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61 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 7, 2003 Injured Ashland football player improves By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Ashland High football player Alex Aleccia was awake and alert Saturday, one day after a helmet-to-helmet blow caused him to lose consciousness in a frightening sideline ordeal. Aleccia talked with visitors and watched the University of Oregon’s football win over Nevada on television in the intensive care unit at Providence Medford Medical Center. "He’s gotten better and better through the day," his mother, JoNel Aleccia, said Saturday evening from the hospital. Doctors characterized his condition as serious-to-fair with a brain injury, she said, and planned to keep him in ICU another day or two for observation. Advertisement Blood had initially collected around his brain, she said, but a CAT scan revealed it had been absorbed. "His reflexes are good," said JoNel Aleccia, "but they’re worried that if he stands up or something, he might collapse again. They want to get him stabilized." The injury occurred during Ashland's 20-13 victory over Pleasant Valley of Chico, Calif., at Walter A. Phillips Field in Ashland. Aleccia, a junior lineman, threw a block to help spring David Morris on a 26-yard interception return that resulted in the winning touchdown with 7:21 to play. JoNel Aleccia was told by coaches who viewed video of the play that her son took a hit to the side of his helmet. Ashland coach David Coldiron, who spoke with Alex Aleccia by phone Saturday, said the collision did not appear to be inordinately violent. "It was pretty average or typical," said the Grizzlies’ first-year coach. "After the block, Alex turned and saw that David had scored. Then you see him turn and jog off the field. He knows he’s not on the point-after kick team, so he jogged off. Then the film cuts to the next play." It belied the alarming sideline scene that would unfold moments later. Alex Aleccia wandered toward the sideline and told a teammate he thought he had a concussion, said JoNel Aleccia. On the bench, he was dizzy and unresponsive during an examination by trainer Eli Champagne, then vomited several times, collapsed and went into convulsions, she said. An ambulance arrived and transported him to Providence. He was in varying degrees of consciousness through the night, said his mother, who stayed up talking to him. It wasn’t until mid-morning on Saturday that he became alert enough to recognize his parents, she said. Many of his teammates visited him later in the day, and "his spirits were good," Coldiron said, when the two talked by phone. It’s unclear how long Aleccia will be out of action. Coldiron said he hadn’t before experienced such an injury to one of his players and hopes he never has to again. It happened during his first victory as Ashland’s coach. "I feel a little better now," he said Saturday evening. "It was a little tough last night trying to get excited when you know one of your players, especially one as exciting and gregarious as Alex, is over there fighting for himself." Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities