Chicago Bears (1-0) 30, Green Bay Packers (0-1) 7
Sunday September 29th 1946 (at Green Bay)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(GREEN BAY) - The Chicago Bears won their 55th slugging match with the Green Bay Packers, 30 punches to 7, before 25,000 fans at City stadium Sunday afternoon. Without even the Marquis of Queensbury rules covering boxing - let along the laws of professional football entitled "Conduct of Players" - this opening NFL game turned out to be a four-round pugilistic farce. The gladiators didn't wear trunks nor did they toil in a squared ring. And they didn't wear gloves, which is a shame because there wouldn't have been so much blood shed. The only indication that this "might" be a football game was that the players wore clothes that the sporting good stores advertise as "football uniforms" and carried what they call a football. Oh yes, it was "played" on a field that has the same measurements of a football area. Here's an example. In the first three minutes, the Packers' ace passer, Irv Comp, went out with half his lip pulled away. In the next three minutes, the Packers' ace receiver, Nolan Luhn, went out with what may develop into a fractured nose. Simple isn't it. Just murder the guys who score the points and you can't lose. Of course, it was all coincidence that Comp and Luhn were quickly "taken care of". Most of a certainty! It was also a coincidence that these same boys almost wrecked New York a week ago with passes and catches. Now about that "football game". Here it is - blow by blow: The Bears were in command throughout except for a brief spell in the last quarter when Roy McKay, running from fullback, bulled over from the six for the Packers' only score after rookie Cliff Aberson put the Bays in position with the Bays' only two pass completions and a 12-yard run. The Chicagoans took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on Frank Maznicki's 27-yard field goal and boosted their margin to 17-0 in the second hear on two pass plays, Luckman to McLean for 33 yards and Luckman to Kavanaugh for 23. Scoring things were quiet until the last minutes of the third frame when Dick Schweidler hit end for 27 and a Bear TD. After the Packers scored, Bill Osmanski zipped through guard for six points with only 40 seconds left...The Packers got into Bear territory only once in the first half and waited until the first play of the second half to make their first first down. Comp, with his mouth literally taped shut, made it on a 15-yard chase through right guard. In all, the Bears rolled up 15 first downs compared to the Packer's five, three of which came on their only scoring drive. In yardage, the Bears produced 301 on the ground and 114 in the air for a total of 432. The Packers made 99 yards on the ground and 15 in the air. In the first half, the Bays gained only 18 yards on the ground. Their passing was really quieted, what with Comp painfully hurt. They tried only two passes in the first half, the first coming after six minutes of the second quarter and the second after 14 minutes elapsed...Ted Fritsch, Packer fullback, was stopped cold and the only Packers to gain were Comp and Aberson, the kid who never played college football. The Packer blocking was either just plain sour or the Bears were too big to push away. At any rate, the Packer backs, with rare exceptions, couldn't get away. Defensively, the Packers had a hellish afternoon as the score indicates and there were few, if any, really high spots. Captain Charley Brock played himself off his own feet while the others looked good on some plays but were lax on others. The Bears' murderous slants through the line were exploding all over the place, although the Bays forced them to punt six times. The Bears started the game by ripping through the Packer wall for five straight first downs before the door shut. But the Bears got a score out of it as Maznicki stepped back on the 27 and booted a field goal...The Packers, of course, got their first chance on the next kickoff but on the second play, the Packers backs got mixed up, a fumble ensuing and the Bears recovering on the Bay 36. The Bays held and again the Packers got a chance and couldn't produce. The teams played fairly even until midway in the second quarter when the Bears started to pop. It started on the Bear 40 as McLean, Bill Osmanski and Gallarneau barely eked out a first down on the Packer 48. Then Luckman shot a strike to Wilson for 15 and the Bears' first completion. Then Luckman passed to McLean down the center to the nine and Scooter scooted over. Maznicki's kick was good. (10-0). The biggest Packer thrill was produced by Rohrig as the Bears romped toward another touchdown. On the Packer seven, Luckman tried a pass and little Herman came out of nowhere, grabbed the ball and scooted up the sidelines behind interference, but Bill Osmanski broke in and dragged down Herman on the Bear 43 - the first time the Packers got into Bear territory...Tony Canadeo quickly tried a long pass but it went foul and and, on the next play, Canadeo fumbled and Wilson recovered. This set off a Bear spark and the Halas crew had a touchdown on two pass plays, Luckman to Magnani for 23 and Luckman to Kavanaugh for 23 and the TD. Maznicki again converted (17-0). Halftime came a minute later as Bob Nussbaumer was smeared for a 10-yard loss. The Packers received at the start of the second half and Comp promptly made 15 through guard and a first down on the Packer 42. On this play, incidentally, Comp's map was further mashed when a couple of Bears tried to knock the ball out of his hands with their fists. Of course, their punches missed the ball and landed in Irv's face. Comp and Fritsch again drove for an even 11 yards and a first down on the Bear 47- the second time in Bear territory. The attack stalled and the two clubs exchanged punts. The Packers took over on their own 40 and on fourth down gambled with a yard to go for a first down. Fritsch made the distance but the Bays were offside and McKay was forced to punt...On this play, end Carl Mulleneaux got himself knocked out cold for nearly 10 minutes when center John Schiechl let loose with both mitts on Carl's jaw. What's worse Mulleneaux's face was bleeding from below the eye which indicates that John should have cut his fingernails before entering the fray. Near the end of the third quarter, Tom Farris intercepted Canadeo's pass on the Packer 40 and ran to the 27 from where Schweidler bowled over Larry Craig and Canadeo in running for a TD. Maznicki again converted (24-0). Early in the fourth heat, tackle Tiny Croft recovered Farris' fumble on the Bear 49 to cut off another Chicago drive. Nothing materialized until after an exchange of punts when the Packers started their touchdown drive from the from the 50. Aberson ran 12 after he couldn't find a receiver, and then tossed to Nussbaumer for nine and to Ace Prescott for six. Aberson ripped off 12 more before McKay carried it over from the six. McKay kicked the extra point himself (24-7). The Bears took the next kickoff and drove to their final score in eight plays, the big gain being a 40-yard dash by Mullins to the Packer 24. Bill Osmanski danced beautifully from the 20 to score standing up. Tackle Joe Stydahar tried the extra point but the kick was low (30-7).
