The Mtn. ReView Spring 2019 | Page 5

Continued from page 4 In 1975, the Mountain View Eagles did the unexpected. Called a group of mis its, a Cinderella team and the underdog by the news media, the Eagles took the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) championship and went on to win the Central Coast Section (CCS) championship—rising above more than 120 schools. While football brought the Mountain View community together, game by game, it was a tough season. The challenge wasn’t so much the physicality of being a small team with small players, but being a racially-mixed team. Mountain View played predominately af luent white teams like Los Altos, St. Francis, Homestead, Leland, and superpower Monte Vista. Racial slurs lew on the ield. And that’s where the Eagles’ motto played its most important role. “You Gotta Believe.” The players didn’t let adversity of any kind stand in the way of their goals and dreams. They pushed on, knowing that teamwork, camaraderie, and their collective love of the game would lead them to victory. The Mountain View Eagles showed the Bay Area that a “cultural melting pot” could not only be highly successful in its chosen path (in this case, football) but also triumph over negativity and discrimination. They were a microcosm of positivity and determination that, perhaps, set an example for what the city of Mountain View has become today. The team recently held a 40-year anniversary in downtown Mountain View, on Castro Street, of course. Several players lew in from different parts of the United States to celebrate the victories of 1975. Coaches, cheerleaders, and players sat side- by-side, focusing on the good times. When the subject of racial discrimination came up, they all agreed, “That’s not why we’re here.” Today, they are still a very close-knit group. Many still live in Mountain View and have raised their families here. The theme “You Gotta Believe” resurfaced at the reunion with running back Scotty Hamilton leading the MVHS cheer. Quarterback Denny Mateo had shirts with the imprinted motto available. The theme became Denny’s personal motto as he battled stomach cancer one year later. The team believed, for Denny. Winning championship games is a huge accomplishment and yes, other teams have won and will win SCVAL and CCS in the future. Their victories are important, too. The Mountain View Eagles’ victory, however, was a signi icant event in the history of the city, especially now that the Castro Street school, the MVHS Eagles teams, and the blue and gray colors are gone. They are all just memories—memories that should not be forgotten. Today, we have an opportunity to celebrate Mountain View’s history and cultural diversity, acknowledge the legacy of Mountain View High School on Castro Street, recognize some remarkable young football players who overcame adversity to prevail, and most importantly, inspire future generations of Mountain View youth, “to believe.” Want to learn more about the proposal to build a monument to the 1975 Mountain View Eagles Football Team at Eagle Park? Visit: https://75ccschamps.com/ 5