Bellarmine Bells Football
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| Bellarmine Bells football | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First season | 1915 |
| Head coach | Jalal Beauchman 3rd season, 10–9 (.526) |
| Stadium | Jaguar Stadium at SJCC (Capacity: 10,500[1]) |
| Year built | 1963 |
| Field surface | Turf |
| Location | San Jose, California |
| League | West Catholic Athletic League |
| Conference titles | 20 |
| Rivalries | Saint Francis Lancers Mitty Monarchs Serra Padres |
| Current uniform | |
 | |
| Fight song | "Bellarmine Fight Song" |
| Mascot | Bellarman |
| Marching band | Bellarmine Pep Band |
| Outfitter | Under Armour |
| Website | bcp.org/football |
The Bellarmine Bells football team represents Bellarmine College Preparatory in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) of high school football. Bellarmine plays its home games at San Jose City College in San Jose, California. The head coach of Bellarmine is Jalal Beauchman,[2] the 6th head coach in the program's history. The Bells compete in the West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL) as a member of the Central Coast Section (CCS). The Bells have won 20 WCAL titles, 7 CCS Division 1 Championships, 1 CCS Division 2 Championship, and have played in the California State Championship game three times.[3]
History[edit]
Early history[edit]
The Bellarmine football program traces its origins to 1915 when the school was known as Santa Clara University Preparatory. The name of the school (and the team) was changed to Bellarmine College Preparatory when the school moved to its current College Park campus in 1925. This also prompted the change of uniform colors from red to blue and white.
Dennis Heenan era (1938-1946)[edit]
Dennis "Denny" Heenan was the first official head coach of Bellarmine Football. He legitimized the program by establishing a track record of success as he compiled 56 wins, 18 losses, and 5 ties. Heenan went on to become the Athletic Director at Santa Clara University. Heenan returned to coach at Bellarmine in 1965 where he coached JV football until 1976, when he retired.
Bill Prentice era (1948-1951)[edit]
After his graduation from Santa Clara University, Bill Prentice became the head coach of the Bells. He was an instant success, winning the Catholic Athletic League in his first year. In his four years as Bellarmine's head coach, he compiled 26 wins, 11 losses, and 1 tie. Bill Prentice coached standout Bellarmine players such as Bill Nolan, Dick Pfaff, and 5 time Super Bowl winner Bill McPherson.
John Hanna era (1952-1976)[edit]
John Hanna became the head coach in 1952 and went on to become the longest tenured head coach up until that point. In his 24 seasons as head coach, he accumulated 21 winning seasons in which 5 were undefeated seasons. Between 1963 and 1966, the Bells had one of their most dominant runs as a program as they had 36 wins and only one loss in that time frame. Additionally, in that time frame, the Bells had 4 All-Americans, 2 nationally ranked teams, and boasted the number one ranked defense in the nation in 1965. Under John Hanna, the Bells had a record of 170 wins, 59 losses, and 9 ties.
Walt Arnold era (1977-1983)[edit]
In 1977, Walt Arnold was hired as the head coach of the Bells. In his 6 year tenure, he accumulated the highest winning percentage of any Bellarmine coach at 82%. In the 1981 season, the Bells ranked number one in the state and won their first ever CCS championship in any sport under Arnold's direction. That same year, the Bells played in the California State Championship game. Walt Arnold's teams were perennial contenders in the then Catholic Athletic League (now West Catholic Athletic League) and CCS. Arnold was a competitive coach who instilled that nature in his players. The Bells, under Arnold, ran a pro-style offense with a fullback and a tailback, with the quarterback under center on most downs. The Bell's rivalry with the Saint Francis Lancers was taken to a new height during Arnold's tenure as he maintained a professional rivalry with the head coach of the Lancers at the time Ron Calcagno.
Mike Janda era (1984-2019)[edit]
Mike Janda has the longest head coaching career in the Bell's program to date of 36 years.[4] Under Janda, the Bells were known for their unique run-heavy double wing style of offense where they relied on misdirection and disciplined blocking. Janda became the winningest coach in CCS history[5] with 270 wins, 104 losses, and 3 ties. The Bells won 6 CCS Championships (1986, 1990, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015), and 14 WCAL Championships. Additionally, the Bells made it to the California State Championship Game three times under Janda. In 2011 led by quarterback Travis McHugh and linebacker Joe Gigantino, the Bells had one of the most successful seasons in the program's history as they won the WCAL, CCS,[6] and made it to the California State Championship game. Quarterback Travis McHugh won CCS Player of the year. In 2015, the Bells defeated Folsom in the Nor-Cal State Championship Game with standout quarterback Troy Martig under center.[7]
Jalal Beauchman era (2020-Present)[edit]
In March 2020, Jalal Beauchman was hired as the head coach of the Bellarmine Bells.[8] Beauchman played for the Bells himself where he was a standout wide receiver both in high school and in college where he played for the San Jose State Spartans. In 2019, Jalal Beauchman served as the head coach of Bellarmine's freshman team where they went undefeated and won the Freshman Football WCAL title.
