By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
The San Benito Greyhounds’ football coaching staff and players recently welcomed around 40 alumni who once donned the Purple and Gold on the gridiron.
The private event on May 1 was held in conjunction with the Greyhounds’ Spring Game at Bobby Morrow Stadium.
In attendance were former players who graduated from several decades, dating back to the 1960s.
The most senior alum was Rey Rodriguez, who played on defense for legendary coach Jim Helms.
Rodriguez graduated from San Benito High School in 1966.
Rene Cortez was another player on the 1996-1997 varsity squads during and after Tommy Roberts’ tenure as head coach, and other alums played under longtime and current Head Coach Dan Gomez.
Seeing these men and others who played for the ’Hounds left a lasting impression on returning quarterback Albert Hernandez, who will be a senior this coming season.
“The stories some of the alumni told me made me realize the culture and tradition this program carries, the work ethic, dedication, and passion has got us to be the program we are today,” said Hernandez, who has been the SBHS signal-caller since his sophomore year. “Most important, the brotherhood behind this program has always been strong; it’s us against everyone else.”
Rodriguez was in middle school in 1961 when the ’Hounds advanced to a Class 3A semifinal and lost to Nederland, spoiling what was an undefeated season.
It’s this and other strong ’Hounds’ team that inspired the now 80-year-old Rodriguez to try out for the ’Hounds and eventually make his way to two varsity seasons in 1964 and 1965.
Under Gomez, Rodriguez said SBHS has seen success with multiple postseason appearances. He should know as his wife, Enedelia, and he have been season ticket holders for decades.
“I had a really good impression of the football players at the alumni event; they’re giving it their all, working really hard for their coaches,” said Rodriguez, who played defensive right corner for Coach Helms. “From what I saw and also speaking to coaches and players, it looks like we’ll soon have San Benito go several rounds deep in the playoffs like Coach Gomez did for several years.”
Cortez played quarterback for SBHS, but he said after Coach Roberts was gone, there were struggles. But, he witnessed firsthand what it was like to play for him, and get the best of the Harlingen Cardinals in the Battle of the Arroyo for several years.
He was the coach who snapped Harlingen’s 27-year unbeaten streak. SBHS defeated Harlingen, 15-6, in 1995 after tying the Cardinals twice two years before (18-18 and 21-21 scores).
Cortez didn’t play collegiately, and attended the University of Texas-Brownsville, later serving in the U.S. Army 10 years.
“It’s about supporting our kids and letting them know their community has their back; we support them in all their endeavors,” Cortez said. “It’s because, ‘Once a Greyhound, always a Greyhound.’”
The San Benito Quarterback Booster Club had posted on its Facebook advanced details about the alumni event. Many hope the spring practices, which are used as a springboard for the upcoming football season, will be an annual alumni event.
The event would be centered on the spring game when the ’Hounds players clash against each other.
The Greyhound Quarterback Booster Club’s Facebook page promoted the event.
Said Rodriguez of the invite, “As soon as I saw the e-mail and read about an alumni event, I signed up right away; I’m all about supporting our Greyhounds,” Rodriguez said. “My favorite sport is track and field so our kids are doing real well there, too. There is a lot to cheer about when it comes to San Benito.”
Under Gomez, SBHS is looking to advance to the postseason a 13th consecutive year. SBHS has 31 playoff appearances. Gomez’s best seasons came in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022 when the ’Hounds advanced to the third round.
“It was a special time for the Greyhounds of past eras to meet and socialize with the current group of Greyhound football players. It was a moment to remind the present players of how great it is to be a Greyhound and to represent this proud community,” Coach Gomez said. “With all the distractions that our youth have in front of them, this moment was for them to slow down and understand that they play in a special place that was built by special people.”
Hernandez added, “Playing for the Greyhounds is a privilege; anyone can put on the helmet, but it has to mean something,” Hernandez said. “We all have jobs to do and trust the person next to us. I would say pressure isn’t a thing around here whenever you know you can rely and trust in your brothers.”
