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 Old Blue Mountain fire work scaling back Hike up Grayback Mountain with KS Wild Reservoirs rife with boating hazards; no plans to close access Emergency Services Mail Tribune 100 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Old Blue Mountain fire fully lined Bike thieves could face felony charges UPDATED: Medford police cite and release quick-handed cash theft suspect Emergency Services Politics and Elections Commissioner Skundrick plans final four town hall meetings Medford eyes electronic sign visual pollution Medford council veterans plan exit Medical marijuana patients run for council seat Education Logos art teacher recognized High-tech tools Eagle Point equips kindergartners with iPads A test of mettle: GED tests are more rigorous Middle schoolers get a taste of college living Environment Those without senior water rights left high and dry Stressed but off life support Rogue watershed councils plan to merge West Nile Virus found in mosquitoes collected near Central Point State news Nation - World Obituaries Bobby Kieth Spoonts Dan Austin Andress Olive May (Davis) Dooms Harry Miller Christensen Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Worst to First Pan Pacs: Injured Franklin struggles on 1st day Ex-Titans LB Shaw reveals ALS diagnosis Bouchard, Wozniacki upset at Connecticut Open Peavy pitches Giants past Cubs Varsity 541 College Sports SOU ready to show off new look Beavs' Baker passed mandated screenings before collapse Raiders looking for net gains Beavers' Gwacham makes switch to defense Ohio State quarterback done for the season Pro Sports Worst to First Ex-Titans LB Shaw reveals ALS diagnosis Peavy pitches Giants past Cubs McIlroy wants strong finish to great year PAT experiment: 8 missed extra points Community Sports Results / Standings Second season a success for Rogues Runners defend titles in Mt. Ashland Hill Climb Locals shine in Dwarf Car Nationals opener Mustangs rout Alaska in opener Business Latest Stories Blog: In the end, you pay for those mega endorsements Iconic Jacksonville toy store forced to reinvent itself Smaller jet boats win in drought year Blog: So how would you define 'solopreneur'? Revised figures show 1,180 more jobs in Jackson County Real Estate News Median residential housing prices rise 10.7 percent, but may begin to level out People In Business People in business Transportation Medford airport has second-best June ever Agriculture Hail has local pear growers checking for damage Opinion Latest Our View: Water law has outlived its purpose George Will: Fed up with cupcake cops Letters to the Editor, Aug. 21 E.J. Dionne: Ferguson divides us less than we imagine Letters to the Editor, Aug. 20 Editorials Our View: Water law has outlived its purpose Our View: Karuks have a head start on casino plans Library keeps a close eye on (financial) books Other Views: U.O. president's abrupt departure invites speculation Parent-teacher conferences can wait a year Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Aug. 21 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 20 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 19 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 18 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 17 Guest Opinions The power of local philanthropy Who I am and why I want to serve on the City Council City council members should be paid Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: Onion pickles can wait for home-canning lull Community blog:Here�s How To Leave Despair For Resilience Community blog: Biscuits R Us Health officials detect West Nile Virus in another Jackson County sample Cooking outside the box Food Community blog: Onion pickles can wait for home-canning lull Cooking outside the box Cold Cucumber Cream Soup With Tomato Salsa Summer Squash Pasta With Green Goddess Dressing Corn on the cob butter recipes Home and Garden Green Scene: Diagnosing common tomato troubles Lawn talk 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 Health Community blog:Here�s How To Leave Despair For Resilience Health officials detect West Nile Virus in another Jackson County sample Community blog:Doing laundry... Healthy Aging: An udderly unlikely vacation find Community blog:The Unfriendly Skies Hiking Faith Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East - Part three of four Religion briefs Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East part 2 Religion briefs Community Blog: Peace: The inward passage - by Bonnie Greenwell Milestones and Achievements Medford woman graduates with honors Century Club New Arrivals Wedding: Schulman-Nadolny Stuss-Bones Columnist for a Day Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Brian Regan hands out the laughs at Britt Randall Theatre extends 'Godspell' American Idol Live! comes to the Britt Stage 'Pump Boys & Dinettes' opens at Camelot Theatre Annual Xtreme Bike Show and Street Party Theater Randall Theatre extends 'Godspell' 'Pump Boys & Dinettes' opens at Camelot Theatre Film festival kicks off annual 'Daedalus Project' Review: The joy of 'Godspell' is infectious Randall Theatre opens 'Godspell' Music Guitar Circus with Peter Frampton and Buddy Guy Jeff Addicott: A Rogue Valley Experience Brian Regan hands out the laughs at Britt Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue at Britt Ashland Blues Society Jam at The Little Brown Jug Community Events Shady Cove Tie Days Swap Meet 'Prints From the Plateau' at the Rogue Gallery Nature Walks in Lithia Park ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum World of Wine celebrates local varietals Dining Kelly's Crepes Basil & Berries India Palace Taco Riendo Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Old Blue Mountain fire work scaling back ... 5 Things to Do This Weekend ... UPDATED: Medford police cite and release quick-handed cash theft suspect ... Old Blue Mountain fire work scaling back ... 