2020 Season[edit]
Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the 2020 football season was moved from its usual Fall schedule to Spring of 2021 where the Bells played a shortened season of 5 games. Under Jalal Beauchman, the Bell's entire program was transformed. Beauchman made it a priority to modernize the program as he introduced a new spread offense system with the help of offensive lineman coach Scott Glicksberg. Additionally, he incorporated a college level style of defense as he brought former Bell player Joe Gigantino as the defensive coordinator. Former Bell player and San Jose State alum Jackson Burrill was brought on as special teams coordinator. Additionally, Beauchman hired Bell alum Brennan Ronald as the Director of Football Operations. Together, Beauchman and Ronald modernized the program by incorporating data analytics, headed by then Director of Data Analytics Samarth Girish.[9] Additionally, the program established a student front office staff of graphic designers, video editors, and a marketing team to propel the Bellarmine Football brand.
The Bells showed signs of promise in the 2020 season as they went 2-3. The first win of the season and of the Jalal Beauchman era came against the San Benito Haybalers,[10] a game in which the Bells had 17 players and one coach out due to Covid protocols.[11] The Bells found themselves down by 14 points against the Haybalers and had a come from behind win led by quarterback Tommy Anderson, running back Jaxon Sawyer, wide receiver Nicho Domine, and tight end Griffin Waiss. The second included a win against the Archbishop Mitty Monarchs,[12] a team the Bells had not beat in 5 years at the time.
The Bell's losses came against the Central Catholic Raiders,[13] a game in which the Bells blew a 21 point lead. The other losses in that season came against the Valley Christian Warriors,[14] and the Saint Francis Lancers.[15]
2021 Season[edit]
The Bells came into the 2021 season with momentum from the promising 2020 campaign. Led by quarterback Wade Smith and running back Ben Pfaff, the unranked Bells stunned the 5th ranked Menlo-Atherton Bears in the first game of the season.[16] The 2021 season marked the first time since 2015 where the Bells won their first four games of the year. After defeating the Bears, the Bells beat the San Leandro Pirates,[17] Central Catholic Raiders,[18] and the Archbishop Riordan Crusaders.[19] The Bells also defeated the Archbishop Mitty Monarchs,[20] Valley Christian Warriors,[21] and the Saint Ignatius Wildcats.[22] The Bell's regular season losses came against the Junipero Serra Padres,[23] Sacred Heart Cathedral Fightin' Irish,[24] and the Saint Francis Lancers. The Bell's finished the regular season with a record of 7-3 and finished 3rd in the WCAL. The Bells qualified for the CCS Division 1 Playoffs as the number 3 seed.[25] The revival of the program brought a sense of belief into the student body and the phrase "We Bellieve" became the rallying cry for the team.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Bells faced the Los Gatos Wildcats. Though the Bell's were the higher seed, the match occurred at the Wildcat's home stadium Helm Field due to Covid-19 restrictions at the Bell's regular home San Jose City College. It was a close game in the 4th quarter in which the Wildcats had the ball on the Bell's nine yard-line with 57 seconds left in the game. The Wildcats opted to pass which resulted in the ball being tipped by Bells linebacker Brandon Broch and intercepted by Bells defensive back Thomas Divittorio who returned the ball 94 yards for a game sealing pick 6 . That play went on to be known as "Mayhem at Helm" due to the chaos and elation which ensued during and after the play. Divittorio was awarded 49ers Cal-Hi Sports Play of the Year for his heroics.
The Bells advanced to the CCS Semi-finals where they lost to the eventual CCS Champions the Serra Padres.[26]
2022 Season[edit]
The 2022 season for the Bellarmine Bells kicked off in Atherton, CA against the Menlo-Atherton Bears on August 27th.[27] The Bells started the game strong with a 20-0 lead with a pair of Ben Pfaff touchdowns and a touchdown pass from quarterback Nate Escalada to backup quarterback and gadget player Parker Threatt. However, they were not able to contain 5 star national recruit and University of Oregon commit Jurrion Dickey, leading to a 34-48 loss to start the season. [28]
The following week, the Bells lost a thriller in overtime to McClymonds from Oakland, CA by a scoreline of 21-24.
