Former Richland Quarterback Could Land Raiders Head Coaching Job

In the wake of a disastrous 0-4 start,  the Raiders are apparently this close to firing Dennis Allen.

Monday morning, ESPN NFL analyst Adam Schefter (who's pretty accurate on these things) said although the Raiders have NOT said anything official,  it's very likely coach Dennis Allen could get the ax, especially with the team facing it's bye week.   The Raiders went across the pond to London, and got waxed by the Miami Dolphins Sunday.

To compound matters, Quarterback Derek Carr suffered an MCL sprain, and could be lost for a few games.   The team is 8-28 under Allen, and Schefter says when they fired Mike Shanahan years ago,  and several other coaches, they were all gassed after the team started 0-4.

Which leads us to the possibility of a former Richland Bomber getting the job.  Schefter said the two most likely candidates include former Miami coach Tony Sporano, and  former Richland Bomber quarterback Greg Olson.   Olson, who mentored Drew Brees at Purdue, is the current offensive coordinator for the Raiders, and has a reputation for working well with younger signal callers.

After graduating from Central Washington, Olson worked his way through WSU as an assistant, then to Purdue, then to the NFL and has had stints with the Rams, Buccaneers, Detroit and now Oakland.   He worked as a quarterback coach and offensive coordinator, and is in his 28th year of coaching.

 CBS Sports reported September 28th if the move happens,  Olson has as good a chance of being named interim coach for the rest of the season.

Olson was the starting quarterback for the best team in Richland history, the 1980 squad that finished 3rd. in state. Along the way they beat future NFL Redskins starter Mark Rypien at Shadle Park, then Gonzaga Prep, before losing to defending state champs Mt. Tahoma 28-26.  Some still call it one of the greatest H.S. games ever played in WA state.

It's no surprise really,  "Oly" was the leader of arguably the greatest H.S. team in Mid-Columbia history.  17 seniors went on to play college football, six of them at the Division I level, the rest at Division II and III or Junior College.  The team also had a Parade Magazine All-American.  No other school has ever equaled that mark. The late great coaching legend J.D. Covington called it the best team he'd ever coached.

Would be pretty cool knowing the guy I snapped the ball to as a center has gone on to be the head guy of an NFL franchise!    Here's hoping he gets an opportunity.   Olson is #6 in the top row in the 1980 Bombers team photo.