2 Matadors Weigh Pros and Cons of Northridge

Next time you’re thumbing through the Cal State Northridge football media guide, turn to Page 79 and peruse the list of “Matadors in the Pros,” the portion such publications devote to recognizing former athletes.

Household names, these are not.

Alvin Hooks. Louis Murino. Mike Vickers.

Who are these guys?

While UCLA, USC and other Division I schools can boast of a bevy of alumni in the NFL and other professional leagues, Northridge can lay claim only to a modest list of largely unknowns who went on to bigger and better football.

Then again, who ever heard of anyone from Northridge making a name for himself?

“Well, I think this year’s class is going to prove them all wrong,” Aaron Arnold said.

Predictably bold words from Arnold, who finished his career at Northridge last season as the school’s career receiving leader.

Arnold ultimately might wind up just another name on the Matador list of obscurity. But, at least, he will have his chance. So will linebacker Brennen Swanson, Northridge’s career sack leader.

Both players this week agreed to terms with NFL teams. Arnold is expected to sign a free-agent contract with the Tennessee Titans, while Swanson already has signed with the San Francisco 49ers.

Arnold and Swanson figure to be the only Northridge players from last season competing for a spot next season on an NFL roster. Their road will be no less difficult than the one traveled by Northridge players before them.

Like most Northridge players, neither is an overwhelming physical specimen or athletic wonder. Arnold, 6 feet 1 and 190 pounds, caught 63 passes last season despite missing three games because of a fractured rib. He said his best time in the 40-yard dash is 4.49.

Swanson, 6-3, 230, had 12 1/2 sacks and was a finalist for the Buchanan Award, presented annually to the best defensive player in Division I-AA.

Both are scheduled to participate in NFL mini-camps within the next two months. Arnold will enter with plenty of confidence.

“I’m not surprised to be going,” Arnold said. “It’s a slight [drawback], being from Northridge. If I was at a different school, I would have been noticed [more easily]. But I’ve worked hard for this. It’s something that is in my heart that it’s going to happen. When it actually does happen, that’s when the surprise will set in.”

A few former Matadors have made their mark in the pros. Bryan Wagner, a kicker for Northridge from 1982-84, set a Super Bowl record in 1995 as a member of the San Diego Chargers by averaging 48.8 yards a punt.

Linebacker Daved Benefield played one season for the 49ers and is a member of the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League. David Romines, most of whose records Arnold surpassed, is a receiver for the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL.

Then there’s Sherdrick Bonner, the Matadors’ quarterback from 1987-90, now in his second stint with the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League after several unsuccessful NFL tryouts.

Bonner will return to Southern California when the Rattlers play the Los Angeles Avengers at Staples Center on June 10.

The increasing popularity of the Arena League has provided players with additional opportunity. But Arnold isn’t thinking beyond his trip to Nashville in June.

“It’s cool,” Arnold said of the Arena League. “But I’m not really thinking about it.”

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Summer Richardson (7-3) of Northridge was selected Big West Conference co-pitcher of the week after her one-hitter beat Long Beach State, 5-0, last weekend.

Richardson has a 1.92 earned-run average and 29 strikeouts.

Shortstop J.T. Stotts and tennis player Tereza Simonyan have been selected Northridge athletes of the month for March.

Stotts, a sophomore from Hart High, leads Northridge starters with a .345 batting average and has team-high totals of 31 runs, 38 hits, 26 walks and 12 stolen bases.

Simonyan, a freshman from Yerevan, Armenia, was 13-1 in singles matches in March, including a 7-6 (7-6), 7-5 victory over nationally ranked Nadal Ijomah of Nebraska. Simonyan was 13-0 in doubles with partners Shaheen Bhanji and Marietta-Louise Shaw.

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Northridge will host its annual men’s basketball banquet next Saturday at the University Student Union. Cost is $25 a person. Reservations: (818) 677-3215.