CSUN'S OTHER QBS ARE WINGS IN WAITING.

Byline: Chris Branam Staff Writer

The odds are against Josh Fiske, David Lins and Mitch Ryerson. And Brandon Martinovic, too. They might have a better chance at winning $50 on a lotto scratcher than starting at quarterback for the Cal State Northridge football team.

But they practice every day with few complaints. They try to help themselves, and the Matadors' receivers, get better. This foursome knows Marcus Brady will start today's Big Sky Conference game against Idaho State at North Campus Stadium.

Brady, a resilient sophomore who has made 14 consecutive starts, probably has the job locked up for the next three seasons.

``Marcus has the easy job,'' CSUN quarterbacks coach Aaron Flowers said. ``These (other) guys work their butts off in practice and have little reward.''

Even though they all play the sport's most glamorous position, CSUN's four backup quarterbacks find themselves roaming from drill to drill in practice, plugging in wherever they are needed.

Fiske, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior who started three games for CSUN in 1997 when then-starter Flowers was out with a broken foot, will probably play on some kickoff and punt returns today. As Brady's backup, Fiske also has to be the most prepared to play.

``We're all good,'' said Fiske, who lost the starting job to Brady before last season, ``but only one guy gets the shot. Sometimes I think I'm working hard for nothing. That goes through your mind, but you can't let that take away from what you're doing on the field.''

At least Fiske has had the chance to get into a few games. Lins, a senior who was a standout at Crespi High and then Valley College, hasn't taken a snap in two seasons at CSUN.

``It's tough, but obviously you never know what can happen,'' Lins said. ``You've just got to deal with it, I guess. It bothered me a lot more last year.''

When Ryerson transferred to CSUN from Iowa State two years ago, he had a notion he was going to compete for the starting job. At the time, Brady was a fourth-string redshirt freshman.

Now Ryerson, a junior, is fourth-string, behind Lins.

``You get down sometimes,'' he said. ``You just have to look beyond that stuff. You have to remember why you are here. You're working for a team. I'm also going to school, and that's important, too.''

Education is what kept Fiske around. He considered quitting last year and this past summer. But something kept him going.

``There's been nights this past week when I don't feel like playing anymore,'' he said. ``I talk with my dad, and I'm so close to the end.''

Even though Flowers is remembered now as holding CSUN's career passing record, he was a fourth-string quarterback as a freshman at Utah State six years ago. As the position's coach, Flowers has an appreciation for guys like Fiske, Lins, Ryerson and Martinovic, a freshman who may only get one chance to compete for the starting job.

``They understand life,'' he said. ``You have to become a mature person in the overall realm of life. These guys are helping Marcus every chance they get.''

Fiske said being a backup has ``become second nature.''

``If you can accept the role,'' he said, ``then do it. If not, hang it up.''

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PHOTO CSUN's four backup quarterbacks to starter Marcus Brady, from left: Brandon Martinovic, Mitch Ryerson, Josh Fiske and David Lins.

Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News