Washington State plans Gesser Heisman hype

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

Washington State is promoting senior quarterback Jason Gesser of Honolulu for the Heisman Trophy, college football's top honor.

Gesser, who led the Pac-10 in passing yards, total offense and touchdown passes last season, is a legitimate candidate. He was included in a list of Heisman possibilities last week in ESPN magazine.

But the WSU campaign is a little different from the usual blitz of mail to media and advertising. "We're going to have some fun with it," football spokesman Jason Hickman said.

Last year, University of Oregon boosters paid $250,000 to hang a 40-foot long picture of their Heisman candidate, quarterback Joey Harrington, in New York City's Times Square.

Washington State officials say they plan to rent the side of a barn or silo along I-195 outside of Colfax (pop. 2,713) or Colton (pop. 325) in very rural eastern Washington and hang a vinyl poster of Gesser. They estimate the cost at $250.

Gesser, who is home until June 8 for a post-graduation vacation, said, "I've heard about it. It was a little joke at first but now I don't know if they're joking or they are really going to do it.

"I'm not the kind of guy who likes all the attention and hype (of a Heisman campaign). I'm not thinking too much about it," he said.

"You've got to win football games to be a Heisman candidate," he added. Washington State went 10-2 last year, the Cougars' third 10-win season in history.

"I'm grateful for everything that's happened," Gesser said.

Though Gesser said he was disappointed that Washington State may not keep its scheduled game against Hawai'i at Aloha Stadium on Nov. 30, he said he probably would play his last game as a collegian in the Hula Bowl on Maui next Feb. 1.