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Olson emerges as a top quarterback in college football

Drew Olson stood with his knee in a brace outside a Las Vegas Bowl locker room, in which a player had just feuded with coach Karl Dorrell, and said, "We all have to question how we play this game."

It sounded like more idle chatter after another ridiculously embarrassing UCLA loss.

Eleven months later, no other player has transformed his game more than Olson, suddenly the poster-child for not giving up on quarterbacks, and not giving up on oneself.

As Olson, a senior, left the Rose Bowl field for the last time in his career Saturday, his smile couldn't be bigger, his confidence couldn't be higher and his status as rescuer of UCLA's football program couldn't be argued.

Two years ago, Matt Moore had the stronger arm, the higher ceiling and the backing of the coaching staff. Olson was the backup.

Throughout last season he kept quiet about the boos showered upon him, remained positive through the turmoil of another late-season collapse, and exhibited more composure and professionalism than most professionals. When he was greeted with a quarterback controversy in August training camp despite being healthy after reconstructive knee surgery, he said he understood why he was not anointed the starter.

True, people have endured much worse things in life than failure at a high-profile football program, but it's hard to not feel good for Olson, who shouldered so much of the blame for UCLA's failings the last two seasons, but is finally getting the rewards.

Olson's five-touchdown, 510-yard near-perfect performance in UCLA's 45-35 beating of Arizona State in his final game Saturday at the Rose Bowl can open the argument that he is the best college quarterback. The Bruins (9-1, 6-1 Pac-10) moved up two spots to No. 12 the in the Associated Press poll, and three spots to No. 11 in the coaches poll.

"It's awesome to bring a pride back to this program, a sense of accomplishment this season," Olson said. "Just really respect, that's all we wanted. Try to bring back respect to this program and build excitement about it."

Olson leads the nation with 30 touchdown passes. His efficiency rating of 172.5 is the best in the country, and his interception rate (three on 322 attempts) is tops in the nation.

Olson never wavered in his belief that he could be an elite college quarterback, but if anyone tells you they knew Olson had this type of performance in him, you'd be wise not to believe the next pitch involving a real estate purchase.

"Yeah, let's call it like it is," UCLA offensive coordinator Tom Cable said when asked if Olson was better than he thought he could be. "Are you kidding me? He's playing really well. He's doing what his team needs."

Matt Leinart owns the Heisman Trophy and it is fruitless to argue about USC's winning streak and his guidance of the top-ranked Trojans. He also has Reggie Bush and LenDale White, and receivers like Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith.

Texas' Vince Young is a remarkable talent, combining much-improved passing skills with a remarkable ability to run with the ball, and a wonderful supporting cast.

Olson, who has completed 218 of 322 for 2,909 yards, has thrown for five touchdowns in two games and a school-record six touchdowns in another, and led four comebacks despite trailing by double-digits in the fourth quarter each time.

Olson also made good on a promise 11 months ago to reassess his game, and backed up his speech during a players-only meeting he called the day after the Bruins' undefeated season ended last week at Arizona.

And his value is well beyond throwing the ball.

"He's more relaxed," Drew said. "It's unbelievable how relaxed he is in the huddle. When I fumbled on the goal line, he was like, `Whatever. We'll get the ball back and drive down,' and that's what we did."
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