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Logan
The moment called for one of those classic Merlin Olsen voiceovers.
Utah State's seemingly immortal, larger-than-life figure, his trademark beard now gray and his body shrinking as concessions to age and illness, walked slowly to the middle of the Smith Spectrum court Saturday night as a sellout crowd stood and cheered.
The scene was reassuring and stunning, celebratory and sobering, amid the realization that there was a reason the legendary Aggie football player was being honored during a basketball game. His legacy will include the naming of Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium, a statue in the facility's south plaza and a scholarship endowment.
Olsen, 69, is being treated for a form of cancer. Because of Olsen's illness, USU president Stan Albrecht acknowledged during a news conference, there was "some urgency" for the school and Olsen's family to stage Saturday's observance, with the official dedication of the field and statue scheduled during the 2010 football season.
Olsen smiled and waved to the fans, but chose not to address them or the media. He did speak briefly during an exclusive dinner at the nearby stadium's end-zone complex, where Albrecht was struck by "that incredible voice, " made famous by Olsen's broadcasting, acting, commercial and charitable efforts.
"We've all been touched by that voice in some way," Albrecht said.
The connection is strong in Olsen's native Cache Valley, where -- nearly 50 years after his college career ended in the Gotham Bowl -- the Outland Trophy winner as the country's best lineman remains the symbol of what Aggie football once was.
He's also the scholar who completed a USU master's degree in economics in the middle of his NFL career, transitioned nicely to the next phase of his life and remained someone who brought "honor and dignity" to the school, USU athletic director Scott Barnes said.
It was just a throwaway line in a movie. Yet when "Anchorman" star Will Ferrell tried to impress a co-worker by saying, "I'm friends with Merlin Olsen," plenty of Aggie followers could relate.
Recently described as "a 280-pound Care package" by longtime broadcasting partner Dick Enberg, Olsen is known for being more concerned about others than himself.
"Even in the face of this, he's asking people how they're doing," Chip Rosenbloom, the majority owner of the St. Louis Rams, marveled in a Tribune interview, lamenting Olsen's illness. "I hope they find something that works. He's one of a kind."
That discovery was made long ago in Logan, where Olsen was born and lived through his college years. Anyone claiming Cache Valley or USU ties has followed him through his days as a four-sports athlete at Logan High School, the Aggies' glory years of the early 1960s, his 15-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and his post-football pursuits.
"How he's represented Utah State has been phenomenal," Barnes said.
Albrecht recalled how as a member of the USU Foundation Board, Olsen was not satisfied with reaching the initial fund-raising goal of $200 million. Once that figure was achieved, Olsen said, "We're not going to stop here. We're going to go on."
So Olsen is determined to press on now, even while dealing with an opponent more aggressive and insidious than Conrad Dobler or any of the other NFL offensive linemen who challenged him in his prime.
In a recent letter to Olsen, Enberg wrote, "In my mind, you'll always be that 'mountain of a man.' "
Olsen will be viewed similarly in Logan, where he played offense and defense in high school and college, before playing his way into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a defensive tackle and a member of the Rams' "Fearsome Foursome."
The statue to be unveiled during the football season is described as "larger-than-life-sized." Even then, it will not fully capture Olsen's aura in his hometown.
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Birthdate » Sept. 15, 1940, Logan, the second of nine children born to Lynn and Merle Olsen.
High school » Logan HS, four-sports athlete, All-America football player.
College » Utah State, consensus All-America tackle, Outland Trophy winner and Academic All-American as a senior in 1961, when the Aggie led the nation by allowing only 50.8 rushing yards per game. USU went 18-3-1 in his last two seasons, appearing in two bowl games.
NFL » Los Angeles Rams, 1962-76. In his 15 seasons, he was selected 14 times for the Pro Bowl and was a six-time All-Pro choice. Won the Maxwell Club's award as the league MVP in 1974. Played in the legendary "Fearsome Foursome" with Deacon Jones, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy and later joined brother Phil on the Rams' defensive line. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
Retired jerseys » No. 71 (Utah State) and No. 74 (St. Louis Rams).
Broadcasting » Teamed with Dick Enberg for NBC Sports' telecasts of the NFL for 11 years, including Super Bowl XVII.
Acting » Starred in television's "Little House on the Prairie," "Father Murphy" and "Aaron's Way."