Northridge Officials Now Under Fire

A story concocted to protect a Cal State Northridge football player’s privacy certainly has backfired.

The school announced Thursday that it will launch an investigation into events that took place at an Aug. 9 party in West Hills at which running back Shayne Blakey was wounded by a shotgun blast.

Football Coach Dave Baldwin has admitted he lied earlier this week when he said that Blakey would redshirt the upcoming season in order to recover from an appendectomy.

“Regardless of the circumstances, I am wrong,” the coach said Thursday. “I’m a disgrace to myself.”

Athletic Director Paul Bubb said Baldwin will receive a letter of reprimand.

Bubb also admitted that he knew of the false appendicitis excuse as it developed last week.

“I erred and should have gone ahead and had our sports information office do a [press] release at that point or make sure they did not release anything else about an appendectomy,” Bubb said.

Police said Blakey was shot after an argument about a cover fee charged at a party. No charges were filed in the case because police said some witnesses reported that Blakey might have prompted the attack by himself pointing a pellet gun.

Blakey denies he had a gun.

School president Blenda J. Wilson has asked the university police chief to give her an independent report on the shooting incident.