Olson To Have Surgery Tomorrow
by Nestor on Aug 11, 2008 2:45 PM PDT
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PrintFrom the official site:
UCLA senior quarterback Ben Olson will have surgery on Tuesday on his right foot. Olson suffered a fracture to the fifth metatarsal of his right foot during Saturday's practice and x-rays on Sunday confirmed the fracture. He will have a new screw inserted in his right foot to aid the healing process. It is expected he will be sidelined approximately eight weeks.
"It's a crushing blow to the young man," head coach Rick Neuheisel said. "He put so much time and effort into the program, it's just really unfortunate. Sometimes you have a hard time understanding why things happen.
"Hopefully, his healing and rehab will go well and we'll get him back in the fold in early October."
We wish best of luck to Ben. Let’s hope he recovers soon and has a successful rehab. When he is ready to return there will be some interesting decisions for Olson and UCLA coaches. If by next 8-10 weeks one of our young cubs emerge as a dependable starting QB or as someone who has shown a lot of promise as the QB of the future (ala Cade although he was something special), what will Olson do?
Will he come back as backup and ready to step up when needed or will he apply for a medical redshirt and give it one more shot in this next year’s spring ball and fall camp, when the Bruins will have a crowded depth chart featuring Craft, Forcier, Crissman, Brehaut, Rasshan, and possibly Patrick Cowan.
Thoughts?
GO BRUINS.
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Speaking of Aikman
I talked to someone very close to the program and he told me Aikman was campaigning for CRN to get the job and now that he has the job is working closely with the program. He talks to CRN semi-regularly and is going to try and speak to all the QB’s and help them out when he can. He can’t make it games because of his work for FOX, but he watches every game and loves the program’s direction.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Aug 11, 2008 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Aikman
The significance of Troy Aikman’s support of the UCLA football program cannot be understated. 3 Super Bowl rings and Hall of Fame credentials is a huge attraction recruits, even though most of them barely remember him playing since they would have been 11 or so when he retired, let alone remembering him play in Super Bowls when they were toddlers!
by orlandobruin on Aug 11, 2008 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions
CRN's Direction
Bringing back to UCLA a tradition of winning is so important. Aikman and others will hopefully spend time in the program to help make it work. KD missed with Ken Norton for whatever reason and let him get too involved at SC and when CRN came around it was too late. Also, in order for us to compete nationally every year, we’ve got to recruit nationwide, remember the Donahue days. Granted about locals, but we got to compete with SC for those kids. A key to nationwide recruiting is your network, so former stars around the country helps.
Go Bruins!!!
In my mind
Best-case scenario is Olson makes it back in time for senior day to come out and take a couple of snaps with the first-team. His UCLA window is fast-closing. I wish him nothing but success in his rehab and path to graduation, but I just don’t see him being able to supplant anyone later on this year, particularly given our gaping hole at RT.
I certainly don’t see him returning next year. Our depth at QB only gets better next year, and I don’t see him as anywhere in part of the mix.
QBs
Cowan has no more eligibility left, so we can cross him off the list next year. It will be very hard for Olson to get another red-shirt year and frankly he has not shown much to make it worthwhile.
Brehaut is our QB of the future and next season it should be between him and Prince for the starting spot.
What about Crissman, Craft and Forcier?
We don’t know what’s going to happen this season so trying to predict who next season’s QB is useless. Prince or Breahut could get hurt. One of the guys you didn’t mention could be one of those players who takes it to a different level on game day. Brehaut hasn’t even attempted to pick up a college offense and he may have a lot of trouble with it. Neither he nor Prince have even played a game yet. At this point we really have no clue who our QB should be for this season and especially for next season.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Aug 11, 2008 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Ben Olson
Good Luck to Ben Olson with his recovery as his career has been somewhat star crossed up to this point. Anyways this may turn out to be a good thing for your team in the long run as expectations seemed to be low for this season to begin with. So why not use this opportunity to prep your QB of the future? However, its great to see how supportive UCLA fans have been of Olson through everything that has gone wrong for him over the last couple of years. Seems like an eternity ago that he was a #1, five star type of guy. Good luck against the Vols!
Ben Olson
Its been one tough break after another for Olson. Even if he applies for a red shirt its not certain that the NCAA will give it to him. Even if they do I think its a waste of time and space for him and the university. Sometimes you just have to know when to say when. I think its a great time for the program to see what the other QBs have to offer. This is an adjustment year anyway. I like Forcier, but I wonder how much Chow likes a QB who scrambles (especially after his time with Vince Young). I think they go with Craft , but I believe all the QBs will see time in what will be a up and down year at the position.
Olson
I think it is hard to speculate as to what the future will bring. Ben Olson could come back and rip it up. However, he does seem fragile these past few years. If he loses his opportunity to be starting QB, well I guess that is in the cards. He seems like he has a good head on his shoulders and whatever happens, he will be fine.
Nonetheless, it’s a shame this has to happen to such an articulate and well-spoken young man.
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