Northridge Considers Move to Big West

After months of speculation regarding its conference affiliation, Cal State Northridge this week will consider an invitation to join the Big West Conference, a move that would significantly affect the school’s football program by severing ties with the Big Sky Conference.

The Big West board of directors on Wednesday is expected to vote in favor of admitting Northridge and UC Riverside for the 2001-02 school year, conference sources said.

Athletic Director Dick Dull of Northridge officially has recommended to university interim President Louanne Kennedy that the school accept an invitation to join the Big West.

“It’s a decision for the president,” Dull said. “But all along we’ve indicated our interest. I’ve made it clear what my position is.”

Kennedy declined to speculate on Northridge’s position.

“I will be more than happy to comment on this when Cal State Northridge receives such an invitation,” Kennedy said in a statement.

By adding Northridge and Riverside, the Big West, faced with the impending departure of four schools, would reconfigure to become a 10-team conference with eight of its members in California.

However, the Big West will cease as a football conference after 2000, forcing Northridge to compete as an independent or join a new conference as a football-only member. Or drop the program.

Regardless, Northridge’s football profile figures to drop considerably with the step down from the Division I-AA Big Sky. It likely will lead to a reduction in scholarships awarded to players.

“Scheduling will be a little more difficult,” Coach Jeff Kearin said. “We’ll see who’s interested in still playing us. But I don’t think this is a bad thing.”

Dull said Northridge is committed to retaining football regardless of conference affiliation. Kennedy has steadfastly expressed a commitment to keep football.

“People who see this as a prelude to us dropping football are very much mistaken,” Dull said. “We will continue to play football.

“We’re working on scheduling for the next two years. I wouldn’t be going through the motions if we weren’t going to be playing.”

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Northridge’s men’s basketball team plays at Montana and Montana State on consecutive nights next week in order to honor television commitments.

The Matadors are at Montana on Feb. 17, then will travel by bus 200 miles from Missoula to Bozeman for an 8:35 p.m. game broadcast live on Fox Sports Northwest.

Northridge (14-6, 6-3 in Big Sky Conference play) plays at Northern Arizona this Saturday.