Titans, Rebels to Renew Hostilities : Fullerton Plays Host to Nevada Las Vegas in Homecoming

Cal State Fullerton scheduling Nevada Las Vegas for a homecoming game is like the Hatfields inviting the McCoys to their daughter’s wedding reception.

Clearly, these are teams that intensely dislike each other and aren’t afraid to let their feelings be known.

Last year, they met in the most important Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. game of the season, and the Rebels hung on to win, 26-20, in Las Vegas. With the season on the line, the extracurricular activities were reduced to a number of small flare-ups.

In 1983, however, the mutual distaste erupted into a brawl involving almost everyone in uniform . . . not to mention a few assistant coaches and trainers. Las Vegas won the game, dubbed the Mud Bowl after a two-day downpour caused a site change from Anaheim Stadium to Glover Stadium, 13-0.

Today, the Titans and Rebels will take another shot at one another at 1 p.m. in Santa Ana Stadium. It again is an important game for Fullerton. The Titans staggered to an 0-3 nonconference start, but have rebounded with a 2-0 conference record and, again, the Rebels are an obstacle in the way of their postseason aspirations.

Last season’s loss to UNLV was the only defeat en route to Fullerton’s best-ever season. The Titans’ 11-1 record was eventually changed to 12-0 when a PCAA Compliance Committee forced Las Vegas to forfeit its wins in 1983 and ’84 when it was discovered the Rebels had used seven ineligible players.

That ruling came after the Rebels played in the Cal Bowl and had received conference championship rings. Predictably, the delayed sanctions didn’t go over well in Fullerton, where the sentiment was the Titan players who missed a chance to play in the bowl were the only ones who were penalized.

“They took our money, they took our rings and they took our Cal Bowl appearance,” said Sean Foy, defensive end. “I think that has to be in the back of our minds.”

Senior cornerback Mark Collins, trying hard to say all the right things, grudgingly admitted that beating the Rebels would provide satisfaction beyond a 3-0 conference mark.

“We haven’t beaten them since I’ve been here, but we have to look at the game as just another step toward a PCAA title,” he said.

Titan Coach Gene Murphy, who was scolded by PCAA officials for his vociferous protest last year, said he was “informed by the powers not to talk about it anymore.” But he is well aware of the nature of what can only be described as an unhealthy rivalry.

“If we look at this game as a vendetta, we’re going to lose,” he said. “It’s that simple. If we’re overly emotional, we’ll lose self-control. We’re not choir boys and football is not a passive game, but we have to view Las Vegas as a roadblock in our quest for the conference title and nothing more.

“If I see anyone behaving like it’s anything but that, I’ll bench him immediately . . . if I can.”

Murphy has the power to bench anyone he pleases, of course. He doesn’t, however, have the man power, which is the reason for the last remark.

It also may be a deciding factor today. UNLV, despite an unimpressive 3-3 record, is a big, fast, talented team. More important, it has depth . . . a Pac-10-like bench which is a rare and valuable commodity in PCAA football.

Fullerton, on the other hand, will start an offensive tackle (Kelly Gogerty) at defensive tackle and has moved two other offensive players into defensive backup roles. Considering the makeup of the Titans’ patchwork defense, a key injury could be devastating.

On its best day, the Fullerton defense would be tested against the Rebels, who have a good passing attack led by quarterback Steve Stallworth (who has thrown for 1,555 yards and 7 touchdowns) and a strong ground game spearheaded by Kirk Jones (who has rushed for 468 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry).

Titan quarterback Kevin Jan has progressed from tentative to poised in the last two games, but the Rebels have the PCAA’s best pass defense.

“If we can channel our emotions about what has transpired in the past then it can help us,” Murphy said. “But we have to approach it like that.”

Murphy can only hope that a week’s worth of lectures won’t evaporate in a rush of fury when push comes to shove today on the field.

Titan Notes Las Vegas is by far the most penalized Division I team in the nation. The Rebels have been called for 71 infractions (according to the NCAA, 67 by the Rebels’ count) for 590 yards (both parties agree on the yardage). Another PCAA team, San Jose State, is second with 56 penalties. The Titans have had 43 infractions, costing them 374 yards. . . . Mark Pembrook, the Titans’ starting free safety in 1983 and ‘84, was punched, pummeled and dragged by a quartet of Rebels during the brawl at Glover Stadium two years ago, but he emerged smiling. Pembrook, who was recently cut by the New York Giants but has been asked to try out next year by the Oilers and Rams, is back at Fullerton working on his degree. Will he be on the sidelines today? “No way. I don’t want to get beat up again, especially without a helmet,” he said. . . . Fullerton has not beaten Las Vegas on the field since 1972.