Palo Alto coach Earl Hansen cuts the ribbon, commemorating the opening of school's renovated stadium Friday. See San Francisco 49ers' coach Jim Harbaugh in the background.
Photo by Ernie Abrea
By all accounts, Jim Harbaugh is a loyal man. No-nonsense. Remembers his roots.
So even though it was two days before the NFL's biggest game of Week 2 against Seattle, the San Francisco 49ers' head coach kept his promise and showed up at his high school alma mater to commemorate the opening of its renovated stadium.
49ers' coach Jim Harbaugh enjoys a moment
with his former high school coach and
current Vikings' head coach Earl Hansen.
Photo by Ernie Abrea
The 1982
Palo Alto (Calif.) High School graduate joined in the opening ceremonies, ribbon cutting and coin flip while shaking hands with members of both the host Vikings and
San Benito (Hollister) Haybalers.
Harbaugh actually played for current Palo Alto coach Earl Hansen, who led Palo Alto to a state Division I title in 2010. His son Peter is an assistant with the 49ers and Palo Alto's star quarterback
Keller Chryst, one of the nation's top quarterback recruits, is the son of San Francisco quarterback coach Geep Chryst.
A quarterback at Palo Alto, Harbaugh grew up in the midwest and transferred to the school after his father took a job at Stanford, which is located right across the street from Palo Alto High.
Hansen's first year as the varsity coach was the first year Harbaugh transferred in. The two have remained close over the years.
"Coach Hansen has helped me in so many ways," Harbaugh told Darren Sabedra of the San Jose Mercury News. "I owe a lot to him. He's a great man, a great coach."
Palo Alto, ranked fifth in Northern California, won its season opener 28-7 as Chryst completed 17 of 24 for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Marcus Brown added a 36-yard TD run and Malcolm Davis scored a 31-yard TD reception. 
San Francisco 49ers' head coach Jim Harbaugh at a different sort of coin toss than he's used to.
Photo by Ernie Abrea
