1991: The game that cost a life
The story of Pacific's last football season from those who were there
Alana Kansaku-Sarmiento
Issue date: 5/14/09 Section: News
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"I hope the cookies are good. They spread a bit more than I meant for them to," said Pamela Ross, carrying a plate of still-warm, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies to the living room. Just like the rest of the large, log house, this room was generously decorated with a variety of nature-themed artifacts and furniture pieces - bears, in particular.
Pam is an alumna of Pacific University who, years later became a university employee as well, where her two sons later attended.
When asked her opinion about the possible return of football to Pacific University after a 17-year hiatus, Pam spoke without hesitation.
"It was part of the spirit of pacific," she said. "I'm sure we would come back and watch."
A large number of students at Pacific believe that the program was cut because a student died as the result of an injury during a football game. Though there were other reasons for the program's cut, a student did die due to a game-related injury, and his death was indeed a factor.
This student was Pamela's son, Eric Ross.
Eric was a senior running back for the Pacific University football team. During a home game on Nov. 2, 1991, Eric suffered a brain injury that lay him in a coma for two years. He died on March 15, 1993.
"When we found out about football leaving [Pacific University], it broke our heart," said Pam. "I think many people would think we wouldn't want to look at a football field again, but it was such an integral part of our family. We felt like the heart of Pacific went away when football went away."
Less than four months after the accident, the BOT cast their vote against football, bringing an end to the program.
"At that point in time we were in Seattle, and I think Jeff [Grundon] called," said Pam. "I thought that would break Eric's heart. We talked to Eric like he was cognizant, but I didn't tell him about [the cut]."
Grundon, who was assistant coach for the football team at the time as well as Eric's admissions counselor, remains a close friend of the Ross family. Grundon was directing plays from the sideline the night Eric was hit with 2:35 left in the first half of a game against Western Washington University (which WWU ended up winning, 30-10). He was flown off the field in critical condition.
"It was a simple dive play, and Eric got tackled," said Grundon. "After his head hit the ground, he got up and walked back to the huddle, and was a little wobbly.
Grundon thought everything was fine until Athletic Trainer Linda McIntosh told him that the field needed to be cleared as soon as possible at half-time.
"I turn around and I see Eric on a stretcher," said Grundon. "He was almost right behind me, and I didn't even realize it.
"I looked right down at him, and his eyes were open and I said, 'He's looking right at me,' [but] there was no color in his eyes. Only black."
As soon as Eric was stabilized, he was rushed to Emmanuel Hospital in Portland.
"From what I understand, Linda saved his life," said Grundon. "Everyone was pretty shocked, devastated. We didn't know what was wrong with him, what happened, any of it."
It was later discovered that he had suffered a subdural hematoma, forming a blood clot in his brain in minutes that, according to doctors, would normally take months to form.
Grundon picked up a large, framed photograph that was leaning against the bookcase in his office. It was a shot of Eric's helmet placed on the football field.
"You can see the old stadium, there in the back," he said. "This was hanging above his bed until he died. They gave it to me after that."
Also in attendance that night was former Pacific University President Robert Duvall.
Duvall had been questioning the future of football, citing the fact that Pacific was a part of the Colombia Football Association, a conference that included schools which had much more, and much larger players.
"I was there in the front row of the old shaky bleachers we had," said Duvall. "I was just sick to my stomach. I knew that student, I knew his family, and I just thought, 'What are we doing out here?'"
During his time in the hospital and at the Camelot Care Center in Forest Grove, many friends and other members of the Pacific community took time to visit Eric.
"We all - the players, the coaching staff - we visited the hospital, called Pam and Jim, tried to support them in every way, shape and form we could," said Grundon.
"It was so hard for the boys," said Pam. "Eric was the most energetic, bigger than life, jovial kid, and for them to come and see him in that vegetative state, it was really hard.
It makes you realize you are not indestructible. You are mortal, and kids that age never think of that."
