NOTEBOOK / KIRBY LEE : 49ers Get New Opponent for Pyramid Opener

ESPN will be on hand to christen the Pyramid, the $19-million athletic facility at Cal State Long Beach, when the 49er basketball team opens the season Nov. 30.

Marquette University will not.

Mike Deane, who replaced Kevin O’Neill as coach at Marquette in April, failed to return the game contract with Long Beach.

The oversight forced the 49ers to scramble to replace the Warriors with Detroit-Mercy.

Mike Solytis, ESPN director of communications, said that the cable television network plans to honor its commitment to televise the 49er opener.

Marquette Athletic Director Bill Cords confirmed the school received the contract, but denied any direct negotiations with Long Beach.

Although Marquette has not released its schedule, Cords said the Warriors already had scheduled too many road games. Despite revenue from a televised road game, Marquette officials said another home game would be profitable.

“I feel bad about the whole situation,” Cords said.

Long Beach Coach Seth Greenberg expressed disappointment.

“It was poor taste,” Greenberg said.

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Defensive lineman Brandon Whiting and linebacker Danjuan Magee of Long Beach Poly played for the South team in the 43rd annual Shrine All-Star Classic Saturday night at Citrus College.

The North and South battled to a 7-7 tie.

The Cal-bound Whiting had four tackles, three assists and a sack. Magee, who is headed for UCLA, had four tackles and an assist.