It was August 2005, when the UCLA football team had just
finished fall training camp, and the question that was on
everyone’s mind was who would be the team’s starting
quarterback: incumbent starter Drew Olson, or incoming freshman
standout Ben Olson.
Despite the awkward situation of competing with a freshman for
what had been his starting job, Drew Olson never complained. He
knew he had to let his performance speak for itself.
“The whole process gave me a whole new work ethic and a
whole new approach to this game that probably was much
needed,” Olson said at the time. “I didn’t enjoy
it, but I didn’t dismiss it either.”
But following the team’s first game, the quarterback
controversy was never mentioned again, and the rest was
history.
Olson shattered the UCLA record for touchdowns in a season with
34, and tied UCLA’s all-time record for touchdowns in a game
with six against Oregon State.
After compiling a 14-12 record as a heavily criticized starter
during his first three years, Olson nearly equaled that during the
2005 season as he led the Bruins to a 10-2 record and a bowl game
victory over Northwestern.
“I don’t think I saw myself having as good a season
as I did,” Olson said. “But whenever you can win and
have personal success as well, that’s the ultimate. That
helped all of us coming out in this class.”
Olson, scheduled to graduate this spring, has now moved on to
the next stage of his career, signing as an undrafted rookie with
the Baltimore Ravens.
Although he is not guaranteed a roster spot and is limited in
his NFL workouts because of NCAA regulations, Olson is merely
trying to take advantage of any opportunity he gets, something he
learned during his time as a Bruin.
Whether he makes it with the Ravens, Olson is clearly proud of
the four years he spent in Westwood.
“It’s all come pretty fast, but it was a great run,
and I had a lot of fun,” Olson said. “It’s a
dream come true.”
Compiled by Sagar Parikh, Bruin Sports senior
staff.