OLD GUARD

A close shave of the crown, and Quinton Reed blends into the college football background.

But it’s been a few days since Reed shaved his head, and gray stubble is beginning to show after practice. Reed smiles broadly and sweeps a palm over his head.

“There’s a lot of gray hair up there,” he says. “The guys call me ‘Pops,’ ‘Old Man’. . .”

The salt-and-pepper appearance is the only noticeable difference between Reed, a senior nose guard, and his Cal State Northridge teammates.

While most of the Matadors are experiencing their first taste of independence as young adults, Reed, two weeks shy of his 34th birthday, already has served his country, married and become a father, endured the death of one wife and been divorced from another.

Reed, who will suit up tonight for the Matadors in their Big Sky Conference opener at Eastern Washington, is believed to be the oldest player in Northridge history. Talk about senior leadership. Reed, who served eight years in the Army before entering college, is older than six Matador assistants and is only a few years the junior of interim Coach Jeff Kearin.

“You get a few older guys playing, but not many in their 30s,” said assistant David Robinson, 36, who coaches the defensive line. “He understands work and he understands leadership. That helps with the younger guys.”

Said center Julio Alcala: “He’s a good guy to have around. He’s one of those guys that, because he’s been around, he knows more than most people on this team. We kind of look up to him for leadership, not just on the field.”

Reed, however, is succeeding because of his athletic skill. Despite being more than a decade older than most players, the 6-foot-2, 260-pound Reed is in prime physical condition. An eight-year hitch with Uncle Sam instilled plenty of discipline.

“The Army was a regular workout day,” Reed said. “I come out here and it’s basically the same thing, except with shoulder pads.”

Reed converted from linebacker last year and entered this season as a possible starter. He arrived at camp after shedding 10 pounds.

“He’s strong and he can move,” Robinson said. “He’s stronger in the upper body. More like a man, I would say.”

Although he doesn’t start, Reed’s strength and speed have earned him a role in a system of rotating interior linemen.

“He’s going up against any other player,” said Alcala, who squares off against Reed regularly in practice. “I don’t really think about his age. He’s fast and a bit stronger. That’s probably because he’s had more years to physically mature.”

Reed doesn’t see age as an issue.

“It depends on the individual,” he said. “Whether I beat them, or whether I get beat on a play, it’s the technique that’s used.”

Reed left the Army in 1996, then suited up for college football for the first time at Mt. San Jacinto College. Former Northridge coach Ron Ponciano offered Reed a scholarship after his second season.

In his second season at Northridge, Reed has become a recognizable leader for obvious reasons.

“There’s a breadth of experience there and you can definitely tell when he speaks to the younger guys,” Kearin said. “He’s seen a lifetime of the world, more than I probably ever will.”

Teammates and the media have exhausted Reed for tales about his experiences to the point he is reluctant to discuss his past. Reed said he was uncomfortable being the subject last season of a television news feature that focused on his personal life.

“I’ve talked about this so much already,” Reed said. “Somebody asks me about it every day. The same stuff over and over.”

In 1991, Reed served eight months in Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Storm. A parachutist and artillery specialist, Reed considered making a career in the Army.

During his stint in the Middle East, Reed was summoned home because his wife, Rachel, was sick with pneumonia. She died soon after Reed arrived.

“I don’t like to talk about it,” he said.

Reed has a 2 1/2-year-old son, Quinton Jr., who lives with the child’s mother.

As a civilian, Reed returned to football, an unfulfilled dream. He hadn’t suited up since his senior year at Rutherford High in Panama City, Fla., but he played exceptionally at Mt. San Jacinto. Last season he made 15 tackles for Northridge.

“I wouldn’t have been happy with myself if I didn’t come out and play,” Reed said. “That’s the bottom line right there. It was always in the back of my mind to do this, I just didn’t know when.”

Few opponents become aware of Reed’s age. Only once can he recall the matter coming up during a game.

While playing for Mt. San Jacinto, Reed emerged from a pile of players, one of whom looked at him incredulously.

“He said, ‘Man, you’re too old to be out here,’ ” Reed recalled. “ ‘But you’re fast.’ ”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Cal State Northridge (1-1) vs. Eastern Washington (1-2)

When: 6:05 p.m.

Where: Woodward Stadium, Cheney, Wash.

Why: Big Sky Conference opener for Matadors, the Eagles are 0-1

Fast fact: The teams have played four times and are 2-2.

PARTLY CLOUDY ‘SKY’

Northridge is 1-2 in Big Sky Conference openers since joining it in 1996. A closer look:

YEAR OPPONENT SCORE RESULT CONF. RECORD

1996 at Northern Arizona 32-14 Loss 5-3 (third)

1997 at Portland State 26-13 Loss 4-4 (fourth)

1998 Northern Arizona 41-10 Win 5-3 (second)