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 Jackson County's new health building complete, will serve clients in February Since You Asked: Just follow the signs for winter driving rules Get Up & Go: Dec. 19 App Finder: Top Apple apps of the year Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Stolen iPad foils alleged Central Point burglar Idaho fugitive shot by police in March sentenced to 67 months Emergency services Man suspected of money laundering in Ashland mail-order drug scheme Politics and Elections State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means Education Ruch school class focuses on the natural environment Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Logos may offer students 'fifth year' at RCC or SOU St. Mary's plays host to youth robotics tournament A lesson in giving Environment Jackson County holds back on enforcing GMO ban for now No fish, no funding for problem dams Most residents speak against gas pipeline Coalition asks for defense of GMO ban Home Help: Make your new house feel like home State News Uber suspends operations in Portland for 3 months Group challenges timber producer's 'green' label Law officers back home-visit funding Sides 'far apart' in port labor talks Court upholds Clatsop LNG pipeline decision Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Joan E. Shults Margaret "Yvonne" Michele Yarbrough Death Notices Bernard Eugene Krueger Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable ACCESS receives $50,000 donation from Wells Fargo Sports Latest Stories Blayton powers Panthers swimmers Comets roll over Pirates in Classic English boosts South Medford in tourney win Gutches' pin highlights Raiders' victories Curry scores 34 as Warriors rally, 114-109 Varsity 541 College Sports Gutches' pin highlights Raiders' victories Beavers continue to surprise, rout DePaul Jones scores 21 to lead No. 2 Duke over UConn Ducks' Ekpre-Olomu won’t play against FSU Dodge becomes SOU's first NAIA player of year Pro Sports Curry scores 34 as Warriors rally, 114-109 Jaguars hold off Titans, win home finale Harbaugh mum on Michigan's interest Show goes on 49ers release McDonald amid further legal trouble Community Sports Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape RESULTS/STANDINGS LOCAL EVENTS Business Latest Stories Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Employment in Oregon surpasses pre-recession levels Free lunchtime presentation covers business planning Ride & Drive: 2015 Nissan Juke Nismo Honda’s CR-V goes uptown again Real Estate News Rental owners group reports 2.48 percent vacancy rate More sales, but no change in residential housing median price People In Business People in Business, Dec. 3 Transportation Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Allegiant Air will resume Medford-Phoenix service May 22 Agriculture K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Opinion Latest Our View: Cheers and jeers Letters to the Editor, Dec. 19 Michael Gerson: Vaccine Alliance a global conspiracy of health Our View: Vaccines benefit everyone, save lives Letters to the Editor, Dec. 18 Editorials Our View: Cheers and jeers Our View: Vaccines benefit everyone, save lives Our View: Celebrate by helping those in need Our View: Ashland Hospital's remarkable turnaround Our View: Councilors' criticism less troubling than secrecy Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 19 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 18 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 17 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 16 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 15 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Guest Opinion: Forest thinning means water for the future Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Lifestyle Latest stories Looking Up: The stars from the North Pole Fishing report: Thursday, Dec. 18 Duck stamps help establish Web foothold Wolf track brings a rush on a snowy trail Get Out: Friday, Dec. 19 Food Community blog: Liver pat� an easy nosh for Hanukkah and beyond Local bubbly can ring in the New Year Food for Thought: How to keep your kitchen organized during the holidays Kitchen Call: Shopping for the cook Community blog: Gobble gougeres as appetizers or with light meals Home and Garden How NOT to install drywall Dear Monty: Siblings dispute inherited real estate Home Help: Create a happy homemade holiday Rogue Valley Christmas light displays Remodeling your attic: Know the details before you start Health Health Watch: Change up your treadmill workout Community blog: A Dark Night of Healing and Hope Community blog: The Promise of Hope � and Health - Fulfilled Community blog: Saving Lives Health Watch: Curb your kitchen cravings this holiday season Hiking Biking Faith Churches, synagogs host seasonal events Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Milestones and Achievements Jackson County's new health building complete, will serve clients in February Ashland celebrates 'Wild' screening with Cheryl Strayed Asante merger stabilizes Ashland hospital's finances Time running out for O&C funds Hire 'em and pray for snow Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Stefan Baumann and Eugene Bennett highlight Third Fridays Dancing People Company celebrates the solstice Seattle rock band Smokey Brights plays Howiee's ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Theater ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Meet the real Jacob Marley This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Plumbing the depths of meaning TMTO presents 'A Christmas Carol: The Musical' Music Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Seattle rock band Smokey Brights plays Howiee's Eight Dollar Mountain and Fruition play Applegate Lodge John Nilsen's holiday concerts kick off this week Ashland Blues Society hosts open jam Community Events Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Stefan Baumann and Eugene Bennett highlight Third Fridays Dancing People Company celebrates the solstice Dance to the Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Rogue Valley Christmas light displays Dining Coffee shops