I am trying to remember most of the details, and some background information on Coach Hurst. This was his first coaching job and he was a Vietnam veteran. I thought this was during my freshman year, but I have others who were a grade younger claiming they were at the practice.
It was during 2-day practices before school started. The number of players out for football was in the low 20’s so we could not practice 11 on 11. We were practicing on the school playground north of the football field. We ran most offensive plays without a defense during the preseason and would huddle up to call a play and go 5- 10 yards. Then huddle up again and repeat the process. As the players broke the huddle to line up one side of the offensive line would not get in the stance as the play was being called. There was a large snake (I think it was a black snake) on the ground in front of them. Coach Hurst was behind the offense to watch the execution of the play and was visibly upset that the players were not getting in their stance. He walked over and in one motion reached down and picked up the snake by the back of the neck area. He continued to walk around holding the snake as he watched the players run more plays. After the players messed up a play for the second or third time he moved to in front of the offensive lineman and was pacing back and forth. He was questioning the manhood of the players and wondering what type of team he had. Then he stretched the snake out with his two hands, holding it above his shoulder, and then lowered the snake and bit in two. He turned his head, spitting out part of the snake, and then asked who was ready to play football.
Coach Hurst was also a science teacher and during that school year, a few students would bring snakes to school in Jars to give to him.
Coach Hurst moved on to Stockton, and Nevada to coach. A fellow teammate and I caught up with him at a MU game several years later and we discussed the snake incident. He admitted that he lost it for a minute and explained that was how they would dispose of snakes in the jungle while in Vietnam.
