Ponder Rejoins Team, Will Sit for One Game : CSUN football: ‘Indefinite suspension’ reduced for cornerback who opted to miss UNLV contest last week.

With open arms and a trace of apprehension, the Cal State Northridge football team on Tuesday welcomed a starter back into its ranks.

Gerald Ponder rejoined the Matadors midway through practice at their North Campus Stadium facility after an hour-long meeting with Coach Bob Burt and secondary coach LeRoy Irvin.

On Monday, Burt announced Ponder was “suspended indefinitely” from the team after the senior from Corona chose to miss Northridge’s nonconference game at Nevada Las Vegas last Saturday.

The coach said Ponder also will miss Saturday night’s American West Conference opener against Cal State Sacramento.

“He is suspended for the Sacramento game for disciplinary reasons and as of next Monday he’s reinstated, period,” Burt said as practice wound down.

A two-year starter at free safety, Ponder said he chose to miss the UNLV game largely in protest of Burt’s one-game suspension of junior cornerback Vincent Johnson, who resumed practice on Monday and reclaimed his starting position.

Ponder said he needed to “weigh things on both sides of the table,” and that he “never thought I made the wrong decision.

“If I had to do it again, I’d do it again.”

Burt said Ponder accepted the team’s disciplinary action against him. “It’s over,” the coach said.

Said Irvin: “No, I’m not convinced it won’t happen again. It happened once already. That’s the main concern of the coaches, is that he chose his group over us.”

Irvin, who was referring to student groups that have protested the treatment of Northridge athletes during the past two weeks, said Ponder will regain his starting spot next week.

“I don’t hold any grudges,” Irvin said. “If he can play, he’ll play. I don’t look at his character or what he’s done in the past. I’m going to play the best guy, and right now he’s the best guy.”

Said Ponder: “There was a question about whether or not I could be counted on. As far as that is concerned, I feel I can and have been.”

Joe Vaughn, a junior from Sylmar, started in Ponder’s place in the Matadors’ 24-18 upset victory over UNLV.

Victor Myles, a senior defensive tackle, said the players are glad to have Ponder back.

“It was a coaches’ decision and we accept that decision,” he said. “Gerald always has been a member of our family. He was caught between a rock and a hard place.

“I can understand his decision not to play. I’m sure he wanted to play, but the peer pressure is very strong. I’m sure he realized his mistakes. He doesn’t owe us any apologies.”

With Ponder back in the lineup, the Matadors will be at full strength.

“Now, does anyone have any football questions?” Burt asked as practice concluded, “because from now on that’s all I want to talk about out here.”

Matador Notes

The victory over UNLV was the 50th--and most memorable--victory for Coach Bob Burt since he took over at Northridge in 1986. “I’ve never been prouder to be associated with a bunch of kids, and I think we answered a lot of people,” Burt said. “This is the biggest win I’ve ever had as a coach. And, under the circumstances, I’d say this may be the biggest win the school has ever had.” . . . The Matadors’ last victory over a Division I-A squad was a 16-10 decision over Cal State Fullerton in November, 1976.

Injury report: Despite a broken hand, right tackle Charlie Williams is expected to play in Northridge’s American West Conference opener at home against Cal State Sacramento on Saturday night. Williams, a 6-4, 285-pound senior, broke a bone in his left hand while warming up to play against UNLV. Williams was replaced by Jeff Duke, a 6-2, 300-pound junior. . . . Eric Thomas, the Matadors’ right guard, was on crutches Tuesday, nursing a sprained left knee. Thomas, a 6-2, 298-pound senior, said he expected to resume practice today or Thursday.