Injury Derails Gossen’s Fast Start at WSU

Although it didn’t seem like much at first, Brad Gossen realized something was wrong, very wrong.

“I threw the ball and on the follow-through I hit a defender’s shoulder pads,” said Gossen, Washington State’s southpaw quarterback from Westlake Village. “At first I thought it was jammed, but then I tried to throw again and I knew something was wrong.”

Gossen went to the sideline with what later was diagnosed as several torn ligaments in his left thumb and the Cougars went on to a 41-3 Pacific 10 Conference victory over Oregon State last Saturday in Pullman, Wash.

Until the injury, he had proven to be a capable replacement for Timm Rosenbach, who has embarked on a National Football League career with the Phoenix Cardinals.

On the Cougars’ first possession against Oregon State, Gossen connected with Tim Stallworth, a slotback from Montclair Prep, for a 44-yard touchdown. Gossen went on to complete seven of eight passes for 98 yards.

Then, with 6:12 remaining in the first half, Gossen suffered the injury to his throwing hand.

This bit of misfortune has cast a shadow over what otherwise would have been a significant victory for the Cougars, who had not won a Pac-10 opener since 1981.

Gossen underwent surgery to repair the ligaments Sunday and is expected to be out of action for at least four weeks. There is basis for optimism, though.

“I’ll still be able to work on my throwing motion, and I think that’s positive, “ Gossen said. “When the cast comes off I’ll be fine.”

Backup quarterback Aaron Garcia, a redshirt freshman from Sacramento, inherited a 10-3 lead and guided the Cougars to a convincing victory. “A lot of people went on to pick up the slack,” Gossen said.

Nevertheless, Washington State’s hopes of playing in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1931 are not as bright with Gossen on the sidelines.

The 6-2, 210-pound junior had compiled some impressive statistics in leading the Cougars to a 3-0 start. Washington State scored 128 points in its first three games.

In his first collegiate start, Gossen completed 17 of 22 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-7 win over Idaho. A week later he completed 14 of 27 for 317 yards, with touchdown passes of 64 and 66 yards, in a 46-41 victory over Brigham Young.

After the victory over Oregon State, the Cougars advanced from 23rd to 19th in the Associated Press college football poll. Before the game, Gossen was optimistic but guarded about the Cougars’ chances this year.

“I’m not sure of the number of wins and losses, but we’ll have a good year, “ Gossen said. “We’re going to continue to rack up some yards and put some points on the board. We’ll finish in the top 20.”

But, when asked if he would be able to take his team to the Rose Bowl, Gossen replied: “I’m not going to say that.”

Gossen, 21, is no stranger to injuries. After leading Westlake to a 6-4 record in football as a senior, he turned his attention to baseball.

After showing early promise as a pitcher with an 0.64 earned-run average in 11 innings, Gossen strained the rotator cuff in his left shoulder and finished the season as a designated-hitter. The injury continued to plague him at Washington State, and after spring football practice in 1987, Gossen underwent arthroscopic surgery.

“The shoulder is fine now. I had the surgery and now there’s no problem, “ Gossen said.

San Francisco 49er quarterback Joe Montana, one of Gossen’s role models, may provide the inspiration for Gossen’s return. According to Gossen, Montana “doesn’t have a real great arm, but he gets the job done. He makes the big play.” Gossen hopes to duplicate Montana’s capacity for the big play. In light of Gossen’s injury, Montana’s remarkable recovery from back surgery during the 1986 season may provide further incentive.

Gossen is expected to be back in the lineup when WSU plays host to Stanford on Oct. 14. That would give him five conference games in which to prove that the Cougars were mistakenly written off before the season began.

“Coming off a 9-3 year and being picked ninth in the Pac-10, it got people pumped up for the year. We have something to prove,” he said.

This still may be his year to prove it, depending on whether he can return to his early season form.