USC hanging half-a-hundred on a nonconference opponent is nothing new in the last 15 years. What happened in the closing minutes however, will surely win the program an ESPY Award next summer.
The Trojans came in as a 19-point favorite against the Broncos, who finished 13-1 last season. However, Western Kentucky was playing under new head coach Tim Lester, and replaced many of their starters from their 2016 Mid American Conference Championship squad.
The contest was a 21-21 tie heading to the fourth quarter in Pasadena. After two quick touchdowns, USC showed they may break the game open, like most of the nation assumed they would. On the sidelines, you could see kickers trying to stay loose, which is not that uncommon. However, the long snapper getting loose was the surprise.
The long snapper was redshirt sophomore Jake Olson. Olson not dressing his freshman year had nothing to do with academics or injury.
Jake Olson has been blind since he was 12 years old. Olson had his left eye removed due to retinal cancer when he was only 10 months old. Not years...months! The cancer returned in 2010, and Olson’s right eye was removed. However, Olson has been a member of the USC football program in some capacity since he was 12, and Pete Carroll was in charge.
Earlier in the week, second-year Trojan head coach Clay Helton met with NCAA and Pac 12 officials about the possibility of Olson getting into a game. The key is that Olson would only be allowed on the field if Helton and the on-field officials could ensure he would not be in any danger.
When the Broncos threw a pick six with just over three minutes remaining, it put the Trojans up by three scores, and had practically clinched the victory. This was the opportunity Helton was looking for.
Helton called a rare timeout after a touchdown, and brought the officials over to his sideline. In the meantime, you could see Olson went from practicing at the back of the bench, to executing practice snaps on the white coaches box, just steps away from the field of play. The USC student section began to make a little more noise than usual, because they quickly realized what what happening.
Helton signaled over to Lester, and the officiating crew formally informed Lester of the plan. Lester complied without hesitation. Helton walked over to Olson, said a quick word, and sent him onto the field with the assistance of holder Wyatt Schmidt.
The officials made sure Olson was line up properly, not backing away until Olson was in his three-point stance, and was ready to go.
The snap was about six inches inside, but with the Broncos not rushing the kick, Schmidt had plenty of time to get the ball down for kicker Chase McGrath. A second later, Olson would officially be in the USC record books, as McGrath’s kick sailed inside the right upright. Olson was promptly mobbed by his teammates, and acknowledged by some of the Western Michigan players on their way off the field.
Darnold was supposed to shine in this game, but instead went 22/33 for 289 yards, and two interceptions. Darnold will have to be much better today, when USC takes on #14 Stanford in Pasadena.
When your program is in line for a National Championship every year, you simply cannot let simple things like human decency get in the way of Saturday victories. I don’t exactly see Nick Saban or Urban Meyer trotting out a female kicker, or a great human interest story this season.
-JC24