Chapter 5
Early, Iowa
Another person I met while we were in Iowa City, was Charles Jackson, Superintendent at Early, Iowa. Early was starting high school football after the war and Mr. Jackson hired me to be the Football Coach there. This job changed my life, a lot and provided me great enjoyment in my choice of profession.
I think of the first two years at Early often. That first year was spent preparing a team and getting a game schedule for the next school year, which would be our first season. Early High School football began with 26 first year players. That year the 9-12 high school consisted of 52 students, 26 boys and 26 girls. The boys really wanted to play football and they showed the talent to be good players. I have so many wonderful stories about our teams, sorry if I left anything out.
Getting organized and in condition was necessary, first. Then I needed to set up a system that would be successful by placing players into a team situation using the right talent according to their best ability. Young men seem to have the need to pound on each other. Football gives them this opportunity in a constructive way. It also allows them wholesome competition and the responsibility of teamwork.
Getting equipment was a problem. We needed the appropriate sizes and colors and then instructions on how to wear everything. Adjusting to wearing so much equipment was difficult for the young players who were still learning a new sport.
It was around this time that I met Dwight Hauff of Hauff Sporting Goods. His store was located in Sioux City, IA and he had salesmen to visit small towns to show his products to. His salesman visited our school wanting to sell us uniforms. The school board decided we just didn't have the money at that time. Dwight saw us as a great potential and worked out a payment plan by taking our bill on the cuff. With that commitment, we outfitted all our teams, football, baseball and basketball - boys and girls. It took several tries to get everyone outfitted, as several of our kids needed extra large uniforms.
Tom Brock had given me some advice when we were in school together at Iowa University. He told me you can loose a game by one or two touchdowns and the kids will come back for more. If you loose by a lot, the kids will stay in the library the next week. I kept that advice in my head while I was working with the new football team. I also felt that defense would be the key to our success and I loved to coach it. The young players responded to the defense concept and made my job even more fun.
One other thing I felt was important. It was my job to teach the plays during the week, but allow the team to play their game. I might send in a play once and a while but they understood that they were the ones on the field, playing the game and making the calls. It was their game, win or loose.
When it came time to place people into positions on the team, I started with the QUARTERBACK - Paul Eckerman, who had a little experience at another school and was good at the position. I knew the FULL BACK had to be tough and speedy. The HALF BACK needed to block for the ball carrier; The LINE - CENTER needed to be big and had to be consistent. The GUARDS needed to make a place for the BACK to run against a good line. The TACKLES the back part of the line and the ENDS need to run and catch a football.
Early's first team was made up with the following students; ENDS - Dick Hemer & Charles Lange and George Miller & Charles Hokanson; TACKLES - Perry Rutliege & Eugene Frier and Wally Borgardus & Jim Hartsell; GUARDS - Daryl Slama, Bill Evans & Vernon Borcherding; CENTER - Leon Brewer & Bob Motter; QUARTER BACK - Paul Eckerman; BACKS - Darrel and Dean Larison, Paul Eckerman; FULL BACKS - Dick Faber Sid Eckerman, LaDon Thayer and Charles Sanders.
It's possible that the first game set the stage for me in Early Football. It happened this way.........
We kicked off and recovered a fumble. I called a time out and gave the QB the first three plays. They were strong right, strong right but on the third play fake a strong right and pass to Paul Eckerman, then to George Miller for our first touch down. I remember my half time speech: "Keep doing what you are doing." It worked as we won 38 to 0.
That series of plays turned out to be a great influence on the team, as well as the fans. I did not realize nor feel the importance of those plays at the time, but the team and community respected me as "Coach" from then on. They felt I understood the game of football. The term "Coach" meant a lot to me and when my team call me Coach, it was the highest honor I could think of.
The second game was at Lake View and a good game which we won 27 - 6. The team played well, if not better than the first game. The score was 7 - 0 at the half, the team gained confidence in themselves during the game. The first two games were at night and away from home.
The third game was played in Early on a Friday afternoon. The first "home" game of many in years to come. That day was hectic for me. It was Teachers Convention in Carol, Iowa. I drove 40 miles to Carol, sign in, and drove the 40 miles back to Early.
We had an afternoon game and the field had to be lined. I took Jean and any other kid in the neighborhood that wanted to help. We set the twine across the field on all of the five-yard lines. I bent coffee cans to form a spout and we shook the white chalk on all the lines of the field, by hand. It took most of the time we had before the game, but we were ready for our first home game in time. We played Galva and won 38 - 0.
