Payday Takes Northridge Into Unfriendly Skies

It will be another one for the money for Cal State Northridge, a matchup with a foe the Matadors seemingly have no business being on the same football field with--except, of course, for business.

Northridge opens the season today with a road game at Air Force--and may the force be with the Matadors. Surely, they will need something to avoid another disaster against a Division I opponent.

On paper, Air Force, despite coming off a 6-5 season and a seventh-place finish in the Mountain West Conference, figures to blast Northridge.

On paper, Northridge, a middle-of-the-pack member of the Division I-AA Big Sky Conference, stands to gain. Maybe on the field, too.

Northridge will receive $125,000 from gate receipts, a handsome sum for a financially strapped institution pressing an agenda of athletic expansion that includes building an on-campus stadium.

But the Matadors might be in for another lopsided defeat.

Last season, undermatched Northridge played two road games against Division I programs, and both times the Matadors came home with the final score tattooed on their shoulder pads.

Kansas 71, Northridge 14.

Southern Methodist 58, Northridge 16.

Of course, the payoff was the payday. Northridge received $200,000 for playing Kansas, $100,000 for taking on SMU.

Such lucrative opportunities are not easily overlooked, and Athletic Director Dick Dull of Northridge continues to seek Division I opponents. With Northridge scheduled to begin competing as an independent in football next season, scheduling opponents will be more difficult.

Last season, Dull made a half-hearted approach to Nebraska, of all teams. One can only imagine the outcome of a matchup between the Matadors and Cornhuskers, who are favored by 50 points today against San Jose State.

Air Force is far from that kind of juggernaut. And Northridge Coach Jeff Kearin is ready and willing.

Are these games worth it?

“There’s no question,” Kearin said. “I really believe these games are a win-win situation. Barring injuries, I don’t think there is a negative side to these games.

“Last year, nobody got hurt against Kansas or against SMU. Our egos were a little bruised, but we came back with nothing broken and won some football games.”

Northridge held its own in the Big Sky, going 4-4 on the field and later being credited with a forfeit victory over Northern Arizona.

Competitively, the Matadors haven’t failed in four seasons in the Big Sky, except maybe financially.

Travel expenses will be considerably reduced next season, when Northridge plays closer to home.

Critics say that’s where Northridge belongs--in its own backyard, not taking on the titans of college football.

But for Northridge, the benefits of being underdogs cannot be overlooked.

“It’s great exposure for the program, for the university,” Kearin said. “We’re on TV and in front of 50,000 people. A lot of it is about how the kids are going to react to everything there. But I don’t think Kansas or SMU had a negative effect on whether we won or lost in the Big Sky.

“There’s no question we can win this game.”

Northridge enters the season with question marks, particularly at running back. And a lack of depth could be a problem.

Tailback Alan Taylor suffered a season-ending ankle injury last week. Replacements Terrelus Wright, Bruce Molock and Matt Hicks have yet to log a carry in a game.

As traditionally is the case with Northridge, substitutes are few. Injuries could quickly spell doom.

That’s especially true of quarterback Marcus Brady, among the top players in the Big Sky and the Matadors’ offensive catalyst.

“We’ve always been the underdogs since I’ve been here, so let them talk,” Brady said. “I couldn’t care less what people think. We just gotta play.

“Athletically, we can match up with [Air Force]. We’ve got the athletes.”

Added linebacker Cos Abercrombie: “We’ll hold our own. We just gotta be able to stop them. We’re used to being underdogs. We’re always underdogs, even in the Big Sky.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

CS Northridge vs. Air Force

Today at 10:05 a.m.

Colorado Springs, Colo.

CS NORTHRIDGE SCHEDULE

Today Air Force, 10:05 a.m.

Sept. 9 Southwest Texas, 6 p.m.

Sept. 16 Northern Arizona, 3:05 p.m.

Sept. 30 Idaho State, 3:05 p.m.

Oct. 5 Weber State, 6:35 p.m.

Oct. 14 Montana, 3:05 p.m.

Oct. 21 Montana State, 12:35 p.m.

Oct. 28 Eastern Washington, 3:05 p.m.

