Titans Look for Answers in Opener

MISSOULA, Mont. —  Earlier this week, it was 91 degrees here. Friday, a snowstorm from the north was dumping a cold rain.

Today? Not surprisingly, the weather service isn’t sure, but the weather is no more unpredictable than the teams which begin their 1985 seasons at 12:30 today at Dornblaser Stadium. A Cal State Fullerton media release says the Titans should have question marks for the logos on their helmets. And the Montana Grizzlies are debuting a newly devised pass-oriented wishbone offense this year.

Both teams will be trying to hide their weaknesses and seek a way to exploit the other team’s without a wealth of preparation.

“We don’t know about our team, much less Montana,” Titan Coach Gene Murphy admitted. “It should be interesting. We’ve got a lot of questions and, hopefully, we’ll start getting some answers.”

Montana was 2-8-1 last season and the Titans were 11-1 (following a ruling by the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn., Las Vegas had to forfeit all its victories in 1984, including a 26-20 win over Fullerton, for the use of ineligible players; thus, the Titans were awarded the conference’s championship and a 12-0 record).

Any comparisons to 1984 have to be considered a bit shaky. The Grizzlies have completely changed their offense. And, while Fullerton’s make look the same, the heart and soul--not to mention arm and legs--of the Titan offense left when quarterback Damon Allen graduated to the Canadian Football League after last year.

Even the oddsmakers in Las Vegas aren’t offering a line on this one.

Senior Kevin Jan, getting his first major-college start, will be calling the signals for Fullerton. Junior college transfers Brent Pease (the thrower) and Scott Werbelow (the runner) will share the quarterbacking duties for the Grizzlies, but it will probably be awhile before Montana fans forget Marty Mornhinweg, who graduated last year with all the school’s career passing records.

Montana Coach Larry Donovan doesn’t think the Titan offense will be all that much worse off without Allen, though.

“Looking at those four receivers (seniors Wade Lockett, Allen Pitts, James Pruitt and Corn Redick) and the athletes they have protecting the passer, I don’t expect that much of a dropoff,” Donovan said. “Fullerton has the best team speed we’ve faced since I started here (six years ago).”

At this point, Murphy is more concerned with the areas of inexperience in his defense, where seven new starters will be trying to uphold the Titan tradition of opportunistic defense. Fullerton was second to Washington in turnover margin last season.

Ironically, that inexperience is one reason Murphy doesn’t mind facing the wishbone right off the bat.

“We’ve prepared for everything . . . that’s our general philosophy,” Murphy said. “But the wishbone calls for a sort of man-to-man defense and everybody’s role is clear. It could actually be a little easier for us. Hopefully, we can use our speed and quickness to our advantage.”

Murphy can also say he is actually pleased with the schedule, which for the first time in his six-year tenure seems to be designed in Fullerton’s favor. The Titans play three straight nonconference games (today, at home against Nevada Reno next Saturday and at Wyoming on Sept. 21) and then have a bye before opening PCAA play at San Jose State on Oct. 3.

Titan Notes After all the hoopla about 39 players coming into fall camp academically ineligible, only two Titans failed to make the trip because of unresolved academic status--backup nose guard Carlos Adley and backup center Phil Benson. Benson would have stayed home with an ankle injury, anyway. Friday afternoon, Coach Gene Murphy was waiting for phone calls about two players who are still questionable. He wasn’t saying which two, but fullback Ricky Calhoun and tailback Burness Scott, both of whom were still in academic limbo this week, are scheduled to start today. . . . Murphy and Montana Coach Larry Donovan have known each other more than 14 years, going back to their assistant coaching days when Murphy was at North Dakota and Donovan was a South Dakota assistant. “I knew Larry when they invented the face mask,” Murphy said. Both are in their sixth year at their current positions. Murphy is 28-30 on the field and Donovan is 22-29.