SPJ Sounds Ready

by Nestor on Aug 5, 2007 12:29 PM PDT in Ben Olson

Practice starts tomorrow. Obviously Karl Dorrell is going to be under an intense microscope heading into the season opener on September 1. And one of the main subplots in the Dorrell drama is how he is going to be able to develop and take advantage of the best high school talent to come out of Southern California's high schools since the Great John Elway. All eyes are going to be on the Southpaw Jesus (SPJ)

Photo: Keith Birmingham, Daily News

Yes, we are going to start using the term SPJ all over again here on BN. We had a little drama last year. No one was paying attention when we were super excited over the most gifted UCLA QB (in terms of raw physical talent) since Aikman, who blew up in his first game. But then certain folks started whining about the usage of that name and we shied away from using it things got a little murky. SPJ got in a little funk (although most of it can be attributed to Dorrell's bonehead WCO and excruciately painful, horrible, cluelessly pathetic and predictable playcalls that shot his confidence). So this year we are not taking any chances. We are going to stick with SPJ no matter how much whining we read here or elsewhere on the internets.

Now that is all settled, SPJ is once again emerging as one of the centerpiece stories in what will probably be the deciding season in term of Dorrell's tenure at UCLA. And if you read today's profile in the LA Times, it sounds like SPJ is ready to go:

"The calm before the storm," Olson said. "I'm ready to get going."

Yes, the wait is over, or so reads the Bruins' powder blueprint.

The Olson legacy has gathered considerable dust in the five years since he was anointed the top recruit in the nation as a senior at Thousand Oaks High. Now 24, he stands closer to his 10-year reunion than his high school graduation day. There is still time to prevent the "whatever-happened-to . . ." conversations when his classmates gather.

Said Olson, "The way I look at it, the time is now."

I am glad SPJ is making those comments because it conveys he necessary sense or urgency we all have been feeling here for last few months.

Also if you didn't know Ben got married this summer. Here is another story on the SPJ via Scripps Howard News Services. Ben is confident having an ultimate partner is only going to have an positive impact on how he performs on the field:

It's a little bit more than having one more teammate.

"Being married is the best thing in the world because it's a partnership," said Olson. "We were just talking about this the other day. I'll never go through anything by myself again."

It's not a thinly veiled reference to last December, when Olson, despite being promised a return to his starting position upon his return from injury, was forced to watch Patrick Cowan play in both the Bruins' season-defining victory over USC and Emerald Bowl loss to Florida State.

"I didn't really feel alone in that sense, I had my immediate family," said Olson. "And (Andrea) was there with me through the whole season last year. She was a huge support for me during some of the difficult times that I went through."

Olson started the first five games of the season, before tearing the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in the first quarter against Arizona.

Olson had completed 64 percent of his passes for 822 yards and five touchdowns, all to different receivers.

From the same article:

"You can't dwell on the past," said Olson. "This is a new year and it's exciting."

Instead, Big Ben is excited about entering fall camp as the starter for the first time in his career.

He has the reins of a team that returns 20 starters -- 10 on both sides of the ball.

"We just want to win football games," said Olson. "We have a lot of experience now. We have the players we believe can do some big things, which is why the expectations are big this year. We just have to go out there and turn that potential into results."

His offensive line returns 13 of the 14 players listed on the Emerald Bowl depth chart, that combine for 90 starts, plus tight ends Ryan Moya and Logan Paulsen, who is on the Mackey Award watch list. His potential targets include seniors Marcus Everett, Brandon Breazell and Joe Cowan, plus budding youngsters Gavin Ketchum and Terrence Austin.

"We've got a lot of really talented receivers," said Olson. "We're expecting to make a lot of plays."

So are we Ben.

We are expecting Dorrell and his 4th OC in last 5 years, to make sure they put SPJ and all of our aformentioned talented athletes in position to make play after plays, and get us at least a Pac-10 championship. And if they don't UCLA should get SPJ and rest of our athletes a coaching staff who will be able to get that done. No excuses.

GO BRUINS.

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Comments

No excuses

During the Donahue era, especially the last decade, we repeatedly heard the excuse of injuries, many of which took place before the first game. I am hearing "rumors" that Carter, our freshman running back and perhaps the only one with speed, may be injured. If true, is this deja vu all over again (apologies to Fogerty)...

by Gary72 on Aug 5, 2007 1:20 PM PDT 0 recs

Even if Carter is out

that excuse won't work since we still have Markey, the Chain Train, Bell, Carew. WCO needs a decent running attack to be effective. It doesn't need a spectacular running game. Given our experience we should have no excuses for having a decent running game that should move the chains and be part of a balanced offense.

by Nestor on Aug 5, 2007 1:33 PM PDT up 0 recs

What it takes to "get" the WCO

If this year the WCO works, look at who is running it:

5 star QB recruit.
QB is now 32 years old (that may be a slight exaggeration).
QB married and proclaims this will help him.
QB is in his 4 year (or 10th year) in the system.

If that is what it takes, then we should be looking to recruit the successor. Let's see, how many QB candidates are there with the above profile in the NCAA D-1 level? One you say??....
Bill

BillSouthBay

by BillSouthBay on Aug 5, 2007 2:45 PM PDT 0 recs

How about Joe Montana?

