Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency Services Crater Lake snowshoer who went missing in April still hasn't turned up Library district questions county contract Watch out for bogus charities during and after wildfires South Medford Walmart evacuated after sprinkler line bursts Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Watch out for bogus charities during and after wildfires South Medford Walmart evacuated after sprinkler line bursts Sharp-eyed clerks spot counterfeit bills Emergency Services Politics and Elections Medford council veterans plan exit Medical marijuana patients run for council seat Former colleagues laud Atiyeh's 'practical' leadership Bates-Dotterrer race called critical to Senate control Richardson challenges Kitzhaber during debate Education Free meals program expands in Grants Pass Migrant student numbers soar $21 million Science Building upgrades begin at SOU Eagle Point district mulls fate of Trail school SOU Provost James Klein plans to retire State news Nation - World Obituaries Lt. Col. Richard (Dick) Warren Bradley Bill Reagan Neil Watson David "Dave" Russell Ferguson Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Videos Web Cams Sports Latest Stories Broncos edge Seahawks in Super rematch 49ers looking to improve after 23-3 loss to Ravens Former top pick Oden released after battery arrest Stern leads 10 in basketball Hall of Fame class (No heading) Varsity 541 College Sports (No heading) Loyd in ‘football mindset’ as fall camp opens Villamin appreciates return to field with Beavers Great expectations follow Ducks Cox, Pereira power Rogues past Gems Pro Sports Broncos edge Seahawks in Super rematch 49ers looking to improve after 23-3 loss to Ravens Former top pick Oden released after battery arrest Stern leads 10 in basketball Hall of Fame class (No heading) Community Sports Larkins named Oregon Bowling Proprietors of Year Mavs capture Legion A state title Medford Mustangs win American Legion state title Allred to enter Hall of Fame at Pepperdine Comet rally falls short in Legion A tourney Business Latest Stories Erickson posts $17.4 million second-quarter loss Walden hears from local e-commerce representatives RoxyAnn's winemaker will leave Sept. 1 Avista 2Q earnings jump nearly 300 percent Median residential housing prices rise 10.7 percent, but may begin to level out Real Estate News Median residential housing prices rise 10.7 percent, but may begin to level out Average selling price of existing homes jumps 8.1% countywide People In Business People in business Transportation Medford airport has second-best June ever Agriculture Hail has local pear growers checking for damage Del Rio plans to add 50% more plants Harry & David sets sights on year-round operations Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor Our View: Bottle redemption center could be a plus Dana Milbank: A welcome end to American whiteness Letters to the Editor George Will: The reason for Watergate? Editorials Our View: Bottle redemption center could be a plus Our Opinion: A new chapter for an old mill site Our View: School success is about more than the three Rs Our Opinion: An uphill battle Other Views: Vic Atiyeh, truth-teller Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor Letter: Editors got it right Letter: Getting away with it Letter: Don't believe reports Guest Opinions Who I am and why I want to serve on the City Council City council members should be paid Lifestyle Latest stories Waterfowlers will get another banner season Twice as good: Oregon Outdoors Photo Contest winners 1930s color film of Yellowstone being preserved Get Out: Friday, Aug. 8 Religion briefs Food Community blog: Hands-on knife class needs keen participants Juicing offers endless combinations Holding all the cardamoms: A spice whose time has come Community blog: Baby's berry blues warrant look at prewashing Community blog: Ways with watermelon span summer months Home and Garden Tips for keeping backyard birds cool this summer Bath time for the birds: You can help them stay cool and clean Learn to pick produce at the peak of ripeness Support the mycorrhizae! It could help your plants Make a plan for your fall and over-winter garden Health Asante plans to open big outpatient clinic in Grants Pass Posting thoughts on your bumper can be sticky Community blog:Any Volunteers? Rear-end messages say a lot about us Community blog:Top Ten Reasons Why Trying to Solve Other People�s Problems is a Bad Idea Faith Religion briefs Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East part 2 Religion briefs Community Blog: Peace: The inward passage - by Bonnie Greenwell Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements Stuss-Bones Births New Arrivals New Arrivals Groen-Arkens Tempo Latest stories 'Chicken' Hirsh: 'A responsible bohemian' 'Shrek' comes to the stage as a musical Sweet Ghosts at Oberon's Entertainment 'on the bricks' at OSF Randall Theatre opens 'Godspell' Theater Review: The joy of 'Godspell' is infectious 'Shrek' comes to the stage as a musical Randall Theatre opens 'Godspell' 'Great Society' a darker sequel to 'All the Way' 'The Great Society' opens at OSF Music 'Chicken' Hirsh: 'A responsible bohemian' Sweet Ghosts at Oberon's Entertainment 'on the bricks' at OSF John Hiatt: 'Terms of My Surrender' Delta Halos and The Lures at Club 66 Community Events 5 Things to Do This Weekend Ashland's First Friday Art Walk It's Fair Time! Dining India Palace Taco Riendo Uber Herbal Coquina Restaurant Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW COLLEGE FOOTBALL Great expectations follow Ducks Oregon is the preseason Pac-12 favorite and No. 4 in the coaches poll Oregon begins football practice with high hopes By Ryan Thorburn Eugene Register-Guard MailTribune.com By Ryan Thorburn Eugene Register-Guard Posted Aug. 5, 