CSUN ANALYSIS: FENWICK MUM ON TEAM; BUT MATADORS SHOULD BE CONFERENCE CONTENDERS.Byline: Howard Beck / Daily News Staff Writer Jim Fenwick is either an excellent poker player or a man too honest for his own good. On the eve On the Eve (Накануне in Russian) is the third novel by famous Russian writer Ivan Turgenev, best known for his short stories and the novel Fathers and Sons. of his debut as Cal State Northridge football coach, the new big man on campus is long on confidence, short on revealing answers. What are the Matadors' strengths this season? ``There's an uncertainty,'' Fenwick said. Is this team much different from the 1996 squad that was a surprising 7-4? (Long pause.) ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. ,'' he said. If the new coach isn't giving much away, perhaps it's because he truly won't know what he's got until the Matadors take the field. The suspense SUSPENSE. When a rent, profit a prendre, and the like, are, in consequence of the unity of possession of the rent, &c., of the land out of which they issue, not in esse for a time, they are said to be in suspense, tunc dormiunt, but they may be revived or awakened. Co, Litt. 313 a. will end with Saturday's opener at Boise State. By all accounts, Fenwick should find he's been dealt a nice hand by predecessor 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. , and the 1997 Matadors should be every bit as competitive in the Big Sky Conference as last year's team. Only now, the conference won't be taken by surprise. The Matadors are a known quantity, one that every coach in the conference picks to finish in the top four. Baldwin's departure, in fact, ranks as the only dramatic change from last season, and he is ably replaced by local product Fenwick (84-32-1 record at Pierce and Valley colleges). Coaching for the first time in the Division I-AA ranks, the unassuming Fenwick isn't making bold predictions. But the polls speak for themselves: The Matadors are a legitimate Big Sky contender. ``The kids have been through the league for a year. There's a little bit of confidence there, but still a willingness to try to improve themselves,'' Fenwick said. CSUN CSUN California State University Northridge returns 16 starters and 43 lettermen, with most of its marquee players back. Aaron Flowers passed his way to the top of the Division I-AA charts last season with 3,540 yards and 30 touchdowns. He can do it again if the Matadors can replace his receiving threats. Lost to graduation is top wideout David Romines, the nation's reception leader who contributed 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns. Lost to academic ineligibility INELIGIBILITY. The incapacity to be lawfully elected. 2. This incapacity arises from various, causes, and a person may be incapable of being elected to one office who may, be elected to another; the incapacity may also be perpetual or temporary. is Cameron Perry, the team's second-best receiver with 710 yards and nine touchdowns. And this week the team lost indefinitely the guy expected to start at wide receiver when Jerome Henry was diagnosed with a stress fracture stress fracture n. A fatigue fracture of bone caused by repeated application of a heavy load, such as the constant pounding on a surface by runners, gymnasts, and dancers. in his lower right leg. His status is week-to-week. Fenwick has confidence in the breadth of his receiving corps, though none have proven themselves at this level. The new coach already planned to emphasize the running game more this season, and that will certainly be the case now. Norman Clarke, last year's leading rusher with 690 yards (5.0 per carry) and 11 touchdowns, returns and is joined by a pair of highly touted transfers: Jahi Arnold, from Iowa State, and Marcus Harvey Marcus Harvey (born 1963 in Leeds) is an English artist and painter, and one of the Young British Artists (YBAs). Exhibitions Harvey has shown work internationally in many exhibitions including ‘The Führer's Cakes’ at Galleria Marabini in Bologna, , the Western State Conference player of the year at Valley College, where he played for Fenwick. All three running backs should figure prominently in CSUN's one-back spread offense. Fenwick likes to run the ball, and he will use the trio as much as needed as needed prn. See prn order. . ``They're all good players. They're all going to play. I can't settle on a No. 1 guy,'' Fenwick said. ``It's just you've got three different weapons. We want to try to keep them fresh, keep them healthy.'' That will be made easier with a veteran offensive line, anchored by fifth-year senior Paul Sauter at center and junior David San Vicente San Vicente (sän vēsān`tā), city (1993 pop. 28,529), central El Salvador. Among its industries are textile manufacturing and sugar milling. San Vicente is the commercial center of a region that produces coffee and sugarcane. at tackle. The rest is up to Flowers. ``As long as he stays healthy we'll have a chance,'' Fenwick said. ``He's very competitive, good leadership qualities. He gets a lot of respect from his teammates and gets his teammates to play hard for him.'' The same is true of fiery All-American linebacker Marc