When Erle Bennett Fired Up the Mustangs

Before he coached at Worth County, Erle Bennett was an assistant coach under Marty Albertson at North Nodaway. In 1983, North Nodaway won its first-ever conference title, and the Rock Port game played a big part.

Mike Coleman, who played on the team, recounted that Rock Port would not let Bennett, who frequently spotted for Albertson, into the press box. So he had to climb up on top of the bus in torrential rains. At one point, he slipped and fell off the bus, picked himself up, and went right back to work as though nothing happened.

By halftime, North Nodaway was down 14-0 to Rock Port, and as the kids filed onto the bus, Bennett turned to his boss and said, “I’ll handle this.” He then let loose with a tirade that would have made Dan Collins blush in shame. North Nodaway totally outplayed Rock Port in the second half and won the game 22-14.