FOOTBALL REVERSES ITS FIELD.

Byline: Chris Branam Staff Writer

Cal State Northridge's jump from the Big Sky to the Big West Conference does not mean the university is dropping football.

``We intend to continue football until the end of time,'' interim President Louanne Kennedy said at Wednesday's press conference announcing CSUN's move into the new conference.

Where the Matadors will play, and in front of how many people, is affected by Northridge's impending departure from the Big Sky after the 2000 season.

Because the Big West has no mandates on stadium size, Northridge will most likely play at Pierce College in the future, and eventually, in a 6,500-seat stadium. The biotechnology park on North Campus begins its second phase next summer and includes the destruction of North Campus Stadium.

``Where are we going to play? We expect to play next year and the year after in our existing stadium,'' Kennedy said. ``In the meantime, we continue to explore the possibility of playing at Pierce College. We don't have the funding for a new stadium.''

Kennedy made a promise, though, that CSUN will eventually play football and men's and women's soccer games in a new, on-campus stadium on the North Campus site recommended by Blenda Wilson, CSUN's former president.

``We will build a stadium,'' she said. ``We are going to raise the money to build a stadium. We believe it's important for the identity of the football program and the identity of the university and the Valley.''

When Northridge joined the Big Sky in 1996, it promised to eventually build a stadium of at least 10,000 seats.

``If we got basically from a 10,000-seat stadium down to something smaller, for every thousand, we've saved a million dollars,'' said Athletic Director Dick Dull. ``If you look at our attendance, we have never averaged more than 5,000 per game in the history of this institution. What we need 10,000 seats for is beyond me.''

But Dull did say he wants a new stadium, regardless of size.

``We look forward to the time when we are going to play football in a new stadium, as well as men's and women's soccer, right here on this campus,'' he said.

Football coach Jeff Kearin, who signed a four-year contract in December, said he isn't disappointed by the news that CSUN is changing course on the stadium issue. The Matadors only averaged 4,013 fans in five home games last season, last in the Big Sky.

``We're not turning people away right now, so the stadium size really makes no difference to me,'' Kearin said. ``You can always add seats to stadiums. I pray to God some day that's a problem.''