FOOTBALL REWIND
FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Victory Bell is headed back to Hemet High after Friday’s wild 41-37 win over rival San Jacinto. The base will eventually get a fresh coat of red and gold paint, but don’t expect the bell to be out on campus much. When the Hemet-San Jacinto series was dormant, the Victory Bell was hidden for fear it might be stolen, athletic director Dave Andersen said. Even when the series resumed in 2000 and the Bulldogs retained the bell for four straight games before the series took another hiatus, it was determined the bell should keep a low profile. “It was hidden in a back room all those years,” Andersen said. “My understanding was we were so worried about it being stolen they just hid it way in the back catacombs of Hemet High School.” Andersen said the bell’s location wasn’t public knowledge, even for campus employees. Longtime ASB director Al Fernandez said that might be stretching the truth a bit. The bell was shown off at assemblies and rallies and a few public events. Fernandez was the one who wheeled it out in 2000 when the series started back up. It’s yet to be determined what happens with the bell now. Hemet coach Jeff Reitz said earlier in the week that his players were aware of the rivalry with San Jacinto and the history of the Victory Bell, and were definitely motivated to get it back. — ALLAN STEELE