A rib injury is not a big deal. Other than making breathing and moving excruciating, it's really not a problem.

Sleeping? Just find that perfect position. . .and don't budge.

Washington State quarterback Jason Gesser, last seen by the benighted east side of the nation desperately fleeing a nasty Ohio State pass rush, dislocated a rib on his right side and then -- eight days later -- threw for 431 yards and four touchdowns in a comeback 48-38 victory last weekend over California.

A Different Kind Of Game

Air Force lost its team surgeon recently. He was called to duty in the Middle East. New Navy coach Paul Johnson received a congratulatory call a few weeks ago from a former Midshipman, which isn't that unusual unless it's pointed out that Johnson's well-wisher was in Afghanistan. In times of international crisis, football games between the service academies take on a different tone. "I'm not sure I really thought about our guys being over there," said Johnson, who arrived at Navy after winning a pair of I-AA titles at Georgia Southern. "It kind of puts a different perspective on it." Air Force and Navy play this weekend but are very different football programs right now. The Falcons are 4-0 (2-0 in the Mountain West Conference) and are ranked No. 25 in the nation. Navy, which finished 0-10 last year, is 1-3 after losing to Duke. Air Force has captured five consecutive and 12 of the last 13 Commander-in-Chief trophies over Army and Navy. The Falcons have won 19 of their last 21 games against Navy. DeBerry has guided Air Force for 19 seasons. During that span, Navy has had five different coaches. DeBerry has established the current standard, Army and Navy are playing catchup. While the rivalry is intense, there also is an understanding that some of the young men battling on the field could shortly face a graver conflict overseas. "But I don't think you focus on that," Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry said. "They get a lot of (discussion of world events) in the classroom." DeBerry's Falcons are trying to make some noise, but mostly in the national rankings. After posting victories against the Big Ten (Northwestern) and Pac-10 (California) as well as MWC's frontrunner Utah last week, they are eyeballing a big season with the conference schedule, as well as a date with Notre Dame, ahead. The talk among the players is of conference titles and bowl games, not a potential war with Iraq. "It makes you want to play a little bit harder," DeBerry said. -- Ted Miller

This is the sort of thing that causes readers to go, "Gosh, that's sumpthin." Understand: If you saw Gesser the Monday after he was injured against Montana State and then watched his performance against Cal, it would appear inconceivable that both were the same person.

California defensive end Tully Banta-Cain estimated that he hit Gesser at least three times during the game. He's decided that, besides being a poised and accurate passer, Gesser also is loopy.

"I got a couple of good hits on him, but it didn't seem like it was bothering him too much," Banta-Cain said. "He was laughing one time. He got up and laughed. I guess that guy is just tough as nails."

Gesser will need his toughness and perhaps his sense of humor this weekend. After sucking it up to make sure a promising Cougars' season didn't waste away because of an epidemic of injuries, Gesser and his ribs face No. 20 USC this weekend.

All the Trojans offer is the nation's No. 1 defense, a ranking that has been earned against a rugged early-season schedule. Last weekend, USC piled up five sacks against hotshot Oregon State quarterback Derek Anderson without resorting to blitzes and posted a 22-0 shutout.

Gesser is far savvier than Anderson. He knows the Trojans cornerbacks are questionable. He also thinks his line can handle a four-man rush.

Said Gesser, "I think they are going to blitz until the cows come home." Which, in Pullman, Wash., is every evening around five, but his point is manifest: Gesser has a bull's-eye on him and will the rest of the season.

Cougars coach Mike Price expressed muted but obvious irritation this week concerning USC players making statements about "taking out" quarterbacks following their victory over the Beavers. Gesser said, "So what?"

"Ever since I've been playing football that's all people try to do -- knock (the quarterback) out and have a better chance to win," he said. "That's football."

Gesser, a communications major, knew reporters were working the "tough guy" angle this week. He knew how to play along. But he also isn't full of it. When asked to explain why he struggled in the first half against Cal, he was honest instead of doing his best Schwartzenegger imitation.

"I was worried about how it was going to feel when I got hit," Gesser said.

