SPORTS
Thursday, August 19, 2021
East Oregonian
A9
Ducks tight end McCormick’s long fi ght with ankle injury nearly over
By CHRIS HANSEN
The (Eugene) Register-Guard
EUGENE — Cam McCormick’s
football career the last three years
has been a revolving door of surger-
ies, setbacks, more surgeries and
more setbacks.
But with less than three weeks
until Oregon opens its season at
home against Fresno State, the sixth-
year senior tight end from Bend is on
track to play for the fi rst time since
he was the opening-game starter in
2018.
When that happens, “I might shed
a tear, I don’t know,” fellow tight end
Spencer Webb said recently. “I know
what he’s been through. I know what
his family’s been through with that
situation. I’m going to be freaking
the loudest one on the sideline going
crazy. I’ll probably run on the fi eld
and get a penalty. I’m excited for
him and can’t wait for that moment.”
It’s been a wild ride for the 6-5,
259-pound McCormick, whose
athleticism and pass-catching skills
moved him to the top of the depth
chart as a redshirt sophomore.
However, late in the fi rst quarter
against Bowling Green at Autzen
Stadium on Sept. 1, 2018, McCor-
mick caught a pass from Justin
Herbert and was tackled for a 2-yard
Teams:
Continued from Page A8
coach Mario Cristobal has
been recruiting, but Oregon
has fi nished a season ranked
just once in the last five
years.
No. 12 Wisconsin (4-3)
Opener: vs. No. 19 Penn
State, Sept. 4.
Reality check: In two
of the last three seasons,
Wisconsin started ranked
and ended unranked. It’s
happened a total of four time
to the Badgers in the previ-
ous 13 seasons, but the last
time Wisconsin went two
straight seasons finishing
outside the Top 25 was 2003.
No. 13 Florida (8-4)
Opener: vs. Florida Atlan-
tic, Sept. 4.
Reality check: Coach
Dan Mullen has brought
some consistency with three
loss that sent him into a three-year
tail spin.
McCormick broke his fi bula and
tore the deltoid ligament in his ankle
on that play, sidelining him for what
he assumed would be just the rest of
the season.
It become a considerably longer
recovery process.
McCormick played in the 2019
spring game but was experiencing
discomfort in his ankle by the time
fall camp began, leading to another
surgery to replace a screw from his
initial procedure.
“Hardware malf unction,”
McCormick said Friday, Aug. 13,
after practice.
It wouldn’t be the last.
In the summer of 2020 he was
again having discomfort in the ankle
and learned that two screws holding
his ankle together had impinged a
ligament, causing it to rupture.
On Dec. 23, McCormick had
ankle reconstruction surgery
performed by renowned orthope-
dic surgeon Dr. Robert Anderson,
who has worked with the Green Bay
Packers and Carolina Panthers.
Eight months later, McCormick
returned to the practice fi eld and is
now preparing for his fi rst season in
three years.
“I’m really close. I feel really
straight ranked fi nishes, a
fi rst for Florida since Urban
Meyer left after the 2010
season.
No. 14 Miami (8-3)
O pener: vs. No. 1
Alabama in Atlanta, Sept. 4.
Reality check: There are
many ways to describe how
underwhelming the Hurri-
canes have been since join-
ing the ACC in 2004, but
how about this? Miami has
fi nished the season ranked
just six times as a member
of the ACC and never better
than 11th.
No. 15 USC (5-1)
Opener: vs. San Jose
State, Sept. 4.
Reality check: Since 2010,
the Trojans have had four
seasons that started ranked
and ended unranked. Coach
Clay Helton could have a
hard time surviving another
season at USC that doesn’t
live up to expectations.
close,” McCormick said. “I’m just
excited to be out here for fall camp.
I haven’t been out for fall camp in a
really long time. … It’s surreal. It’s
surreal being back out there.”
