Collins Goes Out in Style : Titan Cornerback Intercepts Three in Win Over UOP

Call University of the Pacific football Coach Bob Cope a slow learner. Or, maybe, just plain stubborn.

Homework had taught him that Cal State Fullerton cornerback Mark Collins, headed for three postseason college all-star games, has the speed, strength and athletic ability that projects into first-round NFL draft potential.

Personal experience had taught him that Collins, as a sophomore, established a conference record by intercepting four passes against Cope’s Tigers on a particularly long October afternoon in 1983.

Yet, on Saturday at Santa Ana Stadium, with his team facing its final exam of the season and Collins psyched out of his orange jersey to end his collegiate career in boldface, Cope considered these options:

--Throw safe screen passes and tight sideline passes as far away from Collins as possible, the way most of Fullerton’s opponents had responded this autumn.

--Keep handing the ball to the fullback.

--Damn the scouting reports and throw recklessly into Collins’ country.

Opting for latter, Cope had his quarterbacks pass . . . and pass . . . and pass into the coverage of Collins.

Not surprisingly, the Tigers flunked.

Collins intercepted three passes to prevent one probable Pacific touchdown and set up a certain one for Fullerton as the Titans defeated the Tigers, 43-37, in front of 4,215. The victory gave Fullerton (6-5) its third consecutive winning season and sole possession of second place in the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. at 5-2.

It wouldn’t have been possible without Collins, a 5-foot 10-inch, 195-pound senior. He picked off one pass at the Titan 5 to shut down a drive in the third quarter and intercepted another at the UOP 10 in the fourth period. Three plays after that turnover, Fullerton scored its final touchdown--which eventually proved to be the difference.

The three interceptions gave Collins a career total of 20, second-best in PCAA history behind Cal State Long Beach’s Jeff Severson (23). Seven of them came in two monumental efforts against the Tigers.

Not only that, but Collins also got his hands on the football for a first-quarter punt return Saturday and turned it into an 81-yard touchdown. It was the first touchdown of his college career.

“I can’t say I’m going to be real sad to see him leave,” Cope said. “I’m going to look into it and if the NCAA lets me, I’m going to buy him a gift for graduation.”

No real need for that, coach. Three passes into Collins’ zone in one half was gift enough.

Earlier this season, Collins wondered if he’d see three passes thrown his way in a month.

“It was getting awfully lonesome out there, a little boring,” Collins said. “When I saw those passes today, my eyes got big-- really big.”

Collins said he wasn’t surprised to see Cope’s quarterbacks, Greg Murphy and Hue Jackson, attack him.

“I know Coach Cope and he doesn’t care who you are, he’s going to test you,” Collins said.

Gene Murphy, the Fullerton coach, said he didn’t know why Cope and his Tigers would attempt to go where other teams hadn’t even considered exploring.

“But,” he said, “I’m happy they did.”

Cope shrugged off any second-guessing.

“We were just running our offense,” he said. “Mark Collins is a great player, but we hung a couple of balls up there for him. It didn’t take a great player to make those plays.”

Pacific also hung up a punt for Collins in the first period. That wasn’t too good an idea, either.

Collins fielded it, veered toward the right sideline and carried it for his touchdown, giving Fullerton a 15-0 lead.

“That’s a first,” Collins said. “I hadn’t scored a touchdown in my life.”

Well, not quite. Make that Collins’ life as a college football player.

“Oh, yeah, in high school, I played running back and wide receiver,” Collins said. “I scored tons of ‘em then.”

Collins’ score was part of a 22-point first quarter for the Titans. Freshman quarterback Tony Dill got it started with a 50-yard touchdown pass to James Pruitt and, when tailback Rick Calhoun scored on a five-yard run with 22 seconds remaining in the period, Fullerton led, 22-0.

It was a lead that wouldn’t last.

“We have never, ever had an easy win at Fullerton,” Murphy said. “Up 22-zip? I knew that wasn’t gonna last. That national Gold Gloves featherweight champion on the other sideline wasn’t gonna let his players give up.”

Murphy was referring to Cope, who boxed his way to prominence before becoming Pacific’s football coach in 1983. And Cope’s Tigers did climb off the canvas, rallying to take a 30-29 lead by the end of the third quarter.

Dill and Calhoun had to bail the Titans out in the final 15 minutes. Dill, who completed 12 of 22 passes for 218 yards and 3 touchdowns, hit Pruitt with a five-yard scoring pass for a 37-30 advantage. And Calhoun, who netted 133 yards in 25 attempts, scored his second touchdown from two yards out with 6:42 left, giving the Titans a 43-30 edge.

Calhoun’s score came three plays after interception No. 3 by that man Collins, whom Dallas Cowboys scouting director Gil Brandt has described as the top cornerback available in this year’s NFL draft.

“He showed why today,” Murphy said. “We’ll miss Mark, but I feel we were fortunate just to have him come to Cal State Fullerton.

“It’s exciting to me to think that from now on, I’ll be able to sit at home and watch him on Sunday afternoons and say, ‘He was mine.’ ”