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Blind long-snapper Jake Olson is perfect in first live drill

USC long-snapper Jake Olson stands on the sideline before the Trojans' game against Stanford on Sept. 19.

USC long-snapper Jake Olson stands on the sideline before the Trojans’ game against Stanford on Sept. 19.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The snap was perfect.

Jake Olson, USC’s blind long-snapper, on Wednesday got into a live drill for the first time since joining the Trojans last week and delivered a flawless snap for a field goal.

“He had a perfect snap,” Coach Steve Sarkisian said. “We made the kick, so it was really awesome to see.

“I think it puts a lot of things into perspective for a lot of people around here, that life’s pretty good. … When you’re having a bad day and you see that guy go out there and snap the ball and do it the way he did, it’s pretty inspiring.”

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Sarkisian has given no timetable for when Olson, a freshman, would get an opportunity in a game.

“When the timing’s right, I’ll make that call,” he said.

When the time comes, Sarkisian indicated that he would propose a “mutual agreement” with an opponent so that they are aware that Olson would be in the game.

“It will be a great story for everybody involved, and I think just from a sheer sportsmanship standpoint, it sends a tremendous message for college athletics,” Sarkisian said.

“For our program, what it would mean to our team for Jake to be able to do that, I think it would be tremendous just from a morale standpoint.”

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