CAL STATE FULLERTON NOTES : Agreement Reached in Suit Involving 15 Former Titan Football Players

An agreement has been reached to settle a lawsuit by 15 former Cal State Fullerton football players alleging they did not receive financial aid from the university, attorneys said Monday.

Ron Talmo, who represented the players, and Michael Khouri, who represented university officials, said they could not reveal details of the settlement under the guidelines agreed upon by both sides.

A university spokesperson had no comment.

Khouri said the formal agreement is expected to be signed this week.

“We’re very happy with the settlement,” Joe Elizondo, one of the players involved, said Monday. Elizondo said he also could not provide details.

The suit filed in Orange County Superior Court last May asked for $3,500 for nine of the former players and $8,000 for six others. The extent of damages requested was based on remaining NCAA eligibility when the university suspended the football program.

The suit alleged that the athletic department requested that the players work 10 hours per week for money the suit said they were owed.

*

Titan men’s basketball Coach Bob Hawking has received a signed commitment from Brian Thomas of Navarro College in Corsicana, Tex.

Thomas, a 6-3 guard, averaged 16 points and six rebounds last season. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Thomas played on a state championship high school team in Monroe, La. “Brian originally signed with Grambling, but then switched to the junior college,” Hawking said. “He will give us flexibility because he can play either the point guard or the wing.”

Hawking said forward David Frigout’s status for next year remains uncertain. “I thinks it’s more likely than not that he will be returning to France, but we still don’t know anything for certain,” Hawking said.

Frigout has indicated he might play professional basketball in his native France.

*

Cal State Fullerton moved back into the No. 1 spot in Baseball America’s national rankings after sweeping Big West rival New Mexico State and winning the conference regular-season championship over the weekend.

Fullerton (45-9) remains second in the Collegiate Baseball poll with Auburn (45-7) in first. Auburn is ranked second by Baseball America.

Fullerton, which finishes the regular season today at San Diego, begins play against Nevada Las Vegas at 3:05 p.m. Friday in the first Big West postseason tournament at Blair Field in Long Beach. Long Beach meets Nevada at 7:05 p.m. The tournament continues through Sunday.