Now Prepare to Chew Up Yardage in USFL : The Gold Ate Up Practice at CSUN

It wasn’t The Rex or Ma Maison or even Black Angus, but the Denver Gold enjoyed the less-than-haute cuisine during its 5 1/2-week stay at Cal State Northridge.

The Gold players, who complained so much about the food last year at a facility in Casa Grande, Ariz. that the United States Football League team moved its training camp this year to CSUN, will open the season this weekend with much more contented palates.

“It was really improved,” Greg Feasel, a 6-7, 306-pound offensive tackle who looks as it he takes his eating seriously, said of the food. “In fact, I’ve even gained a few pounds. Usually, you lose weight (at camp).”

The Gold packed its bags in the last few days and will fly this morning to Oakland, where it will practice this afternoon. Denver will open the season Sunday against the Invaders at the Oakland Coliseum.

Overall, team members said, they enjoyed their stay at CSUN.

Their major complaints concerned the windy conditions at North Campus Stadium and the mile walk between the stadium and their living quarters at Northridge Campus Residence, an independently owned off-campus dormitory that housed the team.

“Yesterday, we had a near hurricane out here,” Coach Mouse Davis said Thursday. “It really moves the ball around.”

Other than the wind, Davis said, “it’s been pretty nice.”

Defensive tackle Pat Ogrin said the players got along well with the students--”We put up with them and they put up with us”--and said Northridge was much less isolated than Casa Grande.

“If you want to get away from the routine,” he said, “you feel like you’re a lot closer to civilization.”

The players shared the dorm with students, which had its obvious advantages.

“I’m sure a few of the players have gotten close and friendly with some of the girls who are around,” strong safety Tom Sullivan said last week. “I know right across from us there are two different rooms of girls. That’s a little tough for a training camp, to avoid a temptation like that. I think most of the guys have managed so far. And the guys that haven’t managed haven’t been caught yet.”

As for the food, Davis described it as “excellent,” but none of the players interviewed went quite that far. “It’s nothing fantastic, but at least it’s edible,” said cornerback David Martin, summing up the feelings of most.

“Compared to last year, it’s great ,” said defensive end Calvin Turner.

Feasel described the Casa Grande food as “nasty.”

“It was a lot of greasy foods,” Feasel said. “Nothing that was really that healthy for you. And there just wasn’t enough quantity. I don’t think they were ready for the kind of quantity football players eat.

“These people (at CSUN) take a lot of pride in what they’re doing.”

Don’t get the idea, however, that the Gold had a great time at CSUN.

“Training camp’s never fun,” said kicker Brian Speelman.

It’s a lot more enjoyable, though, if the food is edible.

Gold Notes

Asked about the Gold returning to Cal State Northridge next year when the USFL switches to a fall season, coach Mouse Davis said: “That’s a viable alternative. . . . We really enjoyed the hospitality of the people at Northridge.” . . .

The Gold will play only one regular-season game in the Southland--May 30 at the Coliseum against the Express.