Green Bay Packers (2-3-2) 14, Minneapolis Marines (1-3) 6
Sunday November 12th 1922 (at Green Bay)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(GREEN BAY) - Staging one of those sensational finishes that you often read about but seldom see, Green Bay pulled a pro league gridiron conflict out of the fire Sunday afternoon at Hagemeister park by making two touchdowns in the last ten minutes which sent the famous Minneapolis Marines back to the Gopher state on the short end of a 14 to 6 score. It was the greatest exhibition of post graduate football ever seen in Green Bay and it is unfortunate that the smallest crowd of the season turned out to witness the exhibition of pigskin chasing. There were less than 2,000 paid admissions and as a result of the poor gate the management lost another big slice of dough.
IN FACE OF DEFEAT
Enough grief. Let's get back to the glory. Shortly after the start of the fourth quarter, the big blue team got going full speed ahead. At the time of their spurt the red jerseyed Marines appeared to have victory in their grasp as Dunn & Co. were on the front end of a 6 to 0 score, thanks to a break of luck by which Messrs. Irgens and Cleve got way with a forward toss which resulted in Cleve dashing 35 yards for a touchdown. Irgens was kind enough to miss the goal kick. This all happened towards the close of the first half. In this aforementioned glorious fourth quarter, the Bays started their drive about midfield and marked up two first downs. They hit a stone wall on three rushes about the 30 yard line. Then Lambeau cut loose with a lateral play momentarily fumbled the ball, but recovered, and battered his way down the north side foul line to within 7 yards of the Marines' gold. The crowd went crazy.
LAMBEAU MAKES SCORE
Gardella made a yard. Usher added two and then Lambeau waded through a hole made by Cub Buck for a touchdown. The teams line up for the try for goal. Buck, standing back for the kick, yelled so hard, you could hear him all over the field: "Steady line men, this means victory." He kicked and the ball sailed between the uprights for the extra point. Green Bay was in the lead 7 to 7 and King Joy ruled supreme. There was still 9 minutes to play. As the Marines kicked off to Green Bay, some sturdy voiced piped out: "Get another one, gang, show you can." Everybody hoped they would but it was not thought possible. However, here is where
surprise No. 2 came in.
NORTON IS STOPPED
As receiving the kickoff, the Bays made a couple of first downs and then punted far down in the Marines' territory. The big blue line was smearing like demons and the slippery Norton, who earlier in the game caused so much trouble, was being dumped in his tracks. It seemed as if the Marines got a bit tired bumping their heads against the brick and it wasn't long before the Bays intercepted a forward pass and another touchdown march was on. A half dozen line smashes netted a pair of first downs and the Marines were backed up right under the shadow of their goal posts.
HELD THREE TIMES
With but two minutes to play, the Minneapolis crew made a game stand for three downs, the Bays gaining but four yards. Lambeau called time out and the Green Bay players talked it over. Back they went to their positions and the teams lined up. Lambeau dropped back, as if for a kick, and spectators hollered, "Boot it over Curley". The Marines thought Curley was going to make a try but instead the Bay "coup" worked to perfection. On the pass, Mathys cut around from nowhere and followed Buck and Woodin for a touchdown. The Marines were fooled completely. Even Manager Dunn admitted it was classy football. Buck missed the goal kick but the Marines were offside and the extra pointed award to Green Bay. Immediately after the next kick, the whistle blew ending the game.
OPENING OF GAME
Getting back to the first of the game, there was nothing out of the ordinary in the opening quarter. The teams battled along about on a par with the Bays having the best of it on ground gaining. The bootsmiths, Buck and Irgens, exchanged kicks without much advantage to either side. The Marines, as last year, showed a puzzling offense which was featured by several switchbacks. Until the Bays got "climated" they lost some yardage on offside. The Minneapolis formations were pretty watchful and on some runs they had seven or eight men in the interference.
NORTON IS STAR
Norton, the former high schooler who played a half for the Marines, more than made good all the nice things said about him. He was the slipperiest individual that has cavorted on a Green Bay gridiron in many a moon. Norton looked somewhat like Eddie
Novak in action and incidentally he gained considerable ground. Early in the second quarter, the Bays marched down the field into the Marines' territory. Once inside the 35 yard line, the visitors braced and Buck's placekick from the 40 yard line shot outside the posts. The Marines scrimmaged on their 20 yard line.
