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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 2002)
Meet Mr. Football Linebacker Kevin Mitchell is a force for the Ducks, but it took a tragic offseason event to change his perspective on life Peter Hockaday Sports Editor This is a story about a guy who loves football. He loves football so much, this guy, that there was a time when his life was only football. He let other things like family, school and life slip away through his linebacker gloves. This guy was — still is — a good player. Fierce. Competitive. He’ll take your head off if you look at him funny. He’ll put you on the ground and bounce up, point to the sky. He loves the rush. He’s the guy who said before the season started that he “couldn’t wait to hit somebody.” But during the offseason, this guy was hit hard himself. He was hit harder than any fullback could ever hit him. And bouncing back from that hit has been the most challenging, and most rewarding, play of his life. This is the story of Kevin Mitchell, the toughest guy on the football field. The linebacker who, last March, gained some perspective on what it all means — this football, this thing called life. Kevin Mitchell’s grandfather used to come to all of Mitchell’s games. Whether it was at Mater Dei High School — the national powerhouse from Los Angeles — or Oregon, Gary Granville was usually there. Even when he started having heart trouble last fall, Granville saddled up in a wheelchair and rolled himself to the Rose Bowl to see Mitchell’s Ducks play the UCLA Bruins. Granville always wanted Mitchell to play football, and he ul timately wanted him to play at UCLA, where Granville once Adam Amato Emerald Linebacker Kevin Mitchell has won all but five games in his seven years of football. "When his grandpa died it made him... think about what's important in his life " Jason Fife Oregon quarterback taught and many other family members graduated. “The first time I played in the Rose Bowl, he wasn’t going to miss,” Mitchell says. “I wanted to cry right there. He said, ‘I wouldn’t miss this for the world.’” Ml Granville wasn’t just watching his grandson at the Rose Bowl that day, he was watching his investment. When Kevin’s parents couldn’t afford to send him to the private, catholic Mater Dei, Granville paid the tuition because he knew Mitchell had a pas sion and a talent for football. But his grandfather was much more than an open wallet to Mitchell. “It’s the little things he did which meant more to me than him paying for high school,” Mitchell says. “The little things like letting me drive when I was 13. Or on Christmas morning, Mom would get up and make eggs and orange juice, right? Turn to Mitchell, page 15 014542 Kuraya’s has caught on. Twice in a row, it has earned mention in NORTHWEST BEST PLACES.” Bob Welch The Register-Guard KU RAYA'S The Original Since 1987 1410 Mohawk Blvd., Springfield • Mon-Sat 11-2:30, Mon-Thurs 5-9, Fri & Sat 5-10, Sun 4:30-9 • 746-2951 014686 •Espresso Bar •Pastries • Snacks •Internet Access *PC Lab 1860 E. 13th St. • 302-5132 We accept Visa ♦ M/C +Debit 014808 Worldly Goods is located at I Ith and Willamette to serve you better! w I % Worldly Goods 30% off entire store • Lots of great tapestries • Paper lanterns • Lots of unique clothing and goods Jmperkd jfeutdnj • Japesky • Clothing • lfifk Let us help decorate your home 26 E. llthAve. 741-7820 Shrimp Fajita...$ll95 »...$1250 ip entrees include a glass of chardonnay or white zinfandel. Saturday STEAKS ARE KING All steak dinners include a glass of jnerlot or white zinfandel...$1295 St 683-5160 pig in Rock-n-Rodeo Lot) 014787 GAME MRNIfl BUY*5ELL»TRRDE your 1 GAMES and SYSTEMS > for CR5H or CREDIT 501 Valley River Center Eugene, OR 97M01 • 687-9282 Across From Sam Goody, Next To Mr. Rags GAME MflNIR This ad gets you 10% off any preouuned product in stock. © Game Mania, Rll Rights Reserved
