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CNN Sunday Morning

A Look at Coach Gruden

Aired January 26, 2003 - 09:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: The fans aren't the only ones ready for a showdown. Players and coaches for the Bucs and the Raiders are no doubt getting ready to get their game on. For the play by play and the final prep, let's check in with Josie Karp, who is in San Diego.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSIE KARP, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Coach Gruden. Virtually every player on both teams can say that's how he referred to Jon Gruden within the last year. At the Super Bowl, Gruden's the thread connecting both teams, engaged in an unprecedented tug-of-war. Some of his players will win for sure, but there's still a chance he can lose.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll tell you, this has been a real strange week for me. Some of these questions are almost impossible to answer without making somebody mad.

KARP: Gruden's nickname is "Chucky," after a doll in a famous horror movie, but the story he's starring in on Sunday is closer to Frankenstein.

Gruden helped build the Raiders' offense. Now he has to find a way to stop the monster that offense has become under his replacement, Bill Callahan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When we took the program over it was important for us to maintain what Jon had did. And to improve upon it. So we accomplished that goal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When it's all said and done, this is one very difficult beast you've got to defend.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We do some crazy stuff on the football field. People wouldn't believe some of the stuff that we call.

KARP: For example, the Raiders ran the ball only nine times in the AFC championship game, just once through the first three quarters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The fact that we're pass prone is just, we're still putting up great numbers. I still think we're deflating a lot of defenses that we play because they can't stop it. So, I mean, it's fun.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've basically have gotten into a completely different element of offensive football. And, you know, we continue to push the envelope. We continue to delve into other aspects of offensive football.

KARP: Callahan is seven years older than Gruden, but it was the younger coach who helped give him his start. Gruden hired Callahan in Philadelphia and brought his friend with him to Oakland.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was asked who I would rather play against other than Bill Callahan, I couldn't come up with anybody. I mean, for him to experience this is something that's going to make this unforgettable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's been my mentor. He took me and brought me into this league. He gave me advice. He took me basically by the hand and outlined everything that I learned as an offensive coach under his system.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KARP: A lot of Callahan's players say that the greatest achievement by the rookie head coach this season wasn't necessarily improving upon that offense. During the middle of the regular season, the Oakland Raiders lost four straight games, and his players say the one thing that Callahan did was somehow keep the team together and get that team turned around.

Charles, we'll have a lot more from the Super Bowl throughout the day. But for now, I'm going to send it back to you.

MOLINEAUX: And nothing like a comeback story. Thank you very much, Josie Karp in San Diego.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired January 26, 2003 - 09:52   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: The fans aren't the only ones ready for a showdown. Players and coaches for the Bucs and the Raiders are no doubt getting ready to get their game on. For the play by play and the final prep, let's check in with Josie Karp, who is in San Diego.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSIE KARP, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Coach Gruden. Virtually every player on both teams can say that's how he referred to Jon Gruden within the last year. At the Super Bowl, Gruden's the thread connecting both teams, engaged in an unprecedented tug-of-war. Some of his players will win for sure, but there's still a chance he can lose.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll tell you, this has been a real strange week for me. Some of these questions are almost impossible to answer without making somebody mad.

KARP: Gruden's nickname is "Chucky," after a doll in a famous horror movie, but the story he's starring in on Sunday is closer to Frankenstein.

Gruden helped build the Raiders' offense. Now he has to find a way to stop the monster that offense has become under his replacement, Bill Callahan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When we took the program over it was important for us to maintain what Jon had did. And to improve upon it. So we accomplished that goal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When it's all said and done, this is one very difficult beast you've got to defend.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We do some crazy stuff on the football field. People wouldn't believe some of the stuff that we call.

KARP: For example, the Raiders ran the ball only nine times in the AFC championship game, just once through the first three quarters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The fact that we're pass prone is just, we're still putting up great numbers. I still think we're deflating a lot of defenses that we play because they can't stop it. So, I mean, it's fun.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've basically have gotten into a completely different element of offensive football. And, you know, we continue to push the envelope. We continue to delve into other aspects of offensive football.

KARP: Callahan is seven years older than Gruden, but it was the younger coach who helped give him his start. Gruden hired Callahan in Philadelphia and brought his friend with him to Oakland.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was asked who I would rather play against other than Bill Callahan, I couldn't come up with anybody. I mean, for him to experience this is something that's going to make this unforgettable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's been my mentor. He took me and brought me into this league. He gave me advice. He took me basically by the hand and outlined everything that I learned as an offensive coach under his system.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KARP: A lot of Callahan's players say that the greatest achievement by the rookie head coach this season wasn't necessarily improving upon that offense. During the middle of the regular season, the Oakland Raiders lost four straight games, and his players say the one thing that Callahan did was somehow keep the team together and get that team turned around.

Charles, we'll have a lot more from the Super Bowl throughout the day. But for now, I'm going to send it back to you.

MOLINEAUX: And nothing like a comeback story. Thank you very much, Josie Karp in San Diego.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com