A NO-WIN SITUATION; PIERCE'S STRUGGLING PROGRAM SURVIVES ... BARELY.

Byline: Patrick Hipes Daily News Staff Writer

The Pierce College football program is in hot water, and not just because it doesn't have any.

When the 1994 Northridge quake destroyed boilers that provided hot water in the Brahmas' locker-room showers, it might have signaled the beginning of what can be referred to around the Woodland Hills campus as The Great Decline.

More than three years later, coach Bill Norton still does not have hot water for his players. He doesn't have many victories either - Pierce hasn't won a football game since beating West L.A. 26-19 on Sept. 23, 1995, a string of 22 consecutive losses.

The Brahmas are 13-37 since 1991, when they finished 7-2-1 and beat Moorpark College in the K-Swiss Bowl.

The struggles are amplified because Pierce's neighbor to the West - Valley College - has flourished. The two teams meet Saturday at Monarch Stadium at 7 p.m., two teams going in opposite directions.

The Monarchs have beaten the Brahmas the past four seasons - including an 80-20 drubbing last year - compiling a 39-5 record over that span and earning a berth in the national-title game in 1995. The power shift on the field magnifies the difference of two programs away from it.

``I think it's more than ebb and flow,'' said Valley athletic director Chuck Ferrero, who coached the Monarchs football team from 1980-90. ``The winning streaks used to last only a couple of years. Games used to be close and hard-fought. It hasn't been like that.''

Pierce has watched as its program - which was strong in the '80s before it was discontinued for two years following the 1985 season - has flailed under budget cuts and negative publicity. The college cut 130 classes for the fall semester to help reduce a $4.3 million deficit and battled accreditation questions over the past year.

Wednesday, Pierce athletic director Bob Lyons met with the department to discuss the future of sports at the college.

``I want to let them know what I know,'' said Lyons, who watched the athletic budget get reduced by $65,000 for this year. ``There might be additional cuts coming, and if so we'll have to see where they fall.''

It hasn't helped on the field. Norton said recruiting is difficult under these conditions, especially when Valley can offer newer facilities (the Monarchs completely revamped their weight room this year).

``I know for a fact that the great programs like Valley, Bakersfield and Moorpark have incredible facilities,'' Pierce defensive coordinator Doug Bledsoe said. ``We just don't have that here.''

Said Norton: ``Everybody would like the best facilities, the best funding, the most support. We don't have the best of anything. Valley has chosen to have a strong athletic program, and Pierce does not put nearly the amount of money into athletics.''

Lyons said the Pierce athletic budget was under $300,000, ``considerably less'' than other programs.

``Pierce has a beautiful campus, but it's been subject to neglect over the last couple of years,'' he said. ``There's just a general malaise.''

It wasn't always this way.

Under current Cal State Northridge coach Jim Fenwick from 1981-85, the Brahmas had winning seasons in three of five years. They won three consecutive Southern California Conference titles and earned bowl berths from 1983-85, compiling a 28-5 record in that span.

However, the program disbanded for the 1986 and 1987 seasons. It started over completely in 1988. By 1991, Fenwick and his influence were at Valley.

``Fenwick was a very interesting player in all of this,'' Lyons said. ``He played here and coached here. He was an awesome recruiter. He used that at Valley.''

Pierce beat Valley 34-10 in 1991, Fenwick's first year with the Monarchs, to extend a two-game winning streak in the series. It was the Brahmas' last win against their cross-Valley rivals.

And now, they might be playing for much more.

``Since Fenwick came in there, Valley's ha`d superior talent,'' said Bledsoe, who coached last year at West L.A. ``We've got a lot of Rocky Balboas over here - they work hard and try to make a difference.''

EBB AND FLOW

Year Record

Pierce Valley

1990 4-6 3-7

1991 7-2-1 4-6

1992 5-5 5-4-1

1993 5-5 9-2

1994 2-8 10-1

1995 1-9 10-1

1996 0-10 10-1

1997 0-4 3-1

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Chart

Photo: The lack of hot water in the team's locker room - plus no wins since 1995 - are two recruiting negatives that Pierce College coach Bill Norton must face.

Evan Yee / Daily News

Chart: EBB AND FLOW (see text)