Matador Notes

MISSOULA, Mont. —  Blenda J. Wilson, president of Cal State Northridge, and Ron Kopita, vice president of student affairs, will tour the Montana campus and athletic facilities this morning with Michael Rehm as their guide.

Rehm, who on Oct. 20 became Northridge’s assistant athletic director for development, was Montana’s athletics development officer the past two years. He was given master keys to the facilities for Wilson’s and Kopita’s visit.

“What we are trying to do is an athletics comparison to improve the [Northridge] facilities and go after the corporations in the Valley that support athletics,” said Rehm, who was in charge of seeking major contributions for Montana’s sports teams.

Rehm said Montana, one of the premier football programs in Division I-AA, built Washington-Grizzly Stadium with the aid of $5 million from fund-raising. The 12,500-seat stadium opened in 1986 and expanded in 1995 to a capacity of 18,845.

Wilson said she was impressed with the facility.

“I’ve learned everything about [the football] complex,” Wilson said. “It’s beautiful.”

Wilson believes Northridge can have similar facilities if the community gets behind the project.

“We have made a commitment to create and expand our athletic facilities,” Wilson said. “As we move forward, it’s clear to me that we will get some contributions of public, private and bond financing if our community supports the intercollegiate decisions this spring. I hope they will.”

Northridge will decide in the spring the direction of the school’s sports program.

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Rehm said there was no question where his allegiance was for the game Saturday.

“I have good friends here,” he said. “There are a lot of nice people here. But I’m rooting for the team that pays the rent.”

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Di-Onte Smith, a former standout running back at Grant High, is a sophomore cornerback for Montana who plays mostly in passing situations.

Smith made two tackles against the Matadors, giving him 19 this season.

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Northridge linebacker Rob Pifferini, who suffered a broken left big toe and sprained left ankle last week against Cal State Sacramento, saw limited action Saturday. Pifferini said the toe bothered him less than the ankle.

Brennen Swanson, a junior, started in place of Pifferini and had his best game as a Matador, finishing with eight tackles, a sack and two recovered fumbles.

His previous best was six tackles against Hawaii on Sept. 6.

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Cornerback Bennie Herron left the game in the second quarter after straining a muscle in his left hip while making a tackle.

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ON THE AGENDA

* Cal State Northridge Task Force on Intercollegiate Athletics

* Next meeting: Monday.

* When: 7 p.m.

* Where: Satellite Student Union, Fernandeno Room, southwest corner of Lassen and Zelzah.

* Topics: Eight Northridge head coaches have agreed to address the committee. Also, Dr. Fred Miller, former athletic director at San Diego State, will speak.

* Note: The Task Force will hold a special Open Community Forum on Nov. 11 from 7-9 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center of the University Student Union.