COLLEGE FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK; CAL COACHERS LIKE LOOK OF EX-HART QB BEARS HOPE THEIR FAITH IN BOLLAR TO PAY OFF.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

The pressure is on California coach Tom Holmoe this college football season. And so it is with Cal quarterback Kyle Boller.

Not that Holmoe's increasingly shaky job status is in Boller's hands. But the Hart High product could enhance Holmoe's chances of sticking around in Berkeley with a spectacular sophomore season.

Boller never had a chance to acclimate himself to the unforgiving world of Division I-A last fall. Redshirting was not an option. Starting for the Golden Bears was.

Cal's opponents weren't impressed by Boller's record-setting senior year at Hart. Boller's numbers, and the fact Cal lacked quality receivers and blockers, helped explain the Bears' 4-7 season. He completed just 38.6 percent of his passes, threw for nine touchdowns but had 15 interceptions. The offensive line allowed 30 sacks and Boller's punished right shoulder underwent offseason surgery, but he's healthy.

Holmoe had faith in Boller as Cal prepared to begin fall practice.

``I would not want to go into this season with any other kid at quarterback,'' Holmoe said. ``When we support him, he'll be fine.''

Cal's receiving corps was devastated further when Michael Ainsworth flunked out of school.

Holmoe brought in three junior college transfers, led by Glendale College product Chad Heydorff. All five offensive-line starters return, and the Bears have a promising running back in sophomore Joe Igber.

But the critics will be watching what Boller does. Holmoe will, too.

``We put a lot of pressure on Kyle Boller unduly,'' Holmoe said. ``He did as well as he could have done considering everything that happened.''

--More Cal: The Bears should have one of the Pac-10's best defensive lines led by All-America candidate Andre Carter at defensive end.

But just as Carter is known nationally, nose guard Jacob Waasdorp (Quartz Hill) is similarly underappreciated.

Both were all-conference choices last year as juniors. They registered 11 sacks apiece, helping Cal lead the Pac-10 with 51.

--Safety valve: New Mexico's Justin Mobley (Antelope Valley) is undergoing a makeover for his sophomore season.

A part-timer at quarterback last year, Mobley was shifted to the defensive backfield by Lobos head coach Rocky Long.

Mobley was a big-play performer on defense during his career with the Antelopes and is already making strides at New Mexico.

Senior Rantie Harper is an incumbent in New Mexico's secondary that features as many as six backs in certain situations. Mobley is second on the depth chart behind Harper but figures to log his share of playing time.

``Actually, Mobley's making as many plays, if not more, than Rantie,'' said New Mexico defensive coordinator/safeties coach Bronco Mendenhall. ``(Mobley's) just a little more inconsistent.''

Mobley's A.V. teammate Joe Manning should be a do-it-all player for the Lobos again. He's slated to be the primary kick and punt returner.

In two kickoff returns as a freshman, Manning averaged 27 yards, including one for 33. In 17 punt returns, he averaged 5.1 yards. Manning also projects as a backup receiver after catching 13 passes for 122 yards.

Another local product at New Mexico, USC transfer Ted Iacenda (Hart), is a capable receiving fullback. He caught 27 passes for 303 yards in 1999.

--Recruiting pipeline: Corvallis, Ore., should consider opening a campus for a seventh Golden League member.

The Beavers have dipped into the Antelope Valley's talent pool repeatedly over the past few years.

The best of the bunch right now is Palmdale's Vincent Sandoval, a 6- foot-4, 287-pound junior who should start at one of the offensive tackle spots.

Also on OSU's roster are Golden League products Eric Mobley (Antelope Valley/A.V. Christian), a junior running back; redshirt freshman defensive back Jason Jacobs (Lancaster), and freshman linebacker Paul Soto (Highland).

Another school with heavy local ties has been Utah State. A.V. High alumnus Tony Walker is one of the Big West Conference's top cornerbacks.

The Aggies' roster also includes Michael Brignac (Westlake), Scott Hunt and Scott Collins (Hart), Kevin Ross (Antelope Valley) and James Newton (Newbury Park).

--Odds and ends: Westlake High graduate Joey Cuppari had a solid freshman season for the Colorado State Rams, catching 20 passes for 308 yards and a touchdown.

But the Rams are crowded at wide receiver with senior speedsters Frank Rice and Dallas Davis ahead of Cuppari, who should be a solid third-down option. . . .

San Diego State's 1999 defense, which ranked 18th in the country, lost nine starters and needs a big year from junior returning strong safety Will Demps (Highland). Demps had 39 tackles (four for loss) and one interception last season. . . .

Fresno State has a Westlake connection on both its defense and coaching staff. Sophomore Karl Holley is second on the Bulldogs' depth chart behind veteran Alan Harper at defensive tackle.

Troy Thomas, the mastermind behind Westlake's outstanding defense that won the school's first Southern Section title, is a Fresno State graduate assistant coach.