Gesser the best QB in Pac-10?
(U-WIRE) PULLMAN, Wash. — Joey Harrington is Oregon’s 6-foot-4-inch, rifle-armed, Golden Boy quarterback.
He was featured on a huge billboard in New York City, he’s plugged for the Heisman constantly, and oh yeah, he is 6-1 this season.
But he has struggled at times to live up to his preseason hype, looking pedestrian in early-season wins against Utah and against Utah State.
Lost in the shuffle of the always quarterback-heavy Pacific-10 is another pretty good quarterback. Maybe you’ve heard of him — Jason Gesser, Washington State’s 6-foot-1, shifty as a car salesman, Golden Boy quarterback.
Gesser and Harrington will meet Saturday in Pullman in what is perhaps a battle of the conference’s top quarterbacks.
But look at the numbers this season and Gesser has the slight edge all-around.
Gesser is first in the Pac-10 in passing yards per game and total offense and fourth in pass efficiency. He also leads the conference with 19 touchdown passes. And, he’s 7-0.
Harrington is third in passing yards per game, fourth in total offense, fifth in pass efficiency and has tossed 16 touchdowns.
“(Gesser) can improvise and do things on his own,” WSU coach Mike Price said. “He can make something out of nothing.”
Yet it is Harrington — buoyed by Oregon’ s no-expense-is-too-great Heisman campaign — that has gotten the senior from Portland national exposure.
“I think he’s a great quarterback and always have,” Price said of Harrington. “Maybe two years ago in Eugene he came in the game and showed his aggressive, competitive spirit.”
Injuries bites the Cougars
With Oregon on the docket this week and No. 4 UCLA coming to town next weekend, WSU is still far from full strength.
Running back Dave Minnich sat out practice Tuesday. Price said it is questionable whether the senior will play Saturday. If Minnich does play, it probably will be on a limited basis.
Junior John Tippins, who has rushed for 175 yards the past two weeks, will get the start Saturday, Price said.
Outside linebacker Raonall Smith is also questionable for Saturday. Smith sprained his knee in a win at Stanford Oct. 13. Smith did not suit up for practice Tuesday, but did do some light running.
Cornerback Marcus Trufant, who broke his thumb last month, is questionable for this week, but probable for the UCLA game.
Defensive end D.D. Acholonu, who left practice Monday with a shoulder injury, is fine and will play Saturday. Defensive tackle Steve Cook suffered a concussion in Thursday’ s win against Montana State and is questionable.
Tight end Jeremy Thielbahr has a bruised nerve ending and has not practiced this week.
Defensive tackle Nate Mallory (knee) and linebacker Alex Nguae (ankle) returned to practice this week.
— Jon Naito
Daily Evergreen (Wash. State U.)