For the second time in five months, UCLA quarterback Ben Olson took a painful ride on a cart to the locker room Saturday.
The agonizing journey came after Olson took a misstep on a fake and felt pain in his right foot. Olson suffered a broken bone in the foot on a similar play during spring practice and spent three months recovering after a screw was placed in the foot.
A UCLA official said a fluoroscope of the foot was inconclusive Saturday and that Olson would have X-rays today.
UCLA opens the season at home against Tennessee on Sept. 1.
"He said he felt discomfort in the foot," Coach Rick Neuheisel said. "It sounded like it was the exact same thing as last spring. He was carrying out a fake. He said it was not as bad as last spring. The pain was not the same. We'll see what that means."
Olson was not available for comment.
Olson has played with pain in the foot through the first five days of camp and sat out Friday's practice to rest. The injured foot was the latest setback in his career, despite the fact he has won the UCLA starting job the past two seasons.
As a sophomore in 2006, he tore a knee ligament in the fifth game against Arizona and was lost for the season. Last season, he missed one game with concussion-like symptoms and five others because of an injured right knee.
The Bruins' quarterback situation has been a concern since spring practice. Patrick Cowan won the job, then suffered a season-ending injury during practice. Olson was then injured on the same series of plays, leaving Neuheisel and first-year offensive coordinator Norm Chow without the team's two most experienced quarterbacks for the Bruins' spring game.
But his injury could severely alter the Bruins' plans this season.
"It will change the course, no question, it has to," Neuheisel said. "But it's too early to talk about that. Norm and I and all the offensive coaches will have to sit down and develop a plan, figure out what happened and what needs to be done."
Quarterback Kevin Craft was moved in with the first team. Craft has struggled during training camp and was inconsistent again Saturday. Olson's injury resulted in increased time for redshirt freshman Chris Forcier, who received the bulk of the time with the second team.
Forcier ran the scout team last season. He can bring speed to the position.
"Norm has a method to his madness," Neuheisel said. "I usually don't get too involved. He must have thought Chris was doing well and let him stay in there and gain some confidence."
Neuheisel also said that freshmen Kevin Prince and Nick Crissman, junior Osaar Rasshan and Craft have "made plays," at quarterback.
"I don't want to get too far out over our skis," Neuheisel said. "We want to wait and see what happened (with Olson)."
But he did add, "We got to keep chugging along, as the sands drifts through the hourglass we've got to make some decisions. We'll just have to wait and see what those decisions are when we have all the information."
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Notre Dame beats Tennessee 72-44…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 23
agentorange writes:
bolden and co. better wreck whatever backup they drag out of the stands
HighlanderVol writes:
That might be it for Ben Olson if that the same injury
el_duderino writes:
UCLA just can't catch a break, it should be a no brainer who should win this game. But, we all know how the vols like to play down to an opponent (crosses fingers).
pdhuff#552644 writes:
tngeoff, we can hope that is not a version of 2007 "Oops, there they go again".
We can't go out there thinking UCLA is going to mail it in. Read about their LBs who are considered the best in the Pac 10. There D is solid, something we had in a galaxy far away.
Neyland always put his best on defense, I know the game has changed. Just as many SEC teams have changed to a newer younger coaching staff.
It has worked for Fla, LSU and got Ga to 2nd last year.
Orangeblood13 writes:
i smell blood in the water..... Pin the ears back and make em pass
Go Vols
andy112382#209793 writes:
Citing the SEC championship game in 2001, I don't want to call it an automatic good thing when the backup QB comes in. (another example, a certain guy named Peyton came in to start ultimaly because of an injured QB)
BUT, considering their 1st and 2nd string QBs are hurt, it sure doesn't sound good for them. Especially since they rushed Olson back out there and focused their time with him rather then getting another guy 1st team snaps, at least I assume that was the case. Either way, GO VOLS!!!
rockitwithrespect writes:
best quote: "i usually dont get too involved"
vol1994 writes:
defense wins championships and 20 points should win this game, whomever is qtrback for the bruins.
Crompton has to remain calm and not go crazy out there like he did yesterday. Not going into details but the coaches, especially clausen, got into his face afterwards for his decision making.
