CAL STATE FULLERTON NOTEBOOK : After Nearly Beating Georgia, Titan Coaches Get Second-Guessed

Titan football coaches were second-guessed for their play-calling in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against Georgia.

Now this is progress.

The fact that any fourth-quarter play even had a bearing on the game shows how far the Titans have come.

Most figured Georgia reserves would be mopping up during the second half of a 40-point victory, but there was Fullerton on the Bulldog 39-yard line with 9 minutes 12 seconds remaining, trailing by only six points, 20-14, with a chance of a major upset staring the Titans right in the facemask.

And there were three consecutive Chad May passes, one hitting the ground in front of Kerry Reed, one missing Anthony Pack and one sailing over the head of an open Gary Stick. With Phil Nevin’s punt, Fullerton booted away a golden opportunity to score the go-ahead touchdown and lost, 27-14.

After the game, Murphy was asked why the Titans didn’t run the ball in that situation. Fullerton had most of its offensive success on the ground, rushing for 220 yards, and May had been sporadic, completing six of 17 passes for 87 yards.

“We thought we could throw it at that time,” Murphy said.

Actually, Murphy thought they could run it at the time. Two of the three plays were supposed to be Reggie Yarbrough runs until May, the redshirt freshman, changed the call at the line of scrimmage.

Some second-guessed the pass plays, but Murphy didn’t second-guess May.

“He had three open receivers and just missed them,” Murphy said. “He did the right thing. He threw some worm-killers, but his play-calling and decision-making were good.”

Near Miss: A Fullerton victory over Georgia would have been as shocking and significant as the 1978 Titan basketball team’s improbable postseason run, when Fullerton came within one victory of the NCAA Final Four.

“It might have been even greater in terms of football vs. basketball and what you’re able to do resource-wise,” Fullerton Athletic Director Bill Shumard said. “You seem to get those kinds of upsets in basketball, but not in football.

“This could have been the most significant thing athletically in the school’s history. I could just see it coming up on college scoreboards across the country. It would have been instant notoriety and respect.”

Added Steve DiTolla, senior associate athletic director: “The impact would have been tremendous in terms of the amount of publicity and momentum generated, but the bottom line is we’re a better football team.”

Ho-Hum: Murphy said if his team had defeated Georgia, he would have felt the same way going into Saturday’s game against Pacific as he did Monday: “Scared to death.”

The 12-year coach wouldn’t have even rated a victory over the Southeastern Conference team on the top of his list. A 1983 victory over San Jose State, which helped Fullerton win its first conference championship, is Murphy’s favorite.

“From a national perspective, a win over Georgia probably would have been huge,” Murphy said. “It would have been good for the confidence of the team and may have helped us stay Division I-A in the future. But from a personal perspective, that San Jose game is still the biggest win I’ve had here.”

Roughed Up: When May got to school Monday, a friend asked him if he had gotten into a fight over the weekend. He hadn’t, but he sure looked beat up.

His left shoulder was sore, his neck was sore, his nose was broken and he had two black eyes.

“He looks like a raccoon,” Murphy said.

May was injured in the first quarter of Saturday’s game when Georgia lineman Curt Douglas got his hand through May’s facemask on a tackle and smashed his nose.

“Blood was shooting everywhere,” May said.

May sat out for one series but returned by the end of the quarter. May got hit again in the fourth quarter and was still bleeding during the postgame press conference, but Murphy said he’s OK and will definitely start against Pacific Saturday.

“He’s gonna have to pay for that dry-cleaning bill, though,” Murphy said. “You should see his jersey.”

Add Injuries: Fullerton running backs Yarbrough and Arthur Davis have much in common. Both rank among the Big West and NCAA leaders in rushing--Davis is second in the conference and 15th in the nation with an average of 113.3 yards, and Yarbrough is third in the conference and 17th in the nation at 110.8 yards.

And both have sprained left ankles. Yarbrough reinjured his ankle against Georgia but still finished with 192 yards in a school-record 42 carries and was named Big West offensive player of the week. Davis, injured against Cal State Northridge Sept. 21, sat out the Georgia game.

Both were examined Monday, and Fullerton trainer Jerry Lloyd said both are probable for Saturday’s game.

“But what percentage they play at is difficult to determine,” Lloyd said. “Both can play, but neither will be at 100%.”

Titan Notes

Fullerton’s defense, which ranked last among 106 Division I-A schools last season by allowing 506.8 yards per game, has improved despite its difficult nonconference schedule. The Titans are allowing 346.8 yards per game. Of opponents’ 15 touchdown drives, nine have started in Fullerton territory, including four from inside the Titan 20-yard line. “That doesn’t work,” Fullerton Coach Gene Murphy said. . . . A “misunderstanding” has forced the cancellation of the baseball team’s trip to Miami for a three-game series in April. The series was on Fullerton’s schedule but not Miami’s. “Nobody was at fault,” said George Horton, associate head baseball coach. “It just wasn’t as shored up on the schedule as it could have been.” The Titans were able to pick up a three-game series against Loyola Marymount--two home games and one away--for April 16-18. . . . The women’s team won and the men’s team placed second at Saturday’s UC Santa Barbara cross-country meet. Heather Killen (18:04.0) and Kristen Peters (18:08.7) placed first and second, respectively, on the women’s 5,000-meter course to pace the Titans, and Steve Frisone won the 4.9-mile men’s race in 24:45.7. . . . The men’s soccer team won its fourth consecutive game and improved to 3-0 in the Big West with a 2-1 victory over Nevada Las Vegas Sunday. The Titans play host to Santa Barbara at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Amerige Park. . . . When the volleyball team defeated Seton Hall, 15-4, 15-5, 15-0, at Long Beach Friday, it marked the first 3-0 victory and the first victory on the road this season for the Titans (5-12). The 15-0 victory in the third game was the Titans’ first shutout game since 1985.