CAMBALIZA GETTING HIS `FEET WET' CSUN FROSH WAITS FOR HIS TIME.Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer Lino Cambaliza was rarely on the sideline sideline See on the sidelines. in high school. Cambaliza, who played football at Littlerock High, saw time at quarterback, receiver, defensive back and on special teams. There was hardly a time when he wasn't playing. All that changed when Cambaliza decided to walk on at Cal State Northridge this year. A freshman, he only plays on the scout team In sports, the scout team, also referred to as a practice team or practice squad, is a group of players on a team whose task is to emulate future opponents for the featured (or starting) players. in practice. He's had to get used to spending most of his time watching. ``It was a new experience for me coming into the program,'' Cambaliza said. ``I wasn't really known and I was trying to make a name for myself. I have a lot to learn and a lot to pick up. I'm trying to do my best.'' Cambaliza was an All-Golden League defensive back as a senior last season. He was a four-year starter and a team captain. During his high school career, Littlerock's record was 32-9-1. He decided to attend CSUN CSUN California State University Northridge because it was close to home. Cambaliza wanted to play defensive back, but the Matadors had a need at receiver and he obliged o·blige v. o·bliged, o·blig·ing, o·blig·es v.tr. 1. To constrain by physical, legal, social, or moral means. 2. . ``He's very valuable,'' said CSUN receivers coach Armando Gonzalez. ``He comes to practice every day. He knows he's going to get hit by the starting defense and get tossed around. He works hard. He's never been someone you have to give directions to more than once.'' Not that it hasn't been an adjustment. Cambaliza, who's 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, is only 17. He won't turn 18 until Nov. 24. He's trying to learn CSUN's offense, as well as each opponents' offense for the scout team. ``In the beginning I was struggling a lot,'' Cambaliza said. ``As the weeks go on, more and more is sinking in. Right now I'm comfortable with this offense.'' He's still trying to find a comfort zone on the sideline. ``It's hard for him not playing, but he knows he's got to pay his dues,'' said Cambaliza's dad, Lino Sr. ``To go to the party, you have to be invited. I told him he's gotta got·ta Informal Contraction of got to: I gotta go home. get his feet wet.'' Cambaliza comes from an athletic family. His cousin, Angela Rigero, plays hockey for Harvard. She also played on the U.S. women's national hockey team. But it's not all about athletics for Cambaliza, who wants to major in engineering. Plenty of his time away from football is spent in study hall. He's taking calculus calculus, branch of mathematics that studies continuously changing quantities. The calculus is characterized by the use of infinite processes, involving passage to a limit—the notion of tending toward, or approaching, an ultimate value. among other basic courses. Cambaliza was in need of a daily challenge in calculus and even asked the professor to give him extra problems. ``I just do it because I need the practice,'' Cambaliza said. As he does in football, Cambaliza said he plans to work hard in the offseason and keep studying the offense so that he might not be confined con·fine v. con·fined, con·fin·ing, con·fines v.tr. 1. To keep within bounds; restrict: Please confine your remarks to the issues at hand. See Synonyms at limit. to the sidelines Sidelines Hypothetical position referring to noninvolvement in a stock; merely watching. during his career. Because of the time commitment in football, Cambaliza, a two-sport player in high school, isn't sure if he's going to try to play baseball. Originally, he wanted to play both sports at CSUN. ``Football's always been my favorite My Favorite is an independent synthpop band from Long Island, New York. They released two CDs: Love at Absolute Zero and Happiest Days of Our Lives. My Favorite broke up on September 14, 2005, when singer Andrea Vaughn left the band. ,'' Cambaliza said. ``I've played baseball since T-ball. But I just love playing football. Football's my passion.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) LINO CAMBALIZA Despite limited playing time, the freshman from Littlerock High nevertheless plays a key role at Cal State Northridge. |
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