UCLA Quarterback Needs Some Love

Can someone, anyone send a little love Drew Olson’s way? He sure does need it.

The UCLA quarterback has put up amazing numbers in 2005 but gets zero publicity outside the West Coast.

USC stalwarts Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush, Texas QB Vince Young, and Notre Dame signal caller Brady Quinn are getting all the Heisman hype. There’s nothing wrong with that. They’re all talented, gifted athletes and deserve the attention lavished on them.

But to ignore Olson with a severely cold shoulder does an injustice to the whole process of picking a Heisman winner. Everyone that’s stood out must be considered – not just those hyped up by the major media.

Unfortunately for Olson, it’s that same media that selects the winner. So he’ll get the shaft no matter what he does on the field. The Heisman race is one big popularity contest with the best player not always being picked.

That may be the case this season. Remember, the award is supposed to be given to the individual who’s had the best year. It’s not a career award.

The numbers put up by Olson in 2005 can’t and shouldn’t be ignored.

He’s completed 67.7 percent of his passes (218-of-322) for 2,909 yards with 30 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Under his direction, the Bruins are 9-1 and ranked eleventh in the latest AP poll. If not for a horrible defense, UCLA would be unbeaten heading into its rivalry game with the Trojans.

Now compare his stats to the front-runners in the Heisman race.

Olson has thrown for more yards than Young (2,414), more touchdown passes than Leinart (23), Young (22) and Quinn (27), and has a higher completion percentage and QB rating than any of the big three.

Olson has done this on a team that has only one solid receiver (TE Marcedes Lewis) and less talent than USC, Texas or Notre Dame. These schools are traditional powerhouses. UCLA is a solid program – but doesn’t have the prestige or recruiting clout of that trio.

The Bruins are first and foremost a basketball school. Football is a high priority at UCLA of course, but hoops are first. That’s what happens when you win 11 national championships and your football program has only one (1954).

Imagine the numbers Olson could put up if he had the talent surrounding him that Leinart, Bush and Young do? He’s already smashed the Bruin single-season touchdown record and is closing in on the single-season yardage mark. At a USC or Texas – his stats could be monstrous.

His leadership, poise and character have led to five fourth quarter comeback victories by the Bruins. Thanks to a lackluster defense, Olson has faced 21-0, 28-0 and 28-14 deficits. In spite of this, he doesn’t get rattled. He stays calm, stares down the adversity and usually overcomes it.

That cool demeanor saved UCLA against Stanford and was one of the highlights of Olson’s season.

Down 24-3 in the fourth quarter, the Bruins scored 27 points in seven minutes to come away with the 30-27 overtime victory. Olson threw two touchdown passes in the closing moments, including the game winner.

UCLA, 6-6 last year, could be in line for a BCS game with a win over USC on December 3. Easier said then done I know. But it’s possible.

The criticis say he was inconsistent until his senior season. That’s true.

Olson was dazed and confused his first two years, started figuring things out during his junior campaign and blossomed into a big-time Division I quarterback as a senior.

Even though most of the draftniks don’t have him high on the draft boards, it would be a mistake to discount his abilities. In fact, Olson’s career mirrors that of a recent PAC-10 star quarterback.

Carson Palmer was dreadful his first three years at USC, then a stellar senior season, capped off by the Heisman, changed everything. Even so, the talk before the draft was Palmer had only one good year; he’s overrated, blah, blah, blah, blah.

What happened?

He was drafted first overall by Cincinnati, took his lumps early, and now looks to be a certain star the way he’s leading the Bengals this year.

Only time will tell how Olson will do in the NFL. None of us have a crystal ball. But he is – or at least should be – a legitimate candidate for the biggest prize in college football.

Vince Young or Reggie Bush will win the Heisman Trophy even though Drew Olson has had the most impressive and consistent season.

Now he just needs the love to go with it.