New sexual misconduct
complaint against WSU’s Jason Gesser
Sept 17, 2018 By Evan Ellis, Pullman Radio News
A new sexual misconduct
allegation has been made against Washington State University Assistant
Athletics Director Jason Gesser. WSU President Kirk Schulz and new AD Pat Chun
announced the filing of a new complaint in a joint statement issued Monday
afternoon.
It marks the first time
that an individual directly involved in an allegation against Gesser has filed
a formal complaint. The statement describes the claim as “new information and a
different set of events than previously reported.” Gesser has been placed on
home assignment while the WSU Office of Equal Opportunity investigates.
The WSU student newspaper,
the Daily Evergreen, published an expose last week revealing numerous sexual
misconduct and harassment allegations against Gesser. WSU’s President and AD
quickly responded by pointing out that investigators determined that Gesser had
not violated any policies.
Gesser is a former WSU
quarterback who currently works as a fundraiser for Cougar Athletics. The new
complaint was filed Monday.
………………..
Link to story in Sept. 17,
2018, WSU Daily Evergreen
https://dailyevergreen.com/36716/news/former-wsu-volleyball-player-claims-jason-gesser-groped-her-attempted-to-kiss-her-without-consent/
Former WSU volleyball
player claims Jason Gesser groped her, attempted to kiss her without consent
There's also a story posted at Spokane S-R:
www.spokesman.com
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Monday
Morning Quarterback: Nice timing, both during and after the football game
By Dale
Grummert, Lewiston Trib Sept 17, 2018
Last
month, as the Cougars were preparing for a season opener in the mountain
country of Wyoming, somebody asked new quarterback Gardner Minshew about the
beet juice that Washington State nutritionists were advising players to drink,
to steel themselves for high exertion at high altitudes.
“In the
wise words of Jim Halpert, ‘Bears, beets and Battlestar Galactica,’ ”
Minshew said. “It’s definitely in elite company, probably in the top five
juices I’ve ever had.”
Quite a
good response, even for listeners unschooled in absurd phrases from “The
Office.”
Three
weeks later, Wazzu World is listening with increasing interest to its graduate
transfer QB from East Carolina, especially after the almost faultless timing he
showed Saturday night during and after the Cougars’ 59-24 blowback upon Eastern
Washington.
He’s even
been given a nickname, “Mississippi Mustache,” a reference to his home state
and not-so-familiar facial hair. He seems a bit iffy about the moniker, but
“It’s better than ‘Uncle Rico,’ I’d say.”
This time
he was alluding to “Napoleon Dynamite” while using the same well-synced fade
from deadpan to wide-smiling Southern charm.
Regardless
of how one feels about his ironic mustache, his ironic white headband, his
cultural references and the two interceptions he threw against San Jose State,
one has to admit that Minshew is exactly what this program — and by extension
its closely knit fraternity of past and present quarterbacks — needs at this
moment. Touchdown passes and humor.
It’s no
empty truism that Cougar QBs feel an enduring bond with one another, which
means last week was another rough one for them.
On
Thursday, news broke that WSU athletic administrator Jason Gesser, whose flair
for persuasion had guided the 2002 Cougs all the way to the Rose Bowl, had been
accused of being too persuasive with female subordinates. Deciding that the
relevant accusations were strictly second-hand, primarily from male
administrators who have since parted ways with WSU, the school’s Equal
Opportunity Office ruled that no violations of school policy had occurred.
It was a
kind of #TheyToo moment. Theoretically, we’re in a time when people in
authority, up to and including Pope Francis and Cardinal Urban Meyer, are being
held accountable for the behavior of their underlings. In practice, we’re still
not sure how that’s supposed to look.
It was a
better week for other graduates of Quarterback U. They all seem to be testing
out the new and unfamiliar.
Ryan Leaf,
who in recent years has risen above his own off-field problems, returned to
Pullman for the second straight Saturday in his new role as color commentator
for the Pac-12 Networks. He’s also a public speaker on addiction recovery and
other topics, including some that apply to the Cougars’ efforts to cope with
the suicide of quarterback Tyler Hilinski in January.
Alex
Brink, who in prose and TV work has shown a knack for honoring the technical
nuances of football without oversimplifying them, is now doing the same on WSU
radio broadcasts — as Gesser’s successor as color man.
And Drew
Bledsoe, through his son, is learning what it’s like to contribute to a team
without ever taking the field on game day. John Bledsoe is a walk-on
quarterback who joined the active roster this year but still spends his
practice time trying to make the WSU defense better. And it’s getting pretty
good.
They’d
probably all trade places right now with Minshew. His challenges now steepen as
the Cougars head into Pac-12 play, but right now he’s 3-0 and seems to be
relishing college football as unreservedly as any WSU quarterback since — well,
Gesser.
