Striking it Rich in Your Backyard
The surest sign that Cal State Northridge’s football program is ready to gain recognition in Southern California isn’t the possibility of a new stadium.
It’s the outstanding recruiting class second-year Coach Ron Ponciano expects to sign today.
For years, players from outside the Valley have taken Northridge more seriously than those in the Valley.
Not anymore.
“We’re finally making a little bit of noise as far as people buying into Northridge,” Ponciano said. “It’s been frustrating for me that players and players’ parents want to come to Northridge, but coaches push them elsewhere. We’re still battling image problems, but it seems like we’ve made some huge strides.”
Signing players the caliber of defensive back Travis Campbell of Westlake High sends a strong message that Northridge is on the rise. Campbell has been one of Ventura County’s best players the last two seasons on both sides of the ball.
He took recruiting visits to Michigan and UCLA but was considered a backup recruit for those programs. Weber State offered him a scholarship. He could have walked on at UCLA, but he chose Northridge.
“I think I can accomplish more at Northridge,” he said. “I have the opportunity to be a big fish in a little pond.”
Campbell might be a better football prospect than Joey Cuppari, a former Westlake receiver who signed last year with Colorado State.
“Oh, yeah,” Coach Jim Benkert of Westlake said when asked if Campbell could become a top player at Northridge.
“I just felt good about Northridge,” Campbell said. “I think it’s going to open up some eyes when people see what happens over the next couple of years.”
It’s not only Campbell’s signing that should cause people to look at Northridge with renewed respect.
Tackle Nick Longshore of Canyon High, 6 feet 5 and 260 pounds, is another player Northridge would have had trouble signing in the past. Same goes for 6-4, 300-pound offensive tackle Ashcon Madjid of L.A. Baptist.
“Now I know what they’re about, and I like it a lot,” Madjid said.
Ponciano is bringing in two running backs from the Golden League--Bruce Molock of Antelope Valley and Brandon McElvaine of Highland. Add 6-1, 240-pound fullback Crayton Milton of St. Francis and it’s clear the Matadors are serious about signing local talent.
As successful as Northridge might become recruiting players from Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange County, the school would never be able to attract a loyal fan base without the inclusion of Valley players. They’re the ones who can raise the level of excitement and anticipation.
“I’m really at a loss for words if these guys sign,” Ponciano said. “We really would turn the corner with this class. When head coaches look at all the signees, they’ll say, ‘Why weren’t we on this kid?’ I’m pretty excited.”
Even local high school coaches notice the change in Northridge’s recruiting efforts. Many complained in the past about Northridge’s lack of interest in local players.
But they appreciate the hard work of Matador assistants Craig Wall, Keith Borges and Aron Gideon.
“I said, ‘Wow, you’re the first guy from Northridge to come around in a while,’ ” said Coach Larry Mohr of Canyon High. “They’re doing a great job.”
Northridge expects to sign 16 high school players today.
Campbell has finished his classes at Westlake and will be working full-time for his father, a dental technician, while preparing to enroll at Northridge this summer. He could start alongside his former Westlake teammate, free safety Jeremy Golden, one of the fiercest players in Division I-AA.
Golden is already corrupting Campbell. Golden--who bleaches his hair, rides a skateboard and has a pierced tongue--recently took Campbell snowboarding.
Wait until Ponciano finds out Golden is messing with his star recruit. If Campbell shows up with white hair this fall, Golden is really in trouble. But there’s one passion Campbell and Golden already share--their love for football.
“Playing football in front of 100,000 people or 10 is still playing football,” Campbell said. “I just wanted to play, whether that’s in the backyard or in front of the house. My whole life, I’ve wanted to earn a scholarship.”
Ponciano said he gets rated on two things: winning and graduating players.
Campbell is the type of recruit who will help Ponciano fulfill both expectations.
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Eric Sondheimer’s local column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422.
