SPORTS
Saturday, September 8, 2018
East Oregonian
Page 3B
SEAHAWKS FOOTBALL
Griffin continues to inspire on cusp of NFL debut
By TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer
RENTON, Wash. —
Twelve-year-old
Logan
Powell was already a die-
hard Seattle Seahawks fan,
even growing up in a house-
hold with a Steelers-loving
dad.
If possible, Powell’s
enthusiasm for the Seahawks
was amplified when Seat-
tle selected Shaquem Grif-
fin in the fifth round of the
NFL draft last spring. Pow-
ell didn’t know who exactly
Griffin was before the Sea-
hawks selected him. He just
knew there was a college
player with one hand who
wanted to play in the NFL.
“I was like ‘Ah, that
would be cool if he was on
the Seahawks,’” said Pow-
ell, who wears a prosthetic
left leg. “And then he was
drafted by the Seahawks.”
Powell and seemingly
everyone else now knows
Griffin’s story.
How doctors amputated
Griffin’s left hand when he
was 4 years old, a day after
his mother found him in the
kitchen attempting to cut
off his jelly-like fingers. His
fingers hurt whenever he
touched anything, the result
of amniotic band syndrome,
a congenital birth defect.
The chance he was given
to play college football at
UCF. The remarkable col-
lege career where he was the
best defensive player in his
conference and one of the
best in the country.
And ultimately being pro-
vided a chance to play in the
NFL for the team his twin
brother already played for.
Griffin’s story will likely
add another unplanned chap-
ter on Sunday in Denver, one
nobody could have expected
on the day he was drafted by
Seattle. He’ll do more than
just play in his first NFL reg-
ular-season game. Griffin
NFL
Seattle
Seahawks
(0-0)
Denver
Broncos
(0-0)
Sunday, 1:25 p.m., at Mile
High Stadium, Denver
AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Shaquem Griffin squares
off against Oakland Raiders’ Jordan Simmons and
James Stone during the first half of an NFL football
preseason game in Seattle.
will be one of the starting
linebackers for the Seahawks
with K.J. Wright out due to
minor knee surgery.
The player who has been
told countless times he can’t
will make his professional
debut as a starter.
For kids like Powell, it’s
even more inspiration. If
someone missing a hand can
start in the NFL, then what is
possible?
“He’s just proved he
can do whatever he wants
because he worked hard for
it,” Powell said.
Griffin’s work ethic has
been cited by coaches and
scouts as the driving reason
the 23-year-old is even in
the NFL. But being an NFL
player has brought another
responsibility, one greater
than what he experienced in
college. Griffin understands
he will always have a role
beyond just being a football
player.
It’s the reason why
after Seattle’s final presea-
son game he spent time
back on the turf of Centu-
ryLink Field meeting with
kids from NubAbility, a
nonprofit whose mission is
to “encourage, inspire and
instruct limb-different youth
in mainstream sports.” He
signed autographs. He posed
for pictures. Powell was
there among those listening
intently to what Griffin had
to say well after 11 p.m. on
the field of a mostly empty
stadium.
Griffin said he didn’t have
a specific message to share; it
was simply a chance to relish
in the camaraderie of being
together and seeing what was
possible.
“There’s no exact mes-
sage. It’s just us doing what
we love doing,” Griffin
said. “That’s living out our
dreams. That’s us choosing
what we want to do. There’s
not really a message because
we’re all on the same page.
We all support each other.
Having them come support
me is another step along the
way.”
NCAA FOOTBALL
PSU draws upset plan for Ducks Scoring could come in droves
time in the day to talk to all
the media and other coaches
who will want to know how
Portland State has lost
the Vikings did it.
14 football games in a row,
“I understand it’s a David
including 72-19 at Nevada
vs. Goliath, but David got
last week.
that stone in, I’m pretty
Oregon is ranked 23rd
sure. So who knows?” Bar-
Portland
Oregon
in the nation by Associated
St. Vikings num says, with a twinge of
Ducks
a smile and a chuckle.
Press, has won 21 consec-
(1-0)
(0-0)
utive nonconference home
“(The Ducks) still have
games, has arguably the
to
play us. Are they bet-
Saturday, 11 a.m., at
ter?
Yes. Are they bigger?
nation’s top college quarter-
Autzen Stadium, Eugene
back, beat Bowling Green
Yes. Are they faster? Yes.
58-24 last week, and so on and so forth.
Do they have three defensive coordinators
The last time PSU and Oregon played, and we only have one offensive coordina-
tor? Yes.
the Ducks won, 69-0 (in 2010).
And, yes, Portland State does have a
“But we’re going to line up and do our
plan for how to beat Oregon when they best. We’ll give our players a scheme that
meet again at 11 a.m. Saturday in Autzen will work. We just have to be able to match
Stadium.
Oregon’s athleticism.
“I’ve got a game plan, and I like it,” PSU
“Shoot, they’re one of the best teams in
coach Bruce Barnum says. “If it works, I’m the country, let’s be realistic.”
going to be a hero.”
And, if things don’t work perfectly,
If it works, he also won’t have enough shockingly, for Portland State on Saturday?
By STEVE BRANDON
Portland Tribune
DUCK FOOTBALL
Jonathan Smith.
That left the impression
the starter will be sopho-
Everything points to a
more Conor Blount, who
high-scoring shootout when
took over and performed
Southern Utah invades Cor-
well through the rest of
vallis for a 5 p.m. match-up
the first half. Blount also
sufffered an injury — to
with Oregon State at Reser Oregon St.
Southern
his shoulder late in the
Stadium on Saturday.
Utah
Beavers
half — and gave way to
The Big Sky Thunder-
(0-1)
(0-1)
birds, who play at the FCS
third-stringer Jack Col-
letto for the entire second
level, racked up 30 first
Saturday, 5 p.m., at Reser
half. Blount’s injury is not
downs and 532 yards total
Stadium, Corvallis
believed to be serious, and
offense in a season-open-
ing, 34-30 home loss to North Alabama last Smith said Blount will be “the first up” if
week.
Luton is unable to play.
“Conor did some really good things,”
Oregon State managed 392 yards total
offense — 196 in both the run and pass Smith said. “It’s tough on a guy if he’s not a
game — in its opening 77-31 annihilation starter to prepare like a starter, but the way
Conor played, it showed that he did that. He
by fifth-ranked Ohio State.
The Beavers likely will be without start- operated at a high level at times. There are
ing quarterback Jake Luton, whose sta- things to clean up, but he gave us a spark.
tus after suffering a concussion on the first
“It pays off that (Blount and Colletto)
offensive series against the Buckeyes was got so many reps through August. Those
termed “day to day” on Monday by coach guys have to be ready to go.”
By KERRY EGGERS
Portland Tribune
SPORT
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EAST OREGONIAN • HERMISTON HERALD • BLUE MOUNTAIN EAGLE • WALLOWA COUNTY CHIEFTAIN
104 Special Notices
166 Good Things
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4 tires and wheels for Chevy
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LT245/75R16
$400
(541)278-4013
AUCTION
US Government
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September 8th preview date -
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September 9th, 9 am
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Saturday September 8
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6855
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301 RVs & Travel
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2014 Honda Civic Coupe
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