Former Tiger brings football career back to Stockton

Craig Whelihan is preparing to do something he never thought he would get to do again.

He is preparing to play football in Stockton.

The 35-year-old was the starting quarterback for Pacific in 1994. But organized professional football didn't come to Stockton until the Lightning of arenafootball2 arrived on the scene one year ago.

Whelihan, a former NFL quarterback with the San Diego Chargers, is not a member of the Lightning. He did, however, sign a one-year contract with the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League in October, and he will be with his new team at 6:30 p.m. Thursday for a scrimmage against the Grand Rapids Rampage at Stockton Arena.

"It's been a long time," Whelihan said of his return to Stockton.

Years later, Whelihan maintains fond memories of Pacific. But he said he took a lot of ribbing about the school during the NFL portion of his career after the school eliminated football following the 1995 season.

"Who is Pacific playing?" teammates would ask him with mock seriousness each week during the college football season.

Then, they would say, "Oh, yeah, they don't have a team."

"I wish they were still playing," Whelihan said. "It would give me an excuse to come back to the campus, see some old friends."

After completing his college career, Whelihan moved on to the NFL, appearing in 20 games - starting 14 - with the Chargers in 1997-98. In 2001, he played for two teams in the XFL and, later that year, he began his indoor career.

Whelihan signed with the SaberCats this season for a very practical reason: He and his wife, Sarah, were expecting their first child. Whelihan, a San Jose native, knew there would be plenty of family help for his wife if he signed in his hometown. Their daughter, Kelly, was born on Dec. 20.

But there are no assurances for Whelihan. The SaberCats have incumbent starting quarterback Mark Grieb and AFL newcomer Scott Rislov, a former San Jose State quarterback, who set an af2 record with 102 touchdown passes last season with the Central Valley Coyotes.

SaberCats coach Darren Arbet, a Stockton native and Edison High graduate, said he expects to keep two quarterbacks on his 24-man roster when the season begins March 4 at Los Angeles.

"Craig brings a lot of leadership ability," Arbet said. "He also brings a lot of experience. ... With his experience, you'd think he'd be able to make the team."

Just in case, Whelihan is preparing for life after football, though his goal is for that life to include football. He has finished his classes toward becoming a high school physical education teacher, and once he completes his student-teaching requirement in the fall, he will be ready for his second career.

He hopes someday to become a high school football coach, adding that he does not feel a strong pull to coach at a higher level.

"I like communities and job security," Whelihan said. "I think in high school, it would present both to me. Going to the college level and the NFL, I have too much experience seeing too many coaches picking up and going from city to city. I couldn't put my wife and child through that."

Still, Whelihan is not ready to answer when asked how much longer he wants to play. It's a year-to-year decision.

Said Whelihan: "It's become a Brett Favre thing at this point."

Contact reporter Roger Phillips at (209) 546-8299 or rphillips@recordnet.com.