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