Sunday Roundup

Although my time at Oklahoma was brief, it was there that I first learned how difficult playing the quarterback position could be. It was through those disappointments, however, that led to me transfer into UCLA. That decision would turn around my career.

I owe so much of my success to UCLA and to my head coach there at the time, Terry Donahue. Coach Donahue represented UCLA with class and integrity and was a great example for the young men that he coached. His impact on me was significant. He would often tell me and the team: Things are never as good as you think they are or ever as bad as you think they are. Sound advice that I would have to remind myself of often during my early years in Dallas.

Coach Donahue, thank you for providing me an opportunity at UCLA and having such a positive influence on my life.

[T]he discipline and maturity developed during a two-year Mormon mission is what the highly talented Olson, a 23-year-old redshirt sophomore, said will help him overcome the rustiness of not playing a meaningful down in more than four years, digest a complex offensive scheme, and lead UCLA this season as its starting quarterback.

"Having done the things I've done to get to this point in my life, I believe will do nothing but help me," Olson said. "People thought I was kind of crazy, leaving for two years to go on a mission because it will harm my career.

"You know what? I believe the things I learned will make me a better football player. Physically, mentally, I believe I'm better now than I've ever been. It has been hard to get there. I worked really hard, but it's worth it."

Bruins coach Karl Dorrell insists redshirt sophomore Patrick Cowan can win the job, even if very few take him seriously.

In fact, it is so widely presumed Olson - the most sought after recruit as a high school senior in 2001 and again when he returned from his mission and announced he was seeking a transfer from BYU - will be the Bruins' starter, Dorrell was not once asked about a possible quarterback controversy during last week's Pacific-10 Conference media day.

So as UCLA opens camp Monday, all eyes will be on the 6-foot-5, 230-pound red-haired Olson, a lefty with a rocket arm, a confident swagger and a maturity beyond nearly every teammate.

"You can tell in his leadership, his savvy, the way he carries himself," Bruins fifth-year senior receiver Junior Taylor said. "He's really mature. He's just as old as I am. He's done a great job of getting the guys to follow.

"Most (sophomore) quarterbacks aren't doing what he's doing already. He has the offense. He's teaching it, learning it."

Since January, USC's head has been pounding.

One Heisman Trophy winner's parents apparently violate NCAA rules.

Another Heisman Trophy winner's father definitely violates NCAA rules.

The heir to the quarterback throne is exonerated of sexual assault suspicions that arise after a night of alleged fake ID use and underage drinking.

A former defensive lineman is charged with two misdemeanor counts of spousal battery and two counts of vandalism for an alleged incident that allegedly occurred while he was a Trojan.

A defensive back tests positive for steroids, immediately quitting the team and taking his twin brother with him.

Taken separately, none of these incidents are any different than the sort of stuff that happens with every football team.

Lumped together, they are the beginnings of a trend.