BETT Logo: ORIGINS

"The Beginning of BETT" 

The Sophomore Class of 1978

“In 1978 we had just finished our sophomore football season with Head Coach  Gary Hirsch, Assistant Ted Thompson and Assistant Coach Paul Castro. We were working on an end-of-year questionnaire. As a team, we talked about changing our helmets. Our helmet logo would change every year. I don't  think they had the same logo for more than one year in a row, at least while I was in school."

The  students talked about colleges and NFL teams using the same logo consistently. At the time the University of Pittsburgh was using a  script Pitt. They had won the national championship in 1976 and were always very competitive. The team talked about the idea of a script BETT. They talked about the Pittsburgh Steelers being black and gold like BHS and having their logo on one side of the helmet. They decided that they would like the graphic on one side of the BHS football helmet like Pittsburg. They also talked about the Hawkeye graphic as they were also rising to prominence in football. Mike Duncan wrote down the suggestions and turned them into the coaches.

“When  I turned the request in as a sophomore, I never thought another thing of it. When we came out as juniors, we had a script of Bulldogs on our helmets. Then as seniors, Head Coach Merv Habinecht decided on the BETT on one side of the helmet.  It was really cool. BHS has had BETT on the football helmets every year since, except in 1985. That year they had a  Hawkeye Bulldog. They used it for one year and went back to the BETT."

Over the years, the BETT graphic continued to rise in recognition and prominence through the other HS sports teams, and activities, as well as  a high school and a district graphic. When people see the BETT graphic, they instantly think of Bettendorf High School and the Bettendorf School District. The elementaries and middle school have also embraced  the pride of the BETT graphic. A few years ago, school year, the district launched "BETTer Together" to help share the stories of relationships in the Bettendorf Community School District and with our community and neighboring schools.

"It's fun to see it grow and to have been a part of it from so long ago."

Mike has a lot of pride in the football team's work on the suggestion. Thank you to the Class of 1981 for launching a graphic that has had an  incredible impact over the years and the future of the Bettendorf Community School District.

NOTE:  Mike Duncan is a Wellness Teacher in the Pleasant Valley Community School District and JH Head Football Coach.  He is completing his 36th year in the district heading to retirement.

11/22/24

#BulldogPride #BHS #AllBett #BCSD