Monrovia High School Principal Darvin Jackson wore two telling items of apparel Thursday evening: a scarf around his neck--in Wildcat green, of course-- and a stuffed monkey strapped to his back.

The neck gear was for the chilly weather, while the stuffed animal symbolized the city's 75-year football championship curse that was finally lifted when the Wildcats won the CIF-Southern Section Mid-Valley Division title last month.

"The monkey is finally off our back," Jackson declared, stripping off the stuffed primate and displaying it to the crowd.

After residents clamored for an official celebration to commemorate the Wildcats' historic achievement, the city put together a parade and rally that began Thursday night at MHS and rolled into Library Park.

"It's crazy," said Wildcats linebacker Brett Walsh before the festivities began. "I can't believe we finally did it for the city."

Walsh and the rest of the champion Wildcats football team hopped into in a fire engine, bus, and truck-towed sleigh and then cruised along Colorado Boulevard and up Myrtle Avenue to Library Park, where an excited crowd waited for each player to be introduced one-by-one.

The student-athletes walked up the steps behind the park fountain as their names were called, high-fiving crowd members and an enthusiastic Ralph Walker from K-GEM. Jackson then took the microphone and recounted the adversity the team overcame this season on their way to the title.

The team was forced to practice at Clifton Middle School over the summer as their field was being renovated and worked out at a local gym instead of their weight room for the same reason.

"During this time they displayed fortitude and persevered," Jackson said.

The season brought more challenges, as the Wildcats had to play two home games away from home because of more renovations. And, naturally, their championship game had to be moved to Arcadia High School when CIF officials discovered flaws with the bleachers at MHS.

But that didn't phase Head Coach Ryan Maddox, Jackson said.

"Coach said, 'I don't care if we play in a parking lot, we're bringing home a championship to Monrovia,'" Jackson said to applause.

Maddox made good on that promise, leading the team, which outscored opponents 220-10 in the playoffs, to a 12-2 record.

"Now that's domination," Jackson said. "Who wouldn't want to play for the Wildcats?"

Maddox then took the podium and thanked the community for supporting the team throughout its trials and tribulations.

"This is what makes Monrovia one of the greatest cities in the United States," Maddox said. "These are some great young men and you and I should be proud of their accomplishments."

School Board President Ed Gililland then addressed the crowd and congratulated the team and community, noting that the team didn't lose a single player to academic ineligibility this season. He said the district would be donating money to a fund to buy each Wildcat player a championship ring and also hit the crowd up for donations.

"This year we've decided these young men need their championship rings," he said. "Help these young men get the rings they've earned and deserve."

Mayor Mary Ann Lutz closed the ceremony by quoting legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi.

"Football is like life," she said. "It teaches work, sacrifice, perseverance, competitive drive, [selflessness], and respect for authority. I hope we all live our lives as if we're football players. Congratulations Monrovia High Football team 2010!"

Resident Sherm Jaffe said after the rally that he came out to support the Wildcats because he had three sons who participated in athletics at MHS.

"We're here to celebrate for them," Jaffe said. "It's fun to see young students succeed."

Terry Craft, the mother of Wildcat wide receiver and defensive back Anthony Craft, said the rally is something the team will remember forever.

"This is great, this is memorable," she said. "They can never forget this."