Sigh of Relief Greets Decision to Keep Football at Fullerton : Reaction: Athletes, coaches, opponents and conference welcome school’s commitment.

Mike Gullo got the call Thursday night and learned that all his work had not been in vain. Football would not be dropped at Cal State Fullerton.

In 1989, Gullo came to Fullerton to study business and decided to play football. For two years, he lifted weights, practiced and hoped. He was rewarded this past spring with a scholarship.

Then, just when everything was working out, the school’s athletic council recommended last week that Fullerton drop the football program. For seven days, Gullo had been in a daze.

“It was like they pulled the rug out from underneath me,” said Gullo, who will be a junior linebacker. “I didn’t know where I would play or if anyone would even want me. When the coach called me last night, it was like a monkey was off my back.”

Gullo wasn’t alone. Many coaches, players and even Big West Conference officials let out a sigh of relief Friday when Fullerton President Milton A. Gordon announced that the school would continue its football program.

For some, it meant they would have somewhere to play next season. For others, it meant they would have someone to play next season.

“I was surprised when I heard that they were keeping the sport,” Fresno State Coach Jim Sweeney said. “We had already begun to negotiate with (teams) on their schedule.”

“Personally, I’m tickled to death,” said New Mexico State Coach Jim Hess, whose team ended a 27-game losing streak with a victory over Fullerton in November.

“I’ve been through budget situations before. Something always has to get cut. I’m glad it wasn’t their football team. I think (Fullerton Coach) Gene Murphy does a tremendous job.”

The Fullerton players were informed of Gordon’s decision Thursday night. Reactions ranged from jubilation to relief.

J.C. Farrow, a starting defensive end this past season, was caught off-guard by the news. He had already begun looking at other schools, but was happy to remain at Fullerton.

“I had given up on the whole thing because things didn’t look too optimistic,” Farrow said. “I was really down the whole week. When I heard, it really picked me up. I wanted to be an alumni of this school.”

Farrow, a junior, celebrated by calling his parents . . . then his brother . . . then his sister . . . and, finally, his aunt and uncle.

“They’ve been calling me all week,” Farrow said. “I wanted them to know I had a place to play next season.”

Tim Drevno, who was a starting guard as a junior, also had his family in mind when he was told that the program was saved for at least another year.

One of eight children, Drevno’s father died when he was 4. His mother raised him, his five brothers and two sisters in Torrance.

By staying at Fullerton, he can stay in close proximity to his family.

“I don’t know what I would have done if they would have dropped the sport,” he said. “I wanted my mom to see me play college football. I wanted to be near her. I was very happy when I heard the program was saved. I couldn’t wait to start lifting weights today (Friday).”

Coaches were also pleased that the Big West would remain an eight-team football conference. For the past week, Commissioner Jim Haney and other conference officials had two conference calls with member school athletic directors, working out contingency plans.

Haney said the conference was prepared to rearrange next season’s schedule had the program been dropped. However, he was glad the plan didn’t have to be implemented.

“In the short run, yeah, it’s good we don’t have to adjust the schedules,” Haney said. “In the long run, we don’t have to go through the pain of watching a program die.”