SPORTS EXTRA / FOOTBALL ‘99: COLLEGE PREVIEW : BIG SKY CONFERENCE : Adversity and All, Northridge Still Likes Its Chances

Four coaches in four seasons.

An interim coach hired at the 11th hour.

Talk of expulsion from the Big Sky Conference and rumors of the program’s demise.

Small wonder Cal State Northridge is tabbed to finish eighth this season in the Big Sky coaches’ preseason poll.

Northridge Coach Jeff Kearin, a Matador assistant the last four seasons, wonders how his counterparts could so quickly forget.

“They look at our situation and the uncertainty of our future in the conference and they all say, ‘Oh, they can’t get it going,’ ” Kearin said. “What they don’t know about is the core of leadership this team has and the attitude after last year’s experience of success.”

Doesn’t Northridge have one of the conference’s premier players in sophomore quarterback Marcus Brady, last season’s Big Sky newcomer of the year? Isn’t Aaron Arnold, who caught 65 passes and led the conference with 12 touchdown catches, back as Brady’s prime target?

Didn’t Northridge, in only its third season in the Big Sky, come within a victory of winning the title in 1998, losing a 32-29 shocker to Idaho State in the final week?

And don’t the Matadors, despite the firing of former coach Ron Ponciano after a two-month internal investigation into alleged violations of NCAA rules, have a strong nucleus of returning players?

And didn’t Big Sky coaches project Northridge to finish seventh in 1998?

The Matadors (7-4 overall) finished tied for second with Montana State, and during the season were ranked among the top 25 in the Sporting News’ I-AA poll for the first time. Since joining the nine-team Big Sky in 1996, Northridge has not finished lower than fourth.

“Every year, they pick us seventh or eighth,” Kearin said. “This year, the shake-up might have been part of their motivation.”

To be sure, Northridge has experienced more tranquil times.

Kearin, who left in December to become an assistant to John Robinson at Nevada Las Vegas, returned in July after Ponciano was fired for allegedly misappropriating funds and providing players with meals and improper payments.

Top assistant Rob Phenicie was asked to resign during the investigation and university officials recommended two years’ probation for the program in its report to the NCAA.

Coaches were locked out of their offices during the probe, and players expressed resentment over the treatment of Ponciano. Meanwhile, rumors swirled that the school was considering dropping football to ease budget constraints and comply with gender-equity laws.

“I don’t even like to talk about it because it makes me sad,” said receiver Terrence Jones, a transfer from Fresno State. “I felt like Ponciano was a father to me.”

Brady, who passed for 2,974 yards and 25 touchdowns last season, publicly threatened to transfer if Ponciano was fired. He reconsidered when Kearin was hired only two weeks before the start of summer practice.

“Whatever happened in the past, we just gotta put it behind us and move on,” Arnold said. “Coach Kearin is the leader now. The guys are out there thinking, ‘This is our year and we’re going to do it.’ ”

Kearin, who intends to apply for the job permanently in December, is focusing on progress on the field.

“Our coaching staff is quality and we will be exciting,” Kearin said.

Here’s a look at the rest of the Big Sky in projected order of finish:

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MONTANA

Coach: Mick Dennehy (fourth season).

1998 Record: 8-4, 6-2 in Big Sky.

The case for: Nineteen starters return for the defending champions, among them senior receiver Jeremy Watkins, who caught a conference-leading 72 passes for 885 yards and seven touchdowns. Brigham Young transfer Drew Miller, who passed for 332 yards in his only start last season, replaces conference most valuable player Brian Ah Yat at quarterback.

The case against: No running game. And cornerback Chris Colvin, a returning starter, is academically ineligible and will sit out the season.

If all breaks right: The Grizzlies are headed to the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.

Worst-case scenario: Miller proves an unworthy successor to Ah Yat.

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NORTHERN ARIZONA

Coach: Jerome Souers (second).

