Disneyland Meet Might Help the Titans : Gymnastics: Exhibition would raise money for ailing Cal State Fullerton men’s team--if the program survives the May 21 deadline.

Cal State Fullerton men’s gymnastics program, which faces an uncertain future, has been offered assistance that could help save the team.

If the program survives past the May 21 deadline set by university President Jewel Plummer Cobb, Disneyland will sponsor an invitational gymnastics meet that would benefit the Titans, said Jack Lindquist, executive vice president of marketing concepts for Disney.

“I’d be very interested in staging an intercollegiate meet where Fullerton is the host school and competes against three other teams from major universities,” Lindquist said. “We could rent out the Anaheim Convention Center and call it the ‘Disneyland Cup.’ All ticket proceeds would support the gymnastics team.”

Lindquist has discussed the event with a Titan gymnastics booster who asked to remain anonymous, and the booster has met with Fullerton Athletic Director Ed Carroll. Lindquist and Carroll have not met.

“We’d definitely be interested in such a program provided the president decides to retain men’s gymnastics,” Carroll said. “Until that decision is reached, it would be premature to discuss scheduling the event.”

Cobb has given the athletic department until May 21 to raise the $158,000 necessary to keep the men’s gymnastics and the men’s and women’s fencing programs. The Athletics Council has proposed that the programs be cut because of financial difficulties.

If an invitational gymnastics meet drew a good crowd at the Convention Center, it could generate $50,000 for the school, based on an average ticket price of $10 and a crowd of about 5,000. A capacity crowd of 9,000 could generate $90,000.

Lindquist, whose corporation is sponsoring the Pigskin football game in Anaheim Stadium and the Kickoff game in East Rutherford, N.J., this summer, also has considered bringing in a “big-name” gymnast for an exhibition during the meet.

“I don’t know how well gymnastics would draw, but if we brought in Olga Korbut 12 years ago, we would have sold out,” Lindquist said. “I don’t know who’s around today that has that kind of star power.”

Carroll has discussed the Disneyland meet with Cobb, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

But school spokesman Jerry Keating said that “everything like this would work in (gymnastics’) favor. Every effort is being made to get additional support in hand before we make an announcement.”

Lindquist said if the meet is successful, he would like to stage it on an annual basis.

“We’re looking at something that wouldn’t be a one-time shot,” Lindquist said. “We want to do something annually so it becomes an important event.”