Secondary a Primary Problem in Fullerton Loss

Mark Collins, a three-time All-Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. defensive back, is in the process of making a name for himself as a rookie with the New York Giants. His departure was one reason Cal State Fullerton football Coach Gene Murphy was concerned about the Titan secondary, entering his team’s season opener Saturday against Nevada Reno.

It appears as if that concern was more than justified.

Reno quarterback Eric Beavers virtually had his way with an inexperienced group of Fullerton defensive backs, passing for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns in leading the Wolf Pack to a 49-3 nonconference victory before 13,062 spectators at Mackay Stadium.

For Fullerton, it was the worst defeat since a 70-0 loss to Southern Mississippi in 1975, the second-worst in the school’s history, and the worst in Murphy’s tenure with the Titans.

So, what’s the difference between NCAA Division I-A and I-AA football? Well, based on the last two meetings between Fullerton and Reno, it’s about 73 points, in favor of the alleged little guys. As if Saturday’s proceedings weren’t humbling enough for the Titans, they still have the memory of a 30-3 loss to the Wolf Pack last September in Santa Ana Stadium.

Said Fullerton free safety Tom Phillips, the only returning starter in the Titans’ now-beleaguered secondary:

“This is the second straight year we’ve just been embarrassed by a Division I-AA team. It just kills me.”

It wasn’t exactly therapy for Murphy, who watched Beavers complete 16-of-21 passes in helping the Wolf Pack roll up a 592-242 advantage in total offense. Beavers had touchdown passes of 28, 34, 32 and 53 yards and left the game as Reno’s all-time leader in career-passing yardage.

He entered the game needing 280 yards to break the school mark set by Jeff Tisdel in 1974-77. After a big first half, the record came on Beaver’s first pass attempt of the third quarter, a 34-yard touchdown toss to Scott Threde.

By that time, Murphy had already begun counting the minutes until the final gun.

Said Murphy: “I just wanted the dang clock to keep going.”

Fullerton’s long afternoon began with the game’s first possession. Rick Calhoun returned the kickoff to the Fullerton 34. Three plays and an illegal procedure penalty later, the Titans were punting from their 28.

The kickoff return team was the most effective part of the Titans’ game. But then, it had plenty of opportunities. Between them, Calhoun and Todd White returned 5 kickoffs for 200 yards in the first half. All the Fullerton offense could do with all that field position was Lee Strandley’s 38-yard field goal with 38 seconds left in the half.

“The most positive thing for us is that we got to play a lot of people, and we ran back some kicks,” Murphy said. “Other than than, we weren’t a very good football team.”