GOODSON, BAD DUDE

Marc Goodson wasn’t about to take it easy on anyone, not even his own quarterback.

Gliding to his right, eyes fixed on the target like a tiger prowling for lunch, the Cal State Northridge linebacker waited for the right time to pounce on the ballcarrier.

When he did, hitting unamused quarterback Aaron Flowers much harder than prescribed during a practice drill, the two All-Americans tangled briefly in a shoving and shouting match that might have worried others but not Coach Jim Fenwick.

“They are both very competitive,” said Fenwick, in his first year with the Matadors. “They both want to win badly.”

And Goodson, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound senior, doesn’t much care how he does it.

Regarded as one of the premier linebackers in Division I-AA, and arguably the best ever at Northridge, Goodson is an amiable and articulate sort who transforms into a wrecking machine on the football field.

He is Northridge’s undisputed defensive leader, someone who backs up his brutally candid talk with superb play and the blue-collar work ethic he hopes challenges teammates to strive higher.

Last season, after being out of football for one year, Goodson led the Matadors with a school season-record 150 tackles and was an All-Big Sky second-team selection.

But, in true Goodson fashion, that wasn’t good enough. There are other objectives to accomplish. Like winning a conference championship. Like making 200 tackles in a season. Like receiving Big Sky first-team recognition.

“If I can’t get any respect with 150 [tackles], I need 200,” Goodson said.

He will try to get a jump on that goal when the Matadors open the season with a nonconference game Saturday night at Division I-A Boise State. It probably won’t take him long, either.

“I like being aggressive,” said Goodson, a menacing figure because of his shaved head and closely trimmed goatee. “On the first play [of every game], I like to bang someone hard to let them know we are not going to be a pushover.”

Goodson brought that attitude to Northridge from Laney College in Oakland, where he made 137 tackles as a sophomore in 1994 and was the junior college state defensive player of the year.

He was headed the next season for San Jose State on a scholarship but walked away from football for reasons he won’t discuss.

The separation lasted one year. While working for a company that remodeled kitchens and bathrooms, Goodson constantly thought about playing.

The Matadors landed Goodson by chance while recruiting two of his friends.

Former Northridge Coach Dave Baldwin, who coached at Santa Rosa College, remembered Goodson dominating a game against the Cubs and jumped at the opportunity to sign him.

Northridge and Baldwin, who would have coached Goodson this year at San Jose State had Goodson accepted the scholarship, got themselves the total package. Fenwick, for one, is appreciative.

“He’s tough and he rallies people around him,” Fenwick said. “If he were just out there and didn’t say a word, he’d still be a leader by action and verbally and spiritually.”

Goodson doesn’t mind the accolades, but says he wasn’t particularly looking for them.

“I don’t know how I evolved into the emotional leader,” Goodson said. “I guess it’s because I speak my mind and if I don’t like something, I’ll tell you. . . .

“I’m not trying to be cocky, but I guess you could say I’ve earned the respect.”

Despite his nasty disposition on the field, Goodson is quick to praise teammates and make amends after tussles.

Moments after crashing into Flowers, he cheered for the quarterback and flashed him a thumbs-up sign after an impressive completion.

He also tried to improve team chemistry by staying in the dorms with Northridge recruits during the past two weeks, before all of the players moved to permanent housing.

“I wanted to welcome those guys into our team,” Goodson said. “I wanted them to know me on a personal level instead of seeing me yell all the time in practice.”

Especially after flooring his own quarterback.

“In practice, I’m going to work full speed,” Goodson said. “You don’t want to do everything lackadaisical because that’s how you would play in a game. . . . My approach is to do it right the first time at full speed. That is my approach and I’m not going to change for anyone.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NORTHRIDGE FOOTBALL ’97

* PROJECTED STARTERS: A look at the 11 starters on offense and defense and who will be doing the kicking for the Matadors. C10

* THE COMPETITION: Game-by-game breakdown of the teams Northridge will face this season. C10

* ROSTER: A glance at the players who make up the Matador team. C10

* DAILY REPORT: Wide receiver Jerome Henry will miss at least the season opener with a stress fracture in his lower right leg. C11