AN OFFENSIVE WHIZ OR A BUMBLING FOOL? EX-UCLA AIDE CAN'T GET CAL ON TRACK.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

If you dumped all your Microsoft stock five years ago and poured your money into mutual funds, Al Borges knows how you feel.

Ten months ago, he left UCLA for same offensive coordinator's job at Cal, staking his reputation on his ability to turn Cal's moribund offense around. When the two schools cross paths Saturday at the Rose Bowl, UCLA will bring a 5-0 record and No. 4 ranking with it. Cal brings an 0-5 mark and even less optimism.

``When you make a move, you roll the dice a little,'' Borges said. ``It's the risk you take.

``In this profession, it's so funny. It's what have you done for me lately. You go from an offensive whiz to a bumbling fool in one fell swoop.''

In Borges' view, it looked like a no-lose proposition. Cal tendered a 2 1/2-year guaranteed contract - highly unusual for an assistant - and bumped his salary by close to $50,000 a year. Cal offered him a stepladder to what he really wanted: a college head-coaching job.

As long as Borges stayed at UCLA, he wasn't going to escape the reputation of Toledo as the man who pulled the levers for the school's prolific offense.

Borges had four interviews for NFL jobs but couldn't land one and was a finalist for the head-coaching job at Boise State. When he couldn't get an interview at San Jose State last December - even though Toledo called to recommend him - he knew it was time to leave. It didn't matter that UCLA had eight returning starters and the Bruins looked sure to improve on last year's 6-6 record.

``If you want to be a head coach - as an assistant - to get people's attention, you have to rebuild something that's not there,'' Borges said. ``You have to go to a place that's not very good at something and turn it around. Then people will say there's a reason it's good. At UCLA, if they had a great offense, they'd already done that.''

Borges hoped to take one of the Pac-10's most talented quarterbacks, Kyle Boller, and build the offense around him. Cal has managed to improve its offensive output to 370 yards per game, 60 more than last season, but the Bears have turned the ball over a conference-worst 19 times.

The 17.6 points per game they average is last in the Pac-10 and down five points from last season, when they were also the conference's worst.

``Turnovers have killed us and our inability to make a big play,'' Borges said. ``We don't have a big-play guy. We've been able to move the ball but haven't been able to get the ball in one big play.''

Borges and Toledo each went to great lengths to dispel any notion that there was tension between the two last year. They'd often take long walks together during their five years at UCLA that were as much to talk shop as to exercise.

``He left because Cal was a good fit for him, not because of me,'' said Toledo, who has left buck-up messages for Borges after Cal losses. ``He left on real good terms.''

Borges has worked for some of the more respected offensive coaches in the West - the late Pokey Allen at Portland State and Boise State, Mike Belotti at Oregon and Toledo at UCLA.

When Borges arrived in Westwood in 1996, he left any autonomy he'd enjoyed behind.

At UCLA, the offensive meetings were open forums, but they were run by Toledo, who also made the final decisions. On Saturday, Borges called plays, but Toledo was on the headset. If Toledo wanted a particular play run in a particular situation, it wasn't a secret.

``That was the thing Al had the most difficulty with when he got here,'' Toledo said. ``But that's the way it was going to be for anyone who was here. After the first year, it was fine. We thought more alike than anybody I've ever been associated with.''

Borges' absence is noticeable in the Bruins offense this year, both in production and the way it operates. There's a greater emphasis on the running game, there are fewer formations and fewer plays. If the Bruins aren't more conservative, they're certainly simpler.

UCLA was second in passing and 10th in rushing in the Pac-10 a year ago. This season, it is first in rushing and last in passing.

``We were 10th in the league in rushing last year,'' Toledo said. ``We're trying to be more physical.''

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AL BORGES

Onetime UCLA assistant coach took his chance when he left Westwood for Berkeley. The Bears are 0-5.