Cal State Fullerton football was in existence from 1970 through 1992. Naturally, as with any high-level athletic program, players looked to demonstrate their skills and abilities at the next level upon the completion of their college careers.
While several Titans had success in the National Football League (NFL), including Mark Collins, Bobby Kemp, Johnny Gray, Daren Gilbert, and James "RoboCop" Thornton, there were obviously very limited roster spots available. Some Titans were able to play professionally in the short-lived World Football League and USFL, but many former Fullerton players found incredible success north of the border in the Canadian Football League with teams called the Eskimos, Rough Riders, Roughriders (a different team), Alouettes, Stampeders, Argonauts, and Tiger Cats.
Incredibly, from 2006 through 2008 the all-time leaders in CFL passing, rushing, and receiving were all Titan football alumni. We are going to focus on these three members of the CFL Hall of Fame.
Damon Allen (CSUF 1981-84) is perhaps the best-known player in Titan football history. In addition to being the younger brother of Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Hall of Famer, Marcus Allen, he was the quarterback of the two best Fullerton football teams in history, the 1983 and 1984 PCAA champions. Allen finished those seasons with a combined record of 19-5.
An All-PCAA performer at Fullerton, Allen is first all-time in the Titan record book in total offense (4,653 yards), first in passes attempted (629), and second in passes completed (322) and passing yards (4,218). He is fourth in touchdown passes (27). Allen also pitched for three seasons on the Titan baseball team and was a member of the 1984 Cal State Fullerton national champions. He was drafted, but did not sign, with the Detroit Tigers.
In his 23 seasons in the CFL, Allen played for six teams, most notably the Edmonton Eskimos, BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts, where he won Grey Cup championships in 1987, 1993, 2000 and 2004, and was named Grey Cup MVP three times. In 2006, Allen surpassed Warren Moon's record to become pro football's all-time passing leader.
Allen finished his CFL career with an eye-popping 72,381 passing yards, 11,920 rushing yards, 5,158 completions, 394 passing touchdowns and 93 rushing touchdowns. He would receive the inaugural CFL Outstanding Player Award in 2005. Allen would be selected to the CFL's Top 50 Players of the Modern Era list by Canada's TSN Sports and would enter the CFL Hall of Fame in 2012. Allen became a member of the Titan Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.
Allen Pitts (CSUF 1981, 1983-85) was part of a talented receiving corps at Fullerton that included "Corn" Redick, Todd White, James Pruitt, and John Gibbs. As there was only one ball to go around, Pitts' college numbers were not what they would later prove to be in the CFL, but at Cal State Fullerton he is third all-time in receiving touchdowns (16) and is tied for fifth place in scoring by position players (98).
Pitts would come into his own in the CFL as the deep threat for the Calgary Stampeders, where he would play his entire 11-year career, averaging 15.4 yards per catch. Pitts appeared in five Grey Cup games, winning in 1992 and 1998. He would complete his career with 966 pass catches, 14,891 receiving yards, and 117 touchdowns. Calgary quarterbacks included Doug Flutie and Jeff Garcia. A six-time All-CFL slotback, Pitts entered the CFL Hall of Fame in 2006. His #18 has been retired by the Calgary Stampeders.
Mike Pringle (CSUF 1988-89) began his college career at Washington State before transferring to the Titans for his junior season. In only two years at Fullerton, he was perhaps the most prolific running back in school history. He made national headlines in 1989 by setting the NCAA single-game rushing record with 357 yards against New Mexico State. He would finish the season leading the nation with 2,690 all-purpose yards.
In the Titan record book, Pringle is first in rushing touchdowns (19), second in rushing yards (2,223), and third in rushing attempts (402) and all-purpose yards (3,742).
After spending most of the 1990 season on the Atlanta Falcons practice squad, Pringle would enter the CFL, eventually playing for four teams in his 13 seasons, including two stints with the Edmonton Eskimos. He had perhaps his most successful seasons as a member of the Baltimore Stallions, who would later become the Montreal Alouettes. Pringle would play in five Grey Cup games, winning in 1995, 2002 and 2003.
A seven-time CFL All-Star, Pringle would finish his career with 2,960 carries, 16,425 rushing yards, and 137 touchdowns. He would enter the CFL Hall of Fame in 2008 and would be named as one of the CFL's Top 50 Players of the Modern Era by Canada's TSN Sports.
Allen, Pitts and Pringle were not the only Titans to play in the Great White North, CFL rosters included Norman Brown (WR), J.J. Celestine (WR), Ricky Ellis (TE), Eric Emery (LB), Greg Gary (LB), Obie Graves (RB), Lee Miller (DB), Nuygen Pendleton (DB), Andre Pinesett (DL), James Pruitt (WR), "Corn" Redick (WR), Dale Thompson (DB), Todd White (WR), and Tony Williams (DB).