Valley Uprising Halted Absurdity at Northridge

June 11, 1997 is a day of infamy in the history of Cal State Northridge athletics.

Never did I imagine my alma mater would do the unthinkable--drop baseball, men’s volleyball, men’s soccer and men’s swimming from its athletic program.

The arrogance of the decision--and the lack of consultation of community members--left me embarrassed and angry.

Ill-informed and ill-advised administrators abandoned the school’s Southern California sports identity for the sake of competing in the Big Sky Conference. Then they tried to hide behind gender-equity concerns as their excuse.

From the moment it happened, as I looked across a table at Athletic Director Paul Bubb and Vice President Ronald Kopita, I vowed to do everything possible to let the Valley community know the utter foolishness of the move.

President Blenda Wilson failed to show for the initial press conference, showing she didn’t understand the consequences of the decision.

Thankfully, the proud people of the Valley rose up and let politicians and Northridge administrators know through a continuous barrage of letters, faxes, e-mails and phone calls that canceling the four sports was unacceptable.

To this day, I cannot believe Northridge tried to wipe out four sports that have consistently generated more national publicity for the school than football and basketball combined.

The big mistake was Wilson placing too much trust in her loyal lieutenants instead of seeking outside counsel.

That was never more evident than the astonishing statement made by former Northridge assistant football coach John Rosenberg, who served on an athletic advisory committee.

Rosenberg stood at a community meeting and blamed the subsequent public outcry on the media. People in the audience looked at him in disbelief. It was an example how badly out of touch Wilson’s advisors were at a time she needed real insight.

The credibility of the athletic program has been badly damaged. The wounds opened last summer haven’t completely healed even though the programs were restored.

There remains a lingering suspicion that the people in charge haven’t learned from their mistakes. But to Wilson’s credit, she educated herself and eventually accepted the verdict of the Valley community that Northridge must retain a broad-based athletic program.

“I wish never to make another decision that would subject us to such an assault,” she said on Dec. 23, the day she endorsed a “long-term commitment” to the four sports previously canceled.

Athletes and coaches responded heroically this season. The baseball team served as an inspiration, coming together two weeks before school began and going 37-19, including 25 victories in the last 27 games. Coach Mike Batesole has attracted an outstanding recruiting class for 1999.

The volleyball team defeated USC. Coach Jeff Campbell signed the Valley’s two best high school players.

The soccer team made money for the athletic program and expanded on its loyal, enthusiastic fan base.

The swim team is back with a full 16-man roster.

It’s time to move on and not dwell on the past. The school deserves financial and fan support to keep its programs growing.

But I’m proud that the Valley community responded when it sensed an injustice taking place. It was a fight worth fighting.

Eric Sondheimer is the local columnist. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422.