COLLEGE UPDATE: GETTING OFF ON RIGHT FOOT LINGUA SET FOR STARTING JOB.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

Fresno State boasted one of the nation's best kickers in now-graduated Asen Asparuhov the past three seasons.

One of his young teammates showed Asparuhov the Bulldogs soon could find a suitable replacement. Though Mike Lingua was the backup punter for the Bulldogs last season, Asparuhov, the place-kicker, started calling the Canyon High product ``Mike the Leg'' for his ability to send his practice punts high through the air.

Now, Lingua will have to show Fresno State he can do it in game situations. And he won't be eased into the Division I-A rigors: The Bulldogs' season opener is Aug. 30 at traditional power Tennessee. Two weeks later after a home game against Top 25 hopeful Oregon State, the Bulldogs travel to national-championship contender Oklahoma.

Lingua needs live up to his nickname. The redshirt freshman is the only punter on Fresno State's roster.

``We're breaking in two new guys,'' Bulldogs special-teams coach John Baxter told the Fresno Bee, referring to Lingua and new kicker Brett Visintainer. ``They're the next batter up.''

Lingua is still learning football. He was mainly a soccer goalkeeper and played just one full season of football for the Cowboys. But he was an All-Daily News honorable-mention pick and drew Fresno State's attention.

``He's played eight games,'' Baxter said. ``But's that eight more games than Asen had played when he got here.''

Lingua learned the ropes from Jason Simpson, Fresno State's All-Western Athletic Conference punter in 2002. But he'll take full advantage off practice to work on such punting aspects as pooch kicks and properly handling the snap.

``I'm getting there,'' Lingua said during spring practice. ``I've got stuff I have to work on, but I'll be ready.''

--Catching on: San Jose State's football team expects another big season from senior wide receiver Jamall Broussard (College of the Canyons). He led the 2002 Spartans with 62 receptions for 681 yards and five touchdowns.

Two other COC players could play key roles at the University of Buffalo this fall. Safety Eddie Robinson, also a standout running back at Cleveland High of Reseda, will bid for a starting spot.

``He is an outstanding prospect at the safety position with size, strength and speed,'' Buffalo coach Jay Hofher said.

Tight end Brian Miller (Valencia) caught 42 passes for 553 yards and six touchdowns for the Cougars last season. The All-State pick will battle freshman Chad Upshaw for playing time.

--Just Ducky: Oregon softball pitcher Lindsey Kontra (Hart) was named to the Pacific-10 Conference's all-academic honorable-mention team. Kontra, a sophomore, went 6-0 with a 2.48 ERA in 21 appearances, including six starts.

--All-America honor: Brigham Young sophomore softball catcher Lauren Watson (Valencia) earned second-team Easton All-American honors after hitting .379 with 10 homers and 32 RBI as the Cougars' leadoff hitter this season.

--More Cougars: Jamie Rendich, a sophomore for BYU's women's soccer team, should be a bigger part of the Cougars' offense this season. As a freshman, Rendich (Canyon High) scored three goals with three assists.

The Cougars lost four-year star Jenie Viernes, who scored 17 goals last season, so Rendich will be counted on to produce more than her 22 total shots in 2002.

Chris Cocoles, [phone]

chris.cocoles(at)dailynews.com