1998 Record: 6-5, 3-5.

The case for: Plenty of offense. BYU transfer Ronney Jenkins, Western Athletic Conference freshman of the year in 1996, rushed for 1,307 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Quarterback Travis Brown and leading receiver Francis St. Paul return.

The case against: A suspect defense, weakened by the absence of star linebacker Afa Faraimo, who will sit out the season because of a torn knee ligament.

If all breaks right: Jenkins rushes for an unheard-of 619 yards in one game--which he did as a senior at Hueneme High in 1995.

Worst-case scenario: Jenkins is expelled, which he was from BYU because of a second student-code violation.

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EASTERN WASHINGTON

Coach: Mike Kramer (sixth).

1998 Record: 5-6, 4-4.

The case for: Ten defensive starters return, including inside linebacker Greg Belzer, among the conference’s top defensive players.

The case against: Inexperienced and hurting offense. Junior college transfer Fred Salanoa has yet to take a snap as a Division I quarterback and is suffering from shin splints. Tailback Jovan Griffith is nursing a sore hamstring.

If all breaks right: Eagles rebound from middle-of-the-pack season and reclaim conference title they won in 1997.

Worst-case scenario: Eagles continue slide.

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MONTANA STATE

Coach: Cliff Hysell (eighth).

1998 Record: 7-4, 5-3.

The case for: Momentum. The Bobcats posted their third consecutive winning season last year for the first time since moving to Division I-AA in 1979.

The case against: An injury-riddled offense, especially in the line where several true freshmen are challenging for starting roles. Only five starters return.

If all breaks right: Definitive starter emerges from quarterback tandem of Kasey Harte and Dusty Broderick.

Worst-case scenario: Bobcats lose to Montana for 14th consecutive year.

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PORTLAND STATE

Coach: Tim Walsh (seventh).

1998 Record: 5-6, 4-4.

The case for: The Big Sky’s most potent offense. Junior Charles Dunn rushed for 1,561 yards and quarterback Jimmy Blanchard led the nation in passing efficiency with a 167.58 rating. Orshawante Bryant led the Big Sky with 1,092 yards receiving.

The case against: Only three starters return to a defense that ranked eighth in the conference. No seniors start on defense.

If all breaks right: A fourth consecutive year of improvement.

Worst-case scenario: Offense forced to average 40 points a game to post winning season.

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CAL STATE SACRAMENTO

Coach: John Volek (fifth)

1998 Record: 5-6, 3-5.

The case for: Generally considered the Big Sky team to watch. Charles Roberts, who rushed for a Division I-AA record 2,260 yards, is back, as is the entire offensive line, known as “the Hammerheads.” The Hornets have more all-conference players returning than any other team.

The case against: The Hornets, 1-10 in 1997, won’t be able to sneak up on anybody this season.

If all breaks right: Quarterback Rick Ray, a transfer from Shasta College, sticks to handing the ball to Roberts.

Worst-case scenario: The Hammerheads go belly-up with injuries.

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WEBER STATE

Coach: Jerry Graybeal (second)

1998 Record: 6-5, 4-4.

The case for: Strong running game, featuring Morgan Welch, who rushed for 1,629 yards and 13 touchdowns, and former starter Derek Poole, who sat out last season because of a foot injury.

The case against: Only four starters return and four all-conference performers are gone from the Big Sky’s best defense. The line is ravaged by injury.

If all breaks right: The Wildcats post a fifth consecutive winning season.

Worst-case scenario: Team reverts to pre-Graybeal days of poor defense.

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IDAHO STATE

Coach: Larry Lewis (first)

1998 Record: 3-8, 2-6.

The case for: It’s difficult to make one. Lewis takes over for Tom Walsh, who lasted only two seasons. Seven offensive starters return.

The case against: The Bengals have won only 10 games in three years.

If all breaks right: The rebuilding process makes significant strides.

Worst-case scenario: A winless Big Sky record.