Bob Bastian never got a parade. Neither did Allen Warren, Donté Stallworth, Onterrio Smith, or any of the dozens of great athletes who played for Grant High School's powerhouse football teams over the years.

As the city prepares to honor Grant's state champion football team with an afternoon parade and rally today, city and school officials are quick to say this team's success is a direct result of the great Grant teams of the past.

The Pacers defeated perennial football power Long Beach Poly on Saturday to claim the state championship – the city's first ever.

Today's parade will begin staging at Grant's stadium at 1 p.m. From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Grant players in vans and classic cars will begin winding down Marysville and Del Paso boulevards and Highway 160 to downtown before ending at City Hall at Ninth and I streets. A rally will begin at 3:30 p.m.

The parade will cause rolling street closures along the route and will close I Street between Ninth and 10th streets. Parking along 10th Street between H and J streets will also be affected, Sacramento Police Department officials said.

District officials said the parade is on – rain or shine.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a one-time basketball star for Sacramento High, has confirmed his attendance, said Trinette Marquis, a spokeswoman for the Twin Rivers School District. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is listed as an invited guest, but his press office said Monday evening he was not expected to attend. Other invited dignitaries include Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy, Supervisor Roger Dickinson and Twin Rivers board President Michelle Rivas.

Friday, the team will be brought onto the floor at Arco Arena and honored at the Sacramento Kings game against the Toronto Raptors.

Today's afternoon parade and rally will honor present and past players, said Grant Principal Craig Murray.

"We couldn't have been there, if this was just a one-time thing," Murray said. "It's really on the back of all those guys that our current team won the championship. There is no way we'd have gotten into that game without those other great teams."

Because of the way teams are selected to compete in the state championship game, reputation is just as important as win-loss records. Other undefeated teams in the region – Casa Roble and Whitney high schools – were not selected, despite both owning 13-0 records and winning Sac-Joaquin Section division championships.

The Grant players will get much of the accolades – and rightfully so – but if the state championship honors great programs, not just great teams, then Grant's coach Mike Alberghini is the man of the hour.

Alberghini said he appreciates the love the city is giving the team.

"The parade is a way for us to celebrate this incredible accomplishment with the Del Paso Heights community and the entire city of Sacramento. It makes us realize that this is a great time for us. So we greatly appreciate all the things everybody in the city is doing for us."

Bob Bastian, an all-city football player for Grant in 1951 and 1952, called the game one of the best he's ever seen.

"I'm just proud to be a Pacer," said Bastian.

He said the win will help the Pacers gain a lot of respect in California and in the nation.

"It's going to put Grant High School on the map," said Bastian, who now serves on the board of the recently formed school district.

Allen Warren, a Sacramento developer and former Pacer, said the win proves Grant – and Sacramento athletes – can compete with anyone.

"For a long time we have been saying we had some of the best student athletes in the county. And this just makes the case for it," said Warren who played football, basketball and baseball for Grant. "We went to Southern California and beat the best team in Southern California."

Call The Bee's Ed Fletcher, (916) 321-1269.