CHI BEARS - 3 14 7 6 - 30
GREEN BAY - 0 0 0 7 - 7
SCORING
1ST - CHI - Frank Maznicki, 27-yard field goal CHICAGO BEARS 3-0
2ND - CHI - Ray McLean, 33-yard pass from Luckman (Maznicki kick) BEARS 10-0
2ND - CHI - Ken Kavanaugh, 23-yd pass from Sid Luckman (Maznicki kick) BEARS 17-0
3RD - CHI - Dick Schweidler, 27-yard run after lateral from Tom Farris (Maznicki kick) BEARS 24-0
4TH - GB - Roy McKay, 6-yard run (McKay kick) CHICAGO BEARS 24-7
4TH - CHI - Bill Osmanski, 20-yard run (Joe Stydahar kick failed) CHICAGO BEARS 30-7
LAMBEAU'S REACTION IS 'NOTHING TO SAY'
SEPT 30 (Green Bay) - "I have nothing to say." This cryptic five-word sentence was all Coach E.L. (Curly) Lambeau, Packer mentor, had to offer in the way of a post-game "statement" after watching his Bays' performance in their 30-7 loss to the arch-rival Chicago Bears at City stadium Sunday afternoon. As you may have already gathered, the coach, who inaugurated his 28th year at the Green Bay helm Sunday, was more than a little disgusted with the Packers' performance and made no attempt to conceal his feelings when visited in his "inner sanctum" in the dressing room after the contest. Lambeau was, apparently, more keenly disappointed in the manner in which the game was lost than in the result, which was, it goes without saying, decidedly on the unpleasant side - marking the first time the Bears have won here since 1942. Neither of his
companions, Assistant Coach Don Hutson, the grid immortal who made his first appearance at a Packer league contest in civilian clothes since 1935, and Line coach Walt Kiesling were in any mood for conversation either. In fact, the trio's silence reflected the displeasure with far greater emphasis than words...LACK OF FUNDAMENTALS: All three were obviously much disappointed with the Bays' overall showing, particularly with the execution of fundamentals - blocking and tackling - which were definitely off-color. Insecure work in the first department gave the Packer backs, such as Ted Fritsch, Tony Canadeo and Irv Comp, practically no chance to get underway and, in the other, "neck-tie" stabs were responsible for most of the Bears' substantial gains as Chicago backs repeatedly "shrugged" off would-be Green Bay tacklers for extra yardage. There was none of the customary wheeling or vocalizing, almost traditional after any contest, win, lose or draw - in the locker room or the showers just off Lambeau's office. In fact, you could hear the proverbial pin drop as the players finished their showers and dressed, talking in hushed tones that would have done credit to a morgue. The usual "nice game" salutations, a normal part of the locker room chatter, were heard, but they sounded a little flat, probably because the boys themselves were none too well satisfied with their showing. Undoubtedly, they felt much "tougher" than any of the disappointed 20,000-plus rabid Packer fans did about it. It must be recorded, to their credit, that none of them, right down to the last man, had anything like an alibi to offer in their "defense". And, to their further credit, they didn't cast any stones at the Bears for the little slugging contest the Bears initiated when left end Carl Mulleneaux took a terrific wallop on the chin in the third quarter that effectively ended his activities for the day...ALL IS DEEP QUIET: Quiet too were Trainer Bud Jorgensen and his assistant, Johnny Proski, who went about the business of taping up the Packers' miscellaneous cuts and bruises with a minimum of conversation. Even Lou Brock, former Packer back and veteran of many Packer-Bears struggles, who visited the boys in the dressing room after the game, was subdued, apparently feeling as "low" as the rest. It was still quiet as the first ones finished dressing and left the locker room to head uptown, closing the door after them - quietly.