2014 @ 6:02 pm By Ryan Thorburn Eugene Register-Guard Posted Aug. 5, 2014 @ 6:02 pm » Social News EUGENE — Oregon conducted the first practice of the highly anticipated 2014 season on Monday behind closed doors. The outside expectations for the Ducks — the media’s preseason Pac-12 favorite and the No. 4 team in the first Amway Coaches Poll — leave little margin for error after fall camp breaks. Mark Helfrich, who had an 11-2 debut as a head coach but was unable to lead Oregon into a BCS bowl game as Chip Kelly had the four previous seasons, understands the situation quite well entering his second year running the program. “Were we perfect last year? Absolutely not. Were we miserable? Absolutely not,” Helfrich said during a media day press conference at Autzen Stadium. “It doesn’t matter if it’s on the last kick of the national championship game or losing two games last year how we did, as soon as you lose one game then everything is up for debate. “That’s great, that’s fine. As long as our guys trust our process, believe in our culture ... everything takes care of itself.” Marcus Mariota’s return gives the Ducks a belief that they can finish the season in the inaugural College Football Playoff. Oregon was 8-0 and ranked No. 2 in the polls last season but went 2-2 in November as Mariota gutted it out on a partially torn MCL. “Injuries happen. We’re not going to let my knee be an excuse for what happened last season,” Mariota said when asked if the Stanford and Arizona defeats might have been different had he been healthy. “All we can do is learn from it and get better.” Despite having experience spread throughout the roster, the coaching staff has plenty of teaching to do over the next three weeks with 40 newcomers in the program, including 27 true freshmen. “The first practice is always really fun to watch because there’s a lot of guys really energetic and excited to go, but quite a few guys who aren’t really sure what they’re doing,” offensive coordinator Scott Frost said after Monday’s session. “It’s a mix of veteran guys that look great and some young guys that run completely the wrong direction some. But that all gets ironed out pretty fast.” The team has welcomed another quarterback in Georgia Tech transfer Ty Griffin of Powder Springs, Ga. The 6-0, 191-pound freshman will sit out this year while practicing with the Ducks and waiting for his talented younger brother, Taj Griffin, an Oregon verbal commitment at running back, to arrive in 2015. Outside linebacker Johnny Ragin, who transferred from California last winter, has filed a hardship appeal to the NCAA for immediate eligibility hoping to contribute at a spot where the Ducks could use some depth. “There’s some good and some bad in that realm, but we’re not supposed to talk about it like it’s some Jason Bourne state secret,” Helfrich said. “He’s another guy that we’re very excited about. The young linebacking crew is a great looking group of guys.” Left tackle Tyler Johnstone, who suffered a torn ACL during the Alamo Bowl win over Texas, has been cleared by the medical staff and is still confident he will be able to play in the opener 25 days from now against South Dakota. Bralon Addison, who tore an ACL during spring practice, isn’t ruling out a late-season comeback. In the meantime, Dwayne Stanford, Devon Allen, Darren Carrington and other young targets say they’re ready to take the torch from Josh Huff. Oregon returns all five starters on the offensive line, including all-America center Hroniss Grasu, but there is a wave of talented backups ready to push them. “I don’t think we’ve been this deep, certainly at receiver, in a long, long time. Right now they’re names on the board, and we think they’re going to be good. Now we go out and compete,” Helfrich said. “Same thing for the offensive line. We have a lot of guys who have played, but there’s nobody etched in granite up there. “Those guys have to go out and compete every day.” The defense is embracing Oregon’s “blue-collar” theme, which includes workout T-shirts with blue collars, as Don Pellum enters his first season coordinating the unit. The Ducks return leading tackler Derrick Malone, sack leader Tony Washington and all-America cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu. “Guys like Derrick, Tony and Ifo have stepped up so far as being leaders and vocalizing their leadership more, which is necessary when you have a bunch of young guys,” said junior outside linebacker Tyson Coleman, who is competing for the starting spot occupied by Boseko Lokombo last year. “I feel like those guys so far have done a great job of being leaders and getting us ready. More than anything, they’re good role models.” Helfrich said “tweaks” should be made every year with regard to scheme or player development in an effort to keep evolving as a program. Oregon begins this season with a better head coach than it had last year. “I learned a ton, I learned a million things,” Helfrich said. “As I’ve said many times, if you do something a second time you should be better and you should be more efficient. There’s no exception with me.” By Ryan Thorburn Eugene Register-Guard MailTribune.com By Ryan Thorburn Eugene Register-Guard Posted Aug. 5, 2014 @ 6:02 pm » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Cam's Ankle Injury Makes Him Boom-or-Bust Fantasy Pick Aug. 7, 2014 at 11:38 pm Kelce's Instant Fantasy Reaction After Preseason Performance vs. Bengals Aug. 7, 2014 at 10:12 pm Hyde Will Be Top Rookie Fantasy RB in '14 Aug. 7, 2014 at 10:04 pm Ranking Top Sleepers at Every Skill Position Aug. 7, 2014 at 5:05 pm Key Tips for Fantasy Football Draft Strategy and Cheat-Sheet Construction Aug. 7, 2014 at 12:00 pm Fantasy Football Team Names to Make Your Friends Laugh Aug. 7, 2014 at 11:46 am calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501