The
Minshew mustache, by the way, is more a symbol of the Cougars’ recent success
than a long-term commitment. In his old East Carolina head shot, he’s
serious-looking and 5 o’clock-shadowy, and he describes the effort to maintain
the present ’stache as “a day-by-day battle.”
In that
interview three weeks ago, after singing the praises of beet juice, Minshew was
asked what his family thinks about the facial hair.
“They’ve
been very supportive through these tough times,” he said.
And he
waited a perfect 1.2 seconds before smiling.
…………………………………………
Leave 'em
in the dust
Cougars
settle some old business with blowout of EWU
By Dale Grummert, Trib of Lewiston
All week
long, Washington State players avoided the R word. After the game, though,
middle linebacker Peyton Pelluer figured it was time to haul it out.
"Revenge
is always sweet," he said.
Gardner
Minshew passed for 470 yards and Pelluer's defense held Eastern Washington
scoreless over the final 19 minutes Saturday night as the Cougars pulled away
for a 59-24 win over the FCS school that had embarrassed them two years ago.
"Technically
I'm 1-1 against them, so I wish we could play them every year," Pelluer
said.
Translation:
A single victory isn't enough for an FBS team to wholly avenge a loss to a
member of the lower tier of NCAA Division I.
So the
Cougars (3-0) at least made it a convincing win - eventually - producing the
game's last 24 points to pad an 11-point lead late in the third quarter. Tay
Martin cleverly scooped in a 21-yard touchdown pass from Minshew to fuel the
getaway and apply an exclamation mark to his 13-catch, 149-yard night.
Minshew,
the graduate transfer from East Carolina, orchestrated 98- and 99-yard
touchdown drives in his most consistent performance as a Cougar, completing 45
of 57 passes for two TDs and no interceptions.
"It's
awesome, it's so much fun," Minshew said of operating coach Mike Leach's
Air Raid offense. "Winning, putting up 59 points, all that - it's all fun.
I have receivers who make plays, running backs, an O-line that gives me time.
I'm having a blast right now."
The Wazzu
defense inexplicably allowed two long TD passes by Gage Gubrud in the third
quarter as the Eagles (2-1) threatened a comeback.
But this
game, before a sellout crowd of 32,952 on an overcast but mild evening, didn't
bear much resemblance to Eastern's 45-42 win here at Martin Stadium two years
ago, when Gubrud passed for 474 yards and ran for 101 more.
This time
Gubrud was held to 14-for-36 passing for 231 yards, three touchdowns and three
interceptions - one each by Darrien Molton, Jalen Thompson and Jahad Woods. The
Cougars blunted Gubrud's effectiveness by allowing him only 23 ground yards as
they stretched a home winning streak to nine games.
Hunter
Dale made 10 tackles for the Cougs and Pelluer, a sixth-year senior, set the
tone with an active first quarter. In all, Wazzu forced four turnovers.
"I
thought we had quite a bit better defensive plan," Leach said, comparing
the two games against Eastern. "And we affected him (Gubrud) quite a lot
early."
For all
that, the WSU highlight was Travell Harris' 100-yard kickoff return for a 21-3
lead in the second period.
"I
thought we played kind of a complete game on all sides," Leach said.
"And they (the Eagles) are a good football team. They may win the (FCS)
national championship this year. It wouldn't surprise me a bit."
Minshew completed
11 consecutive passes during a stretch in the first half, going 8-for-8 on a
drive culminating in a 14-yard fade to Easop Winston Jr. for a 14-0 lead.
Harris
uncorked his kickoff return on the next WSU possession, initially popping
right, getting a helpful block from Keith Harrington and gradually angling and
juking his way to the left edge of the end zone.
Over the
past two years, the Cougars have had little reason to dwell on the loss to EWU
in their 2016 season opener. It was a nonleague opponent that Wazzu had faced
only three previous times. And the Cougs went on to finish 8-5 that season.
That
indifference changed during the past week, if only because Coug outsiders
talked about the 2016 game incessantly.
"We've
got a lot of people at a lot of new positions, so they weren't a part of that
2016 loss," said Dale, a senior nickelback. "Our coaches do a great
job of making sure we're not thinking about that - making sure it's not a
revenge game."
At least
until afterward.
E.
