But then, he is going to sing the national anthem at the high school football game on Friday night when the Los Gatos New Millennium Foundation kicks off its second annual alumni weekend; he did have an outstanding career in education as a teacher at Los Gatos High and an administrator at Saratoga; and he probably gave me a C-minus when I really deserved a D-minus. So I guess he does deserve a little recognition. Oh, what the heck!

Jerry McCloskey will be one of the many former Los Gatos faculty members and students on hand for special alumni weekend that begins Sept. 27 with a 7:30 p.m. football game against Monta Vista, guided tours of the school on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a fundraiser auction at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Opera House.

And if it's anything like last year's event, it's a weekend not to be missed.

A year ago, my brother and I weren't sure if we really wanted to go.

Los Gatos High had invited those of us who had been football players back to the school for a special alumni recognition night last fall. But the event came only four days after the tragic Sept. 11 terrorist attack, so we didn't feel much like celebrating.

Trouble was, the school was dedicating a new fieldhouse to our former coach, Larry Mathews, and we both wanted to be there for that. Still, as late as that Friday afternoon I was still trying to decide whether or not to go.

"Oh, we should go ... for Larry if nothing else," my brother Max finally said.

Sure, easy for him to say. He was Mr. Superstar. Everybody would remember him ... he was the halfback running for all the touchdowns, getting his picture in the paper, winning all the awards. Who was going to remember the reserve fullback who spent more time blocking and holding down the bench than carrying the ball?

But then, it was a chance to see the old high school, rekindle the memories, see the old guys and visit with the coach.

Well, I saw all the old guys. And you know what? All of us looked pretty old! Everyone, that is, except Larry. He looked great, and the memories of a fall some 37 years ago came flooding back:

* the upset win over the eventual league champions;

* the Thanksgiving Day game that was as big as the Super Bowl in our little town;

* and "the hill" — that steep grade of loose dirt next to the practice field that we had to run up and down 10 or 15 times a day (and what dirt that didn't filter inside your shoes was kicked up into the face of the guy behind you... so you definitely wanted to be first).

And it was great to be standing on the sidelines with the guys—the greats with the not-so-greats—who shared the experience of running that hill every day in practice.

It was a thrill to stand on the sidelines with the Los Gatos superstars of the past—Jim Horn from the 1950s, Phil Monk and my brother Max from the '60s, Mike Denevi and Gary Lynn of the '70s, Kent Cooper and Todd Mayo of the '80s and Brad Sanfilippo and Dion Mejia of the '90s.

It was exciting to see players whose names will forever be part of Los Gatos football history—Benny Pierce, Jim Wanless, Ray and Johnny Mesa, Jim Zanardi, Drew and Jeff Petulla and the Sporleders ... Doug, Bert and Steve.

And it was great to see Greg Fowler, a Los Gatos most valuable player in 1966, so excited about introducing his uncle, Steve Lepurin—a Wildcat in the fall of 1931. The Lepurin family home was actually located on the very site of the current field and, according to the late John Baggerly, football coach Doug Helm—for whom Helm Field is named—called Lepurin the school's best ever athlete. You know, Greg wasn't bad either, so athletics must run in the family.

It was a great night, and this Friday promises more of the same—sharing memories, seeing old friends and supporting the high school we all love.

And if a retired civics teacher wants to change a grade to, say, maybe a B-plus ... well, the night would be even better.


Alumni weekend events

Friday, Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m.: Los Gatos football game at Helm Field. All Los Gatos alumni will be admitted free. The names of football players who sign registration cards at the check-in table will have their names announced during the game. Former players will meet at the home goalposts at halftime for a reading of a special town proclamation by Mayor Randy Attaway, then the alumni will lead the current Wildcat onto the field for the second.

Saturday, Sept. 28, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Guided tours of the high school will be led by current students.

Sunday, Sept. 29, 2 p.m.: Silent and live auctions will be held at the Opera House, and the New Millennium Foundation will raffle off a Mini-Cooper automobile. Tickets for the raffle are $100, and tickets purchased prior to Sunday will be good for free admission. The regular admission price is $25.