The USC Trojans put 49 points up on the scoreboard against Western Michigan, but there was one point that had the most meaning. That’s because Jake Olson, the team’s blind long snapper delivered a perfect snap on a successful extra point attempt.
For Olson, who lost his vision eight years ago to cancer, it was his first collegiate long snap in a regular season game.
“I just loved being out there,” the 20-year-old junior said after his team’s win. “It was an awesome feeling, something that I’ll remember forever. Getting to snap at USC as a football player … I’m trying to say as much as I can, because I can’t quite believe it yet.”
This is anything but a regular PAT.
Jake Olson, blind since age 12, just snapped for the first time in a live game. https://t.co/amyHcFoVue
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 3, 2017
Olson was diagnosed with retinal cancer as an infant. He lost his left eye at 10 months old, and his right eye at 12 years old. The night before Olson completely lost his sight in 2009, then head coach Pete Carroll knew how much the boy loved USC, so Carroll invited him out to practice for the day, and he’s been part of the team in one way or another ever since.
“To take a situation that ugly, and then to fast-forward eight years and to have that same kid be able to snap on the football field with the team that really got him through that time, is just beautiful. “It’s emotional. Incredible,” Olson said.
Following two seasons of high school football and golf, Olson walked on at USC, where he’s working toward a degree in business administration. He won the 2016 Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Award, which is given to someone in college football who has made a positive and lasting impact on the rare disease community.
He has a guide dog named Quebec, and his teammates lead him onto the field to snap.
Who can’t root for someone with that much heart and fortitude?