He should have at least one year of eligibility left. And he still hasn't been paid as much as bu$h got at justsc, so that shouldn't be a problem.

by Fox 71 on Aug 5, 2007 3:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

I heard that

Hunk Japan is eligible. Any truth to that rumor?

by Barnes2JJ on Aug 5, 2007 4:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

Still working on the playbook

Mr. Dorrell and I were holding back on the announcement, but I've got one of the scholarships for the 2015 season. It will take me that long to learn the playbook (the current version is 376 pages.) I've been working on it night and day for several months. Naturally, it only has running plays between the two guards, but the nomenclature is a little tricky.

I can't wait to get the next four hundred pages. Those are runs to the left.

My arm isn't what it used to be, but that's no problem in the Dorrell version of the WCO which features no passes.

by Fox 71 on Aug 5, 2007 7:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

Hilarious

Yours is more evidence as to how there really is so much truth in comedy.

I am sure you will be ready for KD's WCO offense after a good 5-6 years in the system.

by Barnes2JJ on Aug 6, 2007 5:49 AM PDT up 0 recs

We Bruins should have no fear

because KD has boldly, unequivocally declared that, after 4 agonizing seasons, this team is finally ready to go out there and...

"make a move"

by bluegold on Aug 5, 2007 6:58 PM PDT 0 recs

"make a move"

I assume all members of the team "make a move" at least once/day. Any medical professionals on BN might be able to clarify the "movements" of a college football team on a daily basis. My followup question is once we are out of the bathroom, then what? Will we get other results that occur on the football field itself that might be pleasing to students, alums, and other fans?
Bill

BillSouthBay

by BillSouthBay on Aug 5, 2007 8:27 PM PDT 0 recs

Oh Lordy , did I laugh so hard at your comments

by Htse005 on Aug 6, 2007 12:58 AM PDT up 0 recs

Ditto

I tried not to laugh, but it was very funny.

Oh wait, I forgot we have no sense of humor!

by Barnes2JJ on Aug 6, 2007 5:47 AM PDT up 0 recs

Now, this was uncalled for, Bill

KD is promising Bruin faithfuls that the team will

"make a move" and

"do great things"

These are inspirational quotes, right in there with "win one for the gipper" that will be cited by future great coaches in years to come.

Personally, I know that I will be telling my two boys, as you go through life and the goings get tough, just remember what the great UCLA coach KD once said -- you just have to go out there and

"MAKE A MOVE"

and don't let anyone try to stop you.

by bluegold on Aug 6, 2007 10:00 AM PDT up 0 recs

Question

Are the players going to make this "move" right on the field?

I just purchased season tickets and may have to rethink my decision.

by Barnes2JJ on Aug 6, 2007 10:04 AM PDT up 0 recs

I cannot answer that, but

in the past, the UCLA FB team has been accused of stinking up the field...

You make your decision accordingly.

by bluegold on Aug 6, 2007 10:41 AM PDT up 0 recs

Lol!

by Barnes2JJ on Aug 6, 2007 1:48 PM PDT up 0 recs

Listen, Bluegold & BillSouthBay, you two

just kept me laughing and laughing so hard my wife thought there must be something in that can of diet Pepsi I happened to be drinking while reading your posts. Even after I got in bed last night, I still giggled at your words and she wondered aloud if I would ever stop.

But then she isn't a sports fan, let alone being a Bruin partisan like I am. So what does she know anyway to tell me to knock it off.

This is just hilarious to the core.

Lordy, Lordy, if only Dorell himself read these comments to realize that excuses can only get him so far. Seriously, this guy has dug himself a hole so deep I can't see how he would survive Guerrero's axe without beating SC and winning a BCS bowl game all in one stretch this season.

by Htse005 on Aug 6, 2007 2:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

If Karl "Make a Move" Dorrell...

... had a favorite rap song, it would probably be "Bust a Move" by Young MC.

Make a move, bust a move, no big difference. More than a few of KD's moves turn out to be busts in the end.

MIM

WHY NOT US? WHY NOT NOW?

by Meriones on Aug 6, 2007 11:29 AM PDT 0 recs

Ouch

I am sure your reference was unintentional but Young MC is a Toejam alum.

by Barnes2JJ on Aug 6, 2007 11:41 AM PDT up 0 recs

Yep, knew that...

... but let's face it, the appropriateness of it is fitting:

Bust a Move ("BAM") is a catchy tune; Karl "Make a Move" Dorrell ("MAM") has an offense that is supposed to be based on catches.

BAM has words that everyone has memorized; MAM has an offense that seemingly everyone in the Pac-10 had memorized.

BAM is non-threatening and non-offensive; MAM's playcalling has been, to opponents, non-threatening and non-offensive.

BAM was a one-hit wonder; MAM has been a one-season wonder.

BAM had more success writing songs for another rapper; MAM had more success working for another coach.

BAM's best pub nowadays comes from VH1's "Where Are They Now?"; even MAM's best pub nowadays asks where he'll be a year from now.

I tell you, I feel another song parody coming on (see my "Dorrellian Pie" and "We've Got that Lavin Feeling: lyrics from December).

WHY NOT US? WHY NOT NOW?

by Meriones on Aug 6, 2007 12:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

Oh man

Great stuff, M. Simply hilarious and dead-on accurate, too.

One note: To be in the "Where Are They Now" file, you have to Be Someone at one time. BAM was Someone at one time. KD will never be in the Where Are They Now file--he will more likely always be in the "Who Is He?" file. Or perhaps the, "What Was He Thinking?" file.

by Barnes2JJ on Aug 6, 2007 12:36 PM PDT up 0 recs