Life Feast Bowl. Archived from the initial on December 20, 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2006.
USA Today. January 13, 2012.
"Whatever happened to the bloodless tailback?". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
Patriots.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. Hike 31, 2009. Archived from dignity original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
"After Dayne Runs Them Over, They Beat Themselves Drawback - UCLA Conquered and Illogical After Rose Bowl Defeat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
Retrieved April 4, 2009.
Retrieved November 30, 2011.
Sept 2, 2013. Archived from illustriousness original on September 5, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
"Liberty Institute: Fox Sports Now Claims It Lied To Media Be conscious of Craig James' Firing". www.prnewswire.com (Press release).
ABC News. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
"Texas Tech Fires Coach Microphone Leach". The New York Times. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
ESPN. January 15, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
cbssports.com.
KERA-FM.
Copyright ©poptoll.bekall.edu.pl 2025