MARINES REGAIN BALL
The visitors made a first down and finally kicked down the field. The ball changed hands twice via the toe route. Finally, Irgens booted again and Mathys in trying to play it safe fouled the pigskin. A Marine hopped on it like a hot tomato. Twice the invaders hurled their backs against the Bay line with nary a gain. Then came the break, which at that time looked as if it spoiled defeat for Green Bay. It was a fake kick formation with Irgens. He got a swift pass from the center. The Bay forward line came on him with a rush. Earps grabbed and it seemed as if he was held temporarily but Irgens wiggled loose and hurled the ball far down the field. Cleve was waiting for the pigskin and as it settled in his arms, he started his dash for a touchdown. Big Kramer, the Marine guard, bowled over one Bayite and Cleve ambled across the goal line untouched. Irgens missed the goal kick. There was no more scoring in this half, the teams fighting it out, toe to toe, during the few minutes left to play.
THE THIRD QUARTER
The visitors came back for the second half bristling with pep and seemingly sure that victory was in their grasp. However, they hadn't figured on the Bay squad. They had been doing some "skull work" during the intermission. An exchange of units followed the kickoff and the Marines moved up several chalk marks on the boots. Soon after, Norton got away for a 35 yard run and before he was downed the ball was on the Bays' 35 yard line. Three rushes made another first down and it looked as if the visitors never would stop going. With the crowd yelling "Hold 'em Packers", the big blue team turned back the Gophers on three rushes and the fourth play, a forward pass, Usher knocked down the toss just before Cleve cut around to grab the ball. This was the turning point. The Bay offense began picking weak spots in the Marine line for gains and it wasn't long before the oval was pretty well back in midfield. The aggressive Mr. Norton was being dumped pretty hard by Green Bay, and the Marine players were urging referee Downer to prevent the piling on. The play waxed rough times and both sides were fighting their heads off for every inch of yardage.
FLYNN AND KRAFT
Aside from Norton, the two former All-Conference ends, Flynn of Minneapolis and Kraft of Illinois played brilliantly for the visitors. Igrens and Cleve also cut fancy capers in the backfield. The Bay squad played as a machine. Their offense particularly in the final was a revelation to all. Captain Lambeau showed his best form of the season. Usher, Mills and Gardella worked well behind the line. Mathys' work at quarterback could not be improved upon. Howard, Hayes and Wheeler held down the end positions nicely. Buck and Earps were in the midst of every play while the Bay center trio, Woodin, Niemann and Gardner, easily outclassed their much touted opponents.
MINNEAPOLIS - 0 6 0 0 - 6
GREEN BAY - 0 0 0 14 - 14
SCORING
2nd - MINN - Ainer Cleve, 35-yard pass from Bill Irgens (Irgens kick failed) MINNEAPOLIS 6-0
4th - GB - Curly Lambeau, 4-yard run (Cub Buck kick) GREEN BAY 7-6
4th - GB - Charley Mathys pass from Lambeau (Buck kick) GREEN BAY 14-6
CAL'S COMMENTS
NOV 13 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Racine sure is stepping lively on the professional football gridiron and it looks as if the Bays will have to show all they have got in next Sunday's game. Babe Reutz''s pigskin machine has run up 91 points in two games. Last Sunday they beat the Kentucky Colonels of Louisville, 57 to 0, and in the Armistice Day fray buried the Columbus Panhandles, 34 to 0. Right now Racine looks as good as any club in the Joe Carr circuit.
PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL IS MAKING RAPID PROGRESS IN CHICAGO; GAMES DRAW WELL
NOV 14 (Chicago) - Professional football in Chicago is building up a new class of sport fans all its own. That is apparent by attending games either at the Cubs or Comiskey park. Young men who give indication of performing regular hard work on weekdays seem
attracted by the postgraduate brand of the typical college pastime. It is unlikely a majority of the Sunday customers were deprived of a higher education and of late years patronage at college games has been confined almost exclusively to alumni and students because of an excessive demand of tickets. In the last decade the Western newspapers have put football in the front rank so far as devoting space to contests is concerned. Naturally, the uncollegiate element sought an outlet for its curiosity, eventually developing into enthusiasm, and profitable Sunday football is the natural result...WHAT COMISKEY THINKS: "I notice the game is patronized mostly by young men," observed C.A. Comiskey, proprietor of the White Sox, as he looked out his office window Sunday. "The young men must understand the game judging from the way they cheer. Do you know, cheering always shows the hold a game has on the public? I have noticed that for a great many years." They used to say on days when Mr. Comiskey was busy in his office and could not view the baseball game that he could tell just about how far his White Sox were ahead or behind by the noises that rolled in from the stands and bleachers. He always viewed the cheering as an unfailing barometer of the progress of the score and he seldom guessed wrong...DRISCOLL IS STAR: South Side fans are wondering what honors would have been bestowed upon Paddy Driscoll had he attended an eastern university. Pitted against the best graduate players, Driscoll stands forth as one of the greatest stars in fast company. Of course, Driscoll was not so heavy when in college, but he had the dash and the nerve in those days. Paddy is one of the best all-around athletes ever developed in Chicago and the way he stands up surrounded with all-star men from the East proves that he has exceptional ability.
CAL'S COMMENTS
NOV 14 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The worm has turned and professional football is being given an even shake by the sportSwriters in the bigger cities of the country. We can look back about a year and recall the hammer chorus of some of the Chicago scribes against postgraduate football. But they have changed their turn these days and they can't say things too nice. Hugh Fullerton, Frank Smith and a hose of others finally have been won over and they are now boosting the Sabbath Day pigskin chasing exhibitions to the limit.
RACINE MUCH EXCITED OVER SUNDAY'S GAME WITH BAYS; RECORD CROWD IS EXPECTED
NOVEMBER 14 (Racine) - The big game of the pro football season will be played here Sunday afternoon when Babe Ruetz's Legion-Horlick club will give battle to Green Bay in a contest on which hinges the state championship. Racine has been showing class galore this past month and their lopsided wins over the Louisville Colonels and the Columbus Panhandles shows that the Ruetzmen are one of the strongest teams in the country...BAYS GOING GOOD: However, the Green Bay team isn't to be sneered at these days. The Bays have been playing wonderful ball of late. They haven't tasted defeat in four games and have faced some of the strongest teams in the pro circuit, namely, Milwaukee, Rock Island, Columbus and Minneapolis. Early in the season, Racine defeated Green Bay, 10 to 6, but even the Legion squad admit that they were mighty fortunate to get a win as the Bays were right on their heels every minute and only the bad breaks of the game kept Lambeau's team from victory...BOTH TEAMS IMPROVED: Since that game, the makeup of both squads has undergone many changes which has improved the rival lineups. One feature of Sunday's game will be the playing of Murray with Racine and Woodin with Green Bay. In the early season contest Murry was with the Bays while Woodin held down a line job for the Legion. Arrangements are being made here to handle the biggest crowd of the season. At least 5,000 spectators are expected to witness the game. Two hundred grandstand seats have been set aside for the Green Bay rooters.
PLAY BY PLAY
NOV 14 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Local football fans who stay at home Sunday will not have to miss the Packer-Racine game to be played at Racine. A special wire will be run from Horlick field to the Elks' clubhouse, and the game will be relayed play by play. Racine expects to trounce the Packers and the game will be full of thrills. Preparations are being made for a record crowd who "see" the game by wire.
TWO BIG GAMES
NOV 14 (Chicago) - Both the Bears and Cardinals face stiff opposition in the NFL games Sunday. The Bears will hook up with the Rock Island Independents, while the Cards will engage the unbeaten Canton Bulldogs. That the Rock Islanders are sure to give the Bears a stiff argument was indicated Sunday when they laced the Dayton Triangle, 43 to 0. The best score the Bears rolled up in their game with Dayton two weeks ago was 9 to 0, and if comparative scores are considered it must be conceded that the Independents have the edge. Rock Island will present a line that is second to none in the league. Leading it is Duke Slater, giant colored All American tackle at the University of Iowa. Besides Slater, Tillie Voss of Detroit university is in the line, playing at end. Directing the team is Jimmy Conzelman, star quarterback of the champion Great Lakes team, and Jimmy has few equals in carrying the ball or punting or field goal kicking.