McCormick participated in
Oregon’s scrimmage Aug. 14 inside
Autzen Stadium, playing with the
second-team offense. He didn’t
catch a pass, but being in uniform
and taking live reps was a big step
in his comeback.
“I want to enjoy being a college
football player,” McCormick said.
“I want to show everybody what I
can still do. I know it’s been a while
since I’ve been out there, but don’t
doubt me. I still have got it.”
A three-sport star at Bend’s
Summit High School, McCor-
mick redshirted his freshman year
at Oregon in 2016. That winter,
McCormick and two other Oregon
players were hospitalized after
suffering rhabdomyolysis — the
breakdown of damaged skeletal
muscle — from strenuous workouts
under new coach Willie Taggart.
McCormick built back his
strength and in the 2017 season he
played in all 13 games as a redshirt
freshman, recording six receptions
for 89 yards and one touchdown in
the Ducks’ 7-6 season.
In 2018, under new coach Mario
No. 16 LSU (5-5)
Opener: at UCLA, Sept. 4.
Reality check: The Tigers
became the fi rst defending
champions since Auburn
in 2011 to fi nish the season
outside the Top 25. There is
talent for a bounce back in
Baton Rouge.
No. 17 Indiana (6-2)
Opener: at No. 18 Iowa,
Sept. 4.
Reality check: Coach
Tom Allen’s Hoosiers will
try to become the fi rst team
in the history of the program
to start and end the season
ranked.
No. 18 Iowa (6-2)
Opener: vs. No. 17 Indi-
ana, Sept. 4.
Reality check: In 22
seasons under Kirk Ferentz,
the Hawkeyes have neither
fi nished four straight seasons
ranked, nor had three straight
seasons that began and ended
in the AP poll. Iowa can
Cristobal, McCormick earned the
starting spot at tight end over Jacob
Breeland. But then came the injury
in the Bowling Green game and
three years of setbacks.
The tight end room looks much
diff erent these days than the last
time he played, but McCormick is
still a well-respected presence.
“It’s been awesome just to have
him out there, have him in the meet-
ing rooms, the leadership, the expe-
rience and the character he’s shown,
because it takes a lot to come back
after all these years and really not
being able to have an opportunity
to play,” said tight ends coach Bobby
Williams. “But man, he’s been look-
ing good in practice and it’s been a
pleasure to have him around.”
Despite not playing, McCormick
hasn’t let the time just go by. He is
working on his master’s degree in
advertising and brand responsibility
through the School of Journalism
and Communication, and despite
being a 23-year-old grad student,
McCormick still has three seasons
of eligibility remaining for football
thanks to medical redshirt rules
and the exemption for 2020 being
a non-counting COVID-19 season.
McCormick wasn’t ready to
commit to playing through 2023, but
for the fi rst time in a long time, the
accomplish both of those
this season.
No. 19 Penn State (4-5)
Opener: at No. 12 Wiscon-
sin, Sept. 4.
Realit y check: T he
Nittany Lions had a string of
four straight Top 25 fi nishes
snapped last year. There is
reason to believe it was just
a glitch, but a tricky early
season schedule should
reveal a lot.
No. 20 Washington (3-1)
Opener: vs. Montana,
Sept. 4.
Realit y check: T he
Huskies seemed primed to
settle into a perennial Top
25 team under coach Chris
Petersen when they had three
straight ranked fi nishes from
2015-18. Second-year coach
Jimmy Lake is trying to
prove the program’s slip was
small.
No. 21 Texas (7-3)
Opener: vs. No. 23 Louisi-
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
Oregon tight end Cam McCormick,
a former star at Bend’s Summit
High School, works out with the
Ducks during practice Saturday,
Aug. 14, 2021, at Autzen Stadium,
Eugene.
upcoming season is looking good.
“There were times when it was
tough and I was ready to be done,”
McCormick said. “Over the course
of these three years I’ve really
learned that football does end at
some point … but not yet for me.”
ana-Lafayette, Sept. 4.