DRESSING ROOM SILENCE TELLS STORY; HALAS CLAIMS HIS TEAM HAS 'EDGE'
SEPT 30 (Green Bay) - Wearing a brown suit and a happy grin, Bear Coach George Halas displayed his pleasure at the outcome of Sunday's game but professed caution in looking ahead to the rest of his NFL schedule. "We've been winning so far," he declared as he walked across the field, surrounded by victorious players, "because we had an unusually good practice period and we're at least a couple of weeks ahead of everybody. But the other teams will catch up with us in the next couple of week." The genial Mr. Halas, who never has lived up to Green Bay fans' conception of him as a rip-roaring plug-ugly who feeds his players a diet of hacksaw blades, is "always glad to get this Green Bay game out of the way. We never know what Curly has cooked up for us up here," he asserted, "but we had a definite edge today." There will be little argument from anyone about that. What did he like particularly about his team? "Pass defense - and I mean the primary pass defense that makes the passer get rid of the ball in a hurry." There will be little argument about that, either. The Bear forwards did a superlative job of rushing Packers passers all afternoon, forcing them on several occasions to elect to run when they didn't have time to find an open receiver. The astute Mr. Halas singled out a pair of his tackles for top mention as contributors to the victory - Ed Kolman, from Temple, who has three seasons as a Bear behind him, and Fred Davis, a 245-pound mastodon acquired in a deal which sent Tom Harmon to the Los Angeles Rams, who previously had obtained Davis from the Redskins. Back at the Bears' helm after his service in the Navy, Halas brought the familiar retinue of coaching assistants with him - Hunk Anderson, who did the pacing up and down in front of the bench and most of the worrying; Paddy Driscoll, who stayed in the background with the players and usually was on the receiving end of the telephone; and Luke Johnsos, up in the press box spotting the plays. All of them are ex-Bears, and Johnsos and Anderson were co-head coaches during Halas' absence. George did his share of the pacing through the first half, but from our Bear-eye view of the game from the Bruin bench we discovered that he is never so excited as he appears from a distance. Except for an occasional short outburst which is gone as quickly as it appears, he is mild-mannered with his big charges, asks out-coming players questions rapidly and gives advice just as rapidly and calmly. By the second half, with his team 17 points ahead and quite clearly destined to win, he relaxed completely - at one point laughingly admonish a vociferous Packer fan: "Here, we don't use that kind of language in Chicago."...If the fans missed George McAfee Sunday, the Bears didn't. There ought to be a league rule against having two Osmanskis on the same team, after the showing the Holy Cross brothers put on. Between then, they gained 104 yards in 17 attempts from the fullback position. Bill's "little brother", Joe, who outweighs the older star by 20 pounds, gained an average of over nine yards per try from scrimmage...The first couple of minutes on the Bear bench were enlivened by the presence of an unauthorized and unsober fan, who, in the shuffle as the players took their seats, was overlooked by the ushers and policemen guarding the bench. He might have stayed there, too, but his enthusiasm ran away with him and he produced a program and pencil and started collecting autographs. Police quickly hustled him outside the rail...The kind of play that makes sportswriters call the Bear-Packer series a "feud" was evidenced right in front of the bench when Dante Magnani, downed out of bounds in a vain attempt at a first down, suddenly scrambled to his feet and started charging ahead again. Referee Ronald Gibbs jumped on him and Bob Flowers, who had helped down Magnani, climbed right into the fray. Gibbs admonished both of them but didn't call a penalty. It was one of several occasions, when Mr. Gibbs found himself embroiled with the players - notably when Tiny Croft recovered a fumble and started goalward with it. Once downed, he got up again but Gibbs piled on him too - and found himself under a couple of Bear stalwarts with similar ideas.
BIG MYSTERY OF GAME CONCERNS WHEREABOUTS OF MR. MCAFEE
SEPT 30 (Green Bay) - This was supposed to be a story about how the celebrities from near and far came to Green Bay Sunday afternoon to watch a renewal of the famous Bear-Packer football series. That series, as most fans know, extends back to 1921 and is generally considered to be "the" game of the NFL campaign in Green Bay. Well, if there were any real celebrities in the crowd Sunday, they kept their identity hidden, so there goes the theme of the story, But perhaps it might be interesting to those who happened to be around City stadium to watch the Bears triumph, but good, to learn why they were operating without a gentleman considered to be their top halfback. It might have been worse if Mr. George McAfee, the scourge of the league several seasons ago, and incidentally of the Packers, had suited up. Just what happened to this long-geared, powerful running back is something of a mystery, and it's for sure that at least two of the Bear officials weren't exactly profuse in their explanations of what happened to him...SIDESTEPS DIRECT QUESTION: Luke Johnsos, assistant coach of the Bruins, sidestepped a direct question about McAfee's absence. "Oh, he got kicked in the knee in scrimmage last week and we're resting him," Johnsos said as he doodled in the press box for lack of anything else to do. Frank Halas, secretary of the Bears, murmured assent when Johnsos volunteered the information that McAfee was at the game. An enterprising Chicago newspaperman, however, wasn't too satisfied with Johnsos' explanation and wired his paper for further information. Shortly afterward the tat-a-tat of a Western Union ticker in the press box brought out the information that McAfee was in a Chicago hospital being treated for a knee injury. By that time Johnsos and Halas had disappeared. They were playing this one close to their vests. It remained for one wag to say "McAfee is back" when a scared rabbit dashed almost the length of the field in the first half. But perhaps the most optimistic comment of all was uttered in strident tones after the game by one fans. Said he, "Just wait until Nov. 3, and we'll give it to them good at Chicago."...Asst. Coach Phil Handler of the Chicago Cards scouted the Bears. He didn't look too happy after the ball game. The Cards meet the north siders next Sunday. Scouts were also present for Los Angeles, Washington and Detroit. Among former Packers present from out of town were Mike Michalske, Lou Brock and Joel Mason. It was difficult to tell from the cheers that greeted the scores whether the crowd was pro-Dodgers or pro-Cardinals...The fine exhibition of baton twirling between halves was put on by Rosemary Schwebs, 16, of Menasha state champ the last four years; Shirley Schwaller, West High senior; Phyllis Kessler, West High sophomore; Bruce Stengel, Suring High; and Carol Jean Collard, now in her sixth year with the Lumberjack band. Carol Jean is now 8. The band showed plenty of "oomph" even when the score looked bad. The postgame swing session helped some fans forget...Five Packers were on the inactive list for Sunday's game. One of them, guard Bob Adkins, sat on the Green Bay bench with his left in his cast. He broke the leg in the exhibition against the New York Giants Sept. 20. Other inactivated were veteran guard Bill Kuusisto, backs Charley Mitchell and Al Zupek and guard Merv Pregulman. Pessimistic note: The Los Angeles Rams' line is considered more powerful than the Bears by those in the know. The Packers meet the Rams next Sunday. Optimistic note: In 1938, the Packers won the Western division championship. They lost to the Bears in the first of their two-game series, 2-0. Could it happen again?