Championships[edit]
CCS Championships[edit]
The Bells won the CCS Championship times in the following years: 1981, 1986, 1990, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, and 2022.[29] All Championships came in the highest division level of that year, except for 2022 where the Bells played in the second division level.
| Season | Coach | Record | Score | Runner Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Walt Arnold | 12-0 | 7–3 | Monta Vista Matadors |
| 1986 | Mike Janda | 10-2 | 23-22 | Live Oak Acorns |
| 1990 | Mike Janda | 12-0 | 27-20 | Saint Francis Lancers |
| 2008 | Mike Janda | 12-1 | 21-0 | Valley Christian Warriors |
| 2009 | Mike Janda | 11-2-1 | 27-22 | Saint Francis Lancers |
| 2011 | Mike Janda | 12-2 | 41-13 | Palo Alto Vikings |
| 2015 | Mike Janda | 13-2 | 26-13 | Milpitas Trojans |
| 2022 | Jalal Beauchman | 7-6 | 21-14 | St. Ignatius Wildcats |
WCAL Championships[edit]
| Season | Coach |
|---|---|
| 1970 | John Hanna |
| 1975 | John Hanna |
| 1976 | John Hanna |
| 1979 | Walt Arnold |
| 1980 | Walt Arnold |
| 1981 | Walt Arnold |
| 1984 | Walt Arnold |
| 1987 | Mike Janda |
| 1988 | Mike Janda |
| 1990 | Mike Janda |
| 1991 † | Mike Janda |
| 1995 | Mike Janda |
| 1996 | Mike Janda |
| 1997 † | Mike Janda |
| 2007 | Mike Janda |
| 2008 † | Mike Janda |
| 2009 † | Mike Janda |
| 2011 | Mike Janda |
| 2012 | Mike Janda |
| 2015 | Mike Janda |
† Co-Champions
Individual Awards and Honors[edit]
WCAL Player of the Year[edit]
- 1970: Tom Duzanica
- 1979: Matt Ramirez
- 1981: George Ebertin
- 1983: Todd Locicero
- 1984: Mark Dumont
- 1987: Dan Chowlowsky
- 1988: Billy Owens
- 1990: Tom McNeil
- 1991: Jacob Malae
- 1995: Blake Elliott
- 1997: Casey LeBlanc
- 1998: Jeremy Jones
- 2007: Usua Amanam
- 2008: Usua Amanam
- 2009: Kyle Olugbode
- 2011: Travis McHugh
- 2012: Kenneth Olugbode
Current Coaching Staff[edit]
| Name | Position | Consecutive season at BCP in current position | Previous Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jalal Beauchman | Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator | 3rd | BCP Freshman Football - Head Coach (2019-2020) |
| Joe Gigantino | Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers | 3rd | BCP Freshman Football - Defensive Coordinator (2019-2020) |
| Brennan Ronald | Director of Football Operations / Running Backs | 3rd | BCP Freshman Football - Special Teams (2019-2020) |
| Jackson Burrill | Offensive Line / Special Teams Coordinator | 1st | BCP Varsity Football - Tight Ends and Fullbacks (2020-2022) |
| Aurelio "A-Ray" Romero | Defensive Backs | 1st | BCP JV Football - co-Defensive Coordinator/WR/DB (2021–Present) |
| Sione Umufuke | Defensive Line | 1st | Defensive Line Trainer |
| John Keller | Quarterbacks | 1st | College of San Mateo - RB/QB |
Facilities[edit]
Jaguar Stadium at San Jose City College[edit]
The Bells play their home games at San Jose City College as the stand on-campus is not large enough to fit all fans.
Ghiorso Field[edit]
Ghiorso Field is the practice facility for the Bell's varsity team which is located on the Bellarmine College Preparatory campus. This serves home field for the Freshman team and for select Junior Varsity games.
Rivalries[edit]
Saint Francis Lancers[edit]
The Saint Francis Lancers are the Bell's biggest rival due to both school's high academic and athletic standards. The rivalry game called "The Holy War" occurs at least once a year where both school's students prepare festivities in the week leading to the game. The 2022 season will mark the 76th Holy War game.
Archbishop Mitty Monarchs[edit]
The Monarchs and the Bells field a rivalry due to the proximity between the two schools. The Monarchs play their usual home games during the day or off campus at Foothill College, but when they play the Bells at home, the game is usually held on Mitty's campus at night, typically signifying the Homecoming game for the Monarchs.