Reality check: Former
Alabama off ensive coordi-
nator Steve Sarkisian takes
over a program that for all the
drama has fi nished ranked
three straight seasons for
the fi rst time since a 12-year
run under Mack Brown from
1998-2009.
No. 22 Coastal Carolina
(11-1)
Opener: vs. The Citadel,
Sept. 2.
Reality check: The Chan-
ticleers will try to follow up
their magical 2020 season by
becoming the fi rst Sun Belt
team to begin and fi nish a
season ranked.
No. 23 Louisiana-Lafay-
ette (10-1)
Opener: at No. 21 Texas,
Sept. 4.
Reality check: The Ragin’
Cajuns will try to follow up
21 victories in the last two
seasons by becoming, yes,
the first Sun Belt team to
begin and finish a season
ranked.
No. 24 Utah (3-2)
Opener: vs. Weber State,
Sept. 2.
Reality check: The Utes
had a run of three straight
seasons from 2014-16 in
which they started the
season unranked and fi nished
ranked. Utah doesn’t get
undervalued quite so much
anymore. Like a lot of Pac-12
teams, the Utes bring back a
boatload of experienced play-
ers.
No. 25 Arizona State
(2-2)
Opener: vs. Southern
Utah, Sept. 2.
Reality check: The Sun
Devils are ranked in the
preseason for the fi rst time
since 2015. Arizona State has
only had one season (2014) in
the last 24 years that began
and ended ranked.
EASTERN OREGON
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EAST OREGONIAN • HERMISTON HERALD • BLUE MOUNTAIN EAGLE • WALLOWA COUNTY CHIEFTAIN
219 ATVs/Motorcycles
360 Garage Sales
DOWNSIZING
DON’T MISS THIS
AMAZING SALE
1992 25’ Class A Holiday
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nice. All amenities. 4000 watt
generator. Ford Chassis, 460
cu in with EFI. $9500. Located
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354 Auction Sales
AUCTION!
Thursday, August 19, 2021
80824 Kik Lane, Hermiston
Due to the heat,
Auction will start at 6:30pm.
The preview begins
at 5:30pm.
Some of the items for the
auction are: Huge lot DVD
lot, rare/unique items, vintage
harmonicas, tools, equip-
ment, glassware and paint-
ings.
If you would like subscribe to
our mailing list, text FORD-
SAUCTION to (844) 957-
2516.
Ford Bonney: 541-561-5798
Colby Alexander: 541-314-
3153
SAT- AUG 21
7:30 AM - 2:00 PM
SUN- AUG 22
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
SUN ½ PRICE ON
MOST ITEMS
912 AIRPORT RD
PENDLETON, OR 97801
Antique Oak Rocker,
Vintage Coffee Bean
dispenser, TinyJuno oil
lamp, 7 stained glass
panels, 4 dining room
chairs, wall art, depres-
sion glass, sterling &
silverplate, wine stems,
glassware, pyrex, small
appliances, vintage &
newer cooking items,
costume jewelry,
watches, SEIKO mantle
clock, Feves student
pottery, Lots more Pot-
tery, Christmas decor &
china, 1920’s Hotpoint
stove, Kings Crown
punch set, Delft, Ruby
Red Glasses, Commer-
cial Kitchen Aid Mixer,
Pope & Gosser China &
Lots more.
360 Garage Sales
Class-
if-
ieds
360 Garage Sales
360 Garage Sales
360 Garage Sales
HANDLEY MOVING SALE:
52989 Hwy 204, Weston OR.
August 21, 22 & 29, 8am-2p
each day. Lots of tools, furniture
and outside equipment.
YARD SALE: Saturday, August
21st; 8am-2pm. 715 SW 2nd,
Irrigon. Danner boots, size 10;
self propelled mower; hunting &
fishing items; 8’x8 tilt trailer; lots
of miscellaneous.
