Fullerton Starts Football Practice Amid Controversy

Cal State Fullerton opened spring football practice Monday as police continued their investigation of the involvement of two players in a fight last week in which a Marine Corps sergeant suffered fatal injuries.

The players--John Gibbs, Fullerton’s second-leading receiver last season, and Carlos Siragusa, a backup quarterback last season who is listed at the top of the spring depth chart--have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, Fullerton Athletic Director Ed Carroll said Monday.

“The best part of it is the phone doesn’t ring out here,” Coach Gene Murphy said. “I’ll try not to think about it until practice is over.”

Fullerton’s main concerns after last year’s 6-6 season are rebuilding the offensive line, which lost veterans Ed Gillies, Greg Hammond and Phil Benson. Tackles Mike Fitts and Mike Oliver both return.

Fullerton also must replace quarterback Ronnie Barber and leading receiver Todd White.

Tony Dill, a sophomore who has been the starter briefly earlier in his career, and Dan Speltz, a community-college All-American at El Camino College are listed behind Siragusa at quarterback, a position at which Murphy expects a battle.

The defense, with six returning starters, is in better shape, as four of the top five tacklers return, led by linebacker Bill Bryan.

One of the goals of the full-pads workout was to begin to gauge the abilities of the seven junior-college transfers, Murphy said.