Battle of the Arroyo
The following are the year-by-year results of the annual Battle of the Arroyo between the Harlingen Cardinals and San Benito Greyhounds: 1930: Harlingen, 19-0; 1931: Harlingen, 19-6; 1932: San Benito, 6-0; 1933: San Benito, 30-0; 1934: San Benito, 13-0; 1935: Harlingen, 13-0; 1936: San Benito, 6-0; 1937: San Benito, 13-12; 1938: Harlingen, 13-7; 1939: Harlingen, 41-6;
1940: Harlingen, 19-0; 1941: Harlingen, 28-20; 1942: San Benito, 32-6; 1943: Harlingen, 20-0; 1944: 6-6 tie; 1945: San Benito, 7-0; 1946: Harlingen, 16-14; 1947: Harlingen, 31-0; 1948: San Benito, 32-7; 1949: Harlingen, 19-6;
1950: Harlingen, 52-18; 1951: Harlingen, 13-0; 1952: Harlingen, 13-7; 1953: Harlingen, 55-19; 1954: Harlingen, 52-13; 1955: Harlingen, 20-19; 1956: Harlingen, 27-12; 1957: Harlingen, 20-6; 1958: San Benito, 26-18; 1959: Harlingen, 28-6;
1960: San Benito, 29-6; 1961: San Benito, 30-6; 1962: San Benito, 25-6; 1963: 0-0 tie; 1964: Harlingen, 20-0; 1965: San Benito, 13-9; 1966: Harlingen, 9-0; 1967: San Benito, 7-0; 1968: Harlingen, 27-0; 1969: Harlingen, 40-0;
1970: Harlingen, 36-14; 1971: Harlingen, 35-12; 1972: Harlingen, 41-0; 1973: Harlingen, 23-0; 1974: 7-7 tie; 1975: Harlingen, 27-7; 1976: Harlingen, 19-0; 1977: Harlingen, 15-0; 1978: Harlingen, 42-7; 1979: Harlingen, 29-7;
1980: Harlingen, 27-0; 1981: Harlingen, 28-7; 1982: Harlingen, 35-30; 1983: Harlingen, 13-11; 1984: Harlingen, 20-0; 1985: Harlingen, 27-7; 1986: Harlingen, 49-0; 1987: Harlingen, 20-8; 1988: Harlingen, 43-6; 1989: Harlingen, 27-2;
1990: Harlingen, 15-0; 1991: Harlingen, 21-13; 1992: Harlingen, 27-16; 1993: 18-18 tie; 1994: 21-21 tie; 1995: San Benito, 15-6; 1996: Harlingen, 43-18; 1997: Harlingen, 21-10; 1998: Harlingen, 20-12; 1999: San Benito, 8-0;
2000: Harlingen, 21-14; 2001: Harlingen, 21-20; 2002: Harlingen, 28-10; 2003: Harlingen, 54-14; 2004: San Benito, 35-32; 2005: Harlingen, 29-22; 2006: San Benito, 29-0; 2007: San Benito, 15-4; 2008: Harlingen, 34-17; 2009: Harlingen 35-6; 2009: Harlingen 41-21 (bi-district playoff);
2010: Harlingen 45-21; 2010: Harlingen 49-14 (bi-district playoff); 2011: Harlingen 49, San Benito 7; 2012: San Benito 7, Harlingen 3; 2013: Harlingen 54, San Benito 0; 2014: San Benito 25, Harlingen 21; 2015: San Benito 22, Harlingen 21; 2016: Harlingen, 29, San Benito 27; 2017: San Benito 53, Harlingen 0; 2018: San Benito 42, Harlingen 28; 2019: Harlingen 35, San Benito 13; 2020: Harlingen 30, San Benito 27 (OT);
2021: Harlingen 17, San Benito 0; 2022: Harlingen 37, San Benito 21; 2023: San Benito 21, Harlingen 10; 2024: San Benito 22, Harlingen 14; 2025: Harlingen 24, San Benito 10;