CSUN NOTEBOOK: HAMSTRING WOES GET THE BEST OF BRADY, FOR NOW.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Cal State Northridge quarterback Marcus Brady didn't suit up for practice Thursday for the first time in his career.

Brady, who already has set all of CSUN's career passing records, has a strained right hamstring. It's not believed to be serious, but he was kept out of Wednesday's evening practice and both of Thursday's practices for precautionary measures.

He was scheduled to have an X-ray late Thursday afternoon.

``I'll probably be all right,'' Brady said. ``It just frustrating to have this nagging injury. But if the game was tomorrow, I'd play.''

Brady said his hamstring was sore for a couple of days, especially Wednesday, a day after he did hamstring curls.

He also had a nagging hamstring injury over the summer. Brady told CSUN coach Jeff Kearin his hamstring was hurting a little more and was held out of practice.

``It's very nerve-racking,'' Kearin said. ``Obviously, you always know your quarterback can get hurt. We've put so much emphasis on his role in the offense. I don't care how good our backup is, he's not going to fill those shoes, just from experience. You're talking 33 starts and all but maybe 30 downs over three years.''

Brady said he wasn't sure what to do on the sideline. So, he got to work.

``I did 500 push-ups and 200 sit-ups with D.J. Hackett,'' Brady said. ``I didn't feel right standing around.''

And the Northridge offense wouldn't seem right without Brady under center. Tim Bird, a transfer from Moorpark College and the University of New Mexico, was running the first unit. But Bird and sophomore Jermaine Guinyard, the only other quarterback back from last season, have separated themselves from the rest of the quarterbacks (four of them).

Kearin is also pleased with the progress of walk-on Scott Austin, a Palomar College transfer. But quarterbacks coach Brad Otton will make the final call.

--Scrimmage set: CSUN will play in its first scrimmage at 10:15 a.m. Saturday on the field adjacent to North Campus Stadium. The scrimmage will be followed by a barbecue at noon.

--CSUN Hall of Fame: CSUN's 21st annual Athletic Hall of Fame banquet will honor the Anaheim Angels' Adam Kennedy and former softball star Scia Maumausolo on Sept. 23 at the Airtel Plaza Hotel in Van Nuys.

Kennedy played for the Matadors from 1995 to 1997 and Maumausolo played 1993-96. She now plays for the Orlando Wahoos. Others to be honored are Judith Brame, the former women's basketball coach and associate athletic director; Dr. Patricia De La Riva (basketball); Joel Schaeffer (football), and the late Frank Slaton (baseball).

Admission is $45 per person or $400 per table. For information, call the Matador Athletic Association at [phone].

CSUN WATCH

Notable: The defense is playing well under first-year defensive coordinator Dave Robinson. But the defense is usually always ahead of the offense this early in camp. ``I'm really excited about the defense. Dave, Terrence (Johnson) and Junior (Thurman) have put together some great schemes,'' Kearin said. ``Travis (Campbell), Lewis (Blanton) and Cos (Abercrombie) are playing great. We have those guys coming back and Jason Nicastro and Andy Zaldivar up front.''

Player watch: Walk-on quarterback Scot Austin, a transfer from Palomar College, likely won't play unless Marcus Brady isn't healthy. But coaches like what they see. ``He's a big guy, the prototype 6-foot-3 kid,'' Kearin said. ``He comes from a great junior college with a great tradition.''

Today: Practice at 8:45 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. today at North Campus Stadium. Scrimmage at 10:15 a.m. Saturday.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

MARCUS BRADY

Hamstring problem keeps CSUN quarterback out part of two days of practice.

Box: CSUN WATCH (see text)