Olson's reaction
UCLA quarterback Ben Olson said his frustration isn't about losing the starting job to Patrick Cowan, but rather whether or not he's been given a chance.
“You would hope you would be given a choice,’’ Olson said. “You would hope they wouldn’t make up their minds after four days of spring practice. Again, I can’t control that. I have to stay positive and keep plowing through. But it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what’s going on.’’
17 Comments
Leave a comment
About Inside UCLA
This is Brian Dohn's sixth season covering UCLA after spending 4 1/2 years covering the Dodgers for the Daily News and other Los Angeles Newspaper Group papers. He graduated from Rutgers, where the first college football game was played in 1869. Sure, the Scarlet Knights suffered for a long time, but now RU is doing what Jerseyans always thought was possible. Winning at Rutgers also proves winning is possible everywhere else in the nation, so underachieving coaches better be careful. Now, if only men's hoops can turn it around.
wwwaaaaaa!! I don't remember Pat Cowan being such a cry baby when he was not picked to be the 1st stringer in seasons past. I've always thought Olson was a stiff....he had 2 seasons to prove his abilities. And his performance in the UTAH game basically says it all!!
I remember Norm Chow quoting that he thought that Pat had a "stronger" arm....I would tend to believe Norm in his eval. He is the QB guru!
Be a team player Olson...let Pat lead this year!....after all he is the guy who has beaten SC!
You sound as bad as Ben when you started complaining about his complaining...when he was most likely asked a question by a reporter and answered it.
Olson has shown nothing, yet feels he is entitled to something. After looking at him last year I think he forgot it takes HEART to compete at anything in life.
I think the writing was on the wall when Chow said PC had a stronger arm. I think the reality is that the O-line is in trouble and Ben cannot run. Anyone else think the choice was O-line driven?
"it doesn’t take a genius"
Indeed not.
The irony might be that Olson has a better chance to start more games as the backup given our recent history of QB injuries.
The irony might be that Olson has a better chance to start more games as the backup given our recent history of QB injuries.
Given our offensive line for the last several years, Olson will have a chance -- until he too is injured behind an offensive line that hasn't thrown a block in several years.
We'll move on to the third string QB, praying that Cowan's injury was early enough in the season to give him time to heal before the USC game. The third stringer will be injured too, just in time for Cowan to come back and save the day.
But Cowan will be out of sync, having been recovering for a month or more, and having rushed back without the practice time. His backup will be the 4th stringer - and USC will embarrass us again.
Same script as last year, and the year before, and the year before...
Please, Coaches, rewrite the script?
Ben was thrilled that NC was the new coach, hopefully he continues to feel that way...
It seems that BYU fans should no longer be upset that Ben defected...
Ben Olson could learn a thing or three from Lorenzo Mata-Real.
Ben Olson could learn a thing or three from Lorenzo Mata-Real.
Ben Olson;
Questionable attitude,
Questionable Arm,
Below average Speed,
Below average mobility,
Questionable Decision Maker
Disconnected Leadership skills
Pat Cowen,
Winners attiude
Strong arm
Good speed
Very moble
Very Coachable
Inspiring Leader
Heart of a Lion.
13-9
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Neu and Norm know what Ben Olson can do for them and it aint pretty.
truBruin I agree but the kid that had the arm wasn't even invited back this year and that was the walk-on Crook. If you had attended any of the practices last year you'd know who he is.
With Pat, Olsen and Crook we would have had a good nucleus of QB's. But now we have the new kids and this Craft who obviouly was a after thought too cover their asses if Pat left.
Osaar I bet will leave because he's not a Quarterback at this level and he proved last year he just doesn't have a strong arm with some of those ducks he was throwing.
I hope I'm wrong but so far and from what I have seen I'm sticking to my observations so far.
truBruin I agree but the kid that had the arm wasn't even invited back this year and that was the walk-on Crook. If you had attended any of the practices last year you'd know who he is.
With Pat, Olsen and Crook we would have had a good nucleus of QB's. But now we have the new kids and this Craft who obviouly was a after thought too cover their asses if Pat left.
Osaar I bet will leave because he's not a Quarterback at this level and he proved last year he just doesn't have a strong arm with some of those ducks he was throwing.
I hope I'm wrong but so far and from what I have seen I'm sticking to my observations so far.
truBruin I agree but the kid that had the arm wasn't even invited back this year and that was the walk-on Crook. If you had attended any of the practices last year you'd know who he is.
With Pat, Olsen and Crook we would have had a good nucleus of QB's. But now we have the new kids and this Craft who obviouly was a after thought too cover their asses if Pat left.
Osaar I bet will leave because he's not a Quarterback at this level and he proved last year he just doesn't have a strong arm with some of those ducks he was throwing.
I hope I'm wrong but so far and from what I have seen I'm sticking to my observations so far. And so far I think we have dropped the ball.
Someone needs to tell Olson to put a lid on it. He had his chance the last two years, and failed each time. Forget the injuries, he just did not have it and everyone around me at the Rose Bowl couldn't agree more. He's been talking alot since arriving in westwood, but has produced nothing. He's a terrible leader, and it looks like the offense responds alot better to Cowan when he's in the game versus Olson. Of course, Cowan will get hurt during the season, and when that happens, maybe Craft (or Forcier) will be more prepared to play and thus give them a head start on the year after. Forget Olson...
Hmmm. I wonder what kind of deal Dorrell cut with the Olson family to get our guy Ben? I think the answer is obvious...
Remember how confident Olson was that he would win the starting spot since he had already done that 2 times? I love the new coaches for this.
Lessons learned: 1) Next time don't take 2 years off of football. 2) If you can't win the starting spot consistently (especially at UCLA right now), you're not playing in the NFL anyway so shut up and enjoy your free education.