Junipero Serra Padres[edit]
The Padres and Bells share a rivalry due to both schools being the only two all-boys schools in the WCAL.
Culture[edit]
Blue Crew[edit]
The Blue Crew is the official student section of the Bellarmine Bells. Led by Yell-Leaders, they organize cheers, chants, and in-game celebrations.
Bellarmine Band[edit]
The Bellarmine Pep Band serves as the primary source of auxiliary entertainment at Bellarmine Football games. Before the game, the band plays during the tailgate for the fans, and in game, the band plays during timeouts, breaks, and scores. Though not a marching band, the Bellarmine Pep Band features a variety of instruments from a brass section to drums, guitar, keyboard, and bass.
Mascots[edit]
Bellarman[edit]
Bellarman is the official mascot of the Bellarmine Bells. The mascot is an anthropomorphic Bell who can be seen waving flags, taking pictures with fans, and cheering on the Bells. The Bellarman gets his name from a play of words on the school name "Bellarmine".
Mini-man[edit]
The Mini-man in a miniature version of the Bellarman. The Mini-man and the Bellarman are often seen together as they support the Bells.
Lair of Linebackers[edit]
Bellarmine has more recently developed a culture of producing top linebacker talent, especially in the 21st century. Since 2009, Bellarmine has sent 11 linebackers to the collegiate level, 10 of whom played at the Division 1 level. With their success at the position, Bellarmine has earned the nickname "Lair of Linebackers".
| Name | Years at Bellarmine | College Played At |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Clay | 2005–09 | University of Oregon |
| Joe Gigantino | 2008–12 | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo |
| Brad Kuh | 2008–12 | San Jose State |
| Kenneth Olugbode | 2009–13 | University of Colorado |
| Joe Castignani | 2010–14 | University of California |
| Jacob Bergstrom | 2012–16 | University of San Diego |
| Josh Bringuel | 2012–16 | San Diego State University |
| Jackson Burrill | 2013–17 | San Jose State |
| Austin Ajiake | 2014–18 | University of Nevada - Las Vegas |
| Luke Splaine | 2015–19 | Texas Christian University |
| Will Matlack | 2017-21 | Macalester College |
Traditions[edit]
Alternate Uniforms vs. Saint Francis[edit]
The tradition of wearing alternate tops and bottoms in games against the Saint Francis Lancers originated in the early 2000s. Generally, the Bells wear all blue when playing at home, and all white when playing away. However, the Holy War game against Saint Francis sets itself apart as the Bells don the alternating look. When the Holy War takes place in San Jose, the Bells come out in blue tops and white bottoms. When the game occurs in Mountain View, expect to see them in white tops and blue bottoms.
Ringing of the Bell[edit]
One of the oldest traditions in the Bellarmine Football Program, the ringing of the Bell after every touchdown is a familiar sound to everybody. The original iteration of the Bell was a former ship's bell, obtained in the early 1940's by Fr. James Rooney. In 1957, religious studies teacher Fr. James Devlin spearheaded an operation to replace the original Bell. The current Bell is a former Southern Pacific locomotive bell which has been reconditioned. The Bell represents resilience as it has served the test of time, as it has been stolen (and recovered) twice and has proudly sounded Bellarmine scores year after year.
Notable Alumni[edit]
- Nello Falaschi '31 - Played for NFL's New York Giants
- Bill McPherson '50 - Former defensive line coach for the San Francisco 49ers
- Dan Pastorini '67 - NFL quarterback (1971–1981, 1983), Super Bowl XV champion; played in 1975 Pro Bowl
- Nick Holt '81 - Former defensive coordinator of the Purdue Boilermakers and Washington Huskies, former head coach of the Idaho Vandals
- Sal Cesario '81 - NFL offensive guard
- Erik Howard '82 - Played for NFL's New York Giants, New York Jets
- David Diaz-Infante '82 - Played for NFL's San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles
- Randy Kirk '83 - NFL (1987–1999)
- Jim Wahler '84 - Played for NFL's Phoenix Cardinals, Washington Redskins
- Ron Caragher '85 - NCAA football head coach
- Pat McPherson '87 - Tight ends coach for NFL's Seattle Seahawks, former assistant for the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers
- Craig Bragg '00 - National Football League (NFL) wide receiver
- Copeland Bryan '01 - NFL defensive end
- Francis Maka '03 - Linebacker, San Jose SaberCats of Arena Football League[30]
- Mark Canha '07 - MLB first baseman for the New York Mets, former first baseman for the Oakland Athletics
- Michael Clay '09 - Special Teams Coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles
Media[edit]
Streaming[edit]
Bellarmine Sports Youtube[edit]
All Bellarmine Football home games are streamed on Youtube on the channel Bellarmine Sports, which is the sports streaming extension of the school's radio station KBCP. The current broadcast team consists of Santa Cruz Warriors and PAC-12 Networks announcer Kevin Danna (who graduated from Bellarmine in 2005) on the play-by-play call. Danna is usually accompanied by a student color analyst.