CASUALTY BOX
SEPT 30 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers came out of the Chicago Bear game here Sunday with three "serious" injuries and numerous minor ones, Dr. H.S. Atkinson, Packer physician, reported today. End Carl Mulleneaux suffered a "slight concussion" when he was "batted" under the jaw in the fourth quarter and knocked cold for 10 minutes. X-rays are being taken of end Nolan Luhn's nose and there is a possibility of a fracture. Halfback Herman Rohrig received a cracked rib. Most painfully hurt was passer Irv Comp, who had part of his lip "pulled away" early in the game. Mulleneaux was bleeding badly from scratches about the face when they carried him from the field.
PACKERS DIDN'T LOSE A GAME AFTER 30-3 LOSS TO CHI-BEARS
OCT 1 (Green Bay) - Ten years ago, the Green Bay Packers lost a game to the Chicago Bears and then didn't lose another contest in winning the 1936 championship. There is a strange parallel in the '36 and '46 years. In 1936 the Bears whipped the Bays here, 30-3, and last Sunday just 10 years later - the Bears copped 30-7. The scores are too close not to mention that old song about sports history repeating itself. On that Sunday in 1936 - it was Sept. 13 - the Packers already had beaten the Cardinals, 10-7, in the league opener and were waiting for the Bears with open arms. The day was perfect and the stands were packed, but the Bears were 'right". They got off to a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on Manders' field goal. In the second frame, Ronzani went over and Ade Schwammel, Packer tackle toe specialist, booted a field goal to leave the count at 10-3 at halftime. In the third frame, Hewitt scored, with Manders missing the extra point (remember Stydahar missing last Sunday) and in the final frame Brumbaugh and Karr registered TD's. You know the story of last Sunday, and it is too painful to detail. But history has a funny way of repeating itself in this sports business. In 1936, the Packers went to Milwaukee after losing to the Bears, and whipped the Cardinals, 24-0. Next Sunday - 10 years later, the Packers go to Milwaukee again, this time to play Los Angeles. There is only one playing survivor from that 1936 championship club - guard Russ Letlow, who was a rookie fresh out of San Francisco at the time. Walt Kiesling, present line coach of the Bays, was finishing a brilliant 11-year pro career at guard and Don Hutson, now an assistant coach, was a Packer sophomore at left end....ADD 1 HISTORY: If you're still interested in history, 20 years ago the Packers played two knots with the Bears, 6-6 and 3-3, and lost a third game, 19-13...NO COLLITCH ED: There were two boys who never played college ball on the City stadium turf Sunday - the Packers' Dick Aberson and the Bears' Dick Schweidler, and both did well. Abe passed and ran the Bays to their only score, while Dick scored a Bear TD to sort of get revenge for a fatal error he made on City stadium grass in 1939 when he fumbled a punt and a Packer fell on it in the Bear end zone to help Green Bay to a 21-16 victory.
LOS ANGELES IS NEXT GREEN BAY PACKER FOE
OCT 1 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers meet the NFL's "glamor boys" in Milwaukee next Sunday, but do not let that fool you. These so-called glamor kids are the Los Angeles (nee Cleveland) Rams, who won the championship in 1945 by losing only one game in 10 starts and then clipping Washington in the playoff, 15-14. Thoroughly baptized in the type of opposition this year of 1946 will provide, the Packers gathered up their forces today for a practice session at the City stadium area. Curly Lambeau, his aides, and the toilers of the soil went back to work today with renewed energy after the 30-7 licking absorbed at the hands of the Chicago Bears in City stadium last Sunday afternoon. Monday was one of the few holidays the Packers get during the regular league season - it being the day after the Bear game. The players rested up and spent most of their time thinking about the Sunday game - not considered pleasant thinking, incidentally. They didn't see what is generally called the Packers' exclusive weapon - the forward pass. This is easily explained because the Packers tried only 10 passes and completed two of them, both by Cliff Aberson. Also, they didn't get to see Clyde Goodnight, the pass catching successor to Don Hutson, who was benched throughout with a bad ankle. What's more, they saw little of the buys who are supposed to throw most of the passes - Irv Comp and Tony Canadeo - and one of the receivers, Nolan Luhn. On the ground, the Los Angeles scouts saw even less although they were wondering today about left half Bruce Smith, the Minnesota ace, who didn't carry the ball once. Smith went in late in the game on defense and stopped Bear carriers twice in succession with ankle-high tackles. What about Los Angeles? They are coached by Adam Walsh on the sidelines and Bob Waterfield on the field. Waterfield, last year's most valuable player, directs the team from the T slot. Tom Harmon, the all-time from Michigan alternates with Fred Gehrke, last year's leading Ram gainer, at left half. Either Tom Farmer, ex-Iowa State, or Jim Gillettt are at right half. Steve Susic, former Illinois buster, fullback. Spelling Waterfield is Kenny Washington, the Negro who starred at UCLA. Washington has been bothered with "trick" knees but he still throws a lot of passes, particularly to Woody Strode, another Negro threat, at end. The Ram line is considered as strong as the Bear wall, but proof of that will have to wait until the two clubs meet. Arkansas's Jim Benton, Waterfield's crack receiver, heads the wall which included Eberle Schultz, Gil Bouley, Riley Matheson, Milan Lazetich and Fred Naumetz...Carl Mulleneaux, who suffered a "slight concussion" in the Bear game, turned out for practice today a little shaky but willing. There were rumors out of Milwaukee that he had been fatally hurt, but these were "entirely false."...Ira Clark, chief of City stadium reported today that the stadium was locked up at 6 o'clock Sunday evening in answer to sportswriters and Western Union men were "locked in". Before locking up, Ira said, his crew covers the entire stadium to see that everybody is out. "And besides," Clark reported, "these writers didn't have that much to say that they couldn't send out by 6."
