College Football 2017: Top 10 stories from Week 1

4. USC’s Jake Olson, a blind long-snapper, gets opportunity

The Western Michigan Broncos gave the PAC-12 front-runners a fight on Saturday afternoon. In the first ever meeting of these two schools the Trojans had to use some fourth quarter scores to pull away to a comfortable lead. After one of those some touchdowns that put the Trojans firmly ahead, a special moment happened.

Jake Olson was brought in from the sideline to snap the extra point. He held the ball, tossed it back and the kick sailed through the uprights. Then his teammates responded euphorically. It wasn’t a run-of-the-mill extra point for the Trojans or for Olson. That’s because Olson is blind.

"Jake Olson, USC’s long snapper who has been blind since age 12, got to snap it live (Video via @Pac12Network) #USC https://t.co/7SyqBoE95q — YourSports (@YourSports) September 3, 2017"

A senior, Olson earned his first chance at game action as the Trojan’s long snapper on Saturday. After a back and forth game full of nerves, it was encouraging to see USC end the game on a high note, both emotionally and on the score board.

There aren’t many occasions for blind football players to make a tangible difference on the field. But if anyone scored Olson’s snaps like the NBA uses plus-minus, he’s a perfect +1.