Aug. 10, 2005
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -
by Larry Henry
He hates being tackled by one man.
A half dozen? He can accept that.
But one lousy defender? Andy Olson considers that almost an insult.
"That's something I can't stand," Western Washington University's standout senior wide receiver said with a stern look.
"I don't mind being tackled by three to five people, but I don't like being brought down by one person."
On those infrequent occasions when he is, Olson doesn't hide his emotions. "There have been times on film that you can see me after I get brought down by one person where I get up kind of disgusted,'' he said.
Which is not the mood an opponent would want to put this bruise-inflicting wide receiver in.
"After the catch people have to deal with him," said Vikings offensive coordinator Eric Tripp. "It's not like he has great moves, but he has enough moves. He's so dang strong you'd better bring it."
As a bevy of defenders found out when the Vikings played Central Washington last season in the second annual Battle in Seattle. Early in the game, Olson caught a pass and was hit by a couple of Wildcat players, who started pushing him toward his own goal-line. In the stands, Olson's father kept waiting for the whistle to blow.
When it didn't, several more Central players joined the scrum before Olson was finally wrestled down. "He got crumpled," Paul Olson said, "and got his neck hurt in the process."
Sit out the rest of the game? You jest.
Not this guy.
Tough? Extremely.
"Toughest kid I've ever coached," said Tripp, who is in his 13th season at Western. "The strongest kid I've ever coached."
"As competitive a football player as I've ever coached in my 17 years here," said Vikings head coach Rob Smith.
And, before the season ends, Olson could be the most productive receiver they've ever coached. And that's saying something because the Vikings have had some stellar pass catchers, including Greg Dykstra, Chris Nicholl and Ben Clampitt.
Another season like he had last year, and Olson will rewrite the school's career record book. Heading into the 2005 campaign, he was No.3 in both touchdown catches (27, 3 short of the record) and receptions (150, 31 short of the record) and No.4 in receiving yards (2,480, 788 short of the record).
Tough. Strong. Competitive.
What more could you want in a football player?
How about a quality leader? For the second year in a row, Olson was elected co-captain by his teammates.
You often hear that a player leads by what he does on the field. That's Olson to a T. But he also leads by what he says on and off the field.
"He's not afraid to open his mouth and say things that need to be said when they need to be said," Smith remarked. And because of what he has done in games, in practice ("He doesn't take time off," Tripp said.) and in the weight room, kids respect and listen to him.
He is wise enough to know, however, that not everyone is going to appreciate his candor. "I'm more vocal than some people want me to be at times, but I feel it's necessary," he said. "I'm trying to get everyone involved just to get a little more hype in the locker room at halftime. I try to lead by example first and then if I need to, I will say something."
His actions speak boldly. They speak fearlessly. And they often speak at just the right time.
"He wants the ball every play," Tripp said. "He wants to make the big catch."
He's the basketball player wanting to take the last shot with the score tied and five seconds remaining in the game. Or the batter itching to get to the plate with two outs, men on second and third, and his team trailing by a run in the bottom of the ninth.
He's the player wanting to make a difference.
Get him the ball and he will. Get him the ball and the chances are awfully good that he'll catch it and make people pay.
"I don't want to be considered as someone who catches the ball and gets tackled for just a first down," he said. "I like to go downfield. I like breaking tackles. That's my favorite thing to do: run with the ball."
So where does he get his toughness? "Probably from two brothers pounding on him," his father said. "He was the baby."
Working on his father's 400-head dairy farm near Chehalis also toughened up the youngest Olson. And he didn't need to lift weights to develop muscle. "Basically, it's been farm work that did it," Paul Olson said.
That helped form the foundation for what was to come once he got into the weight room: a 6-foot-2, 210-pound tower of power. "He does a 372-pound power clean, which is an incredible number for a wide receiver," Tripp said. "Our linemen can't do that much."
Take that strength and combine it with a sure set of hands - he dropped only four of 72 passes thrown to him last season - and a relentless resolve and you might just have a future NFL player.
One person believes that implicitly. "I am counting on it," Olson said. "I feel I've got a legitimate shot. I feel if I can get into a camp with an NFL team, then I can make it."
He isn't alone in his belief. "He's a good football player," Smith said. "I don't care what level you put him at, he'll find a way to get on the field."
NFL scouts have watched him. And tested him. And said "he has the ability (to play in the NFL)," Tripp said. "I think he can just because he's so darn tough and works so hard."
He didn't blind the scouts with his speed. They caught him at 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash. "His strength is his power," Tripp said. "He catches the ball and then you have to deal with him."
And the dealing can be quite unpleasant.
"Here's my philosophy," said Ivor Hoglund, Olson's former coach at W.F. West High School in Chehalis and a onetime Western football player. "I never put limitations on him because with Andy's determination and work ethic, he just needs to get his foot in the door. Once he does that, they're going to like him."
Just how confident is Olson?
"He told me last year: 'When I make it, I'm buying you a ticket for my first game,' " Hoglund said.
The old coach might want to keep that date open on his calendar.