Nov. 4 Sacramento State, 6:05 p.m.

Nov. 11 Cal Poly, 3:05 p.m.

Nov. 18 Portland State, 2:05 p.m.

Home games in bold

CS NORTHRIDGE ROSTER ON PAGE 12

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE ROSTER

No.: 1

Player: Cos Abercrombie

Pos.: LB

Ht.: 6-1

Wt.: 225

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Los Angeles/Verbum Dei HS

*

No.: 2

Player: Jason Stone

Pos.: WR

Ht.: 6-5

Wt.: 210

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Santa Barbara/Dos Pueblos HS

*

No.: 3

Player: Jamaal Perry

Pos.: WR

Ht.: 5-10

Wt.: 180

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Artesia/Gahr HS

*

No.: 4

Player: Cory DiSanti

Pos.: TE

Ht.: 6-3

Wt.: 225

Yr.: Sr.

Hometown/School: Montclair/Mt. San Antonio College

*

No.: 5

Player: Marcus Hardrick

Pos.: WR

Ht.: 6-2

Wt.: 188

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Barstow/Barstow HS

*

No.: 6

Player: Jermaine Guinyard

Pos.: QB

Ht.: 6-1

Wt.: 181

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: San Diego/Marion Catholic HS

*

No.: 8

Player: Marcus Brady

Pos.: QB

Ht.: 6-1

Wt.: 195

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: San Diego/Morse HS

*

No.: 9

Player: Drew Amerson

Pos.: WR

Ht.: 6-0

Wt.: 170

Yr.: So.

Hometown/School: San Diego/Morse HS

*

No.: 10

Player: Sean Atkins

Pos.: CB

Ht.: 5-7

Wt.: 170

Yr.: So.

Hometown/School: Northridge/San Fernando HS

*

No.: 11

Player: Martin Bacon

Pos.: SS

Ht.: 6-0

Wt.: 192

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Alta Loma/Etiwanda HS

*

No.: 12

Player: Greg Orlando

Pos.: WR

Ht.: 5-9

Wt.: 170

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Laguna Hills/Rancho Santa Margarita HS

*

No.: 13

Player: Mitch Ryerson

Pos.: QB

Ht.: 6-2

Wt.: 215

Yr.: Sr.

Hometown/School: Fountain Valley/Fountain Valley HS

*

No.: 14

Player: Ryan Felix

Pos.: WR

Ht.: 6-2

Wt.: 190

Yr.: Sr.

Hometown/School: Phoenix/Yuba City HS

*

No.: 15

Player: Rob Porter

Pos.: TE

Ht.: 6-2

Wt.: 233

Yr.: Sr.

Hometown/School: Ft. Meade, Md./Meade HS

*

No.: 16

Player: Steve Paysinger

Pos.: FS

Ht.: 6-3

Wt.: 175

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Long Beach/Long Beach Wilson HS

*

No.: 17

Player: Brandon Martinovic

Pos.: QB

Ht.: 6-0

Wt.: 185

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: El Cajon/Christian HS

*

No.: 18

Player: Marvin Henderson

Pos.: WR

Ht.: 6-0

Wt.: 178

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Oakland/McClymonds HS

*

No.: 19

Player: Gil Rodriguez

Pos.: WR

Ht.: 5-8

Wt.: 175

Yr.: Sr.

Hometown/School: Moreno Valley/Rancho Verde HS

*

No.: 20

Player: Alan Taylor

Pos.: RB

Ht.: 5-7

Wt.: 175

Yr.: So.

Hometown/School: Yucaipa/Yucaipa HS

*

No.: 21

Player: Karalus Doyle

Pos.: CB

Ht.: 5-11

Wt.: 180

Yr.: Sr.

Hometown/School: Pacoima/Kennedy HS

*

No.: 22

Player: Cory Oggs

Pos.: FS

Ht.: 6-2

Wt.: 180

Yr.: Sr.

