NCSA caught up with football standout Ben Olson about his high school career and the opportunity to compete at the college level.
NCSA: What motivates you before a big game? What's your pre-game ritual(s)?
Olson: The things that motivate me the most before a big game is when our team walks onto the field and all the fans are lined up to shake our hands and wish us luck. It reminds me that I'm playing for this whole community, and I don't ever want to let them down. I do a lot of rituals before the game. I'm a pretty superstitious guy. I like to relax and just watch the sophomore game, and try not to get to excited and pumped up to early. Then I always write sayings and names on the tape on my cleats before a game. It gets me really motivated to play. Then on our way to the field, our team always hits the big redskin head and the sign that says "Play Like A Champion Tonight".
NCSA: What are you looking forward to if and when you get the opportunity to play on a collegiate level?
Olson: I'm looking forward to the atmosphere, I love playing a game with a great atmosphere. I'm also looking forward to meeting new people.
NCSA: Why did you get involved in football?
Olson: I got involved with football because I always loved to watch it on TV and go to games when I was little. Football is big in my family. I was always too big to play in pee-wee, so I started off playing flag-football for my grade school.
NCSA: Tell us about your interactions with college coaches so far.
Olson: I'm getting a lot of interest from many colleges. Mostly all Big Ten and MAC, and with each school I get involved with, its another relationship I form with the coach. I've gotten along great with all my recruiting coaches.
NCSA: How are your team(s) doing so far? (Club teams, high school teams)? Any challenges this season? How are you excelling personally, how does that compare to previous years?
Olson: Right now my team is just lifting and running.
NCSA: What are your goals - athletically, academically and in your community - for the rest of the school year? What are also your goals for the summer? Are you looking to improve your speed, skills, acing a course?
Olson: My goals for this year are: Academically- I want to make the honor roll every quarter. Athletically- I want to win state in football, win conference and I want to get a full-ride scholarship. Community- I want to restore Redskin Pride inside my community, because the last couple years it seems like it has gotten away from the community.
NCSA: Tell us about what you've learned since being with NCSA.
Olson: I've learned to keep all my options opened and that it’s important that you advertise yourself to schools, and contact schools instead of waiting to be contacted.
