Northridge Looking Past the Exit Poll

PARK CITY, Utah —  Don’t count on Cal State Northridge singing the blues during its swan song football season in the Big Sky Conference, even though the Matadors probably wouldn’t need help finding the words.

Northridge’s final season in the Big Sky figures to be either uneventful, or--if the Matadors can summon a heavy dose of pride--unforgettable. Either way, all seem to agree the parting of ways between Northridge and the Big Sky after five seasons is for the best.

But first, there is the business at hand.

Northridge was tabbed to finish sixth in the nine-team conference by media and coaches at the annual Big Sky meetings this week. Defending champion Montana was a narrow choice to repeat as champion ahead of Portland State, which tied Eastern Washington for second place last season.

Northridge will join the predominantly California Big West Conference next season, leaving the Division I-AA Big Sky for independent status while contemplating the football program’s future.

For its part, the Big Sky, entering its 38th season, will continue as an eight-team league with lofty goals of elevating to Division I-A, according to Commissioner Doug Fullerton.

Winning a Big Sky title after four competitive seasons would be a poignant farewell for Northridge, but even that would carry its share of heartache. Northridge is banned from postseason play in 2000 because of NCAA sanctions against the program stemming from numerous rules violations in recent years.

Lame ducks. . . . Nothing to play for but pride. . . . What have they got to lose?. . . .

Coach Jeff Kearin and quarterback Marcus Brady spent two days answering to all the angles.

“I don’t think any of the guys are thinking about that,” Brady said. “We’re just focused on going out and winning the conference.”

Said Kearin: “We want to go out and win this conference championship and then be hugely disappointed that we’re not in the playoffs. Every year, they pick us for near the bottom of the conference. But I really believe from the get-go we’ve been close to winning a championship.”

Northridge is 19-13 in conference games since joining the Big Sky in 1996. The Matadors (6-5) were 5-3 in conference play last season, earning a forfeit over Northern Arizona after going 4-4 on the field. Northridge has never finished lower than fourth in the Big Sky and came within a victory of winning the title in 1998 under former coach Ron Ponciano.

But soon, it will be thanks for the memories.

“I think the Big Sky Conference has brought legitimacy and credibility to us as a football program,” Kearin said. “Whether we’ve liked it or not, it has forced the university to upgrade football to a high level of visibility.

“Not being in the conference will hurt. But, hopefully, we’ve acted accordingly and we’ll continue on with that.”

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Fullerton said the Big Sky’s focus is to continue its ascent. Fullerton said he does not foresee further attrition of members.

Cal State Sacramento, long rumored to be leaving the conference along with Northridge, is in the Big Sky’s long-term plans, Fullerton said.

As for Northridge, Fullerton said he hopes the school will continue on-field relationships with Big Sky schools on a nonconference basis.

“I can’t answer for Northridge as to why they made the decision they made,” Fullerton said. “I do know that, watching the problems they’ve had, at one point I went to [former interim president] Louanne Kennedy and said, ‘Let me introduce you to [Big West Commissioner] Dennis Farrell. He might have a solution for you.’ It looked to me like they were between a rock and a hard place.”

Northridge no longer is faced with a mandate from the Big Sky to quickly build an on-campus football stadium. Nor is Northridge bound to maintain a football program, another Big Sky mandate.

Northridge remains faced with the task of increasing women’s sports to comply with gender-equity requirements, something that fielding a football program makes difficult. But school administrators have steadfastly maintained they will retain football while meeting gender-equity requirements.

Nevertheless, Northridge and the Big Sky clearly are heading in opposite directions.

“Every time I listen to the leadership of the conference speak, I think they’re going in a different direction,” Kearin said. “They’re tinkering with the idea of going Division I-A and that’s something we have never bargained for. At some point, we wouldn’t have a choice.”

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Montana and Montana State, original members of the Big Sky, will meet for the 100th time Nov. 18 at Montana. The event will not pass without considerable fanfare. Each school will bring back former players for the game.