2001: CSUN SPORTS ROLLER-COASTER RIDE CSUN GETS RESPECT, BUT LOSS OF FOOTBALL TEMPERS SEASON.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Something special began at California State University, Northridge, this year. But the year also marked the end of something significant, too.

The men's basketball team started what the school hopes is just the beginning as CSUN coach Bobby Braswell led CSUN to its first NCAA Tournament berth. And after 40 years, CSUN eliminated the football program last month due to a growing budget deficit.

CSUN played its first season in the Big West Conference and looks to become a traditional power, behind basketball's accomplishments.

The school and athletic department generated unprecedented attention that started with a 78-74 upset victory over UCLA last November at Pauley Pavilion. The Matadors were the lead story on ESPN's ``Sports Center'' and received national attention. That was for starters.

They followed that with the program's first Big Sky Conference championship and second consecutive 20-win season. CSUN made the tournament but lost to Kansas, 99-75, in the first round. Point guard Markus Carr, the nation's assist leader and only starter back for the 2001-02 season, helped change the way some view the men's program.

``I know, for us, that our opponents definitely look at us different than they've looked at us in the past,'' Braswell said. ``They look at us and say, 'Hey, we have to be prepared to do battle with these guys.' ''

CSUN received more support than ever with two sellouts and a record average attendance of 1,445 last year. Not bad, considering the Northridge Gym, which is expected to get more seats in the near future, has a capacity of just 1,600. Braswell was rumored to be a top coaching commodity but the university rewarded him with a new contract, worth up to $170,000 a year for six years.

``I don't want to diminish any of our other sports, but I believe the success we had and national acclaim and local attention is because of men's basketball,'' Athletic Director Dick Dull said.

``We've had great early season crowds, better than in the two years I've been here and it's all directly attributable to basketball. Certainly, we've sold more tickets than we ever had.''

The CSUN football program, rumored to be expendable for years, was eliminated Nov. 20. Citing a budget deficit of $725,000 this year, President Jolene Koester cut the program whose operating budget was $1.25 million.

Marcus Brady, the most prolific quarterback in CSUN history, set the Division I-AA career completions record and tied the passing attempts mark. He was also one of 16 finalists for the Walter Payton Award, the equivalent of the Division I-A Heisman Trophy.

The move is expected to devote more resources, although that's not expected to happen immediately, to CSUN's other 20 sports.

``(This) decision will better able us to dedicate financial resources to the remaining sports at levels at which they can achieve the greatest measure of success,'' Koester said.

The women's basketball program is off to a poor start at 0-5, which followed with the resignation of women's basketball coach Frozena Jerro. A new coach is expected to be named this season.

The CSUN men's and women's soccer programs flourished this year. The men's team finished 9-7-3 and beat nationally-ranked San Jose State and tied nationally-ranked Loyola Marymount. The Matadors fell short of a goal to average crowds of 1,000 but came close with 879 fans.

The women were 12-3-2 and 6-2-1 in the Big West. The Matadors finished third in the conference, the best finish in the program's history. They were among the national leaders with 11 shutouts. They didn't get a playoff berth.

In swimming, Lisa Andrade qualified for the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, another first for the school. The softball team made the playoffs for the 10th straight year and then coach Janet Pinneau (formerly Janet Sherman) resigned to take a job in the athletic department.

The CSUN women's tennis team won the Big Sky Conference title and advanced to the playoffs, losing in the first round to Fresno State. The baseball team continues to recruit well under coach Mike Batesole. His recruiting class for 2003 has been ranked the 20th by Collegiate Baseball, the third consecutive top-20 class.

CSUN added a new sport this year, women's water polo, which will begin play in the spring semester.

But it's men's basketball that's created a fervor that the school wants to build on. Braswell said he met a waitress not long ago who told him she transferred to CSUN from UC Davis because of the success of the men's team.

It's remarks like those, and support the school has received (like the $50,000 sponsorship from Wells Fargo) that can help CSUN reach the next level.

``I know I'm getting a lot more e-mails from fans and boosters that I haven't gotten in the past,'' Braswell said. ``Everyone's got opinions. I got 58 (one day) and probably 24 of those were from fans. It's unbelievable. It's all been good stuff.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Football player Bo Drake carries his gear out ot the California State University, Northridge, locker room Nov. 19 after learning the school was dismantling the football program.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

(2) Joey Busch of California State University, Northridge, right, grapples for the ball with Nick Collison of Kansas University during an NCAA tournament game March 16 in Dayton, Ohio.

Al Behrman/Associated Press