COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Titans Renew Las Vegas Rivalry Tonight : In Emotional Series, Fullerton Seeks First Win Over Rebels Since 1972

Cal State Fullerton Coach Gene Murphy was addressing a group of Titan athletic boosters earlier this week when the subject of Nevada Las Vegas, Fullerton’s opponent tonight, came up. And with it came instant tension.

One booster went as far as to say that if the Titans win only one more game in 1986, let it be this one. Murphy forced a slight grin and gazed toward the floor as the crowd grew quiet.

The series between these teams has been marked by controversy and feelings of ill will. The 1983 meeting in the mud of Glover Stadium erupted into a bench-clearing brawl that involved players and coaches. In 1984, UNLV handed the Titans their only defeat of the season, a 26-20 setback that cost them the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. championship and an appearance in the California Bowl. The PCAA forced the Rebels to forfeit all of their 1983 and 1984 victories after it was discovered that they had used seven ineligible players, but that ruling came long after they had beaten Toledo in the Cal Bowl and had collected their conference championship rings.

Murphy said the Titans’ animosity toward the Rebels had been directed at an individual, not an institution. And although Murphy didn’t mention any names, the one that comes immediately to mind is Harvey Hyde, former UNLV coach. Hyde was fired last April after four stormy seasons. He was replaced by former assistant Wayne Nunnely, who worked under Murphy briefly at Fullerton before landing an assistant’s position at the University of the Pacific.

Nunnely has the Rebels off to a 2-1 start, including last Saturday’s 17-7 victory over Wisconsin. On Monday, UNLV administrators showed their appreciation by presenting Nunnely, who was originally appointed as an interim coach, with a three-year contract. Murphy didn’t hesitate to voice his approval.

“He’s a first-class individual,” Murphy said. “That football program received instant credibility when they hired him.”

It remains to be seen what effect Nunnely’s hiring will have on the rivalry. But the fact that Fullerton hasn’t beaten the Rebels since 1972 is reason enough to believe that the Titans approach this game a bit differently from most. With only one victory in four outings this season, maybe a different approach is what the Titans need.

After tonight’s game at 7:05 in the Silver Bowl, the Titans must quickly prepare for a nationally televised game against Tulsa Thursday night in Oklahoma. Six of Fullerton’s remaining eight games are on the road. Said Murphy, hardly enthused by that prospect: “We’re over the ‘easy’ part of our schedule. Now we get to the meat, and we’re sitting here at 1-3.”

The Titans played well for half the game last Saturday against Idaho, then saw the Vandals outscore them, 16-0, in the second half en route to a 25-17 victory in Moscow, Ida. Meanwhile, UNLV was recording its first victory over a Big Ten Conference opponent. More than 20,000 Wisconsin fans went to Las Vegas for football and the other games people play, and they saw their team get upset.

“They physically dominated a Big Ten football team,” Murphy said. “To say I was impressed would be the understatement of the week.”

Nunnely doesn’t expect that a victory of such magnitude set his team up for a letdown this week. “There are two reasons our kids should be up for this game,” he said. “One is that this is our first of seven PCAA games, and our goal is to win the conference. And, two, it’s Cal State Fullerton.”

Titan Notes Injury report, continued: Defensive back James Howard sprained an ankle in the loss to Idaho and will not play. Defensive tackle Ron McLean and offensive tackle Matt Fitts, who both sat out the Idaho game with injuries, are listed as probable. Linebacker Bryan Riggs, who suffered a severe knee injury in a victory over Idaho State on Sept. 13, qualifies under the NCAA hardship rule and will have another year of athletic eligibility, according to Coach Gene Murphy. Guard Mark Stephenson, who injured his knee in the same game, has no eligibility left. . . . Fullerton running back Rick Calhoun is 16th in the nation in rushing at 109.3 yards per game. . . . UNLV running back Kirk Jones, a senior out of Long Beach Poly High School, has rushed for 302 yards in three games. Said Murphy: “He will be one of the best backs, if not the best, that we will see this year.” . . . Orange County products Rick Gerard (Capistrano Valley) and Jerry Blakefield (Ocean View) are expected to start at offensive tackle for the Rebels. Fountain Valley’s Rod Emery backs up Jones at tailback. . . . Fullerton quarterback Ronnie Barber has thrown five interceptions in his two games as Titan starter. Murphy said that’s just a by-product of Barber’s desire to make the big play. “Sometimes he free-lances too much,” Murphy said. “He sometimes takes off too soon instead of staying in the pocket.” Murphy said that redshirt freshman running back Jon Bell may be moved to defensive back to provide depth to the Titans’ injury-plagued secondary.

CAL STATE FULLERTON TITANS

Tonight’s Game

Opponent: Nevada Las Vegas.

Site: Silver Bowl, Las Vegas.

Time: 7:05 p.m.

Records: Cal State Fullerton 0-1 in the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn., 1-3 overall; Nevada Las Vegas 0-0, 2-1.

Radio: KWOW (1600), KWRM (1370).

TV: Prime Ticket (tape-delayed basis at about 10 p.m., following UCLA-Long Beach State game).