The Early community was thrilled with our first three wins. Superintendent Jackson gave the team the next game day off, since we had to travel to Gilmore City for the game. Gilmore City was a first year team just like ours. I knew with this many new players, anything could happen. We left town early enough that day so we could stop at a restaurant on the way to Gilmore City for a special, but light, pre-game lunch.
When we arrived in Gilmore City, they were having their Home Coming Parade. The coach invited us to ride on a float, they had an extra tractor and trailer. I said No way, were not here to ride in your parade and make your Home Coming great. We're here to spoil it.
Cardinals Win League Crown DOWN SCHALLER 13 TO 6 IN MUD STATISTICS E S First downs____________________10 5 Yards by passing (net) _______174 5 Yards by passing ______________10 29 Total yards gained____________174 24 Passes attempted _______________2 9 Passes completed________________0 3 Passes intercepted by___________0 1 Oppo'ts fumbles recovered ______3 2 Yards penalized ________________45 25It was a big day in Early last Friday. If the weather had cooperated it would have been an even bigger day.
Although a steady downpour of rain forced curtailment of many of Early high school's planned Homecoming activities, the Early football team saved the day by defeating Schaller, 13 to 6 A Homecoming parade had been scheduled for 3 o'clock. The rain forced cancellation of a large portion of the parade. However, several clever floats had been prepared and these were displayed briefly. The half-time ceremony, at which the Homecoming Queen Miss Elaine Weitzel, was to be crowned, was also cancelled. Miss Weitsel, a sophomore had been chosen Queen of the Homecoming by popular vote of the student body. Her attendants were Jean Ann Hanke, Lois Clausen, Donna Anglum and Myra Haradon.
The football game, which brought together two undefeated teams to battle for the "Little Five" Conference championship, was witnessed by an estimated seven or eight hundred fans from a wide territory, despite the unfavorable weather. The game had created an unusual amount of interest throughout this area. The game was broadcast, play-by-play, by radio station KICD, Spencer. The broadcast was sponsored by Early businessmen. A public address system from Storm Lake was also employed for the convenience of the spectators.
Fans saw a good game of football, with twenty-two kids out there in the rain and mud battling their hearts out every minute. If any individual performances are to be recognized, the play of Parry Rutledge, Early's right tackle, must be mentioned. Perry has been a standout of the Early line all season and in this game he reached his peak. He was the fifth man in the Schaller backfield. Time after time he crashed through to smear the Schaller offensive plays behind the line of scrimmage. The endplay of George Miller, Charlie Lange and Dick Hemer was also high caliber. Francis Dick, Schaller quarterback, was the spark of his team.
_____________________________________ LITTLE FIVE CONFERENCE STANDINGS W L Pct. Early 4 0 1.000 Schaller 3 1 0.750 Wall Lake 1 3 0.333 Lake View 1 3 0.333 Galva 0 4 0.000Wall Lake and Lake View will meet Nov. 7 in the only remaining Conference game
The heavy rain and resultant muddy field greatly hampered the play of both teams. Early's powerful running attach, which had not been stopped by any team, succumbed to Mr. Mud. Except on a few occasions, the fast, hard-driving Early backs were unable to get the secure footing necessary to crack the line and scatter the opposition as they have all during the season. Early's big line tired noticeably during the second half, the result of continuous charging through the soggy turf.
Schaller's vaunted passing attack proved ineffective, because of the slippery ball, although several of their serials were fired to the mark but were knocked down by alert Early defenders
Numerous fumbles marred the display of good football by both teams. Early lost two golden opportunities to score when they fumbled deep in Schaller territory, while Schaller was thwarted in a drive to the goal line once by a fumble.
The game statistics give Early a wide margin. The Cardinals made 10 first downs-5 in each half-while Schaller made 1 in the first half and 4 in the second for a total of 5 first downs. Early gained 130 yards by rushing in the first half and lost 6 yards for a net gain of 124 yards in the first half. Schaller gained 8 yards but lost 42 and ended the half with a net deficit of 24 yards. Schaller did better in the second half, however, and gained 52 yards while losing 13. Early made 80 yards in the second half and lost 30 to run their net total for the game to 174 yards gained. Schaller ended the game with a net gain to 5 yards from rushing. In forward passing, Schaller completed 3 of 9 tosses for a gain of 29 yards. Early passed twice, one being intercepted and one complete.