Hometown/School: Lancaster/Antelope Valley HS

*

No.: 23

Player: Bruce Molock

Pos.: RB

Ht.: 5-9

Wt.: 190

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Lancaster/Antelope Valley HS

*

No.: 24

Player: Julien Sells

Pos.: DB

Ht.: 5-9

Wt.: 198

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: San Diego/Castle Park HS

*

No.: 25

Player: Matthew Hicks

Pos.: RB

Ht.: 5-10

Wt.: 190

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: North Hollywood/North Hollywood HS

*

No.: 26

Player: Derek Brown

Pos.: PK

Ht.: 5-9

Wt.: 150

Yr.: So.

Hometown/School: Palmdale/Highland HS

*

No.: 27

Player: Isaac Gardner

Pos.: LB

Ht.: 6-2

Wt.: 190

Yr.: So.

Hometown/School: Seaside/Seaside HS

*

No.: 28

Player: D.J. Hackett

Pos.: WR

Ht.: 6-3

Wt.: 180

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Ontario/San Dimas HS

*

No.: 29

Player: Shawn Watson

Pos.: DB

Ht.: 5-10

Wt.: 180

Yr.: Sr.

Hometown/School: Laguna Hills/Mission Viejo HS

*

No.: 31

Player: Rick Hayes

Pos.: SS

Ht.: 6-0

Wt.: 185

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Vista/Vista HS

*

No.: 32

Player: Terrelus Wright

Pos.: RB

Ht.: 5-9

Wt.: 193

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Oceanside/El Camino HS

*

No.: 33

Player: Travis Campbell

Pos.: DB

Ht.: 6-0

Wt.: 181

Yr.: So.

Hometown/School: Thousand Oaks/Westlake HS

*

No.: 34

Player: Ruben Gomez

Pos.: WR

Ht.: 5-10

Wt.: 185

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Santa Barbara/Bishop HS

*

No.: 36

Player: Ronald McCloud

Pos.: FS

Ht.: 5-8

Wt.: 160

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Compton/Gardena HS

*

No.: 38

Player: Jeff Seidman

Pos.: FB

Ht.: 5-10

Wt.: 200

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Hagerstown, Md./Hagerstown HS

*

No.: 40

Player: Lewis Blanton

Pos.: LB

Ht.: 5-11

Wt.: 190

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Los Angeles/Murphy HS

*

No.: 42

Player: Donald Curry

Pos.: LB

Ht.: 6-0

Wt.: 215

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Arcadia/Arcadia HS

*

No.: 44

Player: Karl Finely

Pos.: LB

Ht.: 6-3

Wt.: 225

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Los Angeles/Muir HS

*

No.: 45

Player: Crayton Milton

Pos.: FB

Ht.: 6-0

Wt.: 260

Yr.: So.

Hometown/School: Altadena/St. Francis HS

*

No.: 46

Player: Ben Lorier

Pos.: LB

Ht.: 6-0

Wt.: 210

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Westlake Village/Westlake HS

*

No.: 47

Player: Thomas Belt

Pos.: RB

Ht.: 5-7

Wt.: 190

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Needles/Needles HS

*

No.: 48

Player: Pieter Keus

Pos.: LB

Ht.: 6-0

Wt.: 225

Yr.: So.

Hometown/School: Carlsbad/Carlsbad HS

*

No.: 49

Player: Rocky Tremblay

Pos.: LB

Ht.: 6-0

Wt.: 210

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Santa Barbara/Bishop HS

*

No.: 50

Player: Greg Mundweil

Pos.: DL

Ht.: 6-0

Wt.: 245

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Glendale/Loyola HS

*

No.: 51

Player: Ben Holt

Pos.: OL

Ht.: 6-2

Wt.: 280

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: San Jose/Lincoln HS

*

No.: 53

Player: Jake Walker

Pos.: LB

Ht.: 6-1

Wt.: 210

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: San Marcos/San Marcos HS

*

No.: 55

Player: Romeo Brooks

Pos.: DL

Ht.: 6-4

Wt.: 240

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Rialto/Rim of the World HS

*

No.: 56

Player: Kevin Giberson

Pos.: LB

Ht.: 6-3

Wt.: 215

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Saugus/Saugus HS

*

No.: 57

Player: Henry Herr

Pos.: DL

Ht.: 6-2

Wt.: 230

Yr.: Sr.

