Bubb Puts Voice Back in Action

NORTHRIDGE —  Paul Bubb has been accused of many things in the 16 months he has run the Cal State Northridge athletic department, but nobody ever said he wasn’t versatile.

As athletic director, Bubb has worked Northridge basketball games as the public address announcer or clock operator. On Saturday night, he became “Voice of the Matadors,” doing the radio play by play for the football game against Idaho State in Pocatello, Ida.

While that might have been an awkward position for many Division I athletic directors, it was a comfortable spot for Bubb, who had worked in radio at each of the stops in his career since 1977. He had done radio work at Northridge while he was an assistant athletic director, until 1994.

“I really enjoy it,” said Bubb, whose color commentator was Brian Swanson, an assistant athletic director. “I’ve done high school playoff games, state championship games. I once did a game from the back of a truck in 20-degree weather, sitting out in the open.”

Bubb and Swanson were last-minute fill-ins for the Matadors’ regular broadcasting crew. The game was originally not going to be carried, because KWNK had a commitment to air the Cal-Arizona State game at the same time. But Cal’s kickoff was moved up to 3:30 p.m., meaning most of Northridge’s 5:35 game could be broadcast. Bubb didn’t find out about the change until Wednesday.

Since Bubb and Swanson were already scheduled to make the trip to Pocatello Bubb figured it would be easier to do the game themselves than make last-minute travel arrangements for the regular crew--Scott Galletti, Ron Foster and Dana Potter.

“I felt confident stepping in and doing a good job,” Bubb said.

Bubb said after he retires as an administrator, he’d like to buy a radio station in the Midwest and return to full-time broadcasting.

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Receiver David Romines’ quest for the Big Sky Conference single-season reception record might be over. A strained left hamstring that sidelined Romines for much of Northridge’s 42-40 victory over Idaho State might keep him out of the season finale Saturday against Eastern Washington.

Romines, whose hamstring was so sore he had to walk backward up the ramp to the locker room at Holt Arena, is listed by Coach Dave Baldwin as doubtful for the game at North Campus Stadium.

Romines needs 10 catches to break the record. The Division I-AA leader with 87 catches in 10 games, Romines already holds all of Northridge’s single-season and career receiving records.

“I’m upset, but at the same time I feel like I’ve done what I had to do to prove to myself [that I could still play],” Romines said. “It’s just icing on the cake as far as the records.”

Romines missed last season with a separated shoulder.

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Punter Joe LaFirenza got the Matadors out of a hole Saturday night with a 67-yard punt.

“That was a big turning point for us in the first quarter,” Baldwin said.

Just another day at the office for LaFirenza, who has quietly been one of the most consistently effective Matadors in Baldwin’s two seasons. Last year, LaFirenza averaged 39.3 yards a punt. This year, he is averaging 40.6, 19th in Division I-AA.

“He’s been just as consistent as can be,” Baldwin said. “He’s really never hurt us.”

No one else has punted since LaFirenza, a walk-on from Moorpark College and El Camino Real High, has been on the team. But this will be the senior’s final week, and no one on the roster is a viable candidate to replace him. A punter is near the top of Baldwin’s recruiting wish list.

“I think we’re really going to miss him a lot,” Baldwin said.

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The result of the Northridge-Eastern Washington game could determine who is Big Sky Conference coach of the year.

The Eagles’ Mike Kramer has fashioned a turnaround as impressive as Baldwin’s at Northridge.

Eastern Washington was 3-8 last year, 1-6 in the Big Sky. This year the Eagles are 6-4, 3-3, but they have played even better than their record indicates.

The Eagles lost to Weber State, 22-20, when the Wildcats kicked the winning field goal with 15 seconds to play.

They lost to Montana, 34-30, when the Grizzlies scored with 56 seconds left.

And last week, Northern Arizona snapped a tie by kicking a field goal with nine seconds to play. Four minutes earlier, Eastern Washington barely missed the go-ahead touchdown when a receiver couldn’t get one foot down in the end zone.

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Whatever happens against Eastern Washington, Baldwin won’t have the Matadors practicing while they wait for Division I-AA playoff bids to be extended on Nov. 24.

Though a victory would leave Northridge 7-4 overall, and probably in third place in the Big Sky, Baldwin doesn’t expect the Matadors to make the 16-team playoffs.