WATERFIELD ON SHELF, MAY MISS TWO GAMES
OCT 1 (Los Angeles) - Bob Waterfield probably is lost to the Los Angeles Rams for their game with the Green Bay Packers at Milwaukee Sunday and may see little action against the Bears in Chicago the following week. This was the conclusion of Dr. William Moloney, Jr. yesterday after viewing X rays of the Ram quarterback's side which was injured in the game with Philadelphia here Sunday. Dr. Moloney diagnosed the injury as a muscle tear near one of the ribs on his left side. He said while the National league's most valuable player might play some this weekend it is doubtful. Much of the rest of the Ram roster read like a casualty list. Jack Banta, halfback, is suffering from torn and bruised muscles in both legs and will be out for two weeks, and Pat West, fullback and star of the game for the Rams, also will be out for one or two weeks with a thigh muscle injury. Also on the hospital list are Jack Wilson, who suffered a broken arm against the Redskins, and Bob Shaw, end, who has been sidelined with a thigh injury. To back up Steve Susic at right half, with Banta out, Coach Adam Walsh yesterday moved out Tom Farmer over from left half. With Waterfield out, the burden of the quarterbacking will rest on the shoulders of those two sophomores of the team, Jim Hardy and Kenny Washington. There is also a possibility that Albie Reisz, No. 2 quarterback last year, may be moved back into a position from a halfback post. The Rams fly east at 8:45 a.m. Thursday via American Airlines.
A FURIOUS LAMBEAU REGARDS THE FUTURE
OCT 1 (Milwaukee Journal) - At 4 o'clock Sunday
afternoon in the dingy coaches' room under the stands at City stadium in Green Bay, Curly Lambeau paced back and forth - three steps this way, three steps that way - in a significantly white but quiet rage. The Lambeau who had gesticulated so explosively on the sidelines as his Packers were being bounced all over their field by the Bears only a half hour before was gone. This was still a furious Lambeau - the effects of that licking won't wear off for a long time - but it was also now a calculating Lambeau. The big Belgian, as he paced back and forth, didn't need anyone to tell him that his Packers had just looked as bad as any Packer team he had ever turned out. He didn't need anybody to tell him that a few more games like this and his Packers would probably play to half filled stands. Lambeau knew - and the big hope for the season lies in this...'WE STUNK': There was nothing even grim about him when he finally did speak. He was merely right to the point. "We stunk," he said quietly, with drawing room elegance, and then, in a slightly rising voice which belied his true feelings, he repeated it, "We stunk." Along the wall the Messrs. Walt Kiesling, line coach; Don Hutson, end coach; Wally Cruice, advance man, and Bob Conrad, all-around handy man sat in a row like pallbearers, and just about as happy as pallbearers. Kiesling had just seen his line pulverized. Hutson had just seen his backs bump into each other trying to handle the ball in the backfield. Cruice had just swallowed his confident prediction of a couple of hours before - "We'll win" - and felt a little gagged. And Conrad - well, Conrad, as all-around handy man, had made the mistake of having arranged all details for a little victory celebration and now faced the unhappy task of calling them off. Not one of them even bothered to nod an assent to Lambeau's classic summation of the team's play. They knew, too...AN OMINOUS RING: A man can pace three steps one way and three steps another only for so long, and Lambeau finally stopped in front of a blackboard on the wall. "Look," he began, "this is the defense the Bears were playing" and he drew those funny circles and squares with which coaches drive other people batty. "This is them, and this is us. Look - five against three over here. Five against three, and we got a tough time gaining a yard. Why, even I couldn't recognize some of our plays." And he threw the chalk away in disgust. "But my friend," he went on with an ominous ring in his voice, "you've seen Packers like the ones you saw out there today for the last time this fall. We've come to the end of the rope for a lot of these guys, and they'll either play football from here on - or they'll play it somewhere else - if Don and Walt and Cruice and I have to put on suits to get 11 men. We might get killed, but we'll look better."...LAMBEAU PERLEXED: What ails the Packers is something of a mystery despite Lambeau's assurance that the like of Sunday's team won't take the field again this fall. They do have football players with more than reputations, yet they have achieved nothing. They have lost four straight games, including three exhibitions, before Sunday's league opener. It is doubtful if even Lambeau, wearing down his heels with his endless pacing, had any one or any several things in mind to explain the collapse. A lot of explanations, of course, have gone the rounds for even the lickings in exhibitions did not sit exactly well. There are cliques on the squad some have said. The Packers only now are beginning to find out what the retired Hutson really meant to them. There have been unusually costly injuries. Lambeau has grown soft. The personnel in certain spots in the line is definitely weak. The training discipline has been irksome in details. The offense has been changed. A lot of explanations - and yet how can any outsider put his finger on any one thing or any combination of things when Lambeau himself remains bewildered or at least was bewildered as he trod the boards of his little cage late Sunday afternoon. About the only thing certain about the Packers today is this: Lambeau is furious...NO MORE T: The change in offense brings up an interesting point. The offense has been changed, and if Sunday's game is a criterion, one must wonder about the change. For year, the Packers came out of their huddle, went into their familiar old T, and then shifted right or left into a box or single wing. The T is now out. So is the shift. Instead, the team goes directly from its huddle into the single wing, and then occasionally sends a man in motion. Maybe it is just as good, in conception, as that which they used before - it is solely the coaches' right to say - but as it looked in this league opener, with backs bumping into each other, it certainly didn't work anywhere nearly as well. The performance of the backs Sunday, except perhaps for Irv Comp and Cliff Aberson, was especially discouraging. At any rate, whatever the ailments, in offense or otherwise, it is a furious Lambeau who cogitates on four straight lickings these days - a furious Lambeau, but now also a calculating Lambeau. It may be necessary for the big Belgian to change the spots on a leopard before Sunday's next start against the Los Angeles Rams at State Fair park, and you know what they say about a leopard's spots. But even this does not daunt Lambeau. "My friend," he said, "you've seen Packers like Sunday's for the last time. And the ring in his voice meant more than his words. The veteran Lee Mulleneaux described this ring Monday morning. A wild story came in that Mulleneaux had died of injuries suffered in Sunday's game. Mulleneaux was immediately reached in Green Bay. "Dead?" he said. "I'm only in a hospital, and glad of it. I don't want to be near Lambeau for a week."
