CSUN Receives Basketball Waiver
Cal State Northridge has been granted a waiver, making the men’s team eligible for the NCAA Division I basketball tournament next season, Athletic Director Paul Bubb said.
NCAA rules mandate that teams are not eligible for tournament play until they have been Division I members for eight seasons. Northridge, which is in its sixth season at Division I, asked the NCAA to consider its two previous years of compliance with Division I rules.
The decision means Northridge will be eligible for the Big Sky Conference postseason tournament next year and the NCAA berth that goes to the tournament champion.
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The Burroughs High girls’ team has lost two starters to injuries. Senior forward Janel Simon, who averages 13.8 points and 7.2 rebounds and has 43 steals and 25 assists, will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Center Erika Huber is out because of an ankle injury. Burroughs is 13-7 and in second place in Foothill League play at 4-1.
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Tim Greer, a guard for Faith Baptist High, will have season-ending knee surgery today. He had played in 13 games, averaging 10.2 points and 4.8 assists.
Baseball
Sophomore left fielder Jeremy Conrad will miss Cal State Northridge’s season-opening two-game series against Cal State Los Angeles today and Saturday because of a dislocated shoulder. Conrad might play against UCLA Tuesday.
Damon Buford, a former standout outfielder at Birmingham High, was traded from the New York Mets to the Texas Rangers for minor league outfielder Terrell Lowery.
Jurisprudence
Howard Garcia, Cal State Northridge athletic event manager, has reached a settlement of his lawsuit against California basketball Coach Todd Bozeman, who had an altercation with Garcia during a game at Northridge last January.
Garcia signed the settlement papers this week and his attorney has shipped them to Berkeley for Bozeman to sign. Garcia said he can’t reveal details of the settlement until the paperwork is finalized.
Miscellany
Kim McEwen, girls’ basketball coach at Poly High, has been named the school’s interim athletic director.
McEwen succeeds Jerry Cord, who is taking an indefinite leave of absence. Cord also was Poly’s baseball coach.
Antelope Valley Christian’s top football players, brothers Eric and Justin Mobley, are transferring to Antelope Valley High because of financial hardships, their father, Eric Mobley Sr., said Thursday.
The brothers played important roles as the Eagles won the Southern Section Eight-Man Small Schools Division championship last season. Both will attend Antelope Valley starting next week.
Eric Jr. also plays baseball and was an All-Division VI selection last season after batting .490 with four home runs, 24 runs batted in and 29 stolen bases.
Blenda J. Wilson, Cal State Northridge president, will not decide on a final plan for the athletic department’s move to the Big Sky Conference until next week, Athletic Director Paul Bubb said.
Wilson has been seeking further budgetary information on two plans presented by Bubb and Ron Kopita, vice president in charge of student affairs.
Wilson will decide how Northridge can triple its football scholarships and add two sports while sticking to a tight budget.
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Contributing: Jeff Fletcher, Dana Haddad, Steve Henson, Paige A. Leech, Bryan Rodgers, Andy Samuelson, Peter Yoon.