FROM THE FIELD: NO JOKE: BRASWELL A HAPPY MATADOR.

Byline: MARC J. SPEARS

It was during Cal State Northridge's football game against visiting Weber State last Saturday when athletic director Paul Bubb made an interesting announcement.

In the wake of Michigan basketball coach Steve Fisher's recent firing, Bubb joked, ``Bobby Braswell has informed me that he is not interested in the Michigan job.''

Thoughts of Braswell leaving CSUN basketball for another school would seem to have been forgotten on April 9, when the school offered the coach - then under consideration for the University of Oregon job - a four-year contract with a base salary of $84,000, an additional $20,000 from non-state sources and compensation from basketball camps. The contract includes a penalty clause if he resigns before it expires.

But Braswell would not be the first coach to break a seemingly unbreakable contract.

For example, after signing a contract extension with the University of Tulsa, Steve Robinson departed for Florida State after two seasons. And after just two years as coach at the University of Georgia, Orlando ``Tubby'' Smith left for Southeastern Conference-rival Kentucky.

Of course, the Tulsa and Georgia faithful felt shunned by their old coaches, but can you really be mad at someone for pursuing a better opportunity?

As for Braswell, he says he is committed to the development of CSUN basketball.

``I have a problem with coaches who are just looking for another job,'' said Braswell, whose team begins practicing Saturday morning. ``I'll tell you why: These players deserve the best.''

Braswell is a CSUN graduate, an ex-head coach at Cleveland High (1985-89) and a former assistant at Long Beach State (1989-92) and Oregon (1992-96). His credentials and local background made him a logical and fine choice. He took over a dormant program that hadn't won more than 12 games in a season during the 1990s and was coming off a 7-20 season.

Under Braswell, the Matadors finished with an overall record of 14-15, 8-8 in the Big Sky Conference and astonishingly advanced to the Big Sky tournament championship game, where they lost 82-79 to second-seeded Montana.

Braswell has more opportunities for national exposure this season. His Matadors have a shot at upsets in the Fresno State tournament, which includes an opener against Long Island, and in road games against Oregon State, Arizona State, Ohio State and Ohio. Also, his team has the potential to win the Big Sky tournament and land in the NCAAs.

If CSUN's basketball program continues to rise higher and higher, people across the nation will notice. And the calls will come again.

But to Braswell, it's not about exposure for himself. It's about exposure for his players and his program.

``I've learned to be content with the position I am in,'' said Braswell, 35. ``My family is happy here, and I am happy here. The only thing I am worried about is Cal State Northridge. I have no ambition to go anywhere else. I have to give the kids everything I have.''