Washington 0 10 14 0 - 24
Washington
St. 14 14 7 24 - 59
First
Quarter
WST-Jam.Williams
1 run (Mazza kick), 9:27
WST-Winston
14 pass from Minshew (Mazza kick), 1:45
Second Quarter
EW-FG
Alcobendas 37, 12:11
WST-Tra.Harris
100 kickoff return (Mazza kick), 11:56
WST-Jam.Williams
2 run (Mazza kick), 2:17
EW-Boston
26 pass from Gubrud (Alcobendas kick), :39
Third
Quarter
EW-Eagle
34 pass from Gubrud (Alcobendas kick), 11:41
WST-Jam.Williams
8 run (Mazza kick), 4:37
EW-Merritt
44 pass from Gubrud (Alcobendas kick), 3:54
Fourth
Quarter
WST-FG
Mazza 44, 14:05
WST-Martin
21 pass from Minshew (Mazza kick), 9:47
WST-Borghi
6 run (Mazza kick), 8:24
WST-R.Lewis
6 pass from Tinsley (Mazza kick), 1:21
A-32,952.
EW WST
First
downs 23 35
Rushes-yards
35-148 15-41
Passing
231 524
Comp-Att-Int
14-36-3 51-65-0
Return
Yards 146 143
Punts-Avg.
4-37.75 3-47.33
Fumbles-Lost
1-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards
6-52 7-80
Time of
Possession 23:58 36:02
INDIVIDUAL
STATISTICS
RUSHING-E.
Washington, McPherson 17-72, Pierce 6-67, Barriere 2-13, Merritt 1-(minus 1),
Gubrud 9-(minus 3). Washington St., Jam.Williams 6-19, Borghi 4-15, Harrington
2-11, Minshew 3-(minus 4).
PASSING-E.
Washington, Gubrud 14-36-3-231. Washington St., Tinsley 6-8-0-54, Minshew
45-57-0-470.
RECEIVING-E.
Washington, Eagle 4-73, Boston 4-47, Ns.Webster 2-46, Jay.Williams 2-16,
Merritt 1-44, Dorton 1-5. Washington St., Martin 13-149, Calvin 6-70, Winston
6-42, Patmon 5-57, Sweet 4-44, Jam.Williams 4-40, Borghi 4-30, C.Jackson 3-36,
Bell 2-22, Harrington 2-16, Fisher 1-12, R.Lewis 1-6.
MISSED
FIELD GOALS-None.
::::::::::::::;
WSU Honey Bee Research Program Receives $1
million-dollar Grant
Pullman Radio News 9/17/2018
Washington
state University Alumni Ken and Sue Christianson presented the Washington State
University Program with a one-million-dollar donation. The donation is for the
new honey Bee and Pollinator Bee research Facility, to be built on campus. The
donation was presented at the WSU versus EWU football game on Saturday.
Honey bees
and other pollinators are crucial to the world food supply, including many
fruits and vegetables. To learn more, visit the honey bee program online at
bees.wsu.edu
:::::::::::::::::::
WSU
FOOTBALL
First
look: Washington State at USC
UPDATED:
Mon., Sept. 17, 2018, 7:16 p.m.
By Theo
Lawson
Spokane
S-R
Three
things to know
1.
Southern California is still a popular recruiting base for the Cougars, who
have 26 players on their 2018 roster from the Los Angeles and San Diego metropolitan
areas. Wide receivers Renard Bell and Jamire Calvin, and nickel safety Halid
Djibril may have grown up closest to the USC stadium, which is only six miles
away from their Cathedral High School.
2. Backup
WSU quarterback Trey Tinsley probably has the closest connection to the
Trojans, though. Tinsley’s father Scott grew up in Oklahoma but moved out west
when John Robinson offered him a scholarship to play quarterback for USC in the
late 1970s and early ’80s. In 34 games with the Trojans, he completed 107 of
184 passes for 1,320 yards and nine touchdowns before playing in the NFL.
3. Many
seem to think USC’s Clay Helton is on the hot seat after consecutive losses to
Stanford and Texas. Without Sam Darnold as his quarterback, the USC coach is
now 0-6 against Power Five schools (Stanford three times, Wisconsin, Alabama,
Texas). The last time the Cougars visited the Coliseum, in 2013, the USC coach
was in a similar predicament; Lane Kiffin was fired just a few weeks after WSU
beat the Trojans 10-7.
What is
it? Washington State (3-0) looks to stay unbeaten when it opens up Pac-12
Conference play against USC (1-2).
Where is
it? Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
When is
it? Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Where can
I watch it? ESPN will carry the national TV broadcast.
Who is
favored? As of Monday afternoon, USC was a four-point favorite.
How did
they fare last week?
The
Cougars rolled past FCS opponent Eastern Washington 59-24 at Martin Stadium in
Pullman. The Trojans stubbed their toe at Texas, losing 37-14 after holding a
14-3 lead in the first quarter.
