Titans Face Nevada Las Vegas, Looking for Better Days in the Big West

Once more, with feeling, Cal State Fullerton is putting a nonconference season behind it and turning its sights toward the Big West Conference.

Coach Gene Murphy didn’t make a production of burying the game tapes this year as he did last year, but the sentiment is there: Goodby to all that.

The Titans had their easiest nonconference schedule in years this season, but finished with one victory--a very unsatisfying 27-20 defeat of Division II Cal State Northridge in a game in which the Titans trailed by 13 points at the half. Fullerton (1-2-1) lost to Northern Illinois and Colorado State and tied San Diego State.

Against Nevada Las Vegas today, the Titans get their fresh start.

“These past games didn’t mean anything as far as conference,” said running back Mike Pringle, who ranks second in the nation in all-purpose running and will be trying for his fourth consecutive 100-yard game today. “It all starts this week.”

Until not very long ago, UNLV was Fullerton’s biggest rival. It was a rather one-sided rivalry, though. The Rebels had beaten Fullerton nine times in a row until 1987, with the most recent Fullerton victory coming in 1972. But since former Fullerton assistant Wayne Nunnely became the Rebels’ coach three seasons ago--and since the Titans have beaten the Rebels the past two seasons--the rivalry seems to have faded.

The rivalry might no longer be the main motivation, but the conference race is.

“It doesn’t make a difference I think who the team is,” Murphy said. “We’d have the same attitude to the conference opener next season if it was New Mexico State.

“The team that loses one game (in the Big West) has a chance of winning. If you have two losses, you’re not gonna do it.”

UNLV, 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big West, sustained two key injuries in a victory over New Mexico State last Saturday. Starting tailback Tommy Jackson has a knee injury and starting quarterback Chuck Price has a broken finger on his throwing hand.

Derek Stott will start at quarterback, and Darin Brightmon and either Kyle Toomer or Marvin Eastman at running back.

Brightmon gained a career-high 183 yards last week, and Eastman for 125.

Stott completed five of seven passes for 64 yards and one touchdown in relief of Price.

Fullerton is returning to the discomforts of home after playing three of its first four games on the road. Some coaches have to prepare their players for the intimidation of playing in front of boisterous crowds on the road. Murphy says he has to prepare for playing in front of the few thousand who turn out for the Titans’ home games.

The only home game so far this season was against Northridge.

A number of key Fullerton players were playing their first game at Santa Ana Stadium, and Murphy suggests that they just weren’t prepared for the experience.

“The mistake I made was not hammering home enough the fact that you have to forget about the crowd,” Murphy said. “We came out for warmups and there were 25 people in the stands. For the guys who never have played a game there, it’s got to be a downer, I don’t care what you say.

“We have to forget about who’s there. The thing we have to make sure of is that we’re there. I know for dang sure Las Vegas is going to be there.”

Titan Notes

Fullerton kicker Phil Nevin was ill this week and practiced sparingly but should be fine today, Coach Gene Murphy said. . . Nevada Las Vegas lost to Houston in its opener, 69-0, giving up 619 yards. The loss looked a bit less terrible when Houston next defeated Arizona State, 36-7, rolling up 744 yards. . . . Although the loss of a starting quarterback and tailback would seem to be devastating, Murphy is skeptical. “If you’re a passing team,” he said, “it should be. But they have been more run-oriented. And you look at depth. They have got great depth. With Tommy Jackson, it’s about as good as you’ll find in our conference.”