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Hello BC readers, it’s been a while. I’ve been off working on comics (The Freeze Vol 1 trade from Image Comics/Top Cow is in stores now…) but after
Posted in: NCAA, NFL, Sports | Tagged: Clay Helton, entertainment, HRL, Jake Olson, Pete Carroll, sports, USC Trojans
Jake Olson, Blind Since Age 12, Helps In USC Victory Over Western Michigan
One of the big sports stories from the weekend was USC coming back to score four touchdowns in the fourth quarter against Western Michigan. Sam Darnold, one of the top quarterback prospects in the country lead the Trojans from being down 21-14 early in the third quarter to winning the game 49-31. But there was another moment at the end of the game that was a bit more important to at least one player: Jake Olson.
Folks were surprised when USC took a time out after a touchdown — not something that usually happens nor is needed. The timeout was to let the referees and opposing team know what was about to happen. Olson, a sophomore at the college, is blind. He's been blind since he was 12, and he's a long snapper. This isn't a new thing for Olson, who was on the varsity team for two years at Orange Lutheran High in Southern California. He would snap on field goals and extra points. He's done snaps during some of the spring games for USC, but this was his first time to do it in a live game.
Olson was led onto the field by a teammate and centered over the ball by a referee. Olson got off a good snap, and the extra point was good. Olson was part of the final point in an opening game victory with his teammates.
Former USC and current Seattle Seahawks head coach Peter Carroll spoke about getting Olson into a game:
"It was an incredible moment. I'm so glad that Coach Helton figured out a away to create the opportunity for Jake to show what he could do. This is an extraordinary young man. Jake has done remarkable stuff his whole life. He wrote his first book at age 10. That's just something, to go out there and make the snap, kick the extra point. That just says something about Jake. He's all about courage, character and grit. Special qualities that few people would be able to hold on to. He's going to be a huge factor, we're going to see him do great things in this world. There is nothing holding Jake back."
Olson told reporters after the game:
"Getting to take a snap for the USC Trojans is something I'll never forget."
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