Why WSU
will win:
In their
loss at Texas, the Trojans finished minus-3 in net rushing yards and lead
tailback Stephen Carr had just 13 yards on six carries. The Longhorns aren’t
supposed to be proficient in stopping the run, ranking just 90th nationally in
rushing yards allowed per game. The Cougars, meanwhile, are tied for 14th in
the same category, so USC may lean on true freshman quarterback JT Daniels to
move the Trojans through the air. That might be OK with the Cougars; Daniels hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in his
past 89 pass attempts, with three picks over that span.
Why USC
will win:
The
Trojans struggled in each of their past two games, but both were played on the
road, and you can bet they’ll be glad to return to Los Angeles. At the
Coliseum, USC owns one of the top home winning streaks in the country. The
Trojans’ 17 straight wins rank second in the nation to Alabama and they haven’t
lost at home they haven’t lost at home since falling 17-12 to Washington on
Oct. 8, 2015. Teams that have to travel on a short week in the Pac-12 typically
don’t have much success – something WSU and USC both know well. The Cougars
lost to Cal on a Friday night in Berkeley last season, and the Trojans lost to
the Cougars on a Friday night in Pullman.
What
happened last time?
In a game
between the 5th-ranked Trojans, the 16th-ranked Cougars and their NFL-level
quarterbacks, WSU and Luke Falk outlasted Sam Darnold and USC for a massive
30-27 victory at Martin Stadium in 2017. Falk finished 34-of-51 for 341 yards
and two touchdowns, Jamal Morrow took a shovel pass 35 yards to the end zone
and Erik Powell booted the game-winning field goal with 1:40 left. WSU’s defense
sealed the upset win on USC’s next possession, when Jahad Woods escaped on a
linebacker blitz to sack Darnold as the QB was winding up. The ball popped out
and the Cougars’ Derek Moore recovered.
::::::::::::::
Cougars
tame Mustangs
No. 16 WSU
won 4-1 to finish non-conference matches undefeated
Junior
forward Morgan Weaver battles for the ball against Cal Poly freshman defender
Emily Talmi at the game Sunday at the Lower Soccer Field.
By DANI
PARAMO, Evergreen reporter
Sept 16,
2018
No. 16 WSU
soccer came away from the weekend with another win after taking down California
Polytechnic State University 4-1 Sunday.
WSU Head
Coach Todd Shulenberger said the win gave them important momentum for upcoming
Pac-12 matches.
“It means
a lot, we wanted to go out with a lot of momentum,” Shulenberger said, “The
pac-12 is the greatest women’s soccer conference in America, we knew we had to
… make a statement.”
The Cougs
improved to 7-0 this season as they concluded non-conference play ahead of
their Pac-12 opener against No. 2 University of California, Los Angeles, on
Friday.
In WSU’s
victory over University of Montana on Friday, the Cougars scored early on and
held the visitors to a mere seven shots. That storyline carried over to the
Cougs’ game against Cal Poly (0-6-3) as the hosts were first on the board
thanks to sophomore midfielder Brianna Alger. Alger scored her first of the
season following a solo run by sophomore forward Makamae Gomera-Stevens whose
cross found Alger in the 6-yard box.
The hosts’
pressure continued and just four minutes later sophomore midfielder Sydney
Pulver found junior forward Morgan Weaver unmarked on the edge of the penalty
area. Weaver calmly slotted a low left-footed shot under Cal Poly junior goalie
Sophia Brown to make it 2-0 in favor of the Cougs.
Soon
after, the game settled down as WSU slowed the pace of its possession, content
to keep the ball and press forward only when the opportunity was clear.
One such
chance came in the 36th minute, when two Cougar forwards shared an effective
passing give and go. Redshirt junior Alysha Overland and freshman Molly Myers
combined 30 yards from goal and Myers’ final pass to Overland allowed her to
fire a shot into the side net of Cal Poly’s goal.
Overland’s
goal was her first of the season, while Myers notched her first career assist.
The
visiting Mustangs bit back with a long-range goal to open up the second half,
as sophomore midfielder Grace Park unleashed a shot from nearly 30 yards that
just barely beat WSU redshirt junior goalkeeper Rachel Thompson.
Bolstered
by the goal, the visitors began to look for more chances and they were able to
contest the Cougs for possession. The fouls also began to mount as the game
heated up between the two teams.
WSU would
have the last word in the end though. In the 64th minute, senior defender Maddy
Haro picked up her eighth assist of the season during a trick play on a free
kick when she passed to a wide-open Weaver. Weaver ran on to Haro’s pass and
fired the ball directly into Cal Poly’s net.
Weaver’s
second goal of the day was decisive in the game, as it all but stifled the
Mustangs for the remainder of the contest. The forward’s second score also put
her into a tie for eighth in the WSU record books for career goals with 20.
WSU will
return to the pitch 8 p.m. Friday to face UCLA in Los Angeles. The game will
also be broadcast live on Pac-12 Networks.
#
