Angels Camp, CA…The recent news of the “Bell” being returned to Bret Harte has the community wondering what the fate of the Bell will be as Bret Harte takes it back for the first time since the 1999-2000 school year. What started back in 1986 to foster a healthy competition between the two high schools has continued to fuel the community with energy and excitement. Since its inception, the winners of the rival Bell Football Game gets to paint the Bell their school colors and display it for the year.

Calaveras High School has earned the retention of the Bell for the past 23 years and now, due to a discrepancy that has since been remedied, Bret Harte once again takes possession of the Bell. Considering the circumstances of the Bell returning the Bret Harte, a unique approach is being taken.

Bret Harte Union High School Superintendent Scott Nanik has announced, “We intend to honor our worthy opponents at Calaveras High School. We will not be painting it purple or displaying the Bell. In the spirit of sportsmanship, we’ll have the Bell taken back to its original material and left for the winning team to paint next year.”

The impact of the Bell has been felt for many years. Thomas Longozo (Bret Harte Class of 2009) remembers, “When it comes to the Bell Game there is nothing like it. The rivalry is intense, the way it pulls the entire towns of Angels Camp and San Andreas and beyond is incredible. I will always remember those games the most. There was a mystique about the environment, and you could taste the electricity in the air. I have never seen the crowd more amped up and supportive than those games. Longozo added, “When it comes to the Bell, it’s beyond a trophy. It’s the culmination of dedication, the blood, sweat, and tears, the clash of the Purple, Red and Gold; every play mattered and every inch that was gained; that has been a tradition for over 100 years.”

Another Bret Harte Alum Vince Osborn (Class of 2010) commented, “Every young boy that plays football in Calaveras County dreams of winning the Bell. The Bell Game was the most physical and emotional game I ever played in. It was truly a battle and I know both teams gave it everything they had that night.”

Calaveras County is a small community connected by rich history, stories, and experiences; the Bell is a big part of the community.

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