Gesser's image is that of a swashbuckling, improvising scrambler. But Cal coach Jeff Tedford estimated that 90 percent of Gesser's completions came when he stood in the pocket and went through his progression of receivers.

Gesser, who ranks 10th in the nation in passing efficiency, is a scrambler but he's also a smart quarterback willing to work within a system.

"I'd rather stay in the pocket and let the other guys get hit," Gesser said.

Playing with pain is nothing new to Gesser. He's had a previous rib injury as well as a concussion, broken leg and thumb injury. Yet that hasn't stopped him from positioning himself to become the Cougars' all-time leading passer.

Despite perceptions, however, he doesn't have a superhuman pain threshold.

"He hurts," Price said. "He's just tough."

Around the Pac-10

Arizona
The Wildcats are beaten up and facing an Oregon team that scored 63 points on them last year, the most Arizona has given up in Pac-10 play. Fourteen players are listed as out or questionable for Saturday's home game, including eight starters. The biggest loss is tailback Clarence Farmer, who suffered a knee injury in the narrow victory over North Texas and is out three to six weeks. He'll be replaced by Mike Bell, and there is little remaining depth. Also definitely out are cornerback Michael Jolivette (knee), defensive end Andre Torrey (hip) and offensive tackle Darren Safranek. The biggest name on the questionable list is All-Pac-10 linebacker Lance Briggs, whose presence figures to be critical for a defense that surrendered 431 yards to the Mean Green (ranked 117th in the nation in total offense entering the game). ... The Wildcats must somehow contain Oregon tailback Onterrio Smith after giving up 542 rushing yards the past two games. ... Arizona also is struggling in the kicking game after missing four field goals against North Texas.

Arizona State
Not since 1997 has Arizona State won its Pac-10 opener and compiled a four-game winning streak. The Sun Devils had 535 yards of total offense and averaged 7.3 yards per play -- with eight plays of 20 yards or more -- in their 65-24 thrashing of Stanford. That's the most points the Sun Devils have scored in a Pac-10 game. They also gave their mascot, Sparky, quite a workout, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Sparky, who does a push up for every point on the scoreboard, did 426 pushups over the course of the game. Whew! ... Quarterback Andrew Walter has 11 touchdowns in just 61 passes. ... ASU's only previous meeting with North Carolina, its opponent this weekend, came in the 1970 Peach Bowl. In a raging blizzard, the Sun Devils rolled to a 48-26 victory and finished the season 11-0 and ranked No. 6 in the nation.

Cal
After winning its first three games and earning a national ranking, California has now lost two straight. The Bears pay a visit to Washington this weekend hoping to end their new losing streak as well as a couple of other streaks. Cal has lost 19 consecutive games to the Huskies since 1976, while Washington boasts a 17-game home winning streak. ... Cal has blown double-digit, second-half leads the past three seasons against the Huskies, but that's par of the course in the series. Eight of the Bears' defeats during the losing streak were by eight points or less, and three times they lost by a single point. While new coach Jeff Tedford said he knew nothing about the losing streak, it's all his veteran players have heard since they first faced the Huskies. "The curse. The streak -- that's the talk every year," defensive end Tully Banta-Cain said. "But as a team we don't focus on that ? It's a hype thing. For us, (winning) is definitely attainable. We can put this to an end."

Oregon
Oregon had a bye in which to get rested and healthy for its Pac-10 opener at Arizona. The Ducks have beaten the Wildcats three consecutive times, including a 63-28 blowout last year, and have won seven of the last eight. ... The Ducks, who are riding a nine-game winning streak, are 6-0 after off-weeks since 1996. ... Tailback Onterrio Smith will be seeking his fifth consecutive game over 100 yards rushing against the Wildcats, who have the conference's worst rushing defense (172.2 yards per game). The only Oregon back to eclipse 100 yards in five consecutive games was Bobby Moore in 1971. ... Also, receiver Keenan Howry has caught a pass in 39 consecutive games and is closing in on former Arizona receiver Dennis Northcutt's Pac-10 record of 42 consecutive games with a reception.

