CAL STATE FULLERTON NOTEBOOK : ‘Toughest Stretch’ Wore the Titans Thin

Three weeks ago John Sneed called the upcoming basketball schedule--at UCLA, Drake, at Houston, Nevada Las Vegas, at Fresno State and at Utah State--�the toughest stretch of games in the history of Cal State Fullerton.�

Now that the Titans have gone 1-4 in those games, the only victory coming against Drake, few would dispute Sneed’s claim today. Sneed also called the stretch “a storm we have to weather,� but now hopes it is not remembered as the storm in which Fullerton withered.

The Titans played well against UCLA and Nevada Las Vegas, and stayed with Fresno State until the end of an 88-83 loss. But they lost to a strong Houston team by 16 points and to Utah State by 17 Saturday night.

They enter Saturday’s game at UC Irvine with a 4-8 record, 0-3 in the Big West Conference, and the realization that unless they start winning soon, this could be a very disappointing season.

Sneed, who was feeling a lot better Monday after suffering from intestinal flu and spending parts of the past five days in hospitals, also feels better about the Titans’ chances of turning things around.

After playing Irvine (3-10, 0-4) Saturday, Fullerton has home games against UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Long Beach. Then the Titans play at San Jose State and the University of the Pacific--the easiest conference road trip--before returning home for four consecutive games.

“Fresno State and Utah State is a tough road trip, and everyone has to make that swing,� Sneed said. “We’ve been more successful against them at home. We’ve faced the toughest part of our schedule, and now it’s important to play well at UCI, at home and on our next trip. It’s a chance to bounce back--and up--a little bit.�

Bank statement: Dick Boyle, president of Pioneer Bank in Fullerton, said Monday that his bank has made a five-year pledge to the athletic department’s $6.3-million fund-raising campaign.

Boyle said the donation wasn’t in the six-figure category, “but suffice it to say, it’s big enough that my picture will show up someplace.� The donation is believed to be in the $50,000 range and, in return, the bank will receive advertising signage in the Titan Sports Complex.

The school is in the 10th month of the one-year, private phase of the campaign, the primary goal of which is to secure a multimillion-dollar donor for whom the complex can be named.

Football update: Coach Gene Murphy said three more players, including a transfer from Cal State Long Beach, have signed with the Titans, bringing to 13 the number of new players who are expected to enroll this spring.

Jeff Williamson, a tight end who red-shirted last season at Long Beach, will transfer to Fullerton. Williamson is the son of former NFL defensive back Fred (The Hammer) Williamson, who played with Kansas City in the first Super Bowl in 1967.

Williamson, 6 feet 3, 230 pounds, played two seasons at Santa Monica College before attending Long Beach, and will be a junior with two years of eligibility remaining. Because the 49ers dropped football, he will be allowed to compete next fall for Fullerton without sitting out a year, as transfers usually are required to do.

Also signing with Fullerton were Poli Banks, a 5-9, 175-pound wide receiver from Santa Monica, and Jason Stanley, a 6-1, 225-pound outside linebacker from Glendale. Banks signed with Fullerton last year but did not earn his Associate of Arts degree in time to enroll.

Murphy had previously signed 10 community college players and said he plans to sign about 16 players in all--none of them high school players--this winter.

Future’s so bright: Titan women’s gymnastics Coach Lynn Rogers was very encouraged by Fullerton’s 185.10-184.05 victory over Stanford in Saturday night’s season opener.

Celeste Delia, a sophomore who sat out last season under Proposition 48, won the all-around competition with a score of 38.25. She had the highest score in the vault (9.75) and uneven bars (9.65).

“It was phenomenal considering it was her first competition in two years,� Rogers said. “She was ready. She walked in like she owned the place. She’s a confident kid.�

Wendy Minch placed second in the all-around with a mark of 37.55, and Francine Garrett, who arrived from Israel Jan. 5 and was suffering from a bacterial infection, placed fourth in the all-around at 36.30.

“She wasn’t real used to the equipment and had been here only five days,� Rogers said of Garrett, who was still feeling some jet lag. “She had no real reason to be loyal to us, but she gave an unbelievable effort.

“We have three all-arounders who are hot. I see a real bright future.�

Slumps R Us: Joe Small, who has made 18 of 57 shots (31.6%) in the past four games, is not the only Fullerton shooting guard having problems regaining the touch.

Joey Ray, who holds the school career record for three-pointers, has made only 17 of 67 shots (25.4%) in the past five games and was pulled from the starting lineup against Nevada Las Vegas Friday.

But Ray can’t take all the blame for the Titans’ five-game losing streak, which Fullerton hopes to snap against visiting Cal State Long Beach. Only one Fullerton starter, Kisa Hughes (57.1%) is shooting better than 40% from the field this season. The Titans (5-6, 0-2) are shooting 38.7% as a team.

Titan Notes

The Fullerton men’s gymnastics team, under the direction of first-year Coach David Stow, placed 10th out of 12 teams in last weekend’s San Jose State Open. Brigham Young won with a score of 279.45. The Titans scored 169.10 and didn’t place anyone among the top 10 in the all-around competition. . . . The Fullerton wrestling team improved its dual-match record to 3-4-1 with a 25-21 victory over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Sunday. Laszlo Molnar (167 pounds) and Dwayne Buth (177) each registered pins to pace the Titans. . . . In only her second season, Titan forward Claudette Jackson, who made 14 free throws against UNLV, ranks fourth in the Fullerton record book for career free throws with 282 (of 366).