EDITORIAL COMMENT - PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL
NOV 14 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Professional football is gaining a hold on popular liking. Frank Smith of the Tribune sporting department, who saw the Chicago Bears defeat the Dayton Triangles, thinks it is a good thing. The value of sports is in the spread of them. The big contests have value in national well being, as they stimulate imitation in boys and young men. Thirty years ago not many small boys had Rugby footballs. Now a great many have, and when the leaves begin to color and fall the boys are out on the corner lot trying to dropkick and learning formations. They are doing that because within the last fifty years football has spread into all the colleges of the country. Fifty years ago football was a game restricted to a few colleges. With the spread of the game a healthy sport has been handed down to the boys on the lot. The appeal of the college game is limited. Colleges cannot seat the people who want to see the big games, and they do not care to make a great popular hippodrome of their contests, which is probably sound enough. Professional football, as it grows in favor, will spread the popularity of the game and will interest boys who do not hope to go to college. Their physical well being is as important to the nation as the well being of the college class. College baseball is not hurt by the fact that professional baseball is better played. Professional football may never be better played than college football, or again it may be much better played. Just at present ex-college men furnish most of the professional players. Probably if a great trainer and coach took some 18 year old boilermakers, dock workers, steel erectors and newspaper circulators and trained them to play football for a living the score of that team against California, Iowa, Harvard or Washington and Jefferson would be 120 to 0. That might hurt college pride, but it is not necessary for the twain to meet. It would not do them any harm if they did. The chief triumph of a democracy is not its government. The political freedom of the freeman may be doubted. The triumph of a democracy is social freedom and the obliteration of social caste. - Chicago Tribune.
"BEAT RACINE" IS BATTLE CRY FOR GREEN BAY SQUAD
NOV 15 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - "Beat Racine". That's the battle cry of the Green Bay gridders as they work daily for Sunday's pro league clash with Babe Ruetz's Legion team from Horlickville. That 10 to 6 licking handed the Bays early in the season is well remembered and every man on the squad is dead determined to wipe it out with a big enough score so as to leave no chances for argument. In that early season game here, Green Bay handed the Racine team the win on a golden platter. This time out it will be a different story, at least that's what the players say...WILL BE BATTLE: It will probably be the "fightingest" game of the season. There is little love lost between the teams and the rival squads are getting set for a battle from the first whistle. There will be no changes in the Bay lineup for Sunday's game. Hopes that Dewey Lyle, star lineman of the Rock Island Independents, would be with the Bays flickered out when Manager Flanagan of Rock Island refused to part with Lyle at any costs. The Green Bay team will leave Saturday afternoon for Racine and will arrive at Horlickville in time to get a good night's sleep before the whistle blows. Seats for 200 Green Bay rooters have been reserved for the Bay management.
PRACTICE UNDERWAY
NOV 15 (Racine) - Horlick-Racine legion football warriors will start work this evening at Lakeview for their battle with the Green Bay Packers next Sunday afternoon at Horlick field. The Legion players will practice every night for the remainder of the week in order to be in top form for the Packers. Next Sunday's struggle is one of the most important on the Racine 1922 schedule and is the big home game of the year. The Green Bay aggregation is the Legion team's bitterest rival and both elevens will show their best brand of football next Sunday and scrap from the first kickoff until the final whistle...TITLE AT STAKE: Racine must win Sunday's contest in order to remain in the running for the Wisconsin professional title. If the Ruetzman conquer the Packers and then whip the Milwaukee Badgers here two weeks ago from Sunday they will have the championship, as Green Bay held Milwaukee to a scoreless tie. Every man on the Racine squad is in excellent shape and the warriors are ready for a hard week of practice. Barring injuries this week, Racine will have its full strength to send against the Northerners.