But every year it is the same ole stuff in preseason camp as defense wins the battler early on. If our front 7 on defense comes ready to play we WILL MAKE a run this year.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Don't put too much crediability in info coming from UCLA camp...Bruins are hoping to spring trap against the Vols on Labor day...We must not count our eggs too soon..What is known is..the new Bruin coach has new fresh talent..including three running backs that are described as "electrifying" speedsters...and already are so good that either of the three can start...look for the Bruins to run option plays to try and befuddle the Vol defense with their speed on the outside...in addition it is expected the Bruins will attempt to control the ball long enough to tire the Vol defense as they execute long reverse running plays in the hellish heat expected on that day. Norm Chow plans to force Vol defense to defend all 53 yards from sideline to sideline. Vols beware.
pms151 writes:
We need to go out there not thinking about anything but our own execution. Same for our media. No time to talk about tree huggers this year. Let's get back to football. With our schedule we have to concentrate.
invisiblekid writes:
Easy there bigfan502, the option is a dirty word in Vol country in recent, well really in all years under Chavis.
I am not sure Olson's injury will affect their gameplan much anyway. With his history, they surely had a backup plan in place and word was Craft was going to challenge for the starting job anyway. Forcier is a concern as well, 4.5 speed from the QB position gives them an added dimension. I wouldn't be suprised to see a 2 QB system from them on the first game.
They also have a couple of talented guys coming off of injuries in RB Khalil Bell and WR Marcus Everett. Their tight end Paulson is supposed to be pretty good as well.
Where we should dominate is in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Their O line and D line is a mess.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Thanks man good info..New Bruin coach, is a moaner, always has been..they have enough QBs to be ready..WE can stop the Option cold if we are able to hurry the decision making by the QB. Can we do that? Allow the option QB to make the decision...but make him make it real quick. As you know, Kid, the Rose bowl has long been the Volunteers Waterloo. Plus one more thing, the hellish heat on that day.
volroadwarrior writes:
Go to www.tennessean.com for news on UT football. You won't get it here in the hometown paper.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Here's some Fox Sports Analyst's take on UCLA this year. Sounds like he thought that Olson was going to get beat out for the starting job in fall camp anyway. The footage is a little shaky 'cause I recorded it with my camera off of my TV, but that's the only way I knew how to do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwhZCx...
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Hey, bigfan502 has come out of the woodwork once again on a UCLA article. What a surprise! I'm pretty sure he's a big UCLA fan. Which are the 3 "electrifying speedsters" they have at running back? Is it the two coming off of knee injuries and the one that has been ruled ineligible? I'm just curious.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
IBLEED, good to hear from you, actually I have been a Vol fan, way before you were born...As a "Died in the Wool" Tennessee fan. I have been saddened by the many games the Volunteers have been beaten in California..as they seem to play poorly and this brings the lala land media down on them big time. Its as if the Vols while playing in California have their minds on something else. Could it be Hollywood? But, there is something about lala land that brings out worst in them> I'm Glad that the series with Bruins is ending after two more games. Lala Land is not for the Volunteers to play football.
scvolalum writes:
That's ClaWson with a "W", vol1994. I lived in SoCal for 15 years and I can tell you that all that "fruit and nuts" and "tree hugger" stuff is fundamentally an ignorant misconception. 'Lots of good folks out there. The Bruins will most certainly feel like distinct underdogs, considering their injuries, so our Vols will hopefully put together their "A" game to start the season. 'No room for overconfidence here.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
IBleed, the three "electric" running backs are new...Neuheisel, the Bruin head coach said the three guys are so talented that they can take it to the house with the slightest opening. Log in La Times, punch in UCLA...read it for yourself. The three backs I think are from the L.A. area high schools that thrive on football and track.
govolsfan#214750 writes:
My big fear is mistakes on our part costing us the game. Had we not givien up a turnover for a touchdown against Cal in our starting series last year, we might have had a little more momentum in that game. I just hope we PROTECT the ball above all else and we should be fine.
ZacharyUTK writes:
Let's bring it too 'em.
vol4gzus writes:
Knoxseengle that was so cute(NOT!) Tebow helping kids in dedlicate procedure was nice even if a strange read. But a joke like yours is uncalled for sir.
vol1994 writes:
Posted by scvolalum on August 10, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's ClaWson with a "W", vol1994
=-------------------------------
Yes I know his name is spelled with a W and apologize for the error. This is a sports site so I usually type quickly and do not worry too much about spelling,etc.........
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Don't worry, we've been out there before.
In about 2 weeks, I'll opine a score.
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