QB is on the Mark

Victoria Sun

Friday, March 2, 2001 | 10:52 a.m.

As incredible as it sounds, Mark Grieb readily admits that while he was studying to get his master's degree in science education at Stanford just a few weeks ago, he was jealous when he watched and read about the XFL.

A polished Stanford man jealous of men playing in a league founded by World Wrestling Federation honcho Vince McMahon?

Absolutely, Grieb said.

"I was kind of jealous of some of the guys playing because I knew that I could have had an opportunity to be there, to be playing, because of all the attention it was getting and the exposure," Grieb said Thursday. "I kind of started thinking to myself, 'Gosh, that looks like it could be a lot of fun.' "

Grieb doesn't have to wonder anymore what it's like to play in the XFL.

The 6-foot-3 quarterback will make his second start for the Las Vegas Outlaws when the team plays the winless Chicago Enforcers at Soldier Field at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The Outlaws signed Grieb two weeks ago to replace Mike Cawley, who was inept at helping the Outlaws score. Cawley had stepped in for starter Ryan Clement, who separated his shoulder during the Outlaws' second game.

"Initially, I was excited by the offer, but also hesitant in that I didn't want to sacrifice the half a year of schooling I had already done," Grieb said. "I wanted to be able to finish up my program.

"When I talked to my professors, I was hoping it would be an easy thing, but they said it was a case-by-case situation. Luckily, all of them were really flexible and willing to work with me. I'll probably end up taking incompletes for three of my four classes, and then finishing up whenever the season is over."

Though Clement is healing quickly, Outlaws head coach Jim Criner said Clement will back up Grieb.

"You don't have to go into a game and have two game plans because both of these guys can execute," Criner said. "Mark is getting more familiar with all of the things and this week we're going to throw more at him."

Grieb played under Criner in 1998 when Criner was the head coach of the Scottish Claymores in NFL Europe.

For the last two seasons Grieb played for the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League.

As a senior at UC Davis Grieb set school records for passing, throwing for 3,230 yards and 25 touchdowns.

While Grieb was at Stanford he served as a graduate assistant for the football team. His duties included breaking down film, putting together scout teams and entering plays in a computer.

Though Grieb enjoyed his stint as a coach for the Cardinal, he yearned to be back on the field.

"Playing in big stadiums in these big games, playing on grass again," Grieb said. "It's those things. Like at San Francisco last week, there were tons of fans there and it was great. That's the best part about it. The excitement."

He even has an idea of what he would put on the back of his jersey instead of his last name, the way some other players do.

"Friends of mine said 'Stanford G.A.,' and another one my brother came up with was 'The Gunslinger,' " Grieb said. "Or a nickname my friends call me, 'Grieber.'

"So those are three that I've come up with, but I'll probably stick with my last name."