An already historic week for Quinn Olson concluded with some fireworks in the Wildcats’ 35-7 season-opener victory against the NAU Lumberjacks on Saturday. After earning a scholarship earlier in the week, Olson not only made his first career start, but also came away with his first career interception in what has been a memorable week for him and his family.
“Yeah, obviously getting put on scholarship, that was really a big moment for me, but [I] also tried to stay just locked in on tonight’s game. So I was obviously excited for that, but my focus was on tonight,” said Olson following after the win on Saturday night. “In terms of the interception, our D-line – they forced the quarterback [to] throw it all night, and once he released it, I knew I could go make play on it, and at that point it was just make the catch.”
On the night, Olson finished with three tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss, in addition to the Wildcats’ lone interception of the evening. He helped Arizona’s defense not allow any points – the Lumberjacks’ lone touchdown came on a pick-six thrown by backup quarterback Sawyer Anderson – and hold NAU under 200 yards of total offense.
But according to head coach Brent Brennan, the biggest honor of the week was getting to lead the team in singing Bear Down in the locker room, a tradition the Wildcats have after every victory.
“Yeah, and he got to lead the team and Bear Down in the locker room after the game,” said Brennan.
“Quinn Olson is an awesome young man. He does everything right. He is a guy that is always putting in extra work. [Quinn] walked on here, he did it the hard way. He has a total respect of the football team. He got his first start tonight. Obviously, you mentioned him being put on a scholarship on Thursday night, and just like what an incredible moment that was, right?”
Brennan told members of the media during the final days of fall camp how scholarship moments have become fewer and far between in recent years due to changes across the college athletics landscape, highlighting how special of a moment that was for the team.
“I think last week I was talking to some of you guys how you don’t see as many of those scholarship moments as you used to, but that was an incredible moment for Quinn and for our football team. The way the team responded to him, because how much they love him and how much they respect him was just fantastic. And then for him to make that play on the sideline tonight was awesome. So I’m excited about his future here. He’s going to be a great player and a great teammate.”
As exciting and memorable as the interception was for Olson, the junior safety from Iowa says celebrating with the turnover is something he hopes to be able to repeat this season.
“I saw my guy break out, and I thought I was in a good position, so I looked back at the quarterback. I saw the ball coming out and just sliced underneath. Just had to hold on to it, and then obviously made the play. Stabbing the sword – that was pretty cool. So hopefully, I can do that a few more times.”
Olson’s next opportunity to stab a football with the turnover sword is next Saturday, September 12, when the Wildcats visit No. 14 BYU for a Week 2 Big 12 showdown.