10 REASONS CSUN IS WORTHY OF YOUR ATTENTION : NORTHRIDGE STEPS UP INFUSION OF SCHOLARSHIP MONEY ACCOMPANIES MOVE TO BIG SKY.Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer Cal State Northridge has moved into Division I-AA's top-rated football conference and the program had its scholarship money more than doubled. Nearly everyone involved with the program has said at least once - and probably many more times than that - in the past six months that the Matadors are a big deal because they are ``one of only three Division I programs in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. .'' Well, when the other two are UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX and USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. , that argument makes no sense. But the Matadors are an improved bunch. The coaching staff is young and enthusiastic. The university is at least slightly interested in seeing how the team does. Here are 10 reasons you, too, should deem the Matadors worthy of your attention this season: 1. Because if CSUN CSUN California State University Northridge football doesn't survive in the Big Sky, neither will volleyball or tennis or even basketball. ``What we're interested to see from Northridge is their commitment to football,'' conference commissioner Doug Fullerton said. The Big Sky Conference gives other Northridge teams the opportunity to compete in a real conference - as opposed to the bogus, four-team American West Conference or as an independent. Other coaches might have whined when they found out football was going to get the big bucks, but now they realize why. ``It's the best thing that's happened to Cal State Northridge, being in the Big Sky,'' said women's tennis coach Tony Davila. ``And the only reason we're in the Big Sky is football.'' And Davila is walking his talk. Asked if he will attend football games this season, he said, ``For sure.'' Asked if he's attended football games in the past, ``I cannot tell a lie,'' he said. ``No.'' 2. Because Dave Baldwin Dave Baldwin was the head football coach of San Jose State University from 1997-2000. During his tenure, he had three straight wins over Stanford (including their rosebowl season of 1999). In 1997, SJSU upset No. is a cool guy. He might concoct con·coct tr.v. con·coct·ed, con·coct·ing, con·cocts 1. To prepare by mixing ingredients, as in cooking. 2. some crazy stories, but he is loyal to his players - to a fault. His enthusiasm is contagious. Actually, the guy is downright hyper. And he loves his wife. It was not uncommon to see Kathleen Baldwin Kathleen Baldwin may be:
3. Let's be honest: Good seats available. The football team averaged 2,240 fans per home game last season and has averaged 3,060 since 1992. This year, with a strong home schedule, officials are expecting better. ``We need to be averaging around 5,000 a game this year,'' athletic director Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic Paul Bubb said. ``I feel strongly that way.'' Don't worry, even if the miracle happens and the Matadors start drawing more people, there will be plenty of room at North Campus Stadium, which seats more than 7,000. And if you actually buy a reserved-seating ticket and sit on the west side of the stadium, you are practically on the field. Besides, then in 1999 when the Matadors are playing in their new stadium and going for their second straight Big Sky Conference title, you can boast, ``I was there when it began.'' 4. Free safety Steve Standifer. NFL NFL abbr. National Football League NFL (US) n abbr (= National Football League) → Fußball-Nationalliga teams are watching the transfer from Colorado State. You should, too. He's fast, aggressive and smart. He's got one year left and he plans on impressing everyone. 5. You ever see a team throw 100 times a game? It's exciting. The Matadors employ four receivers, sometimes five. Last season against St. Mary's, quarterback Clayton Millis completed a Division I-AA-record 48 passes in 65 attempts. Northridge averaged nearly 40 attempts a game. It will be more this season, with a better quarterback and some receivers who can catch the ball. 6. Good opponents. Seriously. The Big Sky Conference is the top-rated football conference in Division I-AA. The Matadors play host to Montana State on Nov. 19 and defending Division I-AA national champion Montana on Nov. 2. Bubb expects a sellout for the Montana game. The road schedule is brutal. Northridge plays at Division I-A opponents Utah State and New Mexico New Mexico, state in the SW United States. At its northwestern corner are the so-called Four Corners, where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet at right angles; New Mexico is also bordered by Oklahoma (NE), Texas (E, S), and Mexico (S). and at Big Sky powers Northern Arizona Northern Arizona is dominated by the Colorado Plateau, the southern border of which in Arizona is called the Mogollon Rim. In the West lies the Grand Canyon, which was cut by the flow of the Colorado River while the land slowly rose around it. and Iowa State. 7. If you don't love Manny Manny may refer to: In nobility:
The Matadors' kicker Kicker A right, warrant, or some other feature added to a debt instrument to make it more desirable to potential investors. Notes: The ability to trade a bond or other debt instrument in for stock may entice investors, if they feel the stock will appreciate. extraordinaire ex·tra·or·di·naire adj. Extraordinary: a jazz singer extraordinaire. [French, from Old French, from Latin extra is just so . . . cute. At 5-foot-2, 145 pounds, he's the smallest football player you will see in Matador matador In bullfighting, the principal performer, who works the capes and attempts to dispatch the bull with a sword thrust between the shoulder blades. Most of the techniques used by modern matadors were established in the 1910s by Juan Belmonte (b. 1894–d. Stadium this season. Baldwin loves him. His teammates love him. Marquez plays everything from center to scout-team fullback in practice. When he makes a field goal in a game, watch the celebration. 8. Aaron Flowers will amaze you. He's 6-feet tall and somehow looks about 5-9 in pads and a helmet. You'll wonder how he sees over the line, let alone completes a pass. But he will do both and - provided the new and improved line is really new and improved - do them well. Flowers played at Utah State out of high school. At Valley College last year, playing in a similar offense, he led the Monarchs to a 10-0 regular season record while throwing for 3,135 yards. 9. The games start earlier this season. Hey, it will be easier for reporters to make deadline. And that's what is really important. Instead of the 7 p.m. starting time Noun 1. starting time - the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her" commencement, get-go, offset, outset, showtime, start, kickoff, beginning, first of the past, the first three home games begin at 6:05 p.m., and the final two are at 5:05 p.m. Brian Swanson, assistant athletic director in charge of external affairs (whatever that is), said this was done in an effort to woo more families to the games. The earlier starting times will also help you see the game a little better, since the lighting at North Campus Stadium is sorely deficient. 10. Bad football? There's always the beer garden. What game? ``It's wild,'' said former Northridge softball player Terri Pearson, who now works as the athletic department's director of marketing and promotion. ``It's where you go to find out where the parties are. No one even watches the game.'' Hey, she's in charge of getting people to come to the game. The fenced-in area beyond the north end zone is the only place at any Northridge athletic event where you can (legally) drink beer. Be there. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: A grueling Big Sky schedule hasn't dampened CSUN coa ch Dave Baldwin's enthusiasm. David Sprague/Daily News |
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