Hometown/School: Olivehurst/Lindhurst HS

*

No.: 58

Player: Matt Majors

Pos.: LB

Ht.: 6-2

Wt.: 225

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Yucaipa/Yucaipa HS

*

No.: 62

Player: Keith Kincaid

Pos.: OL

Ht.: 6-4

Wt.: 285

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Riverside/J.W. North HS

*

No.: 63

Player: Brandon Bean

Pos.: OL

Ht.: 6-4

Wt.: 291

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Apple Valley/Apple Valley HS

*

No.: 66

Player: Tyrone Tutogi

Pos.: OL

Ht.: 6-2

Wt.: 265

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Oxnard/Hueneme HS

*

No.: 67

Player: Charles Thompson

Pos.: OL

Ht.: 6-1

Wt.: 245

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Brea/Brea Olinda HS

*

No.: 68

Player: Jamar Ikpi

Pos.: OL

Ht.: 6-3

Wt.: 295

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Pomona/Pomona HS

*

No.: 70

Player: Johnny Acosta

Pos.: OL

Ht.: 6-5

Wt.: 300

Yr.: Sr.

Hometown/School: Corona/Centennial HS

*

No.: 71

Player: Mike Allen

Pos.: OL

Ht.: 6-4

Wt.: 280

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Northridge/Alemany HS

*

No.: 72

Player: Javier Ortiz

Pos.: OL

Ht.: 6-3

Wt.: 285

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: King City/King City HS

*

No.: 74

Player: Aschon Madjid

Pos.: OL

Ht.: 6-4

Wt.: 300

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: West Hills/L.A. Baptist HS

*

No.: 75

Player: Andrew Holt

Pos.: OL

Ht.: 6-3

Wt.: 285

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: San Jose/Lincoln HS

*

No.: 76

Player: Isaac Aronson

Pos.: OL

Ht.: 6-7

Wt.: 270

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: University Place, Wash./Curtis HS

*

No.: 85

Player: Nate Davenport

Pos.: TE

Ht.: 6-6

Wt.: 225

Yr.: So.

Hometown/School: Cathedral City/Cathedral City HS

*

No.: 86

Player: Lino Cambaliza

Pos.: WR

Ht.: 6-1

Wt.: 180

Yr.: Fr.

Hometown/School: Palmdale/Littlerock HS

*

No.: 88

Player: Ethan Beck

Pos.: WR/P

Ht.: 6-4

Wt.: 200

Yr.: Sr.

Hometown/School: Bakersfield/Highland HS

*

No.: 90

Player: Andy Zaldivar

Pos.: DL

Ht.: 6-2

Wt.: 265

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Rancho Cucamonga/Rancho Cucamonga HS

*

No.: 91

Player: Jason Nicastro

Pos.: DL

Ht.: 6-3

Wt.: 260

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Alta Loma/Alta Loma HS

*

No.: 92

Player: Joseph Roberson

Pos.: LB

Ht.: 6-0

Wt.: 220

Yr.: Sr.

Hometown/School: Buffalo, N.Y./McKinley HS

*

No.: 93

Player: Chance Redmond

Pos.: DL

Ht.: 6-0

Wt.: 224

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Newbury Park/Thousand Oaks HS

*

No.: 95

Player: Levi Line

Pos.: DL

Ht.: 6-3

Wt.: 275

Yr.: Sr.

Hometown/School: Simi Valley/Royal HS

*

No.: 96

Player: Eric Gardner

Pos.: DL

Ht.: 6-6

Wt.: 240

Yr.: Sr.

Hometown/School: Seaside, Seaside HS

*

No.: 98

Player: Jonathan Howard

Pos.: LB

Ht.: 6-0

Wt.: 215

Yr.: Jr.

Hometown/School: Oakland/Skyline HS

Head Coach: Jeff Kearin (Loyola Marymount, 1983). Assistant Coaches: Foster Andersen, Daniel Escalera, Terrance Johnson, David Robinson, Armando Gonzalez, Julio Alcala, LeShaun Bell, Chris Sulages, Brennen Swanson, Junior Thurman.