Cardinals Win League Crown
Early received the opening kickoff and put the ball in play on the Early 40-yard line. N the first play Schaller intercepted a pass and took over on the Early 42. After losing 8 yards in 2 plays, Schaller punted. The kick was partially blocked and went out of bounds on the 32nd yard line, where Early took over.
On the first play Early drew a 6-yard offside penalty. Dean Larison gained 6 yards, and Faber went 11 yards for a first down on the Early 44. Eckerman made 7 and Faber 8 for another first down on the Schaller 43. Eckerman lost 3 yards, Darril Larison made 6, Faber gained 4, Dean Larison punted to Schaller's 17-yard line.
Schaller lost 1 yard in 3 line plays. A fourth-down punt was blocked by Miller and fallen on by Freier on the Schaller 20-yard stripe. Eckerman fumbled, but Lange recovered for a 9-yard gain. Eckerman made a yard for the first down on the 10. Three line plunges lost 2 yards and then Faber raced around end for a touchdown. Eckerman made the extra point on a line smash. Score: Early 7, Schaller 0.
Early kicked off to the Schaller 34. On the first play, Lange broke through and downed the Schaller ball carrier for an 11-yard loss. Schaller punted nicely to the Early 33. Faber made a yard, Early drew a 15-yard holding penalty, Faber gained 10 yards as the first quarter ended.
Eckerman ran 19 yards for the first down, Schaller was penalized 15 yards which put the ball on the Schaller 35-yard line. Schaller drew an offside penalty. Faber gained 4, Eckerman made 9 for a first down on the 17. Dean Larison went to the 12, a fumbled lateral pass was recovered by Schaller on the 18-yard line.
Schaller lost a yard, gained 4, a pass was completed and they kicked to the Early 38. Dean Larison failed to gain, Miller made 5 on a reverse, Eckerman made 2, Dean Larison kicked to the Schaller 12. Schaller made a first down to the 24. Rutledge knifed through to throw the Schaller ball carrier for a 10-yard loss. After an incomplete pass, Schaller kicked to midfield. Eckerman made a nice return to Schaller 30. Early drew a 15-yard penalty. Darril Larison made 5 yards, Faber 1, Eckerman lost 1, Dean Larison kicked out of bounds on the Schaller 16. Schaller lost 4, a fumble was recovered by Slama for Early on the Schaller 7-yard line, but the half ended before the Cardinals could get a play started.
Early kicked off to Schaller to start the second half. Schaller lost 6 yards (Rutledge again), a pass was incomplete, a fumble was recovered by Freier on the Schaller 33.
(Missing) yards for being offside, a recovered fumble lost 7, Faber lost 1, Larison's very short kick was downed on the Early 35. Schaller made 9 yards, failed to gain and then a 21-yard run by Dick put the pigskin on the 5-yard line. A line play picked up 2 yards as the third quarter ended.
Gosch carried the ball over for a Schaller touchdown on the next play. An attempted pass for the extra point was no good. Score: Early 12, Schaller 6.
Schaller's kickoff was returned to the Early 47. Faber made 8 yards in two tries, Eckerman lost 4, Larison fumbled the ball as he attempted to punt and Schaller took over the ball on the Early 46. Schaller made 5, lost 7, a pass was good for a first down on the 23-yard line. Another pass made 3 yards, a fumble was recovered by Sid Eckerman on the Early 12.
Schaller gained 3 yards, drew a 5-yard penalty, threw 2 incomplete passes and kicked to the Early 30-yard line as the game ended. Final score: Early 13, Schaller 6.
_____________________ Early's Line-up: Left end ............Miller Left tackle..........Schneider Left guard...........Freier Center...............Brewer Right guard..........Slama Right tackle ........Rutledge Right end ...........Lange Quarterback..........Paul Eckerman Right halfback.......Faber Left halfback........Darril Larison Fullback.............Dean Larison Early substitutions: Evans, Thayer, Sid Eckerman, Hemer Scoring: Early-Touchdowns, Faber and Dean Larison. Point after touchdown: Eckerman. Schaller-Touchdown, Gosch. Score by quarters: Early.................7 0 6 0-13 Schaller .............0 0 0 0-00
During the game our team started out slowly. At the half the score was 12 to 0. I was nervous with such a small lead. It would only take two quick touchdowns and one extra point to beat us. During the half time, we worked out our sleeper play.
Faber was to stand a yard inside the field in front of the bench. The bench players would all stand up a yard outside the field, but right behind Faber, who stood like a wooden Indian, his arms folded. As soon as the ball was snapped Faber went long, Eckerman passed to him and just like that he made a touch down. With the extra point play being good, we were 19 - 0 and I could breath a little easier. We won that game 25 - 0.
