Flying Finn Lands at CS Northridge : College football: Coach is not quite sure what to do with Ilkka Laine, but says the Scandinavian player has impressive raw skills.

Ilkka Laine didn’t pick up a football until he was 18. Then, he wouldn’t put it down.

He caught the bomb, ran the sweep, broke up passes, made touchdown-saving tackles, kicked off, kicked extra points and field goals, and returned kickoffs.

His speed, 4.5 in the 40-yard dash, was a national treasure.

Mesmerized by a tape of LeRoy Irvin, he wore Irvin’s No. 47 and tried to imitate the moves of the former Ram defensive back.

Last year on his 23rd birthday Laine ran for 190 yards and won the most valuable player trophy in a 52-0 semifinal victory over France in the semifinals of the European Cup.

He is to Finnish football fairy tales what Roy Hobbs and Sidd Finch are to American baseball lore. He doesn’t knock out the light standard with one swing, a la Hobbs, or smoke a 150 mile-per-hour fastball, a la Finch. He just makes the game-winning interception with no time left on the clock.

His was a tall tale as far as Cal State Northridge football Coach Bob Burt was concerned. Dozens of fans have tried to sell Burt on their overlooked cousin or underappreciated son. In his 25 coaching years, the players who were touted as too good to be true turned out to be neither, except for a 225-pound Samoan linebacker who could dunk barefooted.

But Burt’s skepticism disappeared when he saw Laine on film. In a series of 10 games, Laine made every bone-crushing tackle, circus catch and elusive run.

“He’s like Superman,� Burt said. “I don’t know the competitive level over there, but he has some skills.�

A club player and member of the Finnish national team, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Laine came to America last month to fulfill his dream of the past six years--to play in the National Football League.

He worked out for the Rams, the team with whom his Finnish coach is most familiar. The Rams suggested he gain experience at the college level.

Former Matador player Anthony Harris, a friend of Steve Hughes, a Finnish player originally from Monrovia, steered Laine to Northridge.

Although Laine realizes that the level of talent in the American college game is superior to that of Finland, he believes he can make it despite his lack of experience.

“Everybody here is as good as everybody else, that will be different,� he said. “And the game will have a lot more speed. But I know the game. I catch on quickly. The main problem for me will be studying. I have to get used to reading and taking (classes) in a different language.�

Laine, who speaks Finnish, English, Swedish and German, will also be challenged by reading and understanding the Matadors’ playbook, particularly if he plays a variety of positions. On Thursday, the first day of fall camp, he returned punts, kicked field goals and worked out with the wide receivers.

“I want to play free safety, but I’ll play where I’m told to,� he said.

Irvin, the Matadors’ defensive backfield coach, was surprised and flattered by Laine’s idolization of him and his interest in the defensive backfield.

“I’ll make a special point now to look after him,� Irvin said. “He’ll be under my wing.�

Matador Notes

Tailback Robert Trice, the team’s top returning offensive player, was not at practice and Coach Bob Burt does not know why.

“He’s en route from North Carolina,� Burt said. Burt will not decide if Trice, a native of Rocky Point, N.C., will be disciplined until he determines Trice’s reasons for being late. . . .

Defensive linemen Victor Myles and Oscar Wilson missed practice because of summer school. Tight end Travis Hall is sidelined with tonsillitis and tight end Chris Fregeau missed the afternoon practice for personal reasons. Offensive lineman Mark Sanders was not cleared to practice because of a heart murmur and cornerback Harvey Holt did not receive medical clearance because of a heart condition. . . .

All of the players were weighed and tested for strength improvement. The coaching staff was encouraged by the weight loss of several offensive linemen, including Eric Thomas (30 pounds), Trevor Watters (20 pounds), Ed Baboyova (15 pounds), Greg Sorensen (15 pounds) and Jeff Duke (10 pounds). Sorensen bench-pressed 405 pounds and power-cleaned 265 pounds. Oscar Wilson led the defensive line with a 485-pound bench press and 315-pound power clean. The top lifting linebackers were Tony Simon (380/295), Billy Dykes (375/270) and Tim Leonard (345/265). Dykes’ lifts were encouraging, considering he missed spring drills because of a shoulder injury that required arthroscopic surgery.

Ralph Henderson (405/260), Vincent Johnson (355/270), and senior Gerald Ponder (310/255) were the strongest defensive backs. Ponder’s eligibility was in limbo until last week when the faculty representatives of the American West Conference approved a medical redshirt season for him from four years ago. Ponder tore ligaments in his left knee at Riverside City College two games into the 1989 season. . . . Since last spring, redshirt freshman defensive back James Woods improved by 35 pounds in the bench press and 25 pounds in the power clean, lifting 300 and 220, respectively. Among the newcomers, freshman linebacker Larry Urzua lifted 300 and 225, freshman defensive lineman Chris Smith lifted 255 and 225, and junior tailback Mark Harper lifted 315 and 215.