Gesser still unsure for UCLA game

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Washington State quarterback Jason Gesser remains on crutches and said Tuesday that swelling must go down on his ankle before doctors can determine if he will play against UCLA. The No. 9 Cougars (9-2) must beat UCLA on Dec. 7 to qualify for the Rose Bowl.

"I'm still in limbo about what the whole verdict might be," Gesser said Tuesday. "I wouldn't bet against myself."

But he acknowledged the final decision will be up to doctors and coaches.

So far, X-rays have shown that his right ankle was not broken in Saturday's Apple Cup loss, Gesser said. The ligaments in his ankle are damaged, and he also has "a high ankle sprain combined with something else."

It's that "something else" that is awaiting diagnosis, Gesser said.

Running back Jermaine Green is also a question mark because of injury. But linebacker Jason David and cornerback Ira Davis will both be back against UCLA, coach Mike Price said.

Davis was suspended before the Oregon game for breaking David's cheekbone in a locker-room assault. Price decided Davis would remain on suspension until David was ready to play.

Gesser suffered the ankle injury as he was sacked in the fourth quarter of Saturday's Apple Cup. Backup quarterback Matt Kegel was ineffective, and the Huskies won 29-26 in triple overtime.

Gesser and Price both expressed confidence in Kegel, who failed to move the ball and played so poorly that the Cougars could not protect a 20-10 lead with just over 4 minutes left in the game. The Cougars managed only nine total yards with Kegel under center and didn't get a first down.

"Obviously Saturday was not one of his best performances," Gesser said. "I think he can play a lot better than he showed on Saturday, especially if he has time to practice and run a lot of plays this week and next week."

After Gesser broke his other foot two years ago, Kegel led the Cougars to a rare win at Southern Cal.

"Matt Kegel can win for the Cougars," Price said. "He can solidify the Rose Bowl bid."

A fortuitous bye this week will give the Cougars time to heal mentally and physically.

Price said Tuesday he was still trying to deal with the shocking loss in the Apple Cup. The game ended on a controversial call, in which officials decided that a Kegel pass was behind the line of scrimmage, and that the ball was alive as it was batted down and then recovered by the Huskies.

Price contends it was an incomplete pass and play should have continued.

"We will not let an inaccurate call deter us from our goal of getting to the Rose Bowl," Price said Tuesday.

"We lost one half of one game earlier in the season [at Ohio State] and to allow a 12-inch long pass to take us out of the Rose Bowl is not going to happen." Many players went home to their families after the Apple Cup, Price said. They will resume practicing on Thanksgiving.

 

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