Cal State Fullerton Notebook : Titans Waiting for Someone to Take the Point

Cal State Fullerton’s first basketball game is only 2 days away, and Coach John Sneed is still looking for a point guard.

Maybe looking isn’t quite the word. It’s more like waiting.

The starting point guard in the Titans’ opener against Utah in Salt Lake City Thursday will be either Marlon Vaughn, a junior, or Wayne Williams, a freshman.

Vaughn clearly has the advantage in experience, but Williams seems to have more potential.

Who will it be?

“It’s still up for grabs,” Sneed said. “One guy will look like he’s about to wrap it up and then he’ll slip and let the other guy get it back. I don’t think either one of them wants to start. . . . You’d think they’d be a little more hungry.”

One thing is certain: One of them will start. “One of them’s going to get an early Christmas present,” Sneed said.

Terry Nelson, a freshman who is ineligible this season under Proposition 48, has decided to leave the basketball program, Sneed said Monday.

He becomes the third player to leave the program since practice began Oct. 15, and the sixth player with remaining eligibility to leave since the end of last season.

Nelson could not play or practice this season under the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. regulation that affects freshmen who do not meet minimum academic standards.

Nelson could not be reached for comment.

William Allen, a community college transfer, quit the team before George McQuarn’s resignation Nov. 3.

Michael Brown, a freshman who had been ill with mononucleosis most of the preseason, quit after McQuarn’s resignation.

Three players--Van Anderson, Bobby Adair and Tyrone Ree--did not return after last season for various reasons, including academic deficiencies.

Defensive lineman A.J. Jenkins, linebacker Jerry Leggett and offensive lineman Matt Fitts were named first-team All-Big West Conference Monday.

Jenkins, a senior end, was named to the first team for the second consecutive year. He was second on the Titans in tackles with 77, but first on the team in tackles for a loss, with 19.

Leggett, a senior who had only one year of eligibility at Fullerton after transferring from Mississippi State, led Fullerton in tackles with 109.

Fitts, a senior tackle, was named to the second team last year.

Receiver Rocky Palamara, running back Mike Pringle, free safety Mike Schaffel and punter Jim Sirois were named second-team all conference. Honorable mentions were offensive tackle Mike Oliver, off-guard Reggie Redding, center Marc Hauser, defensive tackle Tommy Thompson, linebacker Bill Bryan, cornerback James Howard and kicker Stan Lambert.

Utah State receiver Kendal Smith was named the Big West offensive player of the year, and Fresno State linebacker Tracy Rogers was named the defensive player of the year. Fresno State’s Jim Sweeney was named coach of the year.

Jenkins, Leggett and Fitts also were honored at the team banquet Monday night, each chosen by teammates as the most valuable player at his position.

Others so honored were Hauser, who shared the award with Fitts, and Palamara (offensive back), whose 875 receiving yards were a single-season school record.

Pringle, a junior running back who was the Titans’ leading rusher, was voted newcomer of the year.

Awards chosen by the coaching staff went to Sirois (special teams), Oliver (comeback player), sophomore quarterback Paul Schulte (offensive scout) and freshman defensive back Keith Coury (defensive scout).

Titan Pride awards, chosen by the coaches for seniors’ contributions off the field, went to linebacker Jeff Hipp and defensive tackle Thompson.

The Cal State Fullerton defense allowed 13 points a game in Big West Conference play, the lowest conference mark in school history.