Campus Big Men Invisible at CSUN

Who cares?

My mission was to find if anyone does. Sadly, it also became my conclusion.

Who cares?

Maybe you have heard the Cal State Northridge men’s basketball team is red-hot, off to its best start with unprecedented upsets on the road over Fresno State and Oregon in the last two weeks.

Then again, if you’re a Northridge student, maybe you haven’t.

For the better part of two days this week, I combed the Northridge campus, pad, pencil and stack of business cards in hand, querying anyone willing to share their knowledge--or lack of--of the school’s basketball team.

I was blindsided by a blend of ignorance and apathy.

“I really don’t follow CSUN sports,” a female student said. “Good luck!”

And so I roamed the halls, the parking lots, the sprawling, hilly lawns. I visited the Matador Bookstore, the Student Union, the Oviatt Library.

I strived to gather notes from a diverse sampling of the student population--male and female, young and old, day and evening students, people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

I stopped people strolling quickly through campus. I even nudged a guy napping on a bench.

In each case, I introduced myself as the Matadors’ beat writer for The Times and a Northridge alum. I asked a variety of questions, but two were posed to everyone:

1) Can you name the Northridge men’s basketball coach?

2) Can you name at least one player?

The first day I came up empty. By the end of the second, after approaching at least 75 people, I found only one who correctly answered even one of the questions.

“Bobby Braswell,” said Frank Kingmansu, an electrical engineering major working behind the counter of the Student Union arcade.

Kingmansu also was able to name a few players.

“Well, I know Markus Carr,” he said. “And there’s Andre Larry. And Whitney. . . . Whitney . . . oh, what’s his name? The guy from Chicago.”

“Whitney White,” I said.

Mark Dayan, a graphic design major, was a far more accurate barometer of how Northridge students feel about their sports teams.

“I couldn’t name one person on the team,” Dayan said.

He might have added, “And I couldn’t care less.”

It figured. And it’s a shame.

Student apathy toward athletics at Northridge is legendary. It’s a commuter school, people say. Students don’t have time for athletics. They come for classes and head for home. Few live on campus. Fewer live for Matador sports. There’s no tradition, no ivy-covered walls, no atmosphere of big-time college sports.

The Matadors don’t deserve such disregard on their own campus. They play a good brand of Division I basketball and are among the most competitive teams in the Big Sky Conference. So far this season, they’re one of the best teams on the West Coast.

Still, the Matadome routinely is less than half-full for home games, even though students are admitted free. Surprisingly, few are aware of that.

Some samplings from my survey.

Manuel Pulido (film major): “Who’s the coach? I don’t know. I know the UCLA coach. That guy [Steve] Lavin. It’s hard for me to go to a game because I can’t drop by at night.”

Peter Moresi (biology): “I’m not really a basketball fan. I did hear we beat Fresno State.”

Kim Costalupes (teaching): “I’m a basketball fan, but I don’t follow Northridge. They should do more to publicize it. What division are they in?”

Brad Astin (business): “I went to a game last year. I don’t remember who they played. I know they gave Fresno State a good whooping.”

Kush Hackett (art): “I don’t know the coach. I know the women’s coach, but I can’t think of her name. I’ve met her, too.”

Tatyana Kolt (communications): “I have no clue, no idea. I’m here for academics and to get out as soon as possible.”

Chris Anderson (finance): “I’m a huge sports fan, but I don’t know any of the coaches here. Personally, the mascot is something I can’t relate to.”

Guidono Albertson (leisure studies): “I wouldn’t know. I think last year they got knocked off in the first round [of the playoffs].”

Molly Simison (psychology): “I feel bad. I should know. I’ve been to a game but I don’t remember who played. I could find out for you.”

Which brings to mind Veronica Pleitz, a freshman undecided on a major. Pleitz works at the Student Union information desk beneath a bright orange sign that reads, “Ask us anything.”

So I did.

“I’ll have to check on that,” she said.

I explained more clearly the reason I inquired.

“Oh, I just don’t know,” she said with a frown. “That’s so sad I don’t even know that.”

Pleitz apologetically explained she wasn’t interested in basketball. True, not every student is.

But many are. They just aren’t interested in the Matadors.

They haven’t given the team a chance.

A good time to start is Dec. 28, when Northridge plays its next home game against St. Francis College of New York. Tip-off is 7:05 p.m. And it’s the cheapest ticket in town.