1998 Hillsdale College graduate and former Charger football player Jason Ross was named an alternate to the United States olympic bobsled team yesterday. Ross has competed on the World Cup circuit for the past two season, primarily as a pusher in the 4 man events. As an alternate, Ross could replace any of the other pushers at any time, even during the games. Seven other pushers and two pilots were named to the US roster yesterday.

USA Bobsled announced, "The nine men nominated to the team are 2002 4-man Olympic Silver Medalist Todd Hays (Del Rio, TX), Pavle Jovanovic (Tom’s River, NJ), 2002 Olympian Steve Mesler (Buffalo, NY), Brock Kreitzburg (Akron, OH), Steve Holcomb (Park City, UT), 2002 4-man Olympic Silver Medalist Bill Schuffenhauer (Salt Lake City, UT), Curt Tomasevicz (Shelby, NE), Lorenzo Smith III (Kankakee, IL) and 2002 4-man Olympic Silver Medalist Randy Jones (Atlanta, GA)."

Hays and Holcomb are the only drivers, while the rest are pushers. Ross has pushed for Holcomb's USA2 sled this winter and is a workout partner of Hays.

Congratulations to Jason Ross! This is still a great honor. Not wishing any ill will to the rest of Team USA, I still hope things will work out so we can get a chance to see an old Charger pushing for the Red, White, and Blue.

Despite being named as a replacement, Ross and the rest of the US National team are off to St. Moritz, Switzerland for another weekend of World Cup racing.

Former Hillsdale tailback Jason Ross, a 1999 graduate always dreamed of shining on Sundays in the National Football League. When those plans failed to materialize, Ross took his athletic ability to the United States Bobsled program and has emerged as one of the nation's top push athletes in the four-man event.

Ross has spent the past two seasons on the world cup series and could be weeks away from reaching the pinacle of the sport, a trip to the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. The top 2 sleds in world cup standings will participate in the games. The #1 U.S. team piloted by Todd Hayes is already in. The second qualifier likely will be the sled finishing highest tomorrow on the German track in Koenigssee, Germany. USA2 piloted by Steve Holcomb has the edge over the sled driven by 2002 Bronze medalist Mike Kohn. Ross has pushed for both sleds this season.

The likely scenario will have both Holcomb and Kohn going to Torino with Kohn driving in the two-man event. Where Jason Ross might end up is still up in the air. Pushers can be changed at any time, even during the Olympics.

Jason Ross has to shine this Sunday. It won't be in an NFL playoff game, but a great performance on an icy Bavarian track could make him Hillsdale's first ever Olympian.

Chargerblue.com will keep you updated on any developments. Follow Sunday's action from Germany here.