Los Angeles Daily News
Northridge, Calif. -- Cal State Northridge was just 32 seconds away from a spot in the Division I-AA playoffs last season. Naturally, the goal for this year was to become a half-minute better.
Then the program was put under investigation after an anonymous letter detailing numerous NCAA violations was sent to the athletics department.
Popular head coach Ron Ponciano was fired on July 16 because of the investigator's findings.
Three days later, the Big Sky coaches picked CSN to finish eighth in the nine-team conference, despite the Matadors having 14 returning starters.
As if the Matadors, who opened the season with a 38-19 victory over NCAA Div. II Western Oregon, needed more motivation.
Interim head coach Jeff Kearin called the summer of '99 "a blip on the radar screen."
"We're going to muscle through," he said.
Where does CSN stand as it tries to have back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1989-90?
Here's a look at the team's breakdown by position:
Quarterback: Sophomore Marcus Brady was the Big Sky's Newcomer of the Year in '98, when he set the school record for completion percentage (67.9) and threw for 2,983 yards and 26 touchdowns.
If Brady gets hurt, backup Josh Fiske, a senior, can be successful in the Matadors' run-and-shoot offense. He threw for 979 yards in 3 1/2 games for CSN in '97.
Running back: Jaumal Bradley, a senior, was named first-team Big Sky as a fullback last year, even though he mainly was a tailback. He should improve greatly on last season's total of 374 yards and one touchdown -- which came on a reception.
DeJuan Gilmore, a senior transfer from Washington State, combines with Bradley to give CSN two quality backs. Small but quick redshirt freshman Alan Taylor gives a different look to the defense.
Offensive line: This unit was decimated by injuries and ineffectiveness last year; Brady was sacked 49 times and CSN averaged only 84 yards per game rushing. But there seems to be improvement and added depth this year, and Kearin is committed to a better running game.
Wide receiver: Arnold, a senior, was one of the stars of spring and played at a high level in fall camp. Barring injury, he should hold school records for receptions and yards after two games.
The rest of the receivers either are young or inexperienced. Juniors Ryan Beckwith and Gil Rodriguez could combine for 50-60 catches.
Defensive line: Solid but not flashy, unless one counts Swanson, who often lines up at the end of the line, as part of the group.
Shawnbay Jones, a senior who had six sacks last year, had a great camp. So did often-injured Erik Gardner, a defensive end with long arms and legs and good quickness.
Linebacker: The deepest position on the team. Sophomore Lewis Blanton, who had 13 tackles in a game last year against Eastern Washington, can't crack the starting lineup.
Swanson and Cos Abercrombie are first-team all-conference candidates.
Defensive back: CSN is going to play more zone coverage this year, even though it has two strong cornerbacks in seniors Chazz Moore and Mel Miller.
The loss of strong safety Jeremy Golden to academic ineligibility hurt, but senior Steve Forte has returned to the form of '97, when he was an all-conference honorable mention. The Matadors only had 12 interceptions last year, and Moore had two.
Special teams: The most potent area is kickoff return, where Arnold and Gilmore form a solid combination, and punter Ethan Beck was first-team all-conference last year.
Fresno State transfer Terrence Jones and Forte could alternate returning punts. Redshirt freshman kicker Derek Brown, who has a nagging quadriceps injury, has been inconsistent in camp.
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