MILWAUKEE HERE NOV. 26; DULUTH ON THANKSGIVING
NOV 16 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - At least two more football games are assured the Green Bay fans as negotiations were completed Wednesday for the Milwaukee Badgers, one of the greatest teams in the pro league, to play here a week from Sunday, November 26, and, on Thanksgiving Day, the Duluth K.C. eleven, conquerors of the Bays in the first game of the season, will perform at the league park. Efforts to bring the Chicago Bears here on Turkey Day fell flat. The Chicago teams is packing 'em in at the Cub park and Manager Halas wasn't any too anxious to leave his "gold mine" and come hither. The Bear manager played it safe by asking $4,000 to bring his team here, knowing that no club in the pro circuit would attempt to meet such a high guarantee...MCMILLEN AND POLLARD: Bo McMillen and Fritz Pollard, two of the greatest footballers in the history of football, will positively appear in the lineup of the Milwaukee club here a week from Sunday. McMillen is known the country over as the great quarterback who put Centre college on the football map. He was picked by Walter Camp for his 1921 All American team. Aside from Pollard, the Brewers have a dozen other stars who have been in the limelight on the gridiron. The appearance of the Milwaukee club looks like the biggest pigskin attraction ever booked for a Green Bay grid. The scheduling of the Duluth game made a hit with the Bay players as they are anxious to wipe out the sting of that 6 to 2 early season reversal. According to rumors from up north, Duluth intends to bolster its lineup for the Thanksgiving Day game by using several of the Upper Michigan stars. Marshall and Des Jardien will probably play here with Duluth..READY FOR RACINE: The Green Bay squad is ready for Racine and when the big blue squad starts action on Sunday at Horlickville, the Reutzmen will bump up against one of the greatest teams in the country. The Bays are determined to take a fall out of the Legion squad as a win is necessary to retain the state professional championship. Interest in the Racine game is
warming up and a big crowd of Green Bay fans will follow the team downstate for Sunday's argument.
CAL'S COMMENTS
NOV 16 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - A football attraction extraordinary has been booked for Green Bay a week from Sunday when the big blue team gives battle to the Milwaukee Badgers. The Cream City aggregation really is one of the greatest in the country. Its lineup bristles with All-American stars and included in the lot are a pair who are famous from coast to coast. In Bo McMillen and Fritz Pollard, the Milwaukeeans have two of the greatest backfielders of all times.
CHICAGO CARDINALS BATTLE CANTON BULLDOGS IN TITLE FOOTBALL JOUST ON SUNDAY
NOV 17 (Columbus) - First place in the NFL will be decided Sunday at the White Sox ball park in Chicago, when the Cardinals and the Canton Bulldogs, two undefeated teams, engage in a gridiron conflict. These two teams together with Toledo haven't been upset this year but the Mudhens claim on the top berth is somewhat lessened by the fact that they have played two ties games. Toledo, on Sunday, faces the Dayton Triangles. The Chicago Bears and Rock Island Independents, who are fighting it out for third and fourth positions, also clash in Chicago. This game will be played at the Cubs' park...GAMES ON BADGER GRIDS: Two important games are scheduled on Wisconsin's pro grid. At Milwaukee, Jim Thorpe and his Oorang Indians from Marion will have it out with the Badgers while at Racine, Green Bay and the Horlick-Legion combination are scheduled to play in a contest which will have direct bearing on the Wisconsin professional title. With the postgraduate gridiron season entering the final stretch, President Joe Carr, Columbus, is more than satisfied with the results to date. In discussing the league's success, Mr. Carr said: "We have made splendid progress this year. Postgraduate football is here to stay and the game has made better headway this year than ever before. Sport writers of the country are beginning to give recognition to our organization and I don't think it will be long before the opposition to Sunday football will be pretty well wiped out. Professional football is here to stay and each succeeding Sunday puts our organization on a firmer foundation. It has been a hard fight but I now feel sure that we are on speaking teams with success."
THREE PRICES FOR MILWAUKEE CLASH
NOV 17 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Green Bay Football club management will sell a $1.10 admission ticket for the Milwaukee-Green Bay game here a week from Sunday November 26. This ducat will admit the bearer into the "home-plate" grandstand. The other admission prices will remain unchanged.
