THE COLLEGES / FERNANDO DOMINGUEZ : Matador Scheduler Is Aiming Too High

Some thoughts about the football season while wondering if Labor Day was created by a maternity ward nurse. . . .

No harm in Division I-AA Cal State Northridge trying to embark on death marches to Nebraska or any other Division I-A superpower, risking life and limb for a hefty payday, but let’s be realistic.

The big dogs like to chew up pups once in a while, but are always careful not to soil their reputation or credibility. There’s that power rating thing to think about, you know.

Although the money and prestige wouldn’t be the same, Northridge might want to think about scheduling road games at, say, San Diego State, San Jose State or Nevada Las Vegas.

There are good reasons to do so.

Marcus Brady, Northridge’s exciting sophomore quarterback, graduated from San Diego Morse High.

San Jose State is coached by Dave Baldwin, former Northridge coach.

Coach Jeff Kearin of Northridge is tight with Coach John Robinson of UNLV.

Kearin was an assistant to Robinson at USC and at UNLV for seven months before taking over at Northridge in July. In fact, Robinson’s son, David, is a Northridge assistant. . . .

Regardless of what the Big Sky Conference coaches and media believe, Northridge is much better than a projected eighth-place finisher.

The Matadors have essentially the same key players as last season and have added several outstanding transfers and recruits.

Behind Brady, the Big Sky’s newcomer of the year last season, the Matadors can challenge for the conference title.

True, the firing in July of Ron Ponciano as coach and the forced departure of offensive coordinator Rob Phenicie because of alleged NCAA violations momentarily threw the Matadors for a loop, but they have rebounded.

As the players point out, they’re the ones who have to get the job done on the field. . . .

Sure would be nice to see a true revival of the old Pierce and Valley colleges rivalry.

For years, the schools played some of the most spirited junior college games in the state, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s.

The first game, at Valley in 1965, drew a crowd of 5,500 and a live local television audience.

But the series started heading for the dumpster when Pierce temporarily dropped football in the late 1980s and it has never recovered, despite efforts by the schools.

Maybe this is the year.

Pierce has an energetic new coach, David Banuelos, who is trying to transform the Brahmas from ignobility to respectability. The team is 4-46 the last five seasons.

Valley, a national power from 1993-96 under former coach Jim Fenwick but mediocre the last two years, is looking to recapture the old magic under new Coach Carl Ferrill.

The veteran coach, who spent the last three seasons in charge at Division II New Mexico Highlands, has rebuilt several programs over the last three decades and is sure to make his formula work with the Monarchs.

Hopefully, that means a competitive and well-attended matchup when Pierce and Valley square off at Valley on Nov. 13, their 32nd meeting. . . .

Do Brent Carder of Antelope Valley and Jim Bittner of Moorpark ever get tired of football?

Apparently not.

Carder is back for his 30th season as coach of the Marauders and Bittner returns for his 27th season with the Raiders, the last 21 as head coach.

Their longevity has been the product of success.

Carder has 164 career victories, ranking third in the nation among active junior college coaches, and has guided teams to seven conference titles and 10 bowl appearances.

Bittner has won 133 games with the Raiders, who have won seven conference divisional titles and played in 11 bowl games.

Actually, with that kind of fun, why would they want to quit?