Professor: Move to Big West May Save Northridge Sports

A lengthy report on the Cal State Northridge athletics program authored by Northridge professor Jack Foley will be distributed today to student leaders.

The report concludes that the four men’s sports cut in June and later reinstated for one year can be permanently saved even with Northridge meeting budget and gender-equity requirements.

Among Foley’s conclusions are that Northridge is a better fit in the Big West Conference than in the Big Sky, its current conference. Big West administrators Foley interviewed are amenable to taking Northridge into the conference under certain conditions, he said.

“Travel costs would be reduced and geographical rivalries attractive to cable TV would be created,” he said.

The Northridge Task Force on Intercollegiate Athletics, mandated by the state legislature and formed last week, will receive the report at its meeting Monday.

BASKETBALL

The ‘Cats meow: Guard Ruben Douglas of Bell-Jeff High leaves today for a basketball recruiting visit to Kentucky. Douglas also has visits set up for Arizona, Oct. 17-19, and Syracuse, Oct. 24-26. He has visited New Mexico.