NFHS Networks[edit]
Many away games as well as the CCS playoff games are streamed on NFHS Networks.
Television[edit]
Select Bellarmine Football home games have been broadcast on local network KOFY TV20.
Future league schedule[edit]
Announced schedules as of July 6, 2022[31]
| 2022 |
| September 23 vs Saint Ignatius Wildcats |
| October 1 at Riordan Crusaders |
| October 7 vs Serra Padres |
| October 14 vs Mitty Monarchs |
| October 21 at SHCP Fightin' Irish † |
| October 28 at Saint Francis Lancers (Holy War Game) |
| November 4 vs Valley Christian Warriors |
† Game will be played at Kezar Stadium
Future non-league opponents[edit]
Announced schedules as of July 6, 2022[31]
| 2022 |
| August 26 at Menlo-Atherton Bears |
| September 2 at McClymonds Warriors |
| September 9 at San Leandro Pirates |
References[edit]
- ↑ "San Jose City College Stadium - San Jose, CA". www.waymarking.com. Waymarking.com. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ↑ "Bellarmine hires its next football coach, promoting from within". The Mercury News. 2020-03-30. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Football | Bellarmine College Preparatory". www.bcp.org. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Longtime Bellarmine Varsity Football Coach Mike Janda Retires from the Gridiron | Bellarmine College Preparatory". www.bcp.org. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Bellarmine football coach Mike Janda announces he's retiring". The Mercury News. 2020-01-24. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "High school football: Bellarmine routs Palo Alto for CCS Open Division title". The Mercury News. 2011-12-02. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ Sabedra, Darren (2015-12-12). "CIF football: Bellarmine tops Folsom, Milpitas falls, competitive equity works & more". Varsity Extra. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Bellarmine Names New Varsity Football Head Coach | Bellarmine College Preparatory". www.bcp.org. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Bellarmine Football: Director of Football Analytics". Bell Online. 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "San Benito vs Bellarmine College Prep | Football | 4/3/2021". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Prep football: Bellarmine-St. Francis postponed after positive COVID tests". The Mercury News. 2021-03-26. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Bellarmine College Prep vs Archbishop Mitty | Football | 4/17/2021". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Bellarmine College Prep vs Central Catholic | Football | 3/19/2021". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Valley Christian vs Bellarmine College Prep | Football | 4/10/2021". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Bellarmine College Prep vs Saint Francis | Football | 4/24/2021". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "High school football: Bellarmine stuns Menlo-Atherton, announces its return to prominence". The Mercury News. 2021-08-28. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "High school football: Bellarmine blasts San Leandro, alum Brad Bowers". The Mercury News. 2021-09-11. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Bellarmine magic: Late TD, interception in end zone on final play keep Bells unbeaten". The Mercury News. 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Archbishop Riordan vs Bellarmine College Prep | Football | 9/24/2021". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Bellarmine College Prep vs Archbishop Mitty | Football | 10/8/2021". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "High school football: Bellarmine breaks five-game skid against Valley Christian". The Mercury News. 2021-10-30. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Bellarmine College Prep vs St. Ignatius | Football | 11/6/2021". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Bellarmine College Prep vs Serra | Football | 10/2/2021". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory vs Bellarmine College Prep | Football | 10/15/2021". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "CCS football playoffs fall 2021: First-round schedule in all divisions". The Mercury News. 2021-11-07. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "CCS football playoffs: Serra overpowers Bellarmine, sets up St. Francis rematch for title". The Mercury News. 2021-11-21. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Schedule - Bellarmine College Prep Bells (San Jose, CA) Varsity Football 22-23". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
- ↑ "Jurrion Dickey-led Menlo-Atherton tops Bellarmine in afternoon opener". The Mercury News. 2022-08-28. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
- ↑ "Historical Record of CCS Football Champions Year-by-Year".
- ↑ "Francis Maka Bio - ARENAFOOTBALL.COM". arenafootball.com. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Varsity Football". Bellarmine College Preparatory. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
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