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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Grants Pass boy dies after raft capsizes on Rogue River ... Murders at Crater Lake: The slaying of auto-parts reps in 1952 remains a mystery ... Our View: Law lets lobbyists keep public in the dark ... Grants Pass boy dies after raft capsizes on Rogue River ... Murders at Crater Lake: The slaying of auto-parts reps in 1952 remains a mystery ... Our View: Law lets lobbyists keep public in the dark ... Where are they now' By TIM TROWER,Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By TIM TROWER,Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 12, 2003 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 18, 2010 at 2:02 AM By TIM TROWER,Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 12, 2003 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 18, 2010 at 2:02 AM » Social News Charley Cobb Medford High School, 1969 Charley Cobb was the big man on campus, literally and figuratively, when he starred in football and basketball for the Medford Black Tornado. That changed when the 6-foot-7, 245-pound lineman and post player went to Oregon and joined the football team. Scanning the huddle, he saw his roommate, Dan Fouts, and a couple of other pretty fair quarterbacks in Norv Turner, now offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins, and June Jones, who later transferred to Portland State and is now the Hawaii coach. There also was Bobby Moore, aka Ahmad Rashad, and assistant coaches John McKay and George Seifert. It was a pretty potent offense, says Cobb, 52, who lives in Lake Oswego and owns two sign companies. It was easy to get excited about football. We had some real opportunities, except we couldn't beat the Beavers. A win over Oregon State in Cobb's senior year ended an eight-game losing streak. — Cobb, who grew up as a neighbor to Medford football coach Fred Spiegelberg, was all-state in both sports. He was every bit as good in basketball, averaging about 25 points per game. He hoped to play at UO, but a tough academic transition his first term squelched the chance. I wasn't ready for the big school and almost failed, he says. Then I got my act together and made it through. As a Duck sophomore, Cobb was a defensive line starter, then was used primarily as a pass rusher by his senior year. Upon graduating with a degree in economics, he worked for a bank in Eugene for six years, then went north to work for Benchcraft, the sign company he's owned for seven years and worked at for 23. The company used to have ads on Portland buses and now specializes in golf course benches and tee signs. He provides signs to 1,700 golf courses in 32 states, including a number in Southern Oregon. Four years ago, he started another business, Image Media, which specializes in digital signs. Cobb, who married the former Nancy Piazza, has two sons, Michael, 25, who works for him, and Matt, a wide receiver on the Southern Oregon University football team. Cobb still marvels at his Medford prep experience. Every time I go down there and see that (Spiegelberg) stadium ... the facilities up here just don't compare, he says. Football was king down there. And he was a big part of it. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail By TIM TROWER,Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By TIM TROWER,Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 12, 2003 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 18, 2010 at 2:02 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events 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 Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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 2015 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