MENS YARD SALE: Saturday,
August 21st, 7am-3pm, 203
NW 6th St. Pendleton. Reload-
ing supplies, powder, black and
smokeless, bulk lead, Dillion
progressive press, brass, dies,
odds and ends, Navy arms
black powder shotgun 1885 high
wall 40-70, nice Howatt recurve
bow 55lb, yew wood bow blanks.
YARD SALE: Saturday 8/21,
7am-2pm; Remodel items such
as light fixtures, hinges, etc.
Bikes, dog care item, kitchen
items and more. 1447 SW 45th,
Pendleton, OR.
BUY IT! SELL IT!
FIND IT!
Toys, young girls clothes, shoes,
women clothes, baby clothes,
little bit of everything.
CALL
1-800-962-2819
3230 SW ISAAC AVE
PENDLETON
Friday 8am-5pm
Saturday 8am-1pm
MOVING SALE: Aug. 20, 21, 22;
9am-5pm Fri & Sat, 9am-2pm
Sun. Featured items: beautiful
hutch & large table + 8 chairs,
also roll top oak desk, lots of
tools & many more items. 78869
Agnew Rd, Hermiston.
CHILDREN’S outgrown
clothing, toys and furniture sell
quickly with a classified ad.
VISA & MASTERCARD
503-931-2870 FOR
QUESTIONS
SEE FACEBOOK AND
LOCAL SALE SITES
FOR PICTURES
GARAGE SALE?
Advertise it here
in the classifieds!
Call for your classified ad today! 800-962-2819
Reach the buyer
you are looking
for with a low cost,
effective
classified ad.
Multi Family Yard Sale
1-800-522-0255
DOWNSIZING
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AMAZING SALE
CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!
HUGE MULTI-FAMILY YARD
SALE: Saturday, Aug. 21st,
8am-3pm, 1020 SW 19th Court,
Hermiston. Shop mat 6’x4’x1/2”,
tool box, tools, log chain, tire
chains, vintage farm tool box,
horizontal file cabinet, vintage
Pendleton blankets, black lamp
tables, lamps, rocking chair, new
over-toilet shelving unit, 80” red
curtain panels, stadium seats,
ladies jeans sizes 10-12, bad-
minton sets, tennis rackets, cut
glass serving platter, Christmas
decorations, umbrella stand,
books, clothes, kitchen items,
jewelry, Breyer horses, Rogers
Garland silverware, too much to
list. Cash only please.
101 Legal Notices
Advertise here!
HUGE YARD SALE: Saturday,
August 21st. 7am-3pm, 203 NW
6th, Pendleton. Jewelry, base-
ball cards, Star Wars charaters,
antique gumball machine, end
tables, infant and children’s
clothing, paintings, spinning
wheel, decorative pillows, wom-
en’s purses and hats, 8 1/2x12’
rug, candles and holders and
much more.
SAT- AUG 21
7:30 AM - 2:00 PM
SUN- AUG 22
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
912 AIRPORT RD
PENDLETON OR 97801
SUN ½ PRICE ON MOST
ITEMS
VISA & MASTERCARD
503-931-2870 FOR
QUESTIONS
SEE FACEBOOK AND
LOCAL SALE SITES FOR
PICTURES
101 Legal Notices
The Harney SWCD is accepting bids for the Beaver Tables aeri-
al seeding, located approximately 35 miles south east of Burns,
Oregon, within the Beaver Table mount range. The seeding
consists of approximately 1,200 acres of ariel application. Seed
mixture of 10 lbs of Siberian wheatgrass and 1 lb of forage ko-
chia. There is a mandatory bid tour beginning at 8:30 am on
Thursday, September 2, 2021. Sealed bids are due either by
hand delivered or by mail no later than noon, Wednesday, Sep-
tember 15, 2021.
More information and bid packets can be obtained at the
HSWCD office located 530 Hwy 20 South in Hines, or on the
district website, HarneySWCD.org.