COLLEGE NOTEBOOK : USC’s Coleman Sets Record, Then Cassidy Sets Record Straight

A misunderstanding between officials at USC and Cal State Northridge led to the erroneous conclusion, reported in some editions of Tuesday’s Los Angeles Times, that Northridge basketball Coach Pete Cassidy did not want USC to stop the USC-CSUN game to honor Ronnie Coleman when he set USC’s all-time scoring record Monday at the Sports Arena.

Cassidy was not directly asked, but USC officials acceded to what they perceived to be CSUN’s wishes that the game not be halted.

The contest was not stopped when Coleman set the record late in the first half, but Coleman was honored before the second half.

“Nobody makes a decision like that except me,” Cassidy said. “It is upsetting because I’m being accused of something I didn’t do. I would never, ever have a problem with that. That is a big occasion in a young man’s life.

“I don’t want to detract from the efforts our kids made or the effort Ronnie Coleman made. Anyone who really knows me knows that I wouldn’t do that.”

At the postgame handshake between USC Coach George Raveling and Cassidy, Raveling expressed disapproval with what he thought was Cassidy’s decision. Cassidy, in turn, tried to explain that he had not been consulted.

Before the game, CSUN sports information director Barry Smith was asked by USC basketball sports information director Gary Pine if Northridge would allow a stoppage in the game.

Smith said that CSUN’s coaching staff would have to make that decision.

Pine offered to speak to Cassidy in person, but Smith said he was on his way to the locker room and that he would ask Cassidy himself.

When Smith went into the Northridge locker room, however, Cassidy was involved in a strategy session, so Smith spoke to assistant Coach Tom McCollum. When Smith emerged from the locker room, he said he told Pine that he had talked to McCollum but that the decision still would be Cassidy’s.

“They didn’t get the impression they still needed to talk to Pete,” Smith said. “It is just a miscommunication as far as I can tell.”

Tim Tessalone, USC sports information director, said: “Obviously there seems to be a miscommunication. I believe my guy and I’m sure Barry is telling the truth. Ultimately, Pete Cassidy was never directly asked, although Gary (Pine) offered to talk to Pete.

“In retrospect, all I can say is it worked out fine. We apologize for a miscommunication if there was one. We made every effort to choreograph it (honoring Coleman) correctly and it worked out perfectly.”

For the record, Coleman carved his niche in history with his 12th point of the night, 24 seconds before halftime. He broke the mark of 1,524 set by Wayne Carlander in 1982-85. Coleman finished with 24 points and has 1,537 in his career. USC won, 86-69.

Add Cassidy: CSUN has won only one of eight men’s basketball games against Big Sky Conference teams and Cassidy has become increasingly frustrated with officials from that conference.

Big Sky teams have been called for 19 fewer fouls than Northridge and have attempted 34 more free throws than Northridge in six games on their home courts, leaving Cassidy to conclude: “It is very, very difficult to win in the Big Sky as an independent on the road.”

Fortunately for Northridge, its only remaining games against Big Sky teams are tonight against Boise State and Feb. 20 against Idaho, both at CSUN.

Rapid fire: No reserve on the Northridge basketball team takes better advantage of his playing time than freshman Martin Smith.

Smith has scored 55 points in 120 minutes. No wonder Smith loved the international rules used on a tour of China that he made last August with the International Sports Exchange.

“It is faster,” Smith said. “You get the ball out of bounds, you get down the court and you dunk.”

Valley Five-0: Five innings of action last season were enough to knock Valley College right fielder Tom Phillips out of action this season.

After playing only five innings for Glendale College in 1990, Phillips dropped out of school and transferred to Valley, Monarch Coach Chris Johnson said.

Neither Johnson nor Phillips realized that such limited playing time would constitute a season and that Phillips would therefore be required to complete 24 units with a C average or better in his first school year to remain eligible.

“I’m just going to try to appeal it,” Johnson said. “It’s a terrible shame; the kid is losing two years.”

Running man: Jim Bittner, Moorpark football coach, thought he had the next Freddie Bradley when some of his players told him Lompoc High’s Napoleon Kaufman, who some experts consider the top high school running back in the state, was interested in coming to Moorpark if he failed to meet Proposition 48 academic requirements. “I thought, God, we’ll just continue with that guy,” Bittner said. “He’s an outstanding player.”

Kaufman, 5-feet-8, 170 pounds, ran for 1,960 yards and scored 34 touchdowns last season. He recently chose Washington after passing his Scholastic Aptitude Test. “It was sort of nice to fantasize about,” Bittner said.

Making the grade: Fourteen Northridge athletes made the dean’s list for the fall semester by achieving a grade-point average of 3.5 or better. Included were Marti Carlson, Erica Freeman, Cecilia Henriksen and Michael Vetrie, all members of the women’s swimming team.

Other athletes making the list were: Julie Arlotto (women’s basketball), Kathleen Dixon (women’s volleyball), Marianne Dixon (women’s volleyball), Homan Farahmand (football), David Lowham (men’s swimming), Cela McPherson-Taylor (women’s track), Roger Metz (golf), Joy Polk (women’s tennis), Denise Swank (softball) and Alison Wool (women’s volleyball).

Staff writers Mike Hiserman, Theresa Munoz and Brendan Healey contributed to this notebook.