Melendez: Ruedaflores, Jones deserve recognition

MIGUEL MELENDEZ COLUMN

Since a new era is set to begin tonight at Alhambra and San Gabriel high schools, now’s as good a time as ever to reflect on the legends who helped put the two football programs on the map.

Gil Ruedaflores was a strong presence at Moor Field for 21 seasons. It was rare, if ever, to find Ruedaflores wearing plain clothes; instead he always donned Alhambra gear. He was one of my teachers when I attended Alhambra, and from the time I started school there in 1997 until my graduation in 2001, I never saw him not wearing Alhambra shorts and T-shirts. He loved the program, and the anticipation of a new season was like Christmas to him.

Lou Torres, who begins his 25th season at Alhambra, is set to take over for Ruedaflores, who was key in turning their relationship into a brotherhood.

Torres played under Ruedaflores at Cathedral Salesian High in Los Angeles, and it was Ruedaflores who gave Torres his first job as an assistant. The two have been nearly inseparable since then.

“What can I say?” Torres said. “He’s been my mentor for 36 years.”

It wasn’t long after the 2009 season when Ruedaflores announced his retirement. Through summer and fall camp, Torres helped provide a seamless transition, but the emotions didn’t sink in until last week, after a road scrimmage game.

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A long-standing tradition had Torres and Ruedaflores sitting next to each other on each bus ride home after away games, Torres in the window seat and Ruedaflores by the aisle. The two-decade tradition ended last week, though, and Torres realized the significance of the empty seat.

“I almost considered leaving it empty,” he said, “but I chose my defensive coordinator, Jacob Ochoa.”

Ruedaflores compiled a 122-103-1 record and two Almont League championships while at Alhambra. Among his coaching pupils are ex-San Gabriel coach Keith Jones and Arcadia assistant coach Randy Backus. He began his coaching career as a freshman football coach at St. John Bosco in 1964, then moved on to Salesian, his alma mater, in 1968. He also served coaching stints at L.A. Harbor College (1977-79), East Los Angeles College (1979-83) and Glendale (1983-89).

Ruedaflores began teaching at Alhambra in 1978, and also was hired as the school’s varsity track head coach. He continued coaching junior college football until 1989, when Ruedaflores was offered the head football coaching position at Alhambra after Dave Lawson stepped down.

“He’s the heart and soul of the program, absolutely,” Torres said.

Not far down the street on Mission Road is Jude Oliva, who begins his eighth season at San Gabriel. He takes over for Jones, who stepped down after 11 seasons.

Oliva will provide continuity to a program that surged under Jones, who was the architect of the 2003 Matadors team that reached the CIF-Southern Section Division VII title game. The deep playoff run energized an entire community and put the Matadors program on the map for good, despite previously not having won a single playoff game in the program’s 49-year history.

Jones took Oliva under his wing, teaching him the ins and outs, but it was learning to deal with adversity in his first season as a wide receivers coach that Oliva learned best from Jones.

Kevin Harris was shot seven times after a fight broke out at a house party leading up to Week 3 that season. Harris survived, but the team was in turmoil and had a tough time coming to terms with reality, with the fact that one of their own was taken down.

The senior, however, made a marvelous comeback and helped the Matadors reach the finals.

“You can teach how to call plays and stuff like that,” Oliva said, “but he (Jones) showed me how to deal with adversity, jelling and meshing teams.

“Watching him, and how he deals with those things and continue to rally around that situation, that was just amazing.”

Oliva and Jones still talk often, even when Jones is on vacation.

“Aside from my wife and family, he’s one of my biggest fans,” Oliva said.

San Gabriel has a new football field, and they should look no further than Jones if they’re going to name it after anyone.

He earned it.

miguel.melendez@sgvn.com

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