It’s No Fun Playing Pacific Anymore : Football: The Tigers used to give up 553 yards and 33 points per game, but the Titans will face a tougher defense today.

Chuck Shelton had to go and ruin it for the rest of the Big West Conference coaches.

It used to be so much fun playing the University of the Pacific. Sure, you’d give up a few points and a few yards to the Tigers’ exceptional run-and-shoot offense. But, boy, was it ever a blast sending your offense out to face Pacific’s pathetic defense.

The Tiger offense could light up scoreboards, but their defense also kept statisticians busy, allowing an average of 553.4 yards and 33.8 points in 1989, 481.1 yards and 37.4 points in 1990 and 470.8 yards and 40.1 points in 1991.

Why, even two marginal Cal State Fullerton offenses had their way with Pacific, scoring 37 points against the Tigers in 1990 and 28 in 1991, both Titan losses.

Then Shelton brought his defensive-minded philosophies from Utah State to Pacific, where he replaced Walt Harris as coach this season. Suddenly, the Tigers have vaulted from last in the conference (and nation) to second in the Big West in scoring defense, allowing an average of 25.1 points.

No one in Stockton is calling Pacific’s defense the Orange Curtain--the Tigers are still allowing an average of 399.8 yards--but they’ve made considerable strides since last season.

“When they hired Chuck, I knew they wouldn’t have dial-a-defense anymore,” said Fullerton Coach Gene Murphy, whose Titans play the Tigers today in Stagg Memorial Stadium. “They now have a commitment to defense. That’s not real good for us, but that’s why they’re a better team.”

Pacific’s record (2-6) might not reflect that, but it should be noted that three nonconference losses were to Washington (31-7), Arizona State (39-5) and Fresno State (42-21). And the Tigers were in position to win two conference games before falling to Nevada (20-14) and Nevada Las Vegas (21-17).

“Last year, Pacific was the worst defensive team in the country and this year we’re rated high in the conference,” Shelton said. “We’ve made a lot of progress. You can’t win championships without defense, and the great thing about this defense is we start seven sophomores.”

Pacific’s offense isn’t quite as prolific as it has been in recent years, but the Tigers still have three weapons that even the improved Titan defense will have difficulty stopping:

--Quarterback. Troy Kopp, the Mission Viejo High School graduate who missed four games because of an ankle injury, is expected to return as the starter today. Kopp has passed for 9,433 yards and 81 touchdowns in four seasons.

Pacific also has a more-than-capable backup in David Henigan, from Fountain Valley High, who has passed for 1,230 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

--Tailback. Ryan Benjamin (5-7, 183 pounds) is on the small side, but he has rolled up big numbers. The quick and elusive senior leads the nation in all-purpose yardage, averaging 211.8 per game. He’s an excellent pass catcher and is dangerous on kickoff returns.

--Wide receiver. Aaron Turner’s statistics (55 receptions, 820 yards, seven touchdowns) are down from last season (92 receptions, 1,604 yards, 18 touchdowns), but that’s because without 1991 standout Daryl Hobbs in the receiving corps opponents have been able to double-team Turner. Still, Turner has set the NCAA record for career touchdown receptions this season.

“When teams gang up on Aaron, we’ve been able to go to Ryan,” Shelton said. “Right now we’re playing about as well as we can.”

The Titans played about as well as they could in the first quarter last week, scoring a touchdown, playing solid defense and not turning over the ball against Utah State. But the mistakes quickly materialized and the lead quickly evaporated in the second quarter, and Fullerton lost, 26-7.