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 Wednesday, October 24, 2001
From pineapples to Pullman
By Todd Harris
Special to ABC Sports Online
Why would anyone willingly leave the island paradise of Honolulu, Hawaii for the, well, the natural beauty of Pullman, Wash.? That, my friends, would have been a question for Washington State's junior quarterback Jason Gesser three years ago. However, the answer seems obvious now. He went to Pullman to get the Cougars into the run for the Roses. Seven games into this season, mission accomplished.
Which of the following seems out of place when considering hotbeds for college football on Saturday afternoon? Austin, Gainesville, Tallahassee, South Bend, Pasadena, Lincoln, Norman or "The Palouse"? If you said the Palouse, you used to be correct. ("Palouse" is the name for a region in eastern Washington -- derived from a former Indian tribe originating in the area.)
|  | | Jason Gesser has thrown at least two touchdown passes in each of Washington State's seven games this year. |
But these days, coach Mike Price's Cougars are a force to be reckoned with. This Saturday, we will find out just how good Price's signal caller really is as he leads the Cougars into a home entanglement with the angry Oregon Ducks (ABC, 4 p.m. PT). Oregon will bring the heat like only a team that has just had the nation's longest home-winning streak broken can. The Ducks will be flying to the ball, throwing everything at No. 17.
When you play football in an area known simply as the "Palouse," garnering national attention does not come easily, but the junior from Honolulu has gotten even the folks back east thinking about the Cougars. However, Gesser's emergence shouldn't be too great of a surprise. After all, Washington State has produced several great college QBs. Names like Jack Thompson, "the Throwing Samoan", Timm Rosenbach, Mark Rypien, Drew Bledsoe and Ryan Leaf.
Last year, despite playing in only nine games before suffering a broken left fibula and severe ankle sprain, Gesser finished the year as the Pac-10's leader in passing efficiency. He was fourth in passing yards and fourth in total offense with a 223.8-yard average. Modest numbers, maybe, but remember he only played in nine games.
Is it ever too early for hype? Too early to talk about the 2002 Heisman race? I think not. So let me be the first throw my hat into the "Gesser for Heisman" campaign. We will be sending sportswriters the Gesser bobblehead doll soon. He already plays like a senior and with the help of some returning talent, Gesser may just be an "early-early" candidate for '02.
He is what you might call an "opportunistic" quarterback. He is not going to dazzle you with his size, speed or a cannon for an arm, but he has the ability to take advantage of mistakes and holes in the defense. He is a scavenger quarterback -- taking what he can get and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Now I'm not suggesting a new nickname here. Somehow I don't think the "Slinging Scavenger" will play in Pullman. But Gesser, with or without a nickname, can play. He ranks third in the nation in touchdown passes (19) and 11th in passing efficiency.
In the coming weeks, he will have to play big time if the Cougars are to have a shot at the Rose Bowl presented by AT&T. Coming attractions at the Palouse include this weekend's visit by the Ducks. Survive that and Gesser and Co. host the UCLA Bruins. Then comes the annual Apple Cup, with the Washington Huskies in Seattle, and finally a visit to Tempe for some pre-bowl cheer with the Sun Devils.
So don't be surprised if Gesser bobblehead dolls start popping up next year.
Todd Harris spotlights the Pac-10 each week for ABC Sports Online. He will be on the sidelines for Saturday's UCLA-Stanford game on ABC with Keith Jackson and Tim Brant.
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