Words Can’t Ease Pain : Titan Safety Mike Romero Still Feels Bad About Opening Loss

Mike Romero had heard similar speeches at least 10 times before, but the Cal State Fullerton senior probably listened attentively anyway, because that’s the kind of football player he is.

“The first thing we tell our guys on Day 1 is that no one person on any football team can win or lose a game single-handedly,” Titan Coach Gene Murphy said. “You might do something that affects the final score, but the first play is just as important as the last play.”

It made sense at the time . . . in theory. But when the strong safety’s error in judgment in the final seconds allowed Montana to upset Fullerton in the season opener, a preseason speech wasn’t going to make him feel the least bit better.

There were 17 seconds left, Montana was out of time outs and facing a fourth-and-23 play near midfield. Quarterback Brent Pease lobbed a high Hail Mary pass and Romero went for the interception instead of just batting the ball down. The Grizzlies’ Terry White wrestled it out of his grip and Montana scored on the next play to pull off a 31-30 upset.

“Mike’s a very mature guy,” Murphy said, “but he was really hurting. You don’t expect a player who’s as intense of a competitor as he is to take it any other way.”

To understand how bad Romero felt, you have to know the kind of season he was expecting from himself and his team.

He still can’t understand why both the coaches and media figured Fullerton for a bottom-half finish in the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. standings.

“I thought we could repeat the 11-1 (record) or go undefeated,” Romero said, sounding amazed that anyone would think otherwise. “We were all confident we’d be 3-0 at this point.

“And after that first game, all I could think about was that if I just knocked that pass down, we’d be 1-0. At the time, I just reacted. I thought I had a clear shot, but he was right there . . . “

It’s still a difficult recollection for Romero.

“After a while, I just got mad, and then madder and I said to myself, ‘I’ll never let that happen to me again.’ ”

The sputtering Titans have fallen to 0-3, but nobody is pointing any fingers at Romero’s play. He’s been taking his anger out on the Titans’ opponents with a vengeance.

He has three interceptions (tying him with Fresno State’s Rod Webster and Pacific’s Nick Holt for the conference lead) and he’s tied for the team lead in unassisted tackles (20 “officially” and even more according to the Titan coaches who have dissected the films).

That is not a statistic of which Murphy is especially proud, though. His defense was not designed so the strong safety would be making most of the tackles.

“No, never. You never want that to happen,” Murphy said. “We’d much prefer that Mike Romero didn’t lead the team in tackles, that’s the linebackers’ job. But he’s going to get his share of tackles because he’s big and strong and he’ll come up and force the play.”

Romero, an All-CIF safety at Bishop Montgomery High School, played two seasons at Utah before coming to Fullerton, to “get the chance to play regularly.”

Murphy, was glad to offer him a scholarship and a chance to play.

“He’s a quiet kid who’s going to get his degree and all he’s done since he got here is do the job,” Murphy said, smiling.

Murphy, who says that Romero grades out as one of the Titans’ most consistent performers, was especially pleased with his play against Wyoming last Saturday.

“We had both our free safeties go down and everyone was talking about how great (cornerback) Mark Collins played filling in at strong safety,” Murphy said. “But it was Romero who stepped over to free safety, a position he’s never played here, and promptly got an interception.”

Romero isn’t taking any bows, however, and he’s not going to be happy until the Titans start winning.

“I read in the paper that our secondary was ‘porous,’ ” Romero said. “How can we be mad about that? We’ve let teams beat us when we had them where we wanted them, on third and long, when we knew they had to put it up and they’ve still beaten us.

“We’re just giving up the big plays and not getting any of our own.”

Romero has no doubts the Titans will turn it around, though, starting next Thursday night when they play San Jose State in San Jose.

“Montana and Wyoming run the wishbone (offense), but we’ll be back in our regular defense against San Jose,” Romero said. “I think we’re more comfortable against a passing team and we’ll shut them down so nobody can call us ‘porous’ again.”

Titan Notes Injury Update: Junior defensive tackle Ron McLean, the Titans’ best defensive lineman, will undergo surgery on his left knee soon and will be out for the season. Quarterback Kevin Jan, who was sacked and suffered head, neck and jaw injuries in the Wyoming game, says he will be ready to play at San Jose State. Linebacker Bryan Riggs (ankle), safety Trent Baker (ankle) and defensive end Ted Hinton (fallen arch) are all listed as questionable. Nose guard Jim Baioa and defensive tackle Ruben Lizarraga missed the last two games with knee injuries but are expected back next Thursday and tailback Burness Scott should be fully recovered from a nagging ankle injury. . . . Wyoming Coach Al Kinkaid, after watching the films of the game against the Titans: “Fullerton is a quarterback away from being a very good team.” . . . Stephen DiTolla, director of promotions and marketing for the University of Colorado athletic department, has been appointed associate athletic director for business affairs at Fullerton. “After conducting an extensive search that attracted 67 applicants, Steve emerged as the ideal candidate,” Titan Athletic Director Ed Carroll said. “He has a particularly strong background in computer applications in athletic budgeting, ticketing and home event management.”