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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 13, 2005)
Oregon Daily Emerald Wednesday, April 13, 2005 “I just got to get back to my playbook, get on the Jugs and. get my hands right, and I’ll be all right. ” Oregon wide receiver Jaison Williams on his improvement needs, referring to the Jugs Football Machine, a device similar to a pitching machine peAk pAssion Senior Breanna Grover, an avid rock climber and mountaineer, has become passionate about instructing courses on outdoor activities BY ASHLEY GRIFFIN OUTDOOR RECREATION REPORTER To say that senior Breanna Grover is an out door enthusiast is one thing. To fully explain the depth behind this label requires a few more words. The outdoor-oriented Grover has been rock climbing since seventh grade and mountaineering for the past five years. She has also tried ice climbing, snow camp ing and backpacking, to name a few of her broad interests. She started rock climbing as part of an after school program at Eugene’s Shasta Middle School and eventually began to climb at Smith Rock.. As her skills increased, she expanded her locations. “Once I kind of outgrew Smith Rock, I start ed taking trips down to Joshua Tree and Yosemite,” she said. These two Californian national parks re quire more planning and a longer drive than trips to Smith Rock, but Grover said they are worth the trip. She’s made multiple treks to both locations and spent about three weeks last summer climbing in Yosemite with a group of friends. “Aside from extremely aesthetic climbing, it’s a gorgeous place,” Grover said. Her interest in mountaineering has also in creased her travel opportunities. She discov ered the sport in high school and has since done most of her mountaineering in the Ore gon Cascades. Her first mountaineering expe rience was on Mount St. Helens; her first full climb was Diamond Peak. “Mountaineering is both an outward expe rience and an internal experience,” she said. “It’s about getting up high into the mountains and having a vantage of the world many peo ple never see. It’s also about testing your physical limits and pushing yourself to ex posed places that test you mentally.” Raised in Eugene, Grover came to the Uni versity with an interest in the Outdoor Pur suits Program. Now a seasoned OPP veteran, Grover has taken most of the program’s courses. Her favorites: Ice Climbing and Glac ier Rigging and Rescue. Though many students in the program have taken a multitude of OPP classes, Grover is unique in that she helps instruct them. She also works for the OPP as program as sistant. She helps teach students map and compass skills, tips for dressing for the out doors and environmental friendliness tech niques in the OPP’s introductory-level Wilder ness Survival course each term. She has also helped lead Rock Climbing III, Principles of Outdoor Leadership and backpacking cours es. This spring, she will add mountaineering to the list. “Teaching is actually something I’m really passionate about and might want to do as a career,” she said. “I love taking people out and seeing them experience something for their tirst time.” Grover’s OPP counterparts appreciate her hard work and dedicated personality. “She’s very detail oriented and responsi ble,” Coordinator Michael Strong said. “If she has a good idea, she’ll let you know. She thinks on her feet and is always trying to im prove things.” Outside of teaching, climbing and moun taineering, Grover’s courses have also helped her become more aware of the environmental aspect of outdoor pursuits. “An interest of mine that goes along with my outdoor recreation activities is an interest in the environment, about the rocks that I’m climbing and the trees I’m walking through,” she said. After graduation, Grover will take her outdoor pursuits to a new level with interna tional travel. She and a friend will travel to Australia and New Zealand and include a stop in Nepal for a trek in the Himalayas. For now, Grover will keep busy with outdoor pursuits and her responsibilities with the OPP. ashleygriffin@dailyemerald.com Courtesy University student and outdoor enthusiast Breanna Grover climbs the Middle Sister during a Glacier Rigging and Rescue course in 2003. Grover has developed a passion for teaching courses such as this. ■ Duck football Other Williams emerging in spring practices Redshirt freshman Jaison Williams hits a dummy during one of Oregon's spring practices last week. Williams' size and speed are receiving much attention this spring. Lauren Wimer | Senior photographer Jaison Williams is using his speed and 6-foot-5r 23 7-pound frame to compete for minutes with other Duck receivers, like Demetrius Williams 741 BY JON ROETMAN' SENIOR SPORTS REPORTER Both positive and negative connotations come to mind when a football player is said to have “potential.” On one hand, the athlete possesses the size and skill necessary to have a cfuality, if not stellar, career. On the other hand, the potential for greatness means an athlete isn’t great yet. Jaison Williams is one such player labeled with the “P” word. The redshirt freshman wide receiver is listed at 6-foot-5 and 237 pounds on Oregon’s spring roster. He can power clean 320 pounds, squat 420 and has the speed to cause headaches for any defense. In short, Williams is a matchup problem wait ing to happen. “Jaison is an eyeful,” head coach Mike Bellotti said. “He’s (big) and runs about 10.6 or 10.7 in the 100 meters, so that in and of itself gets your attention.” Bellotti, however, said that Williams’ im provement from last season is as important as his size. The Inglewood, Calif., native is be coming a more consistent receiver and is slowly working toward earning a spot in the Ducks’ new wide-open offense. “He’s made a real improvement tliis spring and over the course of the year in catching the ball,” Bellotti said. “He’s catching the ball more consis tently, he’s running routes better, he understands (the offense better), and he’s a big receiver that’s a tough matchup. He’s got a bright future now, and if he continues to improve, he’ll be fighting for a starting spot. “Jaison is becoming the receiver we hoped he would be when we recruited him.” Williams’ talents were on display during Tues day’s practice when he snared a Dennis Dixon pass over the top of cornerback Marques Binns deep down the right sideline. While such catches certainly help his confidence, Williams said he needs to make more plays, be more physical with defenders and continue learning his assignments. “I can do a whole lot better,” Williams said. FOOTBALL, page 10
