Not many people can say that they have given up going to University of Southern California football games. Peter Reyes can; instead, he attends Bakersfield College football games.
For over a decade, Reyes, 66, has led the football team onto the field waving a BC flag at the start of every game and at halftime.
His idea for running a flag on the field came from going to USC football games and he watched someone else do it.
“If USC can do it, we can,” Reyes explained.
Reyes said that he’s never been a sports guy.
“My sisters outran me in track,” he laughed.
As a kid trying out for the football team, the linemen would hit him and break his glasses. His mother told him that she wouldn’t pay for any more broken glasses. Although being too skinny to play set him back, Reyes found his place at BC.
“I’ve always had a passion for football and wanted to play. I wanted to be part of a team,” he said.
Since 1958, he and his family have gone to support the Renegades. At one time, the family would purchase 25 season tickets to the games. Reyes still sits on the home-side 50-yard line with his sister, Lucy. He has only missed four games since 1958.
“My sister and I are the most loyal Renegade fans. We’ll be there to the end,” he said.
Health issues have put Reyes at risk for not running the flag, but he does it anyway.
“I’ve had open heart surgery,” Reyes explained. “The doctor said after that I couldn’t run 10 yards. I’m not supposed to be running.”
Reyes got his start at BC as a student in 1963, the same year President Kennedy was assassinated. After the president’s death, Reyes felt the call to serve his country. Enlisting in the Navy and heading off to the Vietnam War soon after, he came home just in time for the start of a new football season at BC.
As a student, Herb Loken, now part of the BC Alumni Association, was one of his professors for an education class. Reyes was the only man in the class; Loken noticed his pride and passion for BC and awarded him with a lifetime pass to the football games. Pride aside, Reyes still pays for his own tickets.
Reyes now resides in Los Angeles and works in sales. He commutes to Bakersfield every home game and makes it to away games as well. The drive takes a toll on his car and he sometimes has to get out of Saturday appointments, but his passion is long lasting.
“I truly believe the BC Renegades put Bakersfield on the map with Renegade dominance in football,” Reyes expressed.
He said his co-workers don’t get away with ragging on BC. They follow L.A. community college football, including BC’s number one rival El Camino. Reyes can be counted on to defend BC.
Reyes explains that, “It’s the Renegade passion that keeps me interested in BC.”
With people recognizing him more and becoming friends with fellow Renegades, he said that it’s nice to meet the new cheerleaders each year. Former BC alum and cheerleader Layne Costerian was special to him.
“She was really sweet. I’ve never met anyone else to cheer for three years,” Reyes said.
Reyes has seen the stadium filled to capacity and with the times, he’s seen the crowd dwindle. His memories of BC football highlights include beating Ellsworth Community College, located in Iowa, at the 1976 Junior Rose Bowl game in Pasadena. Although he’s seen BC at every stage, he reassures that he’ll be there until the end.
“Lucy and I will be the last ones standing,” he said. “I bleed Renegade red.”