ROCKETS' OFFER TO LUCKMAN STIRS 'WAR'
OCT 1 (Chicago) - Sid Luckman, the best pass thrower in professional football, is a George Halas man and a Chicago Bears' man until he's through playing football. He said so tonight in rejecting an attractive offer from John L. Keeshin, president of the All-America Conference Chicago Rockets. Keeshin tendered the Brooklyn star a three-year contract to coach the Rockets, but Luckman turned it down flat. He said: "As long as I'm playing football I'm going to remain with George Halas and the Chicago Bears." Keeshin's offer was said to be in the neighborhood of $100,000 for the three years, with service as a player optional. Halas, too, had something to say about it. "This is simply a subversive effort," declared the Bears' owner, "to tear down the Bears. It is what I would call hoodlum tactics, and does not belong in sport. This action decisively marks the beginning of the end of the present organizational setup of the All-America conference. Any feeling that we in the National League might ever have had toward cooperating with the new league is now permanently and irrevocably abandoned." Keeshin denied rumors that he planned to offer Luckman the coaching job only an hour before Luckman's announcement. Sid said he was first approached last Wednesday by Eugene (Scrap Iron) Young, Rockets' trainer and talent scout. Young, he said, telephoned him and said he would like to see him. Luckman said he reported the conversation to Halas and Halas advised him to make up his own mind on the proposition. The Rockets have been without a coach since last Wednesday night when Dick Hanley was dismissed. Keeshin said Hanley resigned, but the former Marine officer said he was fired. Three player-coaches have handled the team since.
GREEN BAY PACKERS WILL SHOW SPIRIT - OR ELSE: LAMBEAU
OCT 2 (Green Bay) - Curly Lambeau, originator of the only professional football team with a college spirit, spoke today about his 1946 Green Bay Packs, and he didn't mince words. The man who led Green Bay to six world's championship and used fighting spirit as his principal theme - and weapon - was referring to the performance of his charges against the Chicago Bears last Sunday and the type of play he expects - and will get - next Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams in Milwaukee. "The Green Bay Packers will show the proper spirit - or else," the veteran of 21 years in the NFL declared this morning as the players went through their workout. By "or else" Lambeau mean just this: If the boys do not show the proper spirit against Los Angeles, and the rest of their opponents, there will be cuts. "And, that's exactly what I mean," he said. Lambeau, who watched half of his players put in a spiritless performance against the Bears, showing his confidence in his boys by declaring that "no team in the league can beat us if we show the proper mental attitude. And we can get that spirit and show it." The Packer mentor announced a two-point program: Point No. 1: "Any player not showing the proper spirit and fire in practice or in games will be fined $25." Point No. 2: "Anything can happen." By "anything can happen", Lambeau meant that players not showing the proper attitude would be cut from the squad. "This spirit is definitely necessary to win games and without it we not only disappoint ourselves but the fans as well." Lambeau reported that there were "lots of reason" for the present attitude of the squad. Some of them are "minor and silly and not even worth mentioning." One of the biggest reasons, according to the Bay mentor, is that "too many of the boys are putting football secondary. They are only in the game for the money they can make and do not 'put out' when they enter a game. This terrible attitude bewilders the boys who are out there fighting to win games. These different situations just can't mix, and as a result those not showing the proper spirit will be fined and then if it continues they will be cut from the squad." Another reason Lambeau advanced was the fact that "some of the boys played football in the service because it was their duty to do so. In service, it was immaterial if they won or not and some of them have carried that attitude with them into civilian-pro football. Another reason Lambeau advanced was this: "Some of the players are self-satisfied which undermines any possible winning and fighting spirit they could ever hope to show." Lambeau didn't forget that a number of injuries hut the Packers' chances, but he DID NOT use injuries as an excuse for the team's showing. "It is true we had injuries as an excuse for the team's showing, but many players not injured did not put out. It is not expecting too much if I asked that players, not injured, give 60 minutes of spirited ball during a game and the same type of spirit in practice. No, definitely not." Lambeau exposed the fact that the Bears did not experience "our passing attack" chiefly because Clyde Goodnight, Don Hutson's successor, had to remain on the bench with a badly swollen ankle. "This certainly weakened us but, I repeat, the club was 80 percent spiritless and the injuries definitely can not be used as an excuse for losing," he declared...Against the Rams in Milwaukee Sunday, the Packers will be facing the National league's defending champions. The Los Angeles club won the title under the heading of Cleveland in 1945, but the roster is definitely the same with several new additions. Among the newcomers are Tom Harmon, Michigan great, and Kenny Washington, the colored lad from UCLA. These two boys give power to the Ram backfield which is steered by the league's most valuable player in 1945, Bob Waterfield. The Packers and Rams played 17 games since 1931 and Lambeau's system captured 13 victories, with the Rams copping three and one game finishing in a tie. The Packers whipped next Sunday's foe in 1931, 26-0; in 1937, 35-10 and 35-7; in 1938, 26-17 and 28-7; but then lost the opener in 1939, 27-24. The Bays took the second game that year, 7-6. Green Bay reigned over Cleveland until last season when the Rams ripped out two victories, 27-14 and 20-7. The tie occurred in 1940, 13-13, and was considered a moral victory for the Rams. Things changed, however, in 1945 when the Rams, with championship gleams, polished off Green Bay twice, 27-14 in City stadium and 20-7 in Cleveland. The Rams went on to whip Washington, 15-14, in the playoff for the championship.