Oregon State
Oregon State's offensive line was a question entering the season, and now injury woes have hit. The Beavers have lost two right tackles -- starter Brian Kilkenny (broken leg) and backup Lee Davis (knee) -- over the past two weeks. Coach Dennis Erickson will move starting guard Mike Kuykendall to tackle and insert David Lose at guard. The line gave up five sacks in the 22-0 defeat at USC. Early in the fourth quarter of that game, the Beavers had more penalty yards (106) than yards of offense (105). ... Erickson said that he's not worried about sophomore quarterback Derrick Anderson's confidence as UCLA prepares to visit the Beavers. Anderson, who was second in the nation in pass efficiency before the USC game, completed just 8 of 30 passes for 80 yards against the Trojans. ... The Beavers and Bruins have split their last four games, though UCLA won 38-7 last year. At halftime of this weekend's game, OSU will honor coach Dee Andros' 1967 "Giant Killers" team, which, over a four-week period, knocked off No. 2 Purdue, tied No. 2 UCLA, then beat No. 1 USC and O.J. Simpson, 3-0.

Stanford
Stanford plays a visit to Notre Dame and its old coach this weekend, Tyrone Willingham. Willingham, as well as the man who replaced him, Buddy Teevens, have downplayed the significance of the coaching situation. "I addressed it straight up," Teevens said. "The guys have tremendous respect for Tyrone. They like him personally. They appreciated what he did as a coach. Obviously there's a determination to show the guy who recruited them that they are progressing and moving forward." Said Willingham of any perceived special significance, "None at all in terms of 'win one for the coach.' I think our guys are focused on the understanding that a football game -- any football game that we play -- is important and that one doesn't have more value than the other one. ? I think if you put 11 or 12 names in a hat, and you say the first one you pull out is a loss, I don't think it matters which one it is." ... Stanford has enough problems as it is. Its defense gave up 65 points in a loss to Arizona State, the quarterback situation between Chris Lewis and Kyle Matter appears unsettled and tailback Kerry Carter (knee) and receiver Luke Powell (ankle) are questionable for the game.

UCLA
When UCLA pays a visit to Oregon State this weekend, it will play a team that rival USC handled easily the previous weekend for the second time this season. It figures then that Bruins coach Bob Toledo would cull a lot of helpful information from the Trojans' dominant 22-0 victory over the Beavers. "I hope it's not the same things I took from their Colorado game," Toledo said. After the Trojans dusted the Buffaloes 40-3, the Buffaloes trounced the Bruins 31-17. The Beavers are smarting from an embarrassing 38-7 defeat last year, which ended their nine-game home winning streak. ... The Bruins have some injury issues, as their best offensive lineman, tackle Mike Safer (rib), and defensive lineman, Rodney Leisle (foot), are doubtful. Safer, who has held out hope that he will play, injured his rib after what must have been a powerful cough during a math class on Friday morning. Ed Blanton, a 6-foot-9, 330-pound true freshman, filled in for Safer against San Diego State and played well. Blanton is one of four true freshmen expected to start against Oregon State, joining center Mike McCloskey, linebacker Spencer Havner and safety Jarrad Page. One freshman who has played but does not figure to during close conference games in quarterback Drew Olson, who saw brief action in relief of starter Cory Paus during the non-conference schedule.

USC
USC's defensive line of Shaun Cody, Kenechi Udeze, Mike Patterson and Omar Nazel look like the class of the conference and one of the nation's best groups after they dominated Oregon State. They combined for seven tackles for loss -- including four sacks -- two pass deflections, a forced fumble and two recovered fumbles. The Beavers had just 131 total yards, crossed midfield just three times and converted on just one of 15 third-down plays. ... The big question this weekend: Can they do the same against Washington State, which has a better offensive line, talented receivers and a veteran quarterback? The Trojans also have to be happy with their improved kicking game. In his first action, Ryan Killeen connected on field goals of 43, 42 and 32 yards, missing just once from 40 yards. Quarterback Carson Palmer had 229 yards of total offense against the Beavers to move past Rodney Peete and become USC's career leader with 8,725 yards.

