Johnson Quits CSUN Football Team

Patrick Johnson, Cal State Northridge’s Black Student-Athletes Assn. president, has quit the football team because he was converted from outside linebacker to nose guard, Coach Bob Burt said Thursday.

At Johnson’s request, a team meeting was held to allow Johnson to address his concerns about the way he was treated. Players and coaches also spoke at the Tuesday meeting.

Black players who urged teammates to hear Johnson out said, however, they do not agree with his complaints, a source on the team said.

Johnson, a 6-foot-2, 261-pound senior, will be replaced at nose guard by Tim Gardner.

Johnson, who missed the 1992 season because of a spiral fracture of his ring finger that required surgery, was unavailable for comment.

Johnson was active in 1991 in persuading then-university President James W. Cleary to form a task force to investigate charges of racism within the athletic program.

Johnson also presented a list of demands to Athletic Director Bob Hiegert, several of which were met, including the hirings of a full-time black football coach and a black academic athletic adviser.

Johnson, who gained 30 pounds since last fall, was converted to nose guard after losing a battle to incumbent Angel Chavez at outside linebacker.