Senior Olson Is Eager for Decision

UCLA senior Drew Olson acknowledged Friday that he had become frustrated by Coach Karl Dorrell’s lingering indecision on a starting quarterback.

Drew Olson and redshirt freshman Ben Olson remain contenders for the starting job with one week left before the Bruins’ opener Sept. 3 against San Diego State, even though Ben Olson has been sidelined the last three days with a hand injury.

“I think both of us are tired of it, real tired of it,” said Drew Olson, a three-year starter who ranks fifth on UCLA’s all-time passing list with 5,334 yards. “It’s just ongoing, it’s just kind of living in the shadows wondering what’s going on.”

Dorrell downplayed the significance of delaying his decision another day or so and said it was possible that both quarterbacks could play against the Aztecs.

“The race has been so tight it would make sense to get an opportunity to let both of these guys get a chance to play,” Dorrell said. “Right now, anything is on the table. Anything can happen. We’ll just determine here soon what we’re going to do.”

Dorrell had said when training camp opened Aug. 8 that he was “really not in favor of announcing a starter a week before the game.” It has come to that, however, with Drew Olson indicating that he might soon seek some direction from his coach.

“Shoot, we’re a week away almost. It’s got to go one way or the other,” he said. “It’s getting to that point where you’re kind of starting to question things and wonder what’s going on.”

Ben Olson, who bruised his hand in practice Tuesday when he hit a teammate’s helmet following through on a pass, did not seem as eager for his coach to announce a starter. He threw several passes gingerly from about three yards away from a stationary receiver before turning into a spectator for the rest of Friday’s practice.

“It’s still pretty sore,” Olson said of his hand, which remained visibly swollen. “But yesterday morning I could barely move it and then by the end of last night it was starting to come back. Hopefully it will continue healing up pretty fast.”

Drew Olson, recovering from off-season knee surgery that kept him out of spring practice, said he was pleased with his play during training camp.

“I’m probably playing my best football right now,” Drew said. “It’s my job that I want to get back and have for the whole season.”

Said Dorrell: “I take my hat off to Drew. He’s come back from a serious injury and is in the best shape he’s ever been in and has had his best camp since he’s been here.... But we also think the other kid has something about him that elevates people’s game too, and that’s something you consider as well.”

Neither Ben nor Drew seemed happy about the idea of sharing time in the opener, but both said they were willing to do so if asked.

“You always want to be the guy and go out there and be out there the whole time,” Drew said. “I want to play every snap, every game.”

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Reserve offensive tackle Tony Lee had successful surgery on his knee Thursday. Dorrell said redshirt freshman Scott Glicksberg would fill in for Lee until his return.... Sophomore receiver Marcus Everett’s injured shoulder is out of its sling, but he is considered doubtful for the San Diego State game.