Northridge Conference Call Comes in 1 Month : College athletics: Big Sky officials give CSUN a deadline to show why it belongs in Division I-AA conference before presidents vote on Matadors’ membership application.

Cal State Northridge officials have one month to show Big Sky Conference presidents that the school is ready to join the conference, Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton said Tuesday.

The presidents, who discussed expansion in a conference call Tuesday, will conduct another conference call in about a month, at which time they likely will vote on applications made by Northridge and Cal State Sacramento.

Both schools have been asked to submit written proposals, detailing how they will meet the Big Sky’s requirements, Fullerton said. The conference might expand as early as next fall, but the change is more likely to take place in the fall of 1997.

Northridge must add women’s golf and men’s tennis, which are among the Big Sky’s 13 core sports, more than double its football scholarships and improve its basketball and football facilities.

Ron Kopita, Northridge’s vice president for student affairs, said a task force will be formed to investigate how the school could meet the requirements. The group, which will include students, faculty, coaches and alumni or boosters, will be chaired by William Watkins, assistant vice president for student life.

Northridge Athletic Director Paul Bubb reaffirmed the school’s desire to meet all Big Sky requirements if the school is extended an invitation.

“I’m very optimistic that if we are offered membership, we will add the sports,” Bubb said.

Northridge also needs to approach 63 football scholarships, the NCAA maximum for Division I-AA. The Matadors currently have 20 football scholarships and the equivalent of about 10 more through financial aid.

Fullerton said Northridge would not need to reach 63 scholarships by the first year in the conference, but show a commitment toward reaching that number within three years.

As for facilities, the Big Sky will require that Northridge’s basketball gym seat 4,000--about 1,000 more than its current capacity--and some general improvements be made to the football stadium.

Dave Baldwin, Northridge’s first-year football coach, is excited about the possibility of joining the Big Sky, considered the nation’s top Division I-AA football conference.

“It’s a tremendous boost for Northridge football,” Baldwin said. “It is the premier I-AA conference. They send teams to the playoffs and the championship game year after year.”