Jan Limps Back Into Titans’ Lineup Today : How Long He’ll Last Against 6-0-1 Fresno State Is the Key Question

Freshmen quarterbacks Tony Dill and Carlos Siragusa were practicing taking snaps the other day when Cal State Fullerton Coach Gene Murphy leaned toward a writer and said, “I call them Peach and Fuzz . . . but after Saturday I might have to change it to Beard and Whiskers.”

Murphy then looked over at senior quarterback Kevin Jan, who was watching on the sidelines while propped on crutches. He still had his helmet perched atop his head, as if to say: “I’m not through yet.”

“Kevin’s a physical wreck,” Murphy said. And Jan, who has missed almost two weeks of practice with broken ribs, a fractured tailbone and a knee injury, had to admit: “I’ve never been hurt this bad before.”

But Jan is leaving no doubt he fully intends to be in the lineup today (1:30 p.m.) when the Titans meet Fresno State in a Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. game that could be the beginning or the end of Fullerton’s hopes to repeat as conference champions in 1985.

“I can deal with the other stuff,” Jan said, “but the knee will need surgery after the year. We’ll just tape it up and I’ll go as far as I can.”

Jan will start today, but Murphy, who says that any football coach would encourage his players to put some good, clean hits on a limping quarterback, is inclined to think he may not last long.

So, just in case, Murphy is getting Peach and Fuzz groomed for relief duty.

Dill is a quick-footed 5-11, 180-pounder who didn’t start playing quarterback until last year at Mt. Miguel High School in San Diego. If Jan falls, Dill should get the first shot.

If Dill can’t move the team, then Siragusa, a strong-armed 6-4, 200-pounder from San Diego’s Sweetwater High--who can at least say he’s been a quarterback since his Pop Warner days--will get his baptism of fire . . . and also lose his redshirt year.

Murphy would prefer keeping the kids on the sidelines, clipboards in hand. A quarterback change in the middle of what has been called a conference showdown is not exactly part of the coach’s game plan for success.

The Titans (2-1, 2-4) can stay alive in the PCAA race with a win over Fresno (4-0, 6-0-1), but it doesn’t seem likely--even if they had Dan Marino at quarterback.

The Bulldogs are one of six unbeaten Division I teams for good reason. For a number of good reasons, in fact.

Who better to enumerate those reasons than Jim Sweeney, Fresno State coach and father of Bulldog quarterback Kevin? (And remember, football coaches don’t often brag about their teams, especially when they know it will end up in print.)

“This team is just now realizing how good they can be,” the elder Sweeney said. “And we can get better, because as long as we have the weaponry we have on offense . . . People know going into games that we could easily throw for five or six touchdowns and then (they) have to deal with the run--and not just token runs. Then, you have an explosive football team.

“We have seven running plays in our system that are averaging nearly seven yards per carry, the offensive line continues to open gaping holes and the contribution of Kevin Sweeney is enormous. Our defensive line has become an awesome three-man front, our linebackers, without a doubt, are the best we’ve ever had and our secondary has depth.

“And we have experience and continuity in our coaching staff.”

Well, that about sums it up.

Murphy can’t think of much to add, anyway.

“Fresno State is the best football team we’ve seen, not just this year but in a long time,” Murphy said. “They have a good offense and a good defense, two great kickers and good return men. They are well-coached and play hard.

“I don’t know what else to say.”

Dave Tipton, the Titan defensive line coach, was pouring over the computer printout of Fresno’s offense and found another Bulldog asset.

“They are so unbelievably balanced,” he said. “Their percentages for success on almost every play are hard to believe. They do everything well.”

A few specifics:

--Both tailbacks (James Williams and Kelly Skipper) and both fullbacks (Anthony Mosley and Lavale Thomas) are averaging more than 4.4 yards a carry and have combined for 1,338 yards and 18 touchdowns.

--The younger Sweeney, only a junior, has thrown for 7,110 career passing yards and has completed 54% of his passes this season for 1,454 and 8 touchdowns.

--Kicker Barry Belli, a sophomore, has kicked at least one field goal in 14 straight starts and leads the nation in kick scoring with 72 points.

--While the Bulldog offense leads the conference, scoring at a 37.9-points-per-game clip, the defense has allowed just 17.3 points a game. And, of the 14 touchdowns Fresno has allowed, nine have come in the closing seconds of the third quarter or in the fourth quarter--always with the Bulldogs holding a commanding lead.

Clearly, the Titan quarterback (whoever he might be) and his teammates could be in for a long afternoon and a short-lived dream of repeating as conference champions.

Titan Notes Fullerton’s Corn Redick and Ricky Calhoun are 1-2 in all-purpose yardage in the conference, averaging 117.7 and 115.7 yards a game, respectively. The two have combined to account for 58% of the Titans’ total yardage. Wide receiver/kick returner Redick has 11 yards rushing, 303 pass receiving, 281 in kickoff returns and 111 in punt returns. Fullback/kickoff returner Calhoun has 385 rushing, 92 receiving and 217 in kick returns. Redick needs 38 yards to become Fullerton’s all-time leading punt returner. . . . The Titans have won four of their last five meetings with the Bulldogs. Fresno’s last win came in 1982 when it went on to take the PCAA title. Both of the last two meetings were decided in the last minutes. Last year, Greg Steinke’s 48-yard field goal with 1:36 to play lifted the Titans to a 20-17 win and stretched their unbeaten string to 10. In 1983, the Bulldogs lost a fumble on the Fullerton 18-yard line in the final seconds, allowing the Titans’ 18-17 margin to stand up. . . . Fresno is the fourth-highest scoring team in the nation and 16th in total offense, averaging 427.4 yards per game.