CHATTER: USC KICKER WALL TAKING LONELY ROAD BACK FROM INJURY.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

A kicker's life often is solitary, as former Birmingham High and current USC sophomore John Wall demonstrated last week. On an unmarked Birmingham of Van Nuys football field, with nothing but empty bottles around, Wall quietly practiced his comeback from knee surgery.

Wearing just his USC shorts and a silver necklace, Wall's blond hair shone in the afternoon sun as he kicked four footballs from various yardage. He has been doing this three days a week for most of the summer, after practicing at USC every afternoon, five days a week.

``I'm pretty much used to the kicker life,'' he said between kicks. ``It's not as bad as everyone plays it out to be. You're not as lonely.''

Wall added he prefers to be around the team, which will only happen if he can win the kicker's job.

No one won the job in the spring, just as no one stepped forward during the 2000 season. Wall replaced David Newbury and played in five games, making all five field-goal attempts (none were longer than 27 yards) and nine of 14 PATs (the five misses were blocked). But then he hurt his groin and tore his right ACL, ending his season.

After six months of rehabilitation, Wall was surprised at how good he felt the first time he kicked.

Last week, while easily making 40-yard kicks, he felt ``a tiny pinch of pain from the scar tissue.'' But he's hopeful he will win the starter's job.

``It's just a matter of getting my strength back,'' Wall said. ...

How would you like to be Chuck Lyon? When the summer began, the College of the Canyons football coach had plenty of receivers and running backs but not enough quarterbacks.

He had Valencia graduate Kyle Bauer, but Lyon, a quarterback in his playing days, wanted more.

Then Cal coach Tom Holmoe, who attended Crescenta Valley High, paid a visit.

``I was crying the blues,'' Lyon said. ``He said, 'I have a QB for you. He'll call you.' ''

In came Andy Zalinsky, who won't play at Cal because Hart graduate Kyle Boller is the starter. Then Quartz Hill and Valley College graduate Eric Holtfreter showed up.

Then last week, Granada Hills graduate Jason Winn left Texas Tech and came to the Valencia campus.

Suddenly, it's an embarrassment of riches.

``He's a leader and he's a competitor,'' Lyon said of Winn. ``He's just like his brother (Travis, who played at COC and now is quarterbacks coach), except he's bigger. He's a clone in terms of competitiveness, but so is Kyle Bauer. (Bauer has) had a great summer. He's had a great work ethic.''

Lyon has San Fernando graduate Major Caldwell and Westlake's Marquis Bignac at running back, Chris Chesnut, Valencia's Stephen Stokes and Newbury Park's L. Ray Hawkins at receiver, and three tight ends: Leon Pinky from Granada Hills, Mike Gomez and Brian Miller from Valencia.

Expect the Cougars to earn their fourth consecutive bowl bid. ...

The following schools are ranked in the Student Sports Fab 50 preseason national football rankings: Hoover (No. 17), Westlake (No. 20) and Loyola (No. 27). Unfortunately, the Hoover is in Hoover, Ala., and the Westlake is in Austin, Texas. The Loyola is in Los Angeles, however. ...

Naomi Ehrlich, an incoming freshman soccer player at Crescenta Valley High, is competing in the Manchester Festival this week in England as a member of the under-15 United Soccer Academy. Last week, she played in the Gothia Cup in Sweden and scored the only two goals for her team that went 1-2-1.