Spencer Petras unique compared to his teammates when it comes to music
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – At first glance, Spencer Petras looks like a typical Iowa quarterback.
He is listed at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, throws right-handed and fits the description of a pro-style quarterback.
In many ways, including size, Petras is similar to former Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley, who started in each of the past three seasons.
But what separates Petras from other Iowa quarterbacks, and from all of his current teammates, except for maybe sophomore center Tyler Linderbaum, is his taste in music, or more specifically, his love for the Grateful Dead.
As a Grateful Dead fan myself, I was curious to know what caused Petras to also become a fan at his age.
The Grateful Dead was formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, Calif., and would go on to become one of the most influential rocks bands in history. The band is also known for its devoted fans base called “Deadheads.”
Petras grew up in San Rafael, Calif., which isn’t far from where the Dead got its start. I figured that might have something to do with Petras being a fan, so I asked him during a zoom conference on Tuesday.
Petras flashed a huge grin upon hearing the non-football-related question and then explained his roots as a Grateful Dead fan.
“Oh, lovely,” Petras said. “Yeah, so I’m a big Grateful Dead fan. I’m from San Rafael, California where Jerry Garcia lived and passed and all that.
“Bob Weir still lives Mill Valley, California, which is probably 10 minutes from my house. So they have deep roots in my county. So that has a ton to do with it.”
Garcia was the Grateful Dead’s lead guitarist until his death in August 1995, while Weir also played guitar for the band and sang many of the group’s songs, along with Garcia.
Phil Lesh also played bass guitar for the band, and currently owns a local restaurant in which Petras held his high school graduation party.
Petras, a third-year sophomore, has tried to convert some of his Iowa teammates into Grateful Dead fans, but with little success so far.
“I’ve tried to get some guys on board,” Petras said. “I know Tyler Linderbaum likes the studio version of “Casey Jones” and that kind of thing. But I haven’t gotten him in too deep yet. I am working in it.”
Petras still finds time to listen to the Grateful Dead despite all of the demands that come with being a student-athlete, and with being the frontrunner to start at quarterback for Iowa.
He was among 11 members of the Iowa offense who participated in a zoom conference with the media on Tuesday.
“My pleasure. What’s going on guys?” Petras said at the start of his interview.
Petras has waited patiently behind Stanley for two seasons, but now it’s time for Petras to take charge of the offense.
Iowa will face Purdue in the season opener on Oct. 24 in West Lafayette, Ind.
“I think the biggest thing I learned from Nate is how to prepare well to be a Big Ten quarterback,” Petras said. “Nate was an extremely good example for two years that I was able to behind him.
“So I have no question in my mind that he showed me the right way to prepare for a game. And that’s what I’m trying my best at doing.”
Petras is the first California native to be in position to be Iowa’s starting quarterback in 22 seasons under Kirk Ferentz.
Petras attended the same high school as current NFL quarterback Jared Goff, and set records for season passing yards and season touchdowns that were previously held by Goff.
Petras helped his high school team finish 35-3 overall and he passed for 4,157 yards and 50 touchdowns as a senior.
And though he has only played briefly for the Hawkeyes, first-year starting quarterbacks have a history of performing well under Kirk Ferentz.
But those previous quarterbacks also had the luxury of having spring practice to improve, whereas Petras didn’t have the opportunity to improve in the spring because practice was canceled due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
“Spring football would have been great for our team,” Petras said. “I know that we all made the best of what we had. We had a lot of guys who stayed in town over the long break and we were working three and four times a week together.”
I look forward to getting to know Petras better over the next several months, and to learn more about his interest in the Grateful Dead.
In nearly 30 years of covering the Iowa football team, it’s hard to remember another player who was a fan of the Grateful Dead.
And by the time this upcoming season ends, and with the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus, Petras and I both might say what a long, strange trip it’s been.