Aaron Ross, Eric's only sibling, was attending Pitzer College in California at the time of Eric's injury.
"It was tough being so far away, and hearing my parents talk about it, coz I could tell it was tough for them too," said Aaron, who transferred to Pacific as a sophomore the following year.
Jim, Eric's father, thought the helmet may have had something to do with the injury, but after having it lab-tested, they discovered it was in working order.
"As a parent, going through what they went through, they were amazing, amazing people," said Grundon.
Sitting in his chair on the second floor of the admissions building, Grundon stopped to clear his throat, waited a few moments, and wiped his eyes.
"They still are amazing people."
Though the football program was officially cancelled in the spring of 1992, it was not the first time that it had been on the chopping block. In 1989 high costs and a sore losing record prompted an initial attempt by administrators and faculty members to convince the school's Board of Trustees to cut the program. At the time, President Duvall was caught in the middle of a capital campaign and thought that such a major change was not be a good idea.
"I think people felt that when you're in a major gifts campaign, it's best not to rock the boat," said Duvall, who was president from 1983-1995. "You want to present an image of stability. [After] the accident, the provost and the dean came to me and said, 'We need to revisit this question.'
"The tipping point was that tragic accident."
Tom Beck, former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, admitted he was largely responsible for convincing Duvall to bring the program to an end.
"I still believe one of my best actions as dean was to end football," said Beck. "In the month of February [1992] we took it to the faculty, who voted overwhelmingly to end football, to the students, who wanted it kept, and to the Board of Trustees at the end of the month."
Football was a thing of the past by the time fall rolled around.
"February 27, 2:30 in the afternoon. I remember," said Grundon, recalling the day the BOT decided to drop the sport.
According to Grundon it was Ken Schumann, former sports information director and current athletic director of Pacific University, who first informed him of the situation during a last-minute phone call.
"Ken Schumann called me up and said, 'How come you're not down here at the meeting?' I ran down but the meeting was over," said Grundon. "The decision was made with no input from anyone."
If there was anyone had a reason to regret the program's elimination, it would be Coach Bill Singler, who was hired to turn the image, the record, and the very standards of Pacific's football team around, both on and off the field.
"You could see it coming," said Singler of the BOT's decision.
Singler, who played college football at Stanford, is now coaching at the high school level in South Medford.
The school acknowledged that the advances that Singler made during his brief season as coach at Pacific were significant. However, with the culmination of every factor that was working against the program, it was not enough.
"The second year I was there we had to play a lot of young kids, so we didn't win, but you know you're not gonna win with a young football team," said Singler. "Football requires experience, strength and knowledge, and they didn't allow us to finish that process."
When asked if he was at any time bitter about the situation, Singler said, "No, not once. Things happen. I think it's great that they're [thinking about] bringing football back."
Issues such as a low male-female student ratio, lack of school spirit, and the desire for increased revenue are what have brought football back in the limelight. After months of polling, discussion, forums, and deliberation, the BOT is expected to vote on the matter during their next meeting, May 22.
When asked his opinion on football returning to campus, Aaron Ross said, "I would be supportive of it if they could support it fully. If they're going to bring it back, they need to have a quality program."
The question of exactly how to create a "quality program", and whether Pacific is or will be able to do that in the near future, remains a hot topic of discussion.
Grundon, who is now involved with the men's soccer team, is as ardent about the subject now as he was 20 years ago.
"I sincerely hope it comes back," said Grundon. "Everybody that I've talked to wants it to return. I would like everyone to keep an open mind, to look at the facts - just the facts - not the rhetoric."
Pam and Jim, who are still as much football fans as they ever were, believe that Eric would surely want the game to return to Pacific.
"Eric loved football," said Pam. "His senior year I thought, 'Gosh, if Eric doesn't play football and focuses on academics, we could get him out of here in four years instead of five.'
"I told him that one day when he was hanging outside my office, and he came inside, put his arm around me and said, 'Hey mom…I'll let you know when it's not fun anymore.' "
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