Air Maehl

Originally published 11/20/2010

Updated 12/5/2010

[See my Post BCS Bowl Hub "University of Oregon's Jeff Maehl is an NFL Draft Super Bargain!]

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In 2006, my son, who was 8 at the time, began taking an interest in football. He began asking me to take him to see a game at my alma mater, Paradise High School, in Paradise California. At the time, I hadn't been following the team much other than checking the scores Saturday morning.

I was aware that they were having a pretty good season and I'd heard some buzz about a kid on the team, I couldn't remember his name then, who was catching some attention. So, I decided to take my son and catch the next home game.

I don't remember much about the game, I don't remember who the visiting team was, how far into the season it was, or what the final score was. I remember it was chilly, Paradise dominated from start to finish and there was one play that I'll never forget.

The visiting team had the ball. I didn't catch the beginning of the play, but I looked up just in time to see the ball carrier absolutely crushed by a Paradise defender. The Paradise player wearing Jersey #15 walked away, leaving the ball carrier writhing in pain. My son looked at me with wide eyes and said, "Did you see that? That one will be in the highlights!"

That season Paradise High went on to win the NSCIF Division I Football Championship and ended the season Ranked #4 in the State and #41 in the Nation.

This year, on November 20th, in a ceremony before their 2nd round playoff game, Paradise High School retired Jeff Maehl's number 15 Jersey. Thanks to Oregon's Bye this week, Maehl, was able to be on hand for the ceremony. Decked out in all his Oregon Ducks gear, Maehl humbly accepted the award and wished his former team luck. (After retiring Maehl's Jersey Paradise went on to win their 3rd NSCIF Div. I Championship in five years.)

This season as a senior at #1 Ranked University of Oregon, Maehl has quietly had the best season of his college career. Almost lost in the talk of BCS Rankings and Heisman talk about team mate, running back LaMichael James, the 6'-1" 184 Lbs senior has piled up 68 receptions for 943 Yards and 12 touchdowns as an integral part of the Ducks high powered offense.

Update: Last night on December 4, 2010, University of Oregon defeated Oregon St. 37-20 to end the regular season undefeated and earned a birth in the BCS National Championship Game against Auburn University on January 10th in Glendale AZ!

This season (Updated 12/5/2010):

• Maehl caught a touchdown in nine straight games, breaking the school record of 7 set in 1965.
  
• Maehl's 12 touchdown receptions on the season is a school record.
  
• Maehl's 68 receptions ranks 2nd in the Pac-10 and 30th (out of 1783) in the FBS (Div. IA).
  
• Maehl's 943 receiving yards is 4th in the Pac-10 and 31st in the FBS.
  
• Mael's 12 TD's ranks him 5th in the Pac-10 for TD and ties him for 8th in the FBS
  
• Mael's 72 pts. ranks him 9th in the Pac-10 for overall scoring and ties him for 9th among all Wide Receivers in the FBS.
• Mael's 72 pts. Makes him the 3rd leading scorer on the Ducks #1 ranked scoring offense.