None Missing as Matadors Hit the Field

The grind began Saturday for Cal State Northridge, as incoming and returning players suited up for their first practice at North Campus Stadium.

Almost everyone expected to be in pads was present and accounted for, interim Coach Jeff Kearin said. That included quarterback Marcus Brady, the Big Sky Conference newcomer of the year last season.

“I’ve been looking forward to this,” Brady said. “We all have. There have been a lot of distractions, but I didn’t let it get to me.”

A month ago, Brady threatened to transfer if Coach Ron Ponciano was fired as the result of an internal investigation of the program. Ponciano was dismissed July 16 and a report issued by the school this week detailed numerous NCAA violations allegedly committed by Ponciano.

Brady decided to stay and no key players are believed to have left over the coaching change.

“I had to think about things,” Brady said. “My home is here. I feel comfortable here. As long as all the players are going to stay, we’ll have a really good team.”

The Matadors began two-a-day workouts in half pads Saturday and will practice twice today. Practice in full pads begins Wednesday. Practice times are 9:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m.

An intrasquad scrimmage is scheduled for Aug. 28. Northridge opens the season against Western Oregon on Sept. 4 at North Campus Stadium.

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In the wake of disclosure of inappropriate financial activities of the Quarterback Club in the report of the internal investigation, Dick Dull, Northridge athletic director, has asked all of the school’s head coaches to submit a list of booster organizations associated with their programs.

The findings of a 2 1/2-month investigation revealed a nonuniversity bank account operated by the club, a violation of NCAA and Northridge rules.

“I’m going to point-blank ask them, ‘Do you know if there are any outside accounts?’ ” Dull said. “We will make sure there is nothing else out there.”

The 130-page report included a list of suggested self-imposed penalties to be submitted to the NCAA, including a two-year probation for the program.

Also included is a pledge to take “necessary steps to disassociate from any representative of athletic interests who did not fully comply with NCAA regulations and University policy and procedures.”

Dull said he intends to meet with members of the Quarterback Club but stopped short of saying the school might sever ties with some of its members.

“I’ll be meeting with the leaders of the Quarterback Club and reviewing the situation with them and providing them with a primer of NCAA rules and the principle of institutional control,” Dull said. “But I don’t want to smear the organization.

“That club is made up of many well-intentioned people.”

Dull said he expects representatives from the NCAA to investigate activities of the club.

“It would be premature on our part to judge these people or take any action before the NCAA examines the situation,” Dull said.