BEARS VICTORY TAILOR-MADE : COACH MARIUCCI PRESENTS FANCY OFFENSE AS WELL AS FANCY CLOTHES.

Byline: Eric Sondheimer Daily News Deputy Sports Editor 

Wearing a black sports coat, blue-and-gold tie, tan pants and brown dress shoes, California first-year coach Steve Mariucci roams the sideline looking like a high-powered chief executive officer.

When he speaks, players listen. When he gives orders, players act. When he offers inspiration, players respond.

Right now, Bears players would probably walk all the way back to Berkeley if that's what their 41-year-old head coach advised. They're totally enthralled with him, and why not? After Saturday's 22-15 upset win over USC at the Coliseum, the Bears are 5-0. And beating USC for the first time in Los Angeles since 1970 certainly makes the alumni feel good.

``I told the team sometime, somewhere, somehow, a Cal team will beat USC,'' he said. ``I said, `Why not us?' ''

It's more than Mariucci's fancy sideline wardrobe that has reversed the Bears' losing ways. A former assistant coach with the Green Bay Packers, he brought with him the West Coast offense. On Saturday, the Bears executed the offense to perfection. The unpredictable play-calling left USC defenders frustrated and bewildered.

There were screen passes left and right. There were draw plays on third down. There were pass plays on fourth-and-short. There were flanker screens and quarterback sneaks. In the end, California finished with 415 yards in total offense. Quarterback Pat Barnes passed for 229 yards and two touchdowns and tailback Brandon Willis rushed for 150 yards on 33 carries.

``We try to hit every angle we can,'' running back Deltha O'Neal said.

There was no more gutsy call from Mariucci and offensive coordinator Hue Jackson than in the second quarter on a fourth-and-1 situation from the USC 12. Barnes faked a handoff and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tony Gonzalez for a 13-0 Bears lead.

``It was something I wanted to do and he (Mariucci) OK'd it and it worked,'' Jackson said.

Making Gonzalez a prominent part of the offense was another brilliant strategic move. The 6-foot-6 junior tight end from Huntington Beach starts for Cal's basketball team and is considered one of the best athletes around. He caught five passes for 74 yards.

``I knew the team was going to be counting on me this week,'' Gonzalez said. ``It's definitely a confidence builder. This is very fun for me. I've never beaten SC. It's a joy.''

The win comes as a surprise to many because the Bears weren't overpowering in their four earlier wins, including a 48-42 overtime victory over Oregon State last week. But Mariucci believed his team could beat the Trojans if they maintained their poise.

``The issue was could we handle it mentally?'' he said. ``Are we going to crumble if something bad happens? Are the wheels going to come off?''

The Bears endured, and now Mariucci is hot property.

``I think we have the finest head coach in college football and I'm not saying that because we're 5-0 and beat SC,'' assistant coach Jackson said.

``He's a well-dressed coach and we're proud to be his players,'' receiver Na'il Benjamin said.

If the Bears keep winning, they'll be back in Southern California come Jan. 1. And then Mariucci could really dress up for the Rose Bowl.

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Photo: California coach Steve Mariucci, right, consoles USC 's John Robinson after the game.

Michael Owen Baker / Daily News