Titan Notebook / Robyn Norwood : Fullerton Looks for a Boost Against New Mexico State

Two days after an embarrassing loss to Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Fullerton Coach Gene Murphy faced the core of the Titans’ dwindling public Monday.

Among the group of about 30 that gathered at a booster luncheon, there were no more than 12 people who were not university employees or reporters.

“Over a 9-year period, we’ve been in tougher situations than this,” said Larry Manfull, Murphy’s longtime assistant. “I can’t remember when , but we have.”

The Titans’ 24-22 loss to Long Beach Saturday allowed the 49ers to break a 9-game losing streak, and put an end to any realistic Fullerton hopes of winning the conference title. And it all but did in any hopes of Fullerton finishing with a winning season. The Titans (2-5) must win all 4 remaining games to finish 6-5.

The offense--particularly the offensive line--remains the focal point of concern, and Manfull said the list of plays for this week will be short.

Murphy, for the first time this season, wavered in his support of quarterback Dan Speltz, who completed only 9 of 25 passes Saturday.

Speltz will start, Murphy said. “But if he goes off like he did last week, we might get somebody else in there,” Murphy said. “Dan’s our guy, but we might throw somebody in there--change for change’s sake.”

Against Long Beach, the offense managed only 4 first downs and converted on only 1 of 16 third-down plays.

“It was the rumba offense--1, 2, 3, punt,” Murphy said.

As bad as things looked for Fullerton Monday, a loss Saturday to New Mexico State, a 1-5 team that has won only 6 games in the past 4 seasons, would make it worse. One of those New Mexico State victories came against Fullerton 2 years ago, a 24-21 decision that remains the Aggies’ only conference victory since becoming a member in 1984.

And New Mexico State’s 28-20 loss to Nevada Las Vegas Saturday gives Fullerton cause for concern.

Fullerton may receive a response this week to its appeal to the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. seeking to restore the eligibility of running back Michael Pringle, who was ruled ineligible Thursday because he had not fulfilled transfer requirements, said LeAnne Grotke, associate athletic director.

Pringle, who played in the first 2 games of the season last year at Washington State, withdrew from school after being injured and enrolled at Glendale College, where he later earned a degree.

One NCAA rule requires that transfers from 4-year schools sit out an academic year before becoming eligible. Another allows transfers who earned degrees from junior colleges to play without sitting out.

Although Fullerton coaches were aware Pringle had played at Washington State, athletic department officials who certified his eligibility were not, Grotke said. Earlier challenges to Pringle’s eligibility had been rejected, but the NCAA ruled otherwise Thursday.