CSUN NOTEBOOK: FALCONS ONE WIN SHORT.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Air Force athletic director Randy Spetman and coach Fisher DeBerry said they would not have scheduled the season-opening football game against Cal State Northridge had they known the program didn't average 60 scholarships.

The Matadors' number of football scholarships is the latest source of controversy for the team. Air Force learned Monday its 55-6 victory over CSUN wouldn't count toward the required six wins to become eligible for a bowl game.

CSUN had just 43 scholarships this season, according to athletic director Dick Dull. CSUN coach Jeff Kearin and Dull said they were never asked how many scholarships they had.

``It was never an issue that was brought up in our discussions,'' Dull said. ``We've never operated at 60 scholarships.''

Added Kearin: ``No one ever asked me how many scholarships we had. We've never had 60 scholarships, and we've never represented to have 60 scholarships. It's never come up in any money games we've played. If it was an issue, (Spetman) probably should've asked the question before the game was agreed to be played.''

The Matadors traditionally play at least one Division I-A team each season because of the big payday. CSUN received $125,000 to play Air Force. Kearin doesn't believe this will hurt his chances to schedule future Division I-A opponents.

``I don't (think it will affect us) because we get these games every year and it's never been an issue,'' Kearin said. ``We've played Boise (State), New Mexico State and Kansas and it's never been an issue. I don't think it's much of an issue, quite frankly.''

Air Force officials do. Sports information director Dave Kellogg was quoted in The Colorado Springs Gazette saying, ``I think the fault lies with Northridge, not us.''

Kearin said CSUN did not misrepresent itself.

``Everyone's making it sound like I should care about that and I guess I should,'' Kearin said. ``I do and I don't. I guess that's (Spetman's) job. He gets the big bucks to do that.''

If the Falcons (6-3, 3-2) win one of two more games - against either Colorado State or San Diego State - they'll have the required six Division I-A victories to be eligible for a bowl game.

Dull was aware of the scholarship provision, although not the specifics, pertaining to bowl eligibility for Division I-A programs.

``I knew there was some legislation but I didn't know what the number was,'' Dull said. ``It certainly isn't an issue we have to worry about because we don't go to bowl games like they do in Division I-A.''

--Final home game: CSUN (3-6, 2-5) plays its last home football game of the season Saturday against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (3-6) at North Campus Stadium.

--First for everything: The Cal State Northridge men's basketball team received votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time in the program's history. The Matadors received three votes.