Gesser got away from Cal coach.

Byline: Jay Heater

BERKELEY, Calif. _ Cal football coach Tom Holmoe is about to get a visit from an old "bud."

Washington State quarterback Jason Gesser, who has given notice that he is a developing Pac-10 star, was close to signing with Cal after his senior year at St. Louis High School-Honolulu in 1997 because of a close relationship he developed with Holmoe. Instead, he will lead the Cougars on Saturday when the teams meet at Memorial Stadium.

"One of the hardest things I've had to do was call Coach Holmoe and tell him I was going to Washington State," said Gesser, who was a two-time, all-state quarterback and a PrepStar All American. "Me and him were buds. He was a real open guy, and he got close to me. I took my first visit to Cal, and I was set on going there. Justin Vedder was the quarterback at Cal then and although he wasn't my host, he …