Guest opinion
Times are tough for local quarterback stars
By Kyle Jorrey kjorrey@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers STEPPING STONE- Notre Dame freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen heaves a pass during the Fighting Irish's 20-6 victory over UCLA at the Rose Bowl. It was Clausen's first college win.

"You're only as good as the players around you."

The above statement, albeit a bit cliché, holds as true today as the day it was first uttered, probably during an off-the-cuff pregame speech made by some underpaid coach trying to spur inspiration from a locker room full of ego-driven athletes.

Even in today's megamillion dollar sports climate, where big names like Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and LaDanian Tomlinson are marketed to fans as individuals, no star- no matter how bright- can win consistently without the help of a proper supporting cast.

Last Saturday's college football showdown at the Rose Bowl between local favorite UCLA and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame- a game that was supposed to act as measuring stick between two of the best passers ever to come out of the Conejo Valley, Oaks Christian's Jimmy Clausen and Thousand Oaks' Ben Olson- was a perfect example.

Passhappy fans and plothungry sports journalists expecting to see the old Bruin lefty and the young Irish righty (Olson is 24; Clausen is 20) trade blows for four quarters got what they should have expected between two teams with much bigger concerns than who's under center: an ugly game marred by turnovers, mental miscues, missed assignments, conservative play calling and one very disappointing injury.

For those of us who had foolishly waited for weeks in anticipation of a dream Acorn matchup between two local sports demigods, the fantasy ended abruptly. Just one quarter into the game, and after completing just 4-of-10 passes for 54 yards, Olson had to be taken out with a partial tear of the lateral collateral ligament in his left knee, an injury caused when he was hit in the backfield by two very poorly blocked Notre Dame defenders and fumbled the ball.

As UCLA fans looked on in terror at the Rose Bowl's mega screen replay of what looked to be a very serious injury to their best quarterback- and dozens of sportswriters began to rethink their focus- Clausen took the field at the UCLA 1 and promptly led his team to three failed plays and a field goal.

And things pretty much went that way for the Fighting Irish's favorite new son the whole game.

Try as he might, Clausen, CIF's most prolific touchdown passer, couldn't overcome the shortcomings of those around him, or some of his own. When he threw a perfect pass, his receivers couldn't get open; when they seemed to have a step, Jimmy sent it sailing over their heads- or was sacked. The friendly confines of Oaks Christian must have seemed a world away as Clausen finished with just 84 yards passing.

But in the end, the Golden Domers and their determined QB did emerge victorious, 206, escaping with their first win of the season thanks to an opportunistic defense and one inept UCLA backup.

Yet for local onlookers, the story of this game was clear. While it's uncertain if Ben Olson and Jimmy Clausen will ever live up to the expectations they set for themselves dominating the playing fields of Southern California, one things is certain- they won't be able to do it alone.