Roberson Won’t Have to Sit Out

Defensive end Joseph Roberson of Cal State Northridge will not miss the first half of a Big Sky Conference game Saturday at Montana State because of his ejection last week against Montana, conference officials said.

Roberson, a senior and two-year starter, received a letter of reprimand from Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton for spitting at a Montana lineman during a 34-30 Northridge loss. Roberson, who is black, said he retaliated after the player spat at him and uttered a racial slur.

NCAA rules require players who are ejected for “unfair tactics” to sit out one half. Roberson’s offense did not warrant a suspension, a conference spokesman said.

“It was an unsportsmanlike act, but the commissioner didn’t determine it to be fighting,” said Ron Loghry, Big Sky chief of staff. A second offense, Loghry said, would result in immediate suspension.

Loghry said conference officials are investigating the incident.

BASKETBALL

* The Southern Section Council on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a proposal that will create a third subdivision in the Division I boys’ and girls’ basketball playoffs to reduce the number of teams competing for each championship.

Under the proposal, which takes effect this year, no more than 60 teams can compete for a title in Division I. Last year, 72 teams played for the Division I-AA title and 73 fought for the Division I-A crown.

The addition of a Division I-AAA, which will include schools with the largest enrollments, will significantly reduce those numbers.

Division I will be used as a pilot program and could extend to Division V, which contains the largest number of teams, if considered a success. Division I teams will find out which subdivision they reside in after final enrollment figures are released in November.

The creation of a third subdivision will force a change in qualifying for the state tournament. In the past, the champion and runner-up from the two title games in each division advanced.

Instead, the section will send its three champions and only one of three runners-up, as selected by criteria to be determined.

The council also recommended that its representatives at next week’s state council meeting vote to approve a measure to require three-person crews to officiate boys’ and girls’ basketball games in the state playoffs.