Titans Have Chance to End Season on a Winning Note

A winning record and a share of second place in the Big West Conference are at stake for Cal State Fullerton today when the Titans finish their season against San Jose State.

The Titans, 5-4-1 overall and 4-2 in the Big West, have not finished above .500 since 1985. San Jose State (5-4, 4-1) is alone in second place, with one more game after today. The Spartans’ only conference loss was a 31-30 defeat to champion Fresno State on a failed extra-point attempt.

Mike Pringle, who is leading the nation in all-purpose running and is second to Indiana’s Anthony Thompson in rushing, needs 181 yards to break the conference record of 1,789 yards rushing in a season, set in 1978 by Fullerton’s Obie Graves. Pringle is averaging 161 yards a game and has eight 100-yard games, three 200-yard games and a 300-yard game this season.

Pringle’s task may be made more difficult by a sore right wrist, which he sprained in last week’s game. Pringle, who is left-handed, was experimenting with different taping methods to find one that would make carrying the ball in his right hand comfortable.

Perhaps more critically, both starting guards are questionable with injuries, and backups Bill Huston and Mike Rogan will start for Shannon Illingworth (shoulder) and Laita Leatutufu. Both players missed most of last week’s game, but as Coach Gene Murphy points out, San Jose State is a more formidable opponent than Cal State Long Beach.

“This is real serious,” Murphy said. “That’s not a knock at our backups, but the caliber of personnel has escalated since last Saturday.”

San Jose will be trying to avenge a 58-13 loss to Fullerton last season, a game in which Dan Speltz passed for 302 yards in the first half and then only 23 more before leaving the game.

Titan Notes

San Jose State is expected to start Matt Veatch at quarterback. Veatch, the starter all season, was replaced by Ralph Martini last week, but Coach Claude Gilbert chose to go back to Veatch. . . . Cal State Fullerton’s offensive record book continues to be rewritten. Quarterback Dan Speltz needs four yards passing to break Damon Allen’s single-season record of 2,469, set in 1984. Speltz needs one touchdown pass to break Mike Ernst’s career record of 31. Unless he goes 0 for 71 passing, Speltz will break Ronnie Barber’s season completion record of .555, set in 1987. Rocky Palamara needs two touchdown catches to break Stan Chapman’s single-season record of 11, set in 1971. . . . The game starts at noon at Spartan Stadium.