ALUMNI: Former football player tries acting
Being named college football All-American was only the beginning for Utah’s Athlete of the Century.
Merlin Olsen, Utah State University alumnus, now holds the National Football League record for 14-time selection to the Pro-Bowl, the NFL’s All-star team.
Olsen started at USU in 1958. He received his bachelor’s degree in finance in 1962 and went on to earn a master’s in economics in 1969.
“My experience at Utah State allowed me to be involved in a tremendous number of activities,” Olsen said.
While in school, Olsen said he was an active member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He also played football for USU under coach John Ralston.
“We had outstanding football teams while I was there,” Olsen said.
His experiences at USU marked the beginnings of what became an accomplished career in football.
Olsen was a three-time Academic All-American. He was a college All-star and won the Outland Trophy for the nation’s top collegiate interior lineman in 1961. In 1962, Olsen was recognized as Defensive Rookie of the Year.
After graduating with honors he went on to play professional football. Olsen was picked in the first round of the draft for the Denver Broncos and was the second player chosen for the Los Angeles Rams in 1962. He played for the Rams for 15 years as one of the “Fearsome Foursome.”
“I had to stay healthy and be highly-motivated,” Olsen said. “I had to really concentrate all my efforts and focus all my energy.”
He was the NFL’s most valuable lineman in 1973 and was awarded a spot on its 75th Anniversary All-star Team in 1994. In addition, he was placed in the high school, college and professional halls of fame. In 1999 Sports Illustrated put Olsen on its team of the century.
According to USU’s Athletics Web site, www.utahstateaggies.fansonly.com, The Herald Journal selected Olsen for USU’s All-Century team.
“Utah State certainly offered me outstanding opportunities,” Olsen said. “It’s nice to look back. It seems like a long time ago.”
Olsen also said he had many influential professors while at USU. But the university gave him more than a good education and the beginnings of his famed football career. Olsen met his wife, Susan, while attending school there. They now have three children and two grandchildren who are the highlights of his life, he said.
Aside from football, Olsen pursued a career in acting. He performed with Michael Landon in Little House on the Prairie for five and one-half years. Furthermore, he broadcast football, including five Super Bowls, for both NBC and CBS.
Now Olsen is the spokesman for Florist Transport Delivery and Pioneer Hybrid. He resides on USU’s Foundation Board.
“That gives me a chance to give something back to the university,” he said.
Students have a significant opportunity to grow at USU, Olsen said. He knows that from experience.
“The resources are there,” he said. “It’s a matter of them making up their minds to focus on that goal.”