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Price struggles to get past A few days hasn't been long enough for Mike Price to let it go. "I'm still trying to deal with the effects of the Apple Cup," the Washington State football coach said at his weekly news conference Tuesday. "I have to get it out of my system before the players get back." The Washington State players have been on Thanksgiving break since the 29-26 triple-overtime loss to Washington on Saturday, but they are set to return to Pullman on Thursday. Price is sure of one thing. "We're not going to allow an inaccurate call to keep us from our goal of going to the Rose Bowl," Price said. "To have a 12-inch pass keep us out of the Rose Bowl is just not going to happen." Price said his team has shown the ability to overcome adversity all season. "We've won nine games this year and we're certainly capable of winning this one," Price said of the game against UCLA in the Rose Bowl on Dec. 7. If WSU wins, the Cougars will win the Pac-10 championship and represent the conference in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. WSU will get several players back for the game, but it's still doubtful one of them will be quarterback Jason Gesser, who suffered a high ankle sprain. A high ankle sprain is a separation of bones above the ankle joint, the same injury that has kept former Kamiakin star Al Genatone out of the lineup for the last two games. "I think 10 years ago these high ankle sprains were called broken legs," Price said. Gesser has been recuperating but said nothing will be decided until the swelling goes down. "I've been in the training room four to six hours a day," Gesser said. "I've had x-rays twice and basically had that foot in an ice bucket since the game ended. Until the swelling is gone, they really won't be able to determine what is wrong with it." Price said the main goal for the Cougars now is to forget the Apple Cup. "It's all mental now," Price said. "Physically, we should be a lot better. But we have to deal with the mental part. These kids have come through adversity before and this game will be no different." The biggest came when defensive back Jason David was injured in a fight with linebacker Ira Davis. Davis was suspended until David was able to play, something he is expected to do against UCLA. Jermaine Green, who left the Apple Cup with a pulled hamstring muscle, is also expected to be 100 percent for the game. Price decided to have the team return to Pullman on Thanksgiving Day because it was easier for the players to get flights on that day than either the day before or the day after the holiday. The Cougars will meet at 3 p.m. Thursday and then again later for Thanksgiving dinner. Practices are scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Price said backup quarterback Matt Kegel will get all the repetitions in practice and the coaching staff will be selecting the plays he does best. "Matt Kegel can win for the Cougars," Price said. "There is no question he is a winner and he will win for the Cougars the next opportunity he gets. He'll be ready. He got great applause from the student section when he went in. I know the team believes in him, too. If Jason can't go, we can win with Matt." Price expects both teams to be motivated. "When there's no back door and your back is up against the wall, anybody will fight," Price said. "Especially Cougars." | ||||||||||
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