Goodson, who leads the defense. A team that went from 2-8 in 1995 to third place in the best Division I-AA conference in the nation in just one year has high expectations. With only 43 scholarships - 20 less than most Big Sky opponents - the Matadors won't be expected to win the conference title, but they will certainly have an impact on the race. ``I think every coach at this point in the season is optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op ,'' Fenwick said. Two-deep roster OFFENSE QUARTERBACK 4 Aaron Flowers 6-0 185 Sr. All-America candidate threw 30 TDs in '96 7 Josh Fiske 6-3 205 So. Did not throw a pass as Flowers' backup RUNNING BACK 34 Norman Clarke 6-0 205 Sr. 11 TDs in '96, will share RB duties in '97 18 Jahi Arnold 5-9 185 Sr. Explosive runner, transfer from Iowa State 21 Marcus Harvey 5-9 185 Jr. Joins Arnold and Clarke in 3-man rotation WIDE RECEIVER 6 Jerome Henry 6-1 172 Sr. Top returning WR; 767 yards and 4 TDs in '96 1 Brian Comer 6-1 185 So. 26 TDs, 2,656 yards at Valley College WIDE RECEIVER 18 Aaron Arnold 6-1 185 So.Speedy sophomore becomes a starter 14 Eric Carpenter 6-1 190 Jr. All-conference selection at Valley College WIDE RECEIVER 83 Drew Hill 6-0 180 Jr. Won't change socks during winning streaks Noun 1. winning streak - a streak of wins streak, run - an unbroken series of events; "had a streak of bad luck"; "Nicklaus had a run of birdies" 3 Jason Sharp 5-9 170 Jr. Cal Transfer played for Fenwick at Valley WIDE RECEIVER 23 Mike Ogas 6-3 205 Jr. Not a speed burner A drive that writes write-once optical discs such as CD-Rs and DVD-Rs. A "burner" implies a one-time recording, but the term is erroneously used to refer to drives that "write" to re-recordable CD-RW and DVD-RW/+RW media as well. See burn, CD-R and DVD-R. but does everything well LEFT TACKLE 62 Jake Brinton 6-3 270 Jr. Keeping spot warm for ailing San Vicente 78 David San Vicente 6-3 300 Jr. Will regain starting job when sore back heals LEFT GUARD 58 Paul Sauter 6-1 295 Sr. Fifth-year senior is line's most seasoned vet 66 Tafi Aina 6-4 300 Jr. Ventura College Ventura College is a California-state funded community college located in Ventura, California. Established in 1925, the college has a 112-acre campus with an enrollment of 13,000 students. The college is part of the Ventura County Community College District. transfer can also play D CENTER 53 David Joralemon 6-1300 Sr. One of the Big Sky's best middlemen 74 Sean Andersen 6-1 260 Sr. Father was a CSUN assistant football coach RIGHT GUARD 73 Toma Popescu 6-3 300 Sr. Returning starter was born in Romania 75 Ryan Mitulski 6-4 305 Fr. Top lineman in Pacific League at Arcadia H.S. RIGHT TACKLE 72 Brian Hubinger 6-4 255 Fr. '96 Redshirt played with Mitulski at Arcadia 77 Julio Alcala 6-4 275 So. Transfer from Colorado St., played sparingly spar·ing adj. 1. Given to or marked by prudence and restraint in the use of material resources. 2. Deficient or limited in quantity, fullness, or extent. 3. Forbearing; lenient. DEFENSE DEFENSIVE END 60 Dan Lazarovits 6-4 246 Sr. 38 tackles, 4.5 sacks in '96 39 John Dagata 5-11 205 So. Will play primarily on special teams DEFENSIVE TACKLE 43 Pete Silvey 6-3 255 Jr. Missed most of '96 with broken foot 92 Keith Selico 6-2 277Sr. Break dancer in '84 Olympics ceremonies DEFENSIVE TACKLE 56 Ron Aumua 6-1 275 Sr. 31 tackles in '97; became a father last week 57 Gregg Leyone 6-1 255 Sr. Collected 15 tackles in six games last year DEFENSIVE END 95 Brett Nordyke 6-4 230 Jr. Transfer from Fresno St., didn't play in '96 96 Erik Gardner 6-5 235 Fr. Combines great size and speed LINEBACKER 51 Marc Goodson 6-2 235 Sr. All-America candidate had 150 tackles in '96 11 Rob Pifferini 6-2 225 Sr. Plagued by injuries last season 5 Kaleon Green 6-2 225 Jr. L.A. native returns home from Mississippi 52 Brennen Swanson 6-3 215 Jr. On D line in '96, deflected de·flect intr. & tr.v. de·flect·ed, de·flect·ing, de·flects To turn aside or cause to turn aside; bend or deviate. [Latin d 7 passes LINEBACKER 8 Franck Pace 6-1 226 Sr. 27 tackles, 2 sacks as part-time starter in '96 19 Angelo Garza 6-0 190 Jr. Good hitter who had a great spring CORNERBACK 31 Bennie Herron  This article or section is written like an .Please help [ rewrite this article] from a neutral point of view. Mark blatant advertising for , using . 5-9 170 Sr. Top CB, led CSUN with 4 pickoffs last year 24 Steve Forte 5-9 175 Jr. Fastest CB, missed most of '96 with injury STRONG SAFETY 28 Shayne Blakey 6-0 204 Jr. Did not play '96, making transition from RB 17 Kenny Knoop 6-3 205 Jr. Glendale JC transfer covers lot of ground FREE SAFETY 2 Howard Henry 6-0 183 Jr. Good cover ability, played little in '96 29 Vito Clemente 6-1 195 Jr. Transfer from 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 , played on special teams CORNERBACK 30 Donnell Day 5-10 185 Sr. Combines speed and strength in secondary 9 Tayari Ferrell 5-10 160 Jr. 41 tackles, 1 interception as a sophomore CAPTION(S): Photo, Chart PHOTO A large part of CSUN's fate is in the hands of returning quarterback Aaron Flowers. Michael Owen
CHART: Two-deep roster (see text) |
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