Northridge Budget Right on Money

Last November, Cal State Northridge officials knew their athletic department was facing a budget deficit of $500,000. On Friday, quarterly budget figures for 1997-98 showed the athletic department “on target,” according to Ronald Kopita, vice president for student affairs.

In fact, the men’s soccer program, one of four sports dropped in June because of budget and gender-equity concerns before being reinstated thanks to a $586,000 state bailout, has made money for the athletic program. The soccer team has pulled in $10,500 this fall in gate receipts, well above the projected $3,500, Kopita said.

The football team was projected to produce $35,000 in gate receipts and has brought in $23,851, with two home games remaining.

Kopita conceded individual fund-raising “is still lagging.” Individual donations are budgeted for $123,000 this year, but, “It’s not where we want it be,” he said.

The biggest portion of revenue generated for the athletic program comes from guarantees. Northridge’s football team received $90,000 for playing at Hawaii and $75,000 for playing at New Mexico State. The men’s basketball team is receiving $25,000 for games at Oregon State, at Arizona State and at Ohio State.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Oh what a Knight: More than 150 former Notre Dame High players will return to the Sherman Oaks campus next Friday night to participate in ceremonies honoring 50 years of Knight football.

Ceremonies will take place at halftime of a game against Harvard-Westlake. In attendance will be former USC and Oakland Raider lineman John Vella, a 1968 Notre Dame graduate who played in a Rose Bowl and a Super Bowl.