roll out holiday-inspired drinks Over Easy serves 'pop-up' brunch Sundays Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Brunch at Loft Brasserie The Bohemian Club Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Cheers and jeers ... Jackson County's new health building complete, will serve clients in February ... Duck stamps help establish Web foothold ... Our View: Cheers and jeers ... Jackson County's new health building complete, will serve clients in February ... Duck stamps help establish Web foothold ... COLLEGE FOOTBALL No NFL regrets for Mariota, Grasu, Ekpre-Olomu Comment By Ryan Thorburn Eugene Register-Guard MailTribune.com By Ryan Thorburn Eugene Register-Guard Posted Nov. 27, 2014 @ 4:38 pm By Ryan Thorburn Eugene Register-Guard Posted Nov. 27, 2014 @ 4:38 pm » Social News EUGENE — It has been nearly a year since Oregon’s Big Three made The Decision. Marcus Mariota, Hroniss Grasu and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu could all have taken their talents to the NFL. Instead, the popular team leaders chose to return to school to finish their degrees and play one more season together with the Ducks. It hasn’t been perfect. Football never is. Mariota was sacked five times during another painful loss to Arizona. Grasu’s streak of consecutive starts ended at 50 after he suffered a lower-leg injury. Ekpre-Olomu was picked on a little bit in Pullman and also limped off the field in Salt Lake City. The talented trio said there are no regrets at the table this Thanksgiving. “It’s been worth every second of it,” Mariota said. “It’s been an opportunity to kind of continue to build lifelong relationships and be a part of a team that’s special.” The Ducks (10-1 overall, 7-1 Pac-12) enter Saturday’s Civil War ranked No. 2 by the College Football Playoff selection committee. Since Scooby Wright strip-sacked Mariota to secure the Wildcats’ stunning 31-24 upset at Autzen Stadium on Oct. 2, Oregon is 6-0 with an average margin of victory of 25.4 points. Mariota has thrown 17 touchdowns and two interceptions during the streak, breaking every meaningful career passing record at Oregon along the way. Grasu helped solidify an offensive line that has dealt with injuries every week and still paved the way for true freshman Royce Freeman to rush for 1,050 yards and 16 touchdowns. “We’ve faced adversity, and you’re never going to go throughout a season and not face some adversity with injuries,” Grasu said. “Losing a game early in the year, we’ve been able to overcome that. Every single day has been a lot of fun. It has been a pleasure to be around these guys.” Oregon’s defense appeared to be a liability during the early transition to a new coordinator. Ekpre-Olomu and other prominent upperclassmen have helped the unit commit fewer mental errors and create more turnovers as the season has wore on. Don Pellum’s defense now ranks second in the Pac-12 in points allowed (23.6 ppg). “So far, so good,” Ekpre-Olomu said of his final collegiate campaign. “We’ve taken everything that has come to us and haven’t really thought of anything outside of the season or the process. I think that’s why we’ve been successful so far this season.” On Tuesday, Ekpre-Olomu, an All-American cornerback in 2013, was named as one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award. An Oregon player has never won the hardware handed out to the nation’s top defensive back. “Dream come true,” Ekpre-Olomu said. “You’re one of three finalists for an award as the top player at your position. It’s an honor being nominated for it, and I’ll have to finish the season strong if I want to be the first one to bring it back to Oregon.” Before the season, Oregon reimbursed the families of Mariota, Grasu, Ekpre-Olomu and defensive end Arik Armstead for out-of-pocket expenses related to the purchase of insurance policies for loss of future earnings in the event of injury. It looked like Grasu might have to cash his policy in after he was injured at Utah on Nov. 8. Even though he was on crutches during last week’s 44-10 victory over Colorado and is still getting around on a medical scooter, the all-American center insists he will be healthy enough to play for the Ducks again this season. “I’m getting better every single day, I haven’t had any setbacks,” Grasu said. “I’m ahead of where I thought I was going to be.” Grasu said he wouldn’t have been emotional last Saturday at Autzen Stadium if he had been suited up. Watching Ekpre-Olomu and the other seniors play at home for the final time, and then Mariota receive a standing ovation in the fourth quarter, got to the big guy. But the ride is far from over. Oregon plays Oregon State on Saturday at Reser Stadium (5 p.m., ABC) and in the Pac-12 championship game on Dec. 5 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (6 p.m., Fox). “We’re not done yet,” Grasu said. “We’ve got a big one this Saturday. That’s all that matters right now.” If Mariota is able to lead the Ducks to two more wins, the record-setting quarterback could be the program’s first Heisman Trophy winner ahead of an appearance in the first college football final four. Whatever happens, the 2014 season has already been quite an encore performance. “It’s been a lot of fun, and I wouldn’t miss it for anything else in the world,” Mariota said. “It’s been great and I’m very thankful for it.” By Ryan Thorburn Eugene Register-Guard MailTribune.com By Ryan Thorburn Eugene Register-Guard Posted Nov. 27, 2014 @ 4:38 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » 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 Blake Bortles, Marcedes Lewis' Instant Fantasy Reaction After Week 16 Dec. 18, 2014 at 11:56 pm Marqise Lee, Allen Hurns, Cecil Shorts' Post-Week 16 Fantasy Reaction Dec. 18, 2014 at 10:35 pm Toby Gerhart, Storm Johnson's Instant Fantasy Reaction After Week 16 Dec. 18, 2014 at 10:14 pm Shonn Greene, Bishop Sankey, Leon Washington's Post-Week 16 Fantasy Reaction Dec. 18, 2014 at 9:47 pm Latest Injury Updates for Fantasy Week 16 Dec. 18, 2014 at 12:08 pm Week 16 Fantasy Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Dec. 18, 2014 at 12:00 pm 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