Springboard for CSUN Football

Somehow, Cal State Northridge football endures, because a boot in the backside is nothing new.

“We’re like a cockroach,” assistant coach Scott Norton said. “You can’t kill it.”

Three weeks of off-season practice opened at Northridge on Monday, a period each spring when colleges begin to iron out the bugs. At Northridge, the act of practicing in itself is a minor victory.

The program that was nearly canceled . . . the program with no head coach . . . the program with no new recruits . . . is optimistically trudging forth and making the best of a tough situation.

Then again, to these guys, adversity is an aphrodisiac.

Northridge, a shoestring program which plays in NCAA Division I-AA, finished 3-7 in 1994 and didn’t beat a team above the Division II level. The Matadors finished last in the four-team American West Conference and haven’t had a winning season since 1990.

That wasn’t the worst of it. For months, the team was on the verge of elimination as the school struggled to find athletic funding. That problem was solved in March when students passed a fee referendum to underwrite athletics.

Financing is in place, but not much else. As a result, Springball ’95 might be one of the more-boring events in the program’s history.

Northridge won’t bother working on detailed offensive material, because the new coach, expected to be named by next month, might toss the playbook in the trash.

Call this spring a rudimentary awakening.

“We’ll concentrate on fundamentals and agility,” said Dale Bunn, the only full-time coach participating in practice. “Normally, you’d start getting more technical and looking for your position guys.”

As much as anything, players will try to remain sharp for whoever takes over the program.

“Blocking, tackling, that kind of thing,” said Norton, the offensive line coach. “We’ll get it all down on film so the new guy can evaluate it.”

Part of Monday’s routine included the following, according to Clayton Millis, the probable starting quarterback: “We set up in the huddle, broke and walked up to the line.” After that, of course, they stopped.

The player body count is perilously low. On the first day of practice, 43 players dressed--22 on offense and 21 on defense. Coaches aren’t sure they’ll have enough players to run a full-throttle scrimmage.

No new players are on the horizon, either. Uncertainty over the program’s future made recruiting during the winter an exercise in futility. No players have been signed this year, which could make next fall an exercise in few-tility.

Bob Burt’s surprising resignation last month after nine years as coach ensured that recruiting will remain in flux until a new coach is named. Some of the players at practice this week are recent walk-ons with marginal ability.

“I frankly don’t know a lot of guys’ names,” Millis said. “The day the new guy gets hired, he better be on the phone (recruiting) and in front of the TV breaking down film.”

Six coaches, none of whom is guaranteed a job when a new coach is hired, are supervising matters. Back from last season are assistants Lance Mocny, Dennis McConnaughy, Jim Warren, Bunn and Norton. Rich Lopez, the offensive coordinator last fall, is on the shelf with a bad knee. Former Ram defensive back LeRoy Irvin is also back as a volunteer.

Bunn, 38, applied for Burt’s position and said he has an eye on a handful of recruits. Whether Bunn gets the job or not, at least the program will have a point of departure when the coach is finalized.

Familiar faces at practice, at least those with starting experience, were few and far between. The entire offensive line must be replaced, including the tight end. Same with the quarterback and tailback. The team’s top offensive weapon is receiver David Romines, who will be a senior in the fall.

Moments before the first day of practice, Romines sat under a goal post, surveying the scene and wondering how the team was going to remain occupied over the next three weeks.

“I have no idea,” said Romines, who caught 44 passes for 870 yards and seven touchdowns. “But the mood’s good. At least we’re back, which is something.”

On the first day, there were several moments of levity. Warren, the backfield coach, walked onto the field and half-seriously asked aloud who his running backs were. Once drills started, he got one player’s attention by yelping, “Hey you, what’s-your-name, get over here!”

Historically, Northridge has been a program built on no-name players. This season, however, they have no new no-names. In light of the extended recruiting blackout, next fall may be bleak.

“Taking a few lumps is all part of the game,” Bunn said.

Northridge has roster space for 65 players, which means there’s plenty of room for recruits, who will be welcomed with open arms.

“It’s kinda scary,” Millis said. “You just hope whoever takes over makes (recruiting) a priority.”

Millis has a notion of what the team might need to thrive--or more likely, survive--next fall.

“The greatest recruiting class in Northridge history,” he said.