EXPECT BIG CROWD
NOV 17 (Racine) - The biggest crowd in the history of Wisconsin pro football is expected to pack Horlick field, Sunday afternoon, when Racine and Green Bay lock horns in a game which will go a long way towards deciding the Wisconsin championship. The advance seat sale indicates a record turnout. About 200 fans from the Bay are going to follow their team here. Beloit, Janesville and Milwaukee delegations are coming to the game. The Green Bay team arrives here Saturday night. Both squads are reported in the pink of condition. The kickoff is at 2:30.
GREEN BAY FACES RACINE SUNDAY IN TITLE JOUST; BOTH ELEVENS ARE RIGHT
NOV 18 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Green Bay's squad of pro gridders hopped off this afternoon over the Northwestern road in a special car at 3:15 for Racine where on Sunday they are scheduled to give battle to the Horlick-Legion eleven in a game which will have a direct bearing on the Badger state postgraduate gridiron honors. The big blue team is in the pink of condition for the title fray. Every man on the club is fit for a tough battle and the entire aggregation feels confident that they will come home with a victory...THE PROBABLE LINEUP: It is probable that Hayes and Howard will start at the ends with Buck and Earps holding down the tackle jobs. The center trio will be composed of Woodin, Niemann and Gardner. Charlie Mathys will call the signals at quarter while Usher, Lambeau and Mills will be the other members of the backfield when the whistle blows. Several hundred Green Bay fans are expected to hit the trail for Racine. Many left here this morning, stopping off in Milwaukee to witness the Marquette-Detroit game. A block of 200 seats has been reserved for the Green Bay rooters and the reservations are on sale at Smaders's in Racine. This store is located in the heart of the business district, close to the George hotel, which will be the Green Bay headquarters.
BULLETIN
NOV 18 (Racine) - It was learned late that Don Murray, star University of Wisconsin tackle, declared ineligible on the eve of the Minnesota-Wisconsin game, signed a Racine Legion football contract today and will probably play with the Racine Legion team against Green Bay on Sunday. Murray was barred from conference games because of having played with Taylorville, Ill., in the famous 1921 Thanskgiving Day game. He is reputed to be one of the classiest tackles developed in years and tips the beam at 195.
RACINE ALL READY
NOV 18 (Racine) - "We're going to beat Green Bay." That was the statement of Manager Babe Reutz after he had watched his charges worked out Friday afternoon at the ball park. "I expect the hardest game of the season but our defense has improved so much that I am sure we will put a crimp in the Bays' aerial attack, which is their main stock of trade." If the weather dishes out a bit of sunshine tomorrow, Horlick park will be jammed to capacity. This game has created more interest than any other contest this season. Odds on Racine were wiped out by a wave of Green Bay money which flooded in here in the last 24 hours.
EXPECT BIG CROWD TO GET FOOTBALL RETURNS OFF WIRE
NOV 18 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - About 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, the direct wire between Horlick field, Racine, and the Elks club, Green Bay, will begin "talking" and the play-by-play fans will settle back in their seats and get ready for two hours of the "hot-off-the-wire" stuff. According to the Legion management at Racine, the Sunday's contest will be played off rain or shine. This means that there is no chance for a postponement and the football fans who don't follow the team can make their plans now to be at the Elks club when the whistle blows. From the talk around town, the Elks club hall will be hammed to capacity and it is suggested that those who desire good seats get on hand early. It is nearly a safe bet that the "S.R.O." sign will be hung up.
CAL'S COMMENTS
NOV 18 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Joe Carr, president of the NFL, generally hits the nail right on the head when he bursts forth into print and his remarks to the effect that the pro league magnates were shaking hands with success covers the situation in a nutshell. Of course, postgraduate football still has some rough travel ahead but the worst is over. Right now, the main trouble is finances and at the December meeting, the magnates are going to try and work out some sort of an agreement which the salary limit will be cut down considerably...Unless we miss our guess, the fur will fly at Racine tomorrow when Green Bay and the Horlick-Legion clash in a football encounter which will go a long way towards deciding the Wisconsin championship. There is little love between the teams and the opposing squads will be out there fighting every minute to bring home the bacon. Murray, the Wisconsin tackle, over whom the Big Ten had quite a rumpus during the past ten days, will appear in the Racine lineup. He has renounced his amateur standing.