Murphy’s Exit Leaves Door Open for Burt

With the retirement of Cal State Fullerton football Coach Gene Murphy, effective at the end of the season, Cal State Northridge Coach Bob Burt is a natural candidate for the job.

Burt, 51, was the Titans’ defensive coordinator from 1980-85. Fullerton won a conference title in 1983 and went 11-1 in ’84.

Before entering the college ranks as head coach at U.S. International (1975), assistant at UCLA (1976) and defensive coordinator at Hawaii (1977-79), Burt coached at Garden Grove Santiago High.

On three other occasions when it appeared that Murphy was leaving, Burt figured as a strong candidate to replace him. Since then, Bill Shumard has taken over as Fullerton athletic director. Burt, the 1990 Kodak Region 5 coach of the year and 1990 Western Football Conference co-coach of the year, refused comment on the vacancy because Northridge is in the middle of its season.

BIRTHDAY BLUES

With Northridge being off this past weekend and having two weeks to prepare for Saturday’s game at Santa Clara, Burt took precautions to avoid injuries during practice. But his efforts were thwarted by a series of freak injuries Thursday. Among the fallen: offensive lineman Jack Montes (ankle sprain), linebacker Angel Chavez (knee bruise), safety Kevin Carmichael (knee sprain) and wide receiver Scott Hamilton (severe ankle sprain).

“It was non-contact stuff,” Burt said. “It’ll drive you nuts. You’re toning down what you do and Scottie turns his ankle running a pass route with no one within 20 feet of him.”

It was particularly bad timing for Hamilton who Friday celebrated his 23rd birthday.

PAPER CHASE

The Matadors’ feelings were not spared by a headline writer from the Lewiston (Ida.) Tribune. Over a story previewing the Northridge-Idaho game Oct. 3, the headline read: “Vandals raring to stomp Matadors.”

In his postgame comments, Burt dwelt on the word “stomped.”

“I’ll tell you one thing, our kids didn’t concede this game just because we were supposed to get stomped,” Burt said. “Our kids played hard. We did not quit or fold our tent and let them go 47-7 or whatever they’ve done against other people.”

In four previous games at home against Division II foes, the Division I-AA Vandals prevailed by a combined score of 195-40. The smallest margin of victory, before the Matadors’ 30-7 loss, was 33 points against St. Cloud State (42-9).

WISHFUL THINKING

After finishing among the top candidates for team defensive-player-of-the-week honors against Central Oklahoma, reserve linebacker Bryon Ward told Burt that he wanted to win the award against Idaho.

True to his goal, Ward earned the honor by intercepting a pass, breaking up two others, making five tackles and hurrying the quarterback once.

“He really came into his own (last) week,” Burt said. “He made it impossible to give it to someone else. It’s amazing what proper attitude and desire can do.”

Despite his reserve status, Ward saw the award as attainable.

“I always have confidence in myself,” he said.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior from Chaffey College played in a new defensive scheme that required the ability to defend the run like a linebacker and to cover receivers like a defensive back.

“It was quite a challenge,” Ward said. “I’ve played safety before so learning both positions benefited me.”

Ward stepped in front of the tight end for the interception, ending quarterback Doug Nussmeier’s string of 138 passes without an interception. He almost made a second interception, but as he jumped to catch the ball he lost it in the lights.

Since he transferred to Northridge last year injuries have prevented Ward from gaining a starting position.

By the time he recovered from a severe ankle sprain three weeks into the 1991 season, the defense was set. Still, he made an impact on special teams and in a reserve role at linebacker. He finished with 33 solo tackles, third best on the team.

Last spring, Ward missed the opportunity to compete against newcomers Ivy Calvin and Chavez because he sprained his ankle again--this time playing basketball.

“We figured Bryon to be a starter, but he got hurt and Ivy stood out,” Burt said.

A deep thigh bruise suffered in the opener against Fullerton slowed Ward for almost two weeks.

He has made the most of special teams and his reserve play with 19 tackles and a hit that caused a fumble, ranking him seventh in defensive points--highest among the reserves.

“The guy has talent,” Burt said. “He can run. He’s smart and he has a great attitude.”

GREEN LIGHT

From the ashes of another forgettable performance by the offense, third-string wide receiver Saadite Green caught five passes for 103 yards in the last 17 minutes of the Idaho game.

His first catch, a 46-yard reception, is the longest by a Matador player this season.

“I threw a hand up to (quarterback) Marty (Fisher) and he saw me,” Green said. “He put it out there. I really had to turn it on to go get it.”

Green’s 11-yard catch over the middle--despite a bone-jarring hit--was more impressive.

“They almost took his head off,” Burt said, “And he hung on to the ball.”

Green, a senior transfer from Cal State Fullerton, missed the first three games while he learned the plays and waited for his transcripts to arrive.

He made the move to Northridge, along with wide receiver Victor Prince because Fullerton switched to a wishbone offense.

“I wish they (Fullerton coaching staff) would have told me a little earlier because I would have liked to come here and play against them (in the season opener),” Green said. “By telling us a few weeks before school started, they put us in a bind.”

Green hopes the Idaho game is the start of his attempt to make up for lost time. “I really want a chance to show what I can do,” he said.

AIR RAZO

Northridge punter Albert Razo was so pumped by punting indoors--at a higher altitude in Idaho’s Kibbie Dome--he booted punts of 57 and 50 yards.

“The adrenaline was flowing,” Razo said. “The air is so still and there are no crosswinds. It’s all your own technique.”

Razo earned special-team-player-of-the-week honors with a 37.6-yard average on 10 punts.

FOOTLOOSE

To stop or not to stop?

Glendale cross-country runner America Rivas chose the latter despite losing a shoe at the recent Bakersfield invitational.

Rivas lost her shoe after she was clipped from behind less than a mile into the 5,000-meter race at Hart Park. Still, the sophomore placed seventh in 18 minutes 35 seconds over the mostly asphalt course.

“I looked back and saw a big group of people right behind me,” Rivas said. “There’s no way I would have been able to pick it up. My foot was sore for days.”

In the Irvine invitational Friday, she led from the start and held on for a one-second victory to lead the Vaqueros to a fifth-place finish.