Elephant?
• Fullerton is nicknamed the Titans, which means its mascot is, well, um, an elephant?
Here's the deal: Students of what was then called Orange County State College voted on the name in 1959, eschewing the Aardvarks and Rebels.
The mascot itself evolved after a 1962 practical joke. Students began advertising the "First Intercollegiate Elephant Race in Human History," and schools actually signed up. Elephants from schools around the world — even Oxford in England — arrived at "Dumbo Downs" on campus that spring, drawing 10,000 fans.
To promote the event, Fullerton put Tuffy the elephant on shirts and hats, and the mascot stuck. Orange, one of the school's colors, was adopted because the school was in Orange County.
Filling in
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• Lute Olson might be gone indefinitely, but he is not forgotten during player introductions.
After UA players are announced, the public address announcer says that the UA is led by head coach Lute Olson.
And then, in a move we find cool and classy, he adds: "Filling in tonight, Kevin O'Neill."
We like that.
Inspiring
• Rodney Anderson is one of three players whose number is retired by Fullerton — but he has by far the most inspirational story.
At the end of his freshman season, in March 2000, Anderson was struck by a stray bullet after going to dinner and to counsel a troubled friend. He was paralyzed from the chest down.
He graduated from Fullerton in 2005 and is pursuing a master's degree, and attends Fullerton games frequently.
In 2005, Anderson and his family were the subject of an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition episode. While the Andersons were sent to the Bahamas, Ty Pennington, below, and staff remade their 90-year-old home.
The day of the return to the home, Anderson was married in the front yard.
Empty seats
• Last year, Fullerton was lucky to draw a larger crowd than a high-profile Los Angeles high school.
The Titans topped 1,000 fans only four times last year.
In fact, Titan Gym drew paltry crowds of 422, 500, 525 and 620 last year.
The Titans attracted 1,869 fans against UC-Irvine for "Night of the Pachyderm," an alumni function; they had 2,614 watch the Titans play Long Beach State for the Big West title.
Crickets
• Let us guess, Zona Zoo fans — your red T-shirt was dirty. Or you're saving your voice for Saturday's "Duel in the Desert." Or — even worse — you had to study.
Wednesday, Zona Zoo was emptier than it was during the Adams State game. And that was the night before Thanksgiving!
The bottom section of the Zoo was maybe three-quarters full; the rest of the Zoo looked like it was filled with stragglers who scooted over from other parts of the arena to have better seats.
— Patrick Finley
