Gordon: Football Cut Not Final : CS Fullerton: School president says reports of program’s demise are premature.

Coach Gene Murphy has told Cal State Fullerton players and recruits there will be no football team next season, but school President Dr. Milton A. Gordon said Saturday that Murphy might have pulled the plug on the program too soon.

Gordon said Murphy’s reaction to an athletics council recommendation to discontinue the program because of state budget cuts was “a little premature,” and the president vowed to have a Titan football team playing in the new on-campus stadium when it opens in 1992.

“I think some people have gotten ahead of the (decision-making) process,” Gordon said. “I was surprised to hear the coach had called recruits and talked to assistant coaches about finding other jobs. I don’t know who made the decision to do that, to say the football program was over. No decision has been made yet.”

Even if the school somehow raises the $650,000 to -$700,000 Gordon says is necessary to retain Division I-A football, Fullerton probably will lose an entire recruiting class.

Murphy released six community college players from their letters of intent and, with the signing date Feb. 6, he canceled this weekend’s recruiting trips and advised players to pursue other schools.

This bothered Gordon, but one athletic department source who asked not to be identified couldn’t find fault with Murphy’s actions.

“How in good faith can you bring kids in and sign them knowing we wouldn’t be able to give them scholarships?” the source said. “Out of fairness to the kids, he had to cancel visits. I can understand the predicament he’s in. He was a victim of timing.”

Murphy could not be reached for comment, and several assistant coaches said they were instructed not to say anything about the situation.

Gordon said he will consult the University Advisory Board and Titan Athletic Foundation members, Fullerton city officials and faculty and athletic department personnel before he makes his decision.

Because of a projected $14-million deficit for the university in the 1991-92 academic year, Gordon said the athletic department must cut about $500,000 more from its budget than originally projected.

Gordon said the only way to keep I-A football is through private fund-raising, and he said there’s a “possibility” the school could raise enough money to keep the sport.

If the school can’t generate enough funds, Gordon said there are two other options: Dropping football and re-starting it in a few years or downgrading from Division I-A.

But neither option appears feasible. Gordon acknowledged that dropping the program would involve re-start costs, and recent NCAA legislation prohibits a Division I institution from becoming Division II or III in football. The Titans are Division I in all other sports.