Western Michigan gave No. 4 USC all they could handle, keeping pace with the Trojans going into the fourth quarter. USC put the game away on a pick six by Marvell Tell III with 3:23 remaining in the contest, setting up a heartfelt moment for the home team.
Watch Jake Olson, USC’s blind long-snapper, make his first career appearance
Olson makes lifelong dream a reality with his appearance in the Trojans’ win over Western Michigan.
Long-snapper Jake Olson, who was born with retinoblastoma (a cancer of the retina) and had to have both of his eyes surgically removed by the age of 12, made his first career appearance for the Trojans, coming into the game to snap for the extra point.
Olson nailed the snap, and the Trojans hit the extra point to give them a 49-31 lead.
According to USC’s weekly game notes, the team keeps Olson from any contact in drills to prevent injury. He did, however, participate in USC’s spring game back in April.
As a California native, Olson had always been a Trojans fan, stemming from Pete Carroll’s head coaching days. From ESPN:
“Carroll welcomed Olson as a frequent visitor to USC practices and games, and they developed a connection while Olson still had sight in his right eye.
When Olson learned in 2009 that he would need the surgery that would cause him to completely lose his sight, among his requests were a visit to Notre Dame Stadium to watch the Trojans face the Irish and a trip to USC practice the night before the surgery.”
ESPN highlighted Olson’s story in 2015 as he hoped to one day suit up for the Trojans, and Gameday had a great piece on him as well.
After the game, Olson spoke on the experience.
Olson and the Trojans will host Stanford next weekend at 8:30pm EST.
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