By Ray Hamill — A few months after their breakthrough bowl victory, the College of the Redwoods players and coaches received their victory rings at a special ceremony on campus on Thursday evening.

Head coach Jason White was joined by many of his players and coaches, as well as family members, friends and college administrators.

The bowl victory was a memorable one for the program, which rolled over Hartnell 63-0 at the Redwood Bowl for the program’s first bowl win in 30 years.

And it wasn’t the only notable achievement for this group of players, who posted back-to-back winning seasons after the school reinstated the program for the 2022 season.

“The legacy that this group has created over the past two years is definitely extraordinary,” White told the gathering. “This is a group that basically had to restart the program … They had two winning seasons in a row when Redwoods hadn’t had a winning season since 2001.

“So the legacy that these guys have established for themselves, especially the guys that are sophomores, that are done now, that’s something nobody can take away from them, and that’s why I think that they’re especially deserving of these rings here.

“That symbolizes I think the work that they have put in and the legacy that they’ve created over the past two years, and one day I think this team should go in the hall of fame just for their accomplishments.”

Before presenting the rings to his players, White also praised the contributions of several people, including boosters, administrators, AD Bob Brown and trainers Nate Kees — whom he described as the best athletic trainer he has ever worked with — and Michele Schneider.

He also praised his assistant coaches and their families for their support along the way.

“Without them this would never have happened,” he said. “Those guys are instrumental. In football especially you can’t be a one-man show. You have to have a good staff or you won’t be successful.

“I really appreciate all the work and time those guys put in, and I especially would like to thank also their families, because I take them away from their families a lot, and it takes a very strong family to be able to deal with that.”

White added that Brown has “been nothing but supportive for our program and he always goes to battle for us in any way shape or form he can,” and he thanked school president Keith Flamer for making the decision to re-instate the program after the COVID years and a two-year hiatus.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time,” the coach said. “And I just know when you don’t have administrative support, you can’t be successful no matter how hard you work.”