Marc Goodson

Marc Goodson wasn't about to take it easy on anyone, not even his own quarterback. Gliding to his right, eyes fixed on the target like a tiger prowling for lunch, the Cal State Northridge linebacker waited for the right time to pounce on the ballcarrier. When he did, hitting unamused quarterback Aaron Flowers much harder than prescribed during a practice drill, the two All-Americans tangled briefly in a shoving and shouting match that might have worried others but not Coach Jim Fenwick.

Marc Goodson wasn't about to take it easy on anyone, not even his own quarterback. Gliding to his right, eyes fixed on the target like a tiger prowling for lunch, the Cal State Northridge linebacker waited for the right time to pounce on the ballcarrier. When he did, hitting unamused quarterback Aaron Flowers much harder than prescribed during a practice drill, the two All-Americans tangled briefly in a shoving and shouting match that might have worried others but not Coach Jim Fenwick.

Marc Goodson couldn't get his mind off football. Especially when he was stuffing his muscular 6-foot-2, 235-pound frame under a sink. Or when he was finishing a daylong shift remodeling kitchens and bathrooms. Or when he was cashing his paycheck, which never seemed to be quite as much as Goodson hoped. Truth be told, his thoughts were rarely on anything but football during a season in which he gave it up to join the work force.

Marc Goodson couldn't get his mind off football. Especially when he was stuffing his muscular 6-foot-2, 235-pound frame under a sink. Or when he was finishing a daylong shift remodeling kitchens and bathrooms. Or when he was cashing his paycheck, which never seemed to be quite as much as Goodson hoped. Truth be told, his thoughts were rarely on anything but football during a season in which he gave it up to join the work force.

Although it's hard to be certain of the quality of the junior college football players Cal State Northridge signed Wednesday, the quantity is a good sign. Eight letters of intent came into the Matadors' offices on the first day of the junior college signing period, which runs through Feb. 6, except for a holiday dead period next week. The signing period for high school players is Feb. 7-13.

There were few surprises Friday when Coach Jim Fenwick announced the starting lineup for the season opener at Boise State on Aug. 30. The offense consists of quarterback Aaron Flowers, running back Norman Clarke, wide receivers Jerome Henry, Aaron Arnold and Mike Ogas, tight end Ryan Schatz, tackles David San Vicente and Brian Hubinger, guards Paul Sauter and Toma Popescu and center David Joralemon.

Job hunting: Marc Goodson, an All-American linebacker in his junior and senior seasons at Cal State Northridge in 1996 and 1997, said he will try out with the Washington Redskins on Saturday in Long Beach. Goodson will take part in an NFL combine on Feb. 6 in Indianapolis. TRACK AND FIELD Successors chosen: Frank Jackson and Nancy Fredrickson, two long-time track and field assistants at Ventura College, have been hired as the school's men's and women's coaches.

Any chance for a championship vanished weeks ago. Hopes for an invitation to the Division I-AA playoffs disappeared soon after. But don't tell Coach Jim Fenwick Cal State Northridge's season-ending Big Sky Conference football game against Northern Arizona tonight at 6:05 at North Campus Stadium is meaningless. Not unless you're begging for an earful. "We want to win," Fenwick said. "We want the seniors to go out well."

Wide receiver Jerome Henry and linebacker Marc Goodson, both Cal State Northridge seniors, were selected to the All-Big Sky Conference football team, it was announced Tuesday. Another 10 Matadors were picked for the second team or received honorable mention. Henry led the Matadors with 71 receptions for 827 yards and eight touchdowns despite missing two games because of a broken leg. Goodson had a team-high 140 tackles, including 91 unassisted.

Although it's hard to be certain of the quality of the junior college football players Cal State Northridge signed Wednesday, the quantity is a good sign. Eight letters of intent came into the Matadors' offices on the first day of the junior college signing period, which runs through Feb. 6, except for a holiday dead period next week. The signing period for high school players is Feb. 7-13.

Senior middle linebacker Marc Goodson is showing Northridge coaches, most of whom are in their first season with the team, why he was an All-American and All-Big Sky Conference selection last season. "He just plays so well," said John Rosenberg, Northridge's new defensive coordinator. "He has a great combination of instinct, timing and physical ability, and he has great leadership." Goodson, 6 feet 2 and 235 pounds, has been picked as a preseason second-team All-American by The Sports Network.