After the game the Gilmore City coach came over to me and told me that my extra players needed to sit on the bench. When we looked around, we found that the bench had been flattened to the ground. Some how it had gotten broken. Our team enjoyed a great ride home.
During the game a Gilmore City player was pilling on. He continued to do so throughout the game. I would call it to the Referee's attention every time, but he never called it because he never saw it. Finally, he did see it and called a 15-yard penalty. As he marched off the 15 yards, the offending player told him "You stink." The Referee turned and marched another 15 yards, turned back to the player and asked how he smelled from here.
The build up to the Schaller game was exciting for the community, the team and for me. Schaller was undefeated as were we, only we were the new guys. They thought they were ready for us. Wayne Miller, reporter, editor and owner of the Early News paper and great fan, followed the team from the beginning. He best describes the game in the copy of the Early News. What a great game. What a great team. What a great year!
Before the season started we had formed a football conference called BO-COON Conference consisting of five teams: Early, Schaller, Galva, Wall Lake & Lake View. High School students enjoy playing football. They enjoy hitting each other. Football puts this urge in the game form and with a good conference, provides schools a chance to work together. We won all of our games and the first BO-COON conference title.
That year, I was nominated for the "Coach of the Year" award in Iowa. The coach in Atlantic, Iowa had also started football in that community the same year and his team had an undefeated season, as well. Since Atlantic was a much larger community than Early, he won the award. I was so proud of the Early team and was delighted to just be nominated. Besides, my greatest reward had been when my team call me "Coach."
With such great success the first year, I had to wonder what it would be like the second year, especially since we lost six or seven players from our first year's team. I didn't need to worry. It went well and the Early High School team went undefeated for the second year. Our leading players were Faber, S. Larison, Frier, K. Eckerman, Brewer, Lang, Boarcheding, Motter and others.
We won the BO-COON Conference again, even though many of the big players had graduated. The team played very well and I was just as proud of this second year team as I had been of the team, the year before. Many of our opponents felt we would be the weak team in the conference. Not true!
For the next three years, Early struggled for talented players. But the football fever continued to build and was strong as we struggled through 1949/50/51.
1950 brought a new member to our family with the birth of our son, Daniel Burton. He was born on May 30th, Memorial Day. I took a bit of teasing as a History teacher, having two children born on holidays. My students said I couldn't even forget about history lessons when I was having my family.
In 1953, we expected a firecracker on the 4th of July, but Kimberly Lou, fooled us and waited until the 22nd. Early was too small to support a hospital, so both Dann and Kym were born at the hospital in Storm Lake, IA
A new group of young students appeared in 1952/53, with that same great desire to play football. By 1954, Early High School was undefeated, untied and un-scored-upon. Legend has it that the opponent never got closer to the goal than the 15-yard line that year. A great group of young men who did an outstanding job with W8 - L0, untied and un-scored-upon.
It was around this time, Bill Hall was hired to help coach. We worked well together. He worked with the offensive team and I coached the defensive team. Our practice sessions were good. The teams had to be on the field on time but we ended practice with different terms. No one left practice until the play we were working with, worked well. Practice was very important. Bill and I hoped that the practice during the week would make the practiced plays comfortable enough to be used in the upcoming game. We had only a few plays, six running plays and five pass plays.
In 1954 our Quarter Back was Billy Jenkins. Digger Hines and Junior Larison were the BACKS. The LINE players were Ron Mau, Clarence Bishop and Vern Kowalke. Others on the team were Harridan, Hess, Walker and Hansen. We, in Early, looked upon this season as a great one. Not many football teams hold their opponents scoreless.
That year Odebolt and Early each had an open night in their schedules and it just happen to be the same night. Both schools were in need of extra money for our athletic funds, so we struck a deal. Early would play the football game at Odebolt and they would take all the proceeds. The basketball game would be at Early, and all those Monies would be ours.
Billy Jenkins had an emergency appendectomy that fall and he had already missed the Lytton game. He didn't want to miss any more games. Doctor Gauger had given him permission to play, but his mother was not so easily convinced. Eventually, she wrote the letter (that I still have) giving her permission for Billy to play on the condition that he would not carry the ball and that he would not get tackled. We all agreed, and Billy suited up.
