Chris Wheeler has been with the Philadelphia Phillies organization since 1971, and he's been a member of the club's broadcast team since 1977. But as well known as he is for that, his professional roots are in Happy Valley.
Wheeler is one of hundreds of sports broadcasters and reporters who hold diplomas from Penn State. He was on the Nittany Lion football beat for the last coaching transition in the program's history — from Rip Engle to Joe Paterno in 1966 — and was actually invited to watch practice from the sideline “back in the day.”
Though calling Phillies' games has been a major part of his life for nearly three decades now, he still keeps close tabs on his alma mater and the football powerhouse he covered while it was in its infancy.
“Wheels” recently sat down for a Q&A with FOS contributor Matt Leon, which we've broken into two parts. Be sure to listen to both.
In the first, he explains how he started calling games for Philadelphia and the way his professional career has played out.
In the second, he talks about the Nittany Lions of today (including Justin King and Derrick Williams) and gives amazing insight into THE key area on which Paterno focused while building the program into a national power in the late 1960s.
What area? Well, let's just say we've heard the veteran coach mentioning the same topic often since the end of the 2004 season. Another example of the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Click the links below to listen to the interview.
Chris Wheeler Audio Part 2, thoughts on Penn State.
Chris Wheeler Audio Part 1, talking about his career.
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