LET'S CASH IN ON THE BIG BOOM IN SPORTS
OCT 2 (Milwaukee Journal) - Plans for a stadium baseball park and an indoor sports arena are moving slowly toward fulfillment in Milwaukee. Milwaukee always is slow to move. Perhaps this is a good thing most of the time, but right now if the city is to have these very necessary improvements speedy action will pay off in big dividends. Sports are expected to be pay for both of these arenas. Under ordinary circumstances, the payoff would be a long haul. Right now, however, sports are drawing big crowds and big gates. A major league baseball club which did not draw a million spectators or close to it in the season just ended was a flop. The Journal sports pages this week carried a story that the Big Ten, which has never drawn 2,000,000 paid admissions, will surely go over this figure in 1946 and may hit 3,000,000. The big pull in sports will last another season or so, maybe five. Milwaukee, if it builds the stadium and the indoor arena quickly, could play for both of them in the next five years if the sports boom held up. This city and county missed the boat when WPA and PWA funds were available for improvements of this sort. Let's not miss the boat this time. Let's get the stadium and the arena built as quickly as possible and get in on the sports boom while it lasts!...EVEN THE PACKERS: Even the Packers still draw! That is not written sarcastically, either. This observer thinks that a guy like Curly Lambeau and a club like the Packers, who have given $2 worth of football for every $1 of admission over the years, deserve support when they are down. But that is not the way of the fans. Too many desert when the going is tough. They don't like a loser. Now, the Packer fans have a loser - and yet they are so eager to spend their dough that the Big Bays will play to a sellout or close to it Sunday at State Fair park. And we think that is swell. Ollie Kuechle told what Lambeau had to say about the Packers. We will tell you what some of the fans had to say. They said the Packers, when substitutions were made Sunday against the Bears, did not even run out on the field as if they wanted to get there. They said they had seen the Packers licked by just as many points and more but put up a fight - and they did not put up a fight Sunday. They said the Packers did not look like a football team. They said - shucks, what's the use! They said a lot of things, but they will be out there Sunday to see Lambeau's lummocks play again. And maybe they'll see a ball game. This observer does not believe that the Packers will go through the season the way they've started. They've got too man good ball players.
ADKINS 'SUFFERS' ON SIDELINES WITH BROKEN LEG; HAS SPIRIT
OCT 3 (Green Bay) - Among other things, this is a story about a guy who is broken hearted 'cause he can't play football - professional football. He is Bob Adkins, the big Green Bay Packer veteran who sustained a fracture of the "smaller" bone in his right leg in the New York Giant game Sept. 20. Bob was sitting on the sidelines Wednesday and cussin' under his breath as the Packers went through practice for their engagement with the Los Angeles Rams in Milwaukee Sunday afternoon. And he will be sitting on the sidelines for about four weeks yet and probably cussin' just as much because the former Marshall college star just loves to play football - the type of boy Coach Curly Lambeau likes to have around. Come next Sunday when Bob lugs his "stiff" leg (it's in a cast from the thigh down) onto the Packer bench, he'll really suffer because he won't be able to give his buddies a lift. "I really feel terrible about this thing," the black-haired Pacific veteran remarked, "and I was just feeling that I was learning my new position well enough to do the team plenty of good." Adkins played blocking back in college and that was his duty with the Bays before he went into service. Lambeau shifted him to guard shortly after the Philadelphia Eagle game and he liked the new spot because he could get in plenty of good licks in the line as well as pull out and do a little blocking. Adkins, who is fast despite his 220 pounds, played a whale of a game against the Redskins in Denver and, besides, kicked a field goal and three extra points. In New York, the kid showed his guts by playing on a broken leg. He sustained the injury early in the game but didn't go out until the last quarter. Spirit? The kind that Adkins shows every day on the sidelines is what Lambeau is looking for. And maybe Bob can lead the way even if he can't be on the field...Word from Los Angeles, via the Associated Press, revealed today that Coach Adam Walsh is concentrating on plugging the hole at quarterback left by the injury to Bob Waterfield in last Sunday's contest with the Philadelphia Eagles. Jim Hardy, former Southern California ace, was named the probable starting signal caller, with Kenny Washington and Albie Reisz in reserve. Wednesday the Rams put the finishing touches on their offense for Sunday's game in Milwaukee. They play to leave Los Angeles by plane this morning...Despite Waterfield's injury, the nature of which was not disclosed, the ex-UCLA star is expected to be available for a lot of pass throwing. He was particularly effective in that department a year ago, completing 89 out of 172 attempts for a yardage gain of 1,653. Fifteen of his passes went for touchdowns. Lanky Jim Benton is Waterfield's chief receiver, or, rather, he was a year ago. Anyway, Jim is back this season and there seems no reason why he won't be catching a lot of aerials. The big end caught 45 for 1,067 yards and eight touchdowns last year...The Packers were back at work this morning, polishing an offense and working on a defense for the Rams' T-formation. The spirit of the squad seems to pickup up and the players appear more than anxious to make up for their showing to make up for their showing against the Chicago Bears last Sunday.
