CSUN FOOTBALL: QBS DOMINATE BIG SKY CHATTER.

Byline: Marc J. Spears Daily News Staff Writer

For the past few seasons, the talk about the Cal State Northridge football team revolved around its quarterback. This season will be no different, although for a different reason.

Instead of talking about Aaron Flowers, the buzz around the Big Sky Conference is about who is going to replace Flowers.

The Matadors expect to have five quarterbacks in fall camp - seven total - competing to replace CSUN's all-time leading passer as the starter before the season begins Aug. 30 at Boise State.

Junior Josh Fiske, who had 979 yards passing and five touchdowns last season, enters camp as the No. 1 quarterback. But looking over his shoulder is redshirt freshman Marcus Brady, Valley College junior transfer David Lins and Division I-A transfers Jeremy Watkins (Arkansas State), a senior, and sophomore Mitch Ryerson (Iowa State).

``They are all so doggone even. But Josh has the nod right now, because of experience,'' said first-year CSUN coach Ron Ponciano. ``But Jeremy and Mitch can really throw a wrench in it.''

Besides Northridge, six of the other eight Big Sky schools return starting quarterbacks. And Eastern Washington coach Mike Kramer, who lost 1997 Big Sky first-team quarterback Harry Leons, believes not having Flowers - who's now a graduate assistant coach - will hurt the Matadors in the pass-happy Big Sky.

``The other teams have proven quarterbacks that can give them a chance,'' said Kramer. ``In my experience of watching unproven quarterbacks, they may do it in a couple games and kill you in others.''

Blue-Chip: Portland State sophomore running back Charles ``Chip'' Dunn, who rushed for 1,176 yards last season, is the Big Sky's top returning rusher. But the Pasadena native might be the conference's second-best back behind CSUN's Melvin Blue, who was named the Sporting News' Big Sky preseason newcomer of the year.

The Utah State transfer, a 1997 third-team All-Big West selection, is a big, powerful back who is the opposite of the Big Sky's usual small and speedy backs. Ponciano has already received interest from at least five NFL scouts about the 6-1, 230-pound senior and was told Blue would be drafted.

Kramer also said he believes Blue can be better than Buffalo Bills running back Darick Holmes, who rushed for 1,948 yards at Portland State from 1993-94.

``If (Blue) gets to the line of scrimmage (in Northridge's) wide-open offense, he's going to scare some people,'' said Kramer. ``A big back is an anomaly in the Big Sky.''

Etc: CSUN defensive lineman Pete Silvey and defensive end Brett Nordyke, both seniors, are at serious academic risk and will likely be ineligible next season. Silvey had 40 tackles as a safety last season; Nordyke had 37 tackles and four sacks. . . . Athletic director Paul Bubb said CSUN's 1998 home football games were moved from 6 p.m. to 3 p.m. kickoffs to be more family friendly, to give the school more national exposure and to reduce some of North Campus Stadium's drawbacks (read: poor lighting). . . . Fox Sports Northwest will televise five Big Sky games this season, but none include CSUN. . . . After the Mini-Med lab breaks ground July 30, the Matadors will lose about 20 yards of practice field and 10 yards of stadium space that will go to construction and storage. . . . Arizona State senior offensive guard Melvin Barnes (6-2, 285), who was a part-time starter on the 1997 Rose Bowl team, is trying to become eligible to transfer to CSUN. . . . The Matadors' first full practice is Aug. 17.

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