5 Things to Do This Weekend ... UPDATED: Medford police cite and release quick-handed cash theft suspect ... COLLEGE FOOTBALL Senior center Grasu is the anchor of Oregon’s offense By Anne M. Peterson The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Anne M. Peterson The Associated Press Posted Aug. 18, 2014 @ 6:44 pm Updated Aug 19, 2014 at 12:06 AM By Anne M. Peterson The Associated Press Posted Aug. 18, 2014 @ 6:44 pm Updated Aug 19, 2014 at 12:06 AM HRONISS GRASU --> WHO: 6-foot-3, 300-pound senior center for Oregon football team. WHAT: Returned to school despite prospect of being drafted by the NFL following junior season. OF NOTE: Helpe... » Read more X HRONISS GRASU WHO: 6-foot-3, 300-pound senior center for Oregon football team. WHAT: Returned to school despite prospect of being drafted by the NFL following junior season. OF NOTE: Helped Ducks lead the Pac-12 in rushing, scoring and total offense last season and is on preseason watch lists for the Outland and Rimington trophies. » Social News EUGENE — Oregon senior center Hroniss Grasu never would have played football if his parents had their way. Steve and Mariana Grasu, immigrants from Romania, preferred soccer over American football, which they saw as too dangerous. It was only reluctantly Grasu was allowed to kick for his high school team, and when a coach put him on the offensive line, well, he didn’t exactly mention it to his folks. It was a long, silent ride home when the Grasus attended their son’s first game. “They enjoy it now,” he said, laughing. “They come to every single game, home and away. I think I’ve got the family hooked on football.” Lucky for Oregon the Grasus allowed their son to keep playing. Now a senior, Grasu is unquestionably the No. 3 Ducks’ anchor, according to quarterback Marcus Mariota. Grasu, who is 6-foot-3 and just shy of 300 pounds, is considered one of the best players at his position in the nation, and he’s on the preseason watch lists for the Outland and Rimington trophies. He heads a strong group of linemen that helped Oregon lead the Pac-12 in rushing, scoring and total offense last season. The line was to return all five starters, but Tyler Johnstone injured his right knee during fall camp and is out for the season. “We’ve got so many guys on this team who are on the same page as me, guys that have a lot of experience and a lot of playing time. But we have so much work to get done,” Grasu said. “We’ve always got to get a new standard, reach a new standard, and then set another one.” Grasu grew up in the Los Angeles area, where his parents own a chain of pizza parlors. His older brother, Nico, was a kicker at Washington State. He became Oregon’s starting center as a redshirt freshman after beating out Karrington Armstrong for the job. At the time, then-coach Chip Kelly said the best compliment he could give Grasu was that he never had to think about him. But Grasu is just as important to the Ducks for his role off the field. Players often mention that he is everyone’s go-to teammate for advice. For the past two seasons the team has honored him with the Todd Doxey Award for the player that best represents the “spirituality, dedication and brotherhood associated with being an outstanding teammate.” The award is named after the Oregon defensive back who drowned in an accident shortly before the 2008 season. Considered a solid NFL prospect at center, Grasu instead opted to return to the Ducks for his senior year. Mariota and cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu also decided to stick around for another season. “It’s not ‘unfinished business.’ It’s about coming back for this team, coming back for this community, for this coaching staff. It’s about becoming better football players. It’s about becoming a better team. That’s what it’s all about,” he said. “Obviously our goal is to win a national championship. It’s no secret at all. If we prepare like we should prepare, if we practice like we should practice, the sky’s the limit for this team.” Oregon went 11-2 last season, finishing with a 30-7 victory over Texas in the Alamo Bowl. Oregon’s two late-season losses, to Stanford and Arizona, cost the Ducks a shot at the national championship and the Pac-12 title. Mariota joked that Grasu is particularly protective of him, especially since a knee injury hampered the Ducks’ star quarterback last season. “Hroniss always gives me a hard time about swinging a golf club — he doesn’t want me to hurt my back,” Mariota said. Said Grasu: “I joke around with him, like if we’re crossing the street, I’ll kind of hold his hand a little bit.” Mariota averaged nearly 282 yards passing per game and threw for 31 touchdowns with only four interceptions last season. While protecting him is obviously key to Oregon’s success, Grasu said Oregon may have relied on him a bit too much. That’s why Grasu’s goal this year is to put more of an emphasis on the team effort. “Every touchdown that happens with this offense is a highlight to me because obviously the offensive line had something to do with it,” he said. “When I see Marcus score, when I see (wide receiver) Keanon Lowe score, when I see (running back) Byron Marshall score, that’s like the offensive line is also scoring the touchdown. It’s all for the team, it’s what we do as a team together.” By Anne M. Peterson The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Anne M. Peterson The Associated Press Posted Aug. 18, 2014 @ 6:44 pm Updated Aug 19, 2014 at 12:06 AM » 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 Fantasy RBs with Biggest Breakout Potential Aug. 21, 2014 at 3:17 pm Which Type of Fantasy Owner Are You? Aug. 21, 2014 at 12:03 pm Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet Aug. 21, 2014 at 12:00 pm Rules to Live by That Will Lead to a Fantasy Title Aug. 21, 2014 at 8:00 am Breaking Down Sleeper Rankings and 1st-Round Mock Draft Aug. 21, 2014 at 7:00 am Fantasy WR Risers, Fallers and Risks Aug. 21, 2014 at 6:08 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