CSUN'S JONES A STAND-UP GUY.

Byline: Chris Branam Staff Writer

The program was investigated, the head coach got fired, the offensive coordinator resigned, there was the huge loss at Kansas, and just recently a student vote that could have provided financing for a new stadium was cancelled.

But there is Shawnbay Jones, making his Cal State Northridge football teammates smile and laugh and forget reality. On a team full of guys who seem like they could take their act to the Comedy Store, Jones may be the wackiest.

``He likes to enjoy himself,'' CSUN defensive-line coach David Robinson said. ``He always wants to be fidgeting or talking. It's almost like he's teasing everybody. There's also times it drives you nuts.''

Jones, a senior defensive lineman, is a 6-foot-3, 265-pound 12-year-old. He's the classic cut-up, a person who needs to make those around him laugh and smile - even though he admits he can be infuriating.

``If somebody does something to make the coaches mad,'' Jones said, ``the next practice I'll try to emulate that, what he did (to make them mad), just to get a rise out of the coaches. It keeps everybody cool, everybody happy.

``When we get a little bit of laughter out there, it makes it a cool day.''

Jones' personality is a hit with his teammates, even if some of his best stuff can't be published in a family newspaper. Levi Line, a junior defensive lineman who rooms with Jones on the road, remembers one practice when Jones snuck into another drill: ``I saw him playing defensive back. That was pretty funny.''

``On the field, he's our character,'' Line said. ``When it comes down to it, though, he's a gentleman. He'll spend hours at a time talking to his girlfriend. That's when the true Shawnbay comes out.''

Predictably, Jones got into trouble in high school. He said he wasn't a serious student at Center High, near Sacramento.

``I would put my mind to making people laugh instead of my books,'' he said.

Now, he's a serious student and also an emerging force for a defense that has risen from dead last to sixth in the Big Sky Conference in the span of two weeks.

Jones had 12 tackles, including seven for loss, in the Matadors' 24-21 win at Montana State last week. He also got his fifth sack, giving him 11 in two seasons at CSUN. For the year, Jones has 47 tackles, including a team-leading 16 behind the line of scrimmage. He also forced a fumble.

``This is only my third year of playing defense end,'' said Jones, a former linebacker, ``and now that I've gotten into that groove, so to speak, it feels way more easier.''

Robinson, who's in his first year coaching at CSUN, said he's seen significant progress from Jones.

``He's starting to be more consistent and also making the big plays,'' he said. ``He's a good, athletic player.''

Robinson and CSUN's other coaches can take solace, though, in knowing they only have Jones for four more games. Then they can put away the aspirin.

``If I had to coach me, I'd put me in a corner or something,'' Jones said. ``Once (coaches) get to know me, they say I'm better with my mouth shut.

``I beg to differ.''

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PHOTO Shawnbay Jones - guess which one - clowns with CSUN teammates Brandon Martinovic and Josh Fiske.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News