The San Mateo County Community College District could use a boost to its public image as it continues to endure regular and uncomfortable reminders of the legal problems caused by its former chancellor who is immersed in a battle against a lengthy array of charges of financial malpractice while in office.
Ron Galatolo’s court case persists, alerting voters and taxpayers to the district’s lack of past fiscal prudence. The welcome potential hype is scheduled to be provided by one of its athletic programs, the dominant football team at the College of San Mateo.
The program is set to receive a serious shoutout during a Feb. 8 Super Bowl pregame show on NBC, according to CSM’s tireless publicist, Fred Baer of Foster City who is now beginning his 65th year faithfully serving the college’s athletic department.
The NFL’s title game — one of the most-viewed spectacles conducted annually in the United States — will be held in Santa Clara on the home field of the San Francisco 49ers so a CSM mention makes some local sense.
Over time, the two-year school has collected 21 Super Bowl rings (more than most four-year institutions of higher learning that field a football team) among its former coaches and players, Bill Walsh, John Madden and Julian Edelman among them.
The leader of that group, however, is Neal Dahlen. He has amassed no fewer than seven of the coveted rings (tied with Tom Brady for second most all-time).
Dahlen is a former front office administrator/executive with the 49ers and Denver Broncos. He is a Capuchino High School alum and an ex-CSM football player who later coached at Hillsdale and Mills highs here on the Peninsula.
IT’S A BOULEVARD OF CHAMPIONS: The CSM connection to Super Bowl excellence is just part of the overall county story. In that same vein, you can make a solid argument that Alameda de las Pulgas is a bona fide “Boulevard of Champions.”
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That’s because, at last count, 24 Super Bowl rings have been achieved by ex-football players and one former coach (Dick Vermeil at Hillsdale) who have roots at high schools located along (or very near) that well-traversed avenue.
Those fortunate campuses extend from Junipero Serra in San Mateo (located less than a half-block from The Alameda) all the way south to Carlmont and Woodside. There are some duplications with CSM’s roster of gridiron standouts, Bill Ring, Edelman, Vermeil and Dahlen among them.
Serra’s high-achieving pair, Lynn Swann and Brady, have combined for 11 Super Bowl rings between them. They have been named the game’s most valuable player on six occasions.
Brady has five of those MVP awards playing for New England and Tampa Bay; Swann, playing for Pittsburgh, was honored with his MVP nod 50 years ago.
According to National Football League records, no high school (or university for that matter) has more Super Bowl MVP awards than Serra and its pair of standouts.
IT IS SANTA AND JESSICA CLAUS: Regarding a recent item here that referred to the regular lack of a stated first name for the alleged wife of Santa Claus (she is usually referred to simply as “Mrs. Claus”), a reader, Kurt Dotson, has pointed out that at least one TV show, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” features Jessica, a character who becomes, yes, Mrs. Claus. We appreciate the help.
MOBILE BBQ IMPRESARIO PASSES: The Peninsula lost a much-loved and ultra-generous culinary specialist last month with the passing of Frank Vasquez, the owner and operator (with his son) of Frank’s Texas BBQ. His mobile catering service became a familiar and welcome addition to countless events over the years. His charitable work was significant and noteworthy. He was 65.
DID LICK OBSERVATORY MOVE?: In the aftermath of last month’s storms, a KPIX-Channel 5 news segment noted that damage had incurred at the Lick Observatory, but a graphic placed the facility in Santa Cruz. Hmmm. Last we checked it was located on Mount Hamilton east of San Jose. Maybe it was moved. Or not.
John Horgan began writing a neighborhood diary at the tender age of 9 in San Mateo. He’s been doing much the same thing as a Peninsula journalist for decades ever since. You can contact him by email at johnhorganmedia@gmail.com.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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