Washington
Is Washington's junior quarterback Cody Pickett a Heisman Trophy candidate? Not yet, but he could become one. After throwing for 438 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-27 victory over Idaho, Pickett ranks fifth in the nation in passing efficiency and second in total offense (368 yards per game). If he can post similar numbers while the Huskies open their Pac-10 schedule with back-to-back home dates against California and Arizona, then the Oct. 19 visit to USC and its top-ranked defense figures to show up on the fickle Heisman radar. Big numbers there could catch the nation's fancy. Huskies coach Rick Neuheisel wasn't ready to bite when asked if he'd support a "Cody's the Pick(ett) for Heisman!" campaign. "It's not as though I don't want national recognition for Cody," Neuheisel said. "I just want to keep focused on team goals. But I wouldn't trade him for anybody."

Washington State
One face on the rugged USC defense will be very familiar to the Washington State players and coaches. Trojans linebacker Melvin "Champ" Simmons transferred from Washington State after he was beaten up in a fraternity fight in the spring of 2001. According to police reports, Simmons was knocked down and repeatedly kicked in the head. Though he suffered a concussion, a broken thumb and a broken bone in his face, the charges against fraternity members were dismissed by the district attorney's office. "As soon as I heard that the D.A. threw out the charges, I had to go," Simmons told the Orange County Register. "There was no way I could be at home in a place where I had been done wrong and they weren't going to punish the ones who did it to me."

Around the Mountain West
Air Force quarterback Chance Harridge always could beat an opponent with his feet, but now he can do it with his arm. Harridge ran for 75 yards and a touchdown against Utah, but his biggest plays were two touchdown passes, including the game-winning 20-yard strike with 17 seconds remaining. Each of Air Force's past three wins has been decided in overtime or the final minute of regulation. ... BYU's bye-week quarterback derby ended with a familiar winner: incumbent starter Bret Engemann, who will get the call this weekend against Utah State. Coach Gary Crowton said he liked the way Engemann responded to the threat of losing his job. "I saw a lot of fire in him," Crowton said. "Not just verbally but also on the practice field. I gave him every opportunity to give up." In his last two games, Engemann, a junior, was 17-of-34 for 172 yards with three interceptions. In his first two games, he combined to complete 56 of 100 passes for 612 yards and four touchdowns. ... Crowton wouldn't rule out using Lance Pendleton in spot situations, or even, if Engemann falters again, inserting highly touted true freshman Ben Olsen. ... Colorado State receiver Chris Pittman caught 10 passes for 151 yards against Nevada. He was the first Rams receiver to eclipse 100 yards receiving since 1992. ... Last year's game with Fresno State was a barnburner. The Bulldogs remained unbeaten (for the time being) with an unlikely 25-22 overtime victory. ... San Diego State has a bye this weekend after its high-powered passing game sputtered in a 43-7 defeat to UCLA. It produced just 208 yards, 197 yards below the Aztecs' season average. UCLA cornerback Ricky Manning, Jr., held receiver J.R. Tolver to just three receptions for 30 yards. Tolver had been leading the nation with 11 receptions for 179 yards per game. On the bright side, the debut of highly touted freshman running back Frederick Collins was a success. He rushed for 47 yards on 11 carries. ... UNLV turned up the heat at practices during its bye week with full-contact matchups between the first-team offense and defense. The Rebels have beaten Nevada two consecutive times, but the Wolf Pack has looked tough in beating BYU and nearly doing the same to Colorado State. ... UNLV coach John Robinson announced this week that linebacker Ryan Claridge, who has struggled with an abdominal injury, will redshirt this season. ... The Rebels haven't cause a turnover this season but have given away eight. ... Utah's bye week couldn't come at a better time. The Utes 30-26 defeat at home against Air Force was a complete disaster. "In all the games I've coached, this is the worst feeling," coach Ron McBride said. The Utes lost their third game in a row by six points or less after surrendering a 26-6 halftime lead. The Utes accumulated 13 penalties for 148 yards, including three personal fouls, tossed two interceptions, had a punt blocked and gained just 57 yards in the second half. Junior halfback Brandon Warfield, rushed for 193 yards and three touchdowns but he had three of Utah's four fumbles. ... Wyoming should get its first win of the year this weekend. Not only are the Cowboys coming off a bye week, they are taking on The Citadel, a I-AA team that is 1-3 after a loss to Appalachian State.

Ted Miller covers college football for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.