Clearly, Odebolt expected to win. Early in the game, however, Junior Larison recovered a fumble and ran 75 yards for the first touchdown. 7-0. Shortly after that, Roger Manke ran 75 yards for another TD, but it was called back because of a holding call. Billy Jenkins made the next two touchdowns, in spite of his promise, and we won, 21-6. A special thanks goes to Mrs. Jenkins.
That next morning at one of the local coffee groups, one of the regulars, who had not been able to attend the game, came in saying, "Boy, did the Sioux City paper really get it wrong, they've got Early winning, 21-0." Did he ever catch it from the coffee group. He may never have lived that one down and I bet he never missed another game.
After another rebuilding program the 1958 team held their opponents scoreless, as well. The team members were QB-Don Hatch, BACKS-David Bones, and Bob Lentz. Others were Paulson, Wiseman, Tommy Bettin, Miller, Roach & Detterman, Kolbe, Saunders, Franker and Richard Matthaidess. This was the first year that Nemaha High School & Early High School joined together to make Crestland High School.
1958 was my final year of High School Football and I enjoyed it very much. That year also brought the next life changing decision. I had to decide to either stay at Early where we were very happy or accept a position at the University of Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. Teaching in Early was one of the finest times of my life - I think about it a lot. We miss the people of Early, the students of Early and Crestland High schools and our many friendships.
I've told many stories about my life at Early, but one of the most important parts was Louise. She was 100% plus, in support of me. Besides being my best supporter, she was the team's very best fan and cheerleader. She never missed a football game and never complained when I brought those uniforms home after each game to wash and hang out on the line. No matter how much it had rained or how dirty the uniforms were, she was there for me and ready to help. Friday nights would find us both in the basement with the kids sitting on the stairs watching, while we washed the uniforms and shared the events of the game. Those nights became memorable times for our family.
Louise had urged me to take a job that I would love. I did when I took the coaching job at Early. She turned out to be the perfect partner for me, as well. I believe much of the success I enjoyed was realized because she was so active within the community. She was a very warm and friendly person and was always an energetic worker, no matter the project - even washing the football uniforms after the games. I remember a particularly cold season that she made red felt gloves for the football team to tape on the backs of their hands, hoping to keep their hands a little warmer.
Louise never missed a game. Well, maybe one or two, but she was my biggest fan. I would often hear her cheering the team on from the side lines, with a Dann or Kym in the baby buggy, or sitting on her lap, or both.
While Amelia and Carl were living, Louise's parents, every Christmas we would pack the kids in the car and drive across Iowa to Elgin in order to celebrate with them. Amelia was so good to open her home to us and of course she would invite in the rest of the family for Christmas Day. She made Christmas special for every one of us and was sure to have a wonderful meal for us all to share at her dinner table. We would arrive just in time to go to church on Christmas Eve, where the kids all got their special Santa Claus gifts. The girls got dolls and the boys got cars or trucks and everyone went home full of the Christmas Spirit and singing carols.
Amelia was always wonderful to me. Carl and his sons, Hugo and Ruben, were never quite sure I was good enough for the little sister, Louise. Eventually, I was approved of, but it was probably a good thing that we lived a distance away.
The Hackmann family were strong Baptist. I came into their family having been raised Lutheran. Louise and I agreed to become Methodist and raised our family Methodist. Our choice of church, however, is a story in it's self.
We had just moved into Early and had no car yet. There was no Baptist Church in the town and the Lutheran church was located between towns, in the country. We asked our Landlady, Mrs. Harker, what church she went to and where it was located. She belonged to the Presbyterian church and gave us directions. We just needed to walk down the street, the church was on the corner. We did just that, only we apparently turned left instead of right and walked the wrong street as we happily joined the Methodist church several weeks later. I guess they take members that don't follow directions well, too.
Louise was a good church member and taught Sunday School for many years. We pledged our membership to the Early Methodist Church and changed to the First Methodist Church in Omaha. While we lived in Early, we enjoyed the Come Double Group sponsored by the Church.
Except for two summers when I was working on getting my MA in Iowa City, IA, I stayed in Early during the summer months. Dick and Ivan Wadsley asked me if I wanted to help them with work around their farms. First, I painted the house for Dick. Then there was a baling job that Dick and I worked for one of his cousins. Gradually, I did other jobs for them such as vaccinating their hogs before they went to market. I learned to cultivate the cornfields, clean out the barns and bale hay. The Wadsley's put up with me for a number of years and I learned a lot about farming. Later, Bob Sanders and I got summer jobs spraying weeds for Sac County. We sprayed the weeds on every county road in Sac County and only knocked down a few mailboxes.