CAL LUTHERAN HOLDS BASIC TRAINING : NAVY SEALS TOUGHEN TEAM.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

Scott Squires wanted to make an immediate impression in his first season as the head football coach at Cal Lutheran University.

So Squires, receivers coach at Nevada-Las Vegas last year and former assistant at CLU, arranged for the Kingsmen to hold their training camp this week at the Navy SEALS training facility in Coronado.

The idea was to build team chemistry through activities such as human-pyramid contests and softball games in which players are knee-deep in the ocean. There also was group singing contests and skits built around themes like the movie Top Gun.

``It's an opportunity to bring the team together,'' said Squires, who went through similar camps as a player at Pacific Lutheran in Tacoma, Wash., in the 1980s. ``For us, it's a time of inspiration and perspiration.''

Obviously the camp isn't just about fun and games. The purpose is to improve on last year's 4-4-1 record and challenge for the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship.

On paper, the Kingsmen are better, especially on offense.

The running game will center around sophomore tailback Fredrik Nanhed, a Swedish exchange student who rushed for an NCAA Division III freshman record 1,380 yards a year ago.

Squires anticipates another productive year from Nanhed and plans to get him the ball as much as possible.

``When you've got an All-American type back like that, you'd be foolish not to get him the ball,'' Squires said.

Nanhed will run behind an experienced offensive line that Squires calls the biggest and strongest at Cal Lutheran since the early 1980s. The top returner is first-team All-SCIAC pick Manuel Cantero.

Quarterback Ryan Huisenga, who threw for 1,443 yards and six touchdowns a year ago, is the starter for the third consecutive season. Although Squires said there will be competition in camp from freshman Nathan Judd (Boron, '96), Huisenga is expected to start the season opener Sept. 14 against the University of San Diego.

Wide receiver, where Tom Herman is the only player back with starting experience, is significantly less settled at this point.

``We've got to find some other guys to play alongside (Herman),'' said Squires, who would like to establish as much offensive balance as possible.

``Whatever it takes to get in the end zone, that's what we'll do,'' he said. ``Whether that means handing the ball to (Nanhed) or throwing it.''

Defensively, the Kingsmen are strong along the defensive line (Christian Paulsboe) and at linebacker (Justin Monical, who had 86 tackles and three fumble recoveries).

In the defensive backfield, however, CLU is young and inexperienced. Squires said it is his biggest concern and is hoping a player will emerge to solidy the unit.

Squires also said it's too soon to predict where the Kingsmen figure in the SCIAC race. Perennial power La Verne is expected to field another strong team, but the first-year coach isn't ready to concede anything.

His goals are to go undefeated at home, challenge for the conference title, qualify for the postseason and then contend for the national championship.

``Whether the opportunity is there to do those things this year remains to be seen,'' Squires said. ``But definitely that's the direction that we want this program to be headed in.''