Northridge Hurting Its Own Cause : College football: Boycott places embattled program in further danger of being eliminated to ease school’s budget crisis.

NORTHRIDGE — In the court of opinion, the Cal State Northridge football team isn’t making any points in its quest to survive the budgetary knife, Athletic Director Bob Hiegert said Friday.

The off-field problems that have plagued the team this fall might ultimately be a factor when the school’s looming athletic budget deficit is addressed with senior school administrators before the end of the year.

The football team could face elimination under at least one budget scenario for 1995-96, and the negative publicity hasn’t exactly engendered support in the community or on campus, Hiegert said.

“The actions of the team and some of its members aren’t helping people look favorably upon the program’s future,” Hiegert said.

In a season marked by controversy, the team suffered another black eye when 16 players boycotted practice Tuesday. The players returned the following day and none were suspended. Coach Bob Burt declined to reveal the reasons for the boycott or the resulting disciplinary action.

Players also staged a boycott of practice last season.

“They are understandably not helping their own cause,” Hiegert said. “You hope that a decision on football won’t be made based on those people’s actions.”

The walkout is merely the latest hurdle for Burt, whose team is 3-5 and has lost three in a row heading into today’s game against Northern Arizona.

Earlier this season, Northridge came under scrutiny when starting offensive lineman Jonathan Beauregard was charged with two counts of attempted murder. In a decision that caused considerable backlash, Northridge declined to suspend Beauregard, who is out on bail and continues to play.

When a controversial athletics fee referendum was defeated by student vote last month, players removed the Matador logos from their helmets and announced they were playing for themselves. The action took place before a homecoming crowd that included President Blenda J. Wilson.

With respect to the latest setback, Burt said he would decide shortly before the game whether the 16 who boycotted would be allowed to play. Hiegert said he would not intervene.

“I’m watching the whole thing and I have my own opinion on how it should be handled, but the course of action he’s taking is well within his jurisdiction as coach,” he said.

Burt, in his ninth season at Northridge, said he has grown weary of the negative publicity--and his actions support his words.

Burt exploded angrily Wednesday, accusing reporters of “invading the privacy of my family.”

“It’s been a frustrating deal for a lot of folks,” Hiegert said. “Athletics are not for the weak of heart.”