Twisters’ Olson plays on as ‘tribute’ to fallen father
Posted on Sunday, August 3, 2008
Vinnie Olson looked the same, played the same, acted the way he always acts, all the while clasped by tragedy.
Olson has started on the Arkansas Twisters’ offensive line throughout this season. His mother, grandmother and father, Vincent Olson, arrived in Little Rock from the Olsons’ home in Pierre, S. D., a week ago Thursday, a day earlier than Vinnie Olson expected. Great, Olson thought. Nice surprise. They ate dinner that night and brunch at a west Little Rock IHOP the next morning, July 25. Vinnie left them for a final practice before the Twisters’ game against the Texas Copperheads scheduled the following day.
There is no playbook written for what happened next. Vincent Olson, 61, a former South Dakota high school wrestling champion and former Marine who received three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Combat Action Ribbon during two tours of duty in Vietnam, died of a heart attack shortly after Vinnie Olson left for practice.
Vinnie Olson received the call and didn’t know what to do. There was no way to know, nothing to deduce, no experience to serve him.
“I talked to my brother and sister on the phone, and they both thought I should play for him,” Olson said. “My mom and grandmother were there. They said, ‘Your dad came down here to watch you play.’ I figured I might as well strap it up and play.” This game was not categorized as a “must-win” for the Twisters. It was the final game of the regular season, and Arkansas already had qualified for at least one home game in the Arena Football 2 playoffs, scheduled for today at North Little Rock’s Alltel Arena against the Central Valley Coyotes.
Twisters Coach Chris Siegfried met with Olson before practice; he heard the story, and said, “Vinnie, don’t feel obligated to this team to play the game.” Siegfried said no game would have changed his thought.
“Even if it would’ve been for the championship, I would’ve felt the same way,” Siegfried said.
Olson told Siegfried he wanted to play. Siegfried told Olson “to sleep on it.” Olson slept, awoke the next morning, decided, and drove to Alltel Arena.
“He said, ‘I want to play,’” Siegfried said. “I said, ‘All right.’ It is what it is. I, fortunately, haven’t been in that situation, but I wanted to leave it up to him with no regrets either way. He wouldn’t have been letting us down if he didn’t play. But obviously, we’re better with Vinnie playing.” “The guys were very supportive either way,” Olson said. “Everyone let me know it was all right it I wanted to play or didn’t want to play. When they saw me come in at 3 o’clock for the pregame meal, they were all behind me, all supportive.” Olson started at center for the first time. Ever. He said he thought he had played a fine game, or at least an adequate one. Most of his teammates had, too. Late in the fourth quarter of what would become a 78-26 victory for the Twisters, Arkansas had possession, first-and-goal, at the Texas 2. Its lead was 62-20. Someone told Olson that Darius Robinson would enter to play center.
“I was kind of curious where they were going with that,” Olson said. “I didn’t think my last plays had been very bad. Then it popped into my head they might be trying to do a walk-off tribute.” Siegfried had in mind a run-in tribute. He told quarterback Kyle Rowley to hand Olson the ball.
“Coach told me, ‘23 Base, 23 Dive,’ and to put Vinnie at fullback,” Rowley said. “The play clock was running down, so I got in the huddle and said ‘Twenty-three dive on one.’ I was about to grab Vinnie when [Siegfried ] called timeout. That gave us time to kind of regroup on the sideline and let Vinnie know what was going on.” Olson remained uncertain for a moment more.
“After the timeout we rehuddled and they said, ‘You’re going to fullback,’” Olson said. “I figured I was going to be a blocker.” Rowley said, “I’m giving you the ball.” Olson was stopped at the 1 on his first carry. He scored on the next play.
“I thought it was a great way to end that game and the regular season, kind of showing him that we care about him,” Rowley said. “I remember him laying in the end zone and us piling on top of him. It was a good moment. He deserved it, and we were grateful that he had the strength to play in that game.” Olson drove to Pierre the next morning. His father’s burial was Thursday in Sturgis, S. D., a threehour drive away. Olson flew back to Little Rock on Friday night and arrived just before midnight. He and his teammates met for a final 15-minute practice at Pulaski Academy’s football field Saturday morning. Support from his teammates remained evident.
“A part of us is always with Vinnie,” defensive lineman Neil Purvis said. “He’s like our brother. A part of all we do is for him and his family.” “It’s important to have Vinnie back,” Rowley said. “I’ve had great protection all year, and I’m comfortable with Vinnie. He’s part of the heart or our team, and he was an inspiration to us how he played last week and how he’s played all season. We’re all pumped to play for Vinnie.” Olson said he will simply do what he has always done.
“My dad was always one to finish what he started, to never quit,” Olson said. “Everything I do is a tribute to him and the man he made me.
“ When I was taking care of everything, I was in a mode of what he instilled in me, taking care of business and getting everything figured out and getting him home properly. He was always one to take care of business, so this is all a dedication to my dad and the way he raised me into the man he wanted me to be.” AF 2 playoffs First round ARKANSAS TWISTERS VS. CENTRAL VALLEY COYOTES WHEN Today, 5: 05 p.m. Central WHERE Alltel Arena, North Little Rock RECORDS Arkansas 11-5; Central Valley 10-6 SERIES Tied 2-2 LAST MEETING Arkansas won 50-32 on June 25, 2006 RADIO KABZ-FM, 103. 7, in Little Rock INTERNET www. 1037 thebuzz. com; http // nifty-tv. com / af 2 / COACHES Chris Siegfried (11-5 in first season at Arkansas, 68-31 in sixth season overall ); Fred Biletnikoff Jr. (42-29 in fifth season at Central Valley and overall )
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