QB Olson’s status uncertain for game

When UCLA interim coach DeWayne Walker spoke Wednesday about pulling “a rabbit out of the hat,” it didn’t speak well of the chances that junior quarterback Ben Olson would face his former Brigham Young teammates.

“We need him, we need him,” Walker said. “Hopefully, we can get him going.”

Walker said a decision will be made Friday on Olson’s status for Saturday’s Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium. Olson has had discomfort in his knee stemming from tearing his lateral collateral ligament in October.

The Bruins’ other option is sophomore Osaar Rasshan, who began the season at wide receiver but started twice at quarterback because of injuries at that position.

“I want to play, and that’s the plan right now,” Olson said. “It’s frustrating when your body won’t let you do some of the things that you need to be able to do to play.”

He played in a regular-season game against the Cougars, passing for 126 yards, with one interception, in a 27-17 home victory in September. Olson started his college career at BYU, redshirting in 2002 before going on a two-year Mormon mission, then joining UCLA.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t extra excited about (playing BYU), so that’s what makes it difficult to be hurt,” he said.

• NEUHEISEL IN RUNNING — Four years after Rick Neuheisel left Washington with his reputation tarnished, the former UCLA quarterback has emerged as a candidate to become coach at his alma mater.

Neuheisel, the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, confirmed that UCLA has contacted him about replacing the fired Karl Dorrell.

According to media reports, the other candidates for the job are Walker, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow and Philadelphia Eagles assistant coach John Harbaugh.

Neuheisel’s previous head coaching stints at Colorado and Washington included winning and turmoil. He went 33-14 from 1995 to 1998 with Colorado, but after he left for Washington, the Buffaloes were placed on two years’ probation and had scholarships cut by the NCAA for dozens of recruiting infractions that occurred under Neuheisel.

He went 33-16 and led Washington to the Rose Bowl in 2000, but he was fired in 2003 for participating in a betting pool on the NCAA basketball tournament. He sued for wrongful termination and settled in March 2005, with the school and the NCAA paying him $4.5 million.