PACKER BAND TO GIVE MEMBER'S SONG 'PREMIER' AT RAM TEST
OCT 3 (Green Bay) - The 25,000-plus fans expected to jam State Fair park in Milwaukee next Sunday for the Green Bay Packers' contest with the Los Angeles Rams are in for a special treat - especially those who like music with their football - when Phil Sarvello, a star performer in the sax selection of the Packer Lumberjack band for the last three autumns, gives his tune, "I Can Only Quote The Moon", its premiere at the West Allis stadium. Although it was written in 1942, the number will be getting its first public airing, for after writing it, Phil more or less forgot about it until he and Wilner Burke, director of the Lumberjack band, got to talking about the music market after rehearsal one night. Phil mentioned some of his efforts in that field and Burke was immediately interested. At his bequest, Phil dusted off "I Can Only Quote The Moon", and published it with a new arrangement, which he turned over to the band late last week. Fittingly, the lyrics for the tune were written by a genuine lumberjack, according to Sarvello, who has collaborated with the 'jack in turning out several other numbers, among them,. "You Enchanted Me", one he hopes to see on the Hit Parade some day. Both the latter and the "Moon" ditty are to featured by Brault's Canadians, of which Phil is also a member. Composing is not exactly a new enterprise for the Green Bay tunesmith because he's written over 30 number, 16 of which have been copyrighted, but he's especially proud of the tune to be "baptized" Sunday, which he considers the best he's ever done. The composer, himself, who has been writing ditties for 15 years, was literally brought up on sharps and flats, starting at the age of eight, playing in the city band with his father in Ishpeming, Mich., where he was born and reared. Later, when he went to the big city - Chicago - where he played professionally and dashed off tunes between dance "jobs" until 1940, when he returned to Ishpeming. There he formed his own band which split up when he was transferred to Green Bay by his employer, Montgomery Ward company, in the fall of '44. Besides being a composer, he also arranged music. Versatile, he plays five instruments besides the sax with ease, including the clarinet, piano, piano accordion, guitar and mandolin. He comes from a family of eight children, all musical, including a brother who has a master's degree in music and is now a professor in the Chicago schools system.
PACKERS RECALL BENNETT, WATCH - CHARM GUARD; TEAM DRILLS HARD, LONG FOR LOS ANGELES TILT
OCT 4 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers were hoping today that a watch-charm guard charm against Los Angeles in Milwaukee Sunday afternoon. The watch-charm kid is Earl C. (Jug) Bennett, a little explosive firecracker, who packs only 170 pounds but can throw it just about anywhere he pleases. Bennett was recalled today by Coach Curly Lambeau after waivers had been asked on him earlier in the season. Late of Hardin-Simmons, he is a little heavy according to the weight standards of college "watch-charmers", but for this pro game the 26-year old Englishman is definitely "big ben" size. He is probably of the lightest guards ever to play with the Bays. Oddly enough, Bennett was co-captain of the Hardin-Simmons eleven in 1942 with Harold (Ace) Prescott, now a Packer end. Both are rookies. Bennett was in uniform Thursday and working hard as the Packers drilled for nearly four hours under a pleasant sun. Half of the drill involved a scrimmage with the defensive maneuvers against Bob Waterfield's passes. Lambeau and his aides, Walt Kiesling and Don Hutson, saw a lot of simple mistakes Thursday but on the whole the practice was impressive. There was plenty of spirit, that little item that Lambeau has been looking for all of these weeks. For instance, players who were not in action either ran around the field to keep limbered up or stood in back of the coaches directing the offensive team. The only guys resting were shoe who are nursing injuries. The game in Milwaukee shaped up as "crucial" since a victory would put the Packers back in the race again and definitely give them needed confidence. Lambeau stated the other day that "if we really play ball, no team in the National league can beat us." He made that statement again Thursday in regard to Sunday's game. After watching pictures of Sunday's Bear-Packer game, the players groaned and readily admitted that the 1946 Bears are "definitely not a great team". The Ram line is considered stronger than Chicago's wall. The Bays will get their chance to unhook all of the buttons in the Ram line in Milwaukee, and thereby prove that they can match anything in the league. Speaking about lines, the Packers are quick to report that Washington's line is much stronger than the Bears'. For the record, the Bays lost to Washington, 35-31, after leading 24-7, and dropped last Sunday's match to the Bears, 30-7...The complete dope on the Rams came this morning from the usual source - the office of the director of publicity, Los Angeles, Calif. Most important is this item: "There is a chance that Bob Waterfield may get into the Green Bay game and that he should be ready for duty against the Bears on the following Sunday. Waterfield's injury was diagnosed as a bad transverse rib muscle tear. Coach Adam Walsh was quick to point out that Waterfield suffered exactly the same injury last year but the following Sunday Jim Benton set new all-time league records for a single game of catching 10 passes for 303 yards
- and all the passes were thrown by Waterfield. Bob reports that this injury is not as painful as was the one last year." In other words, dear readers, the Packers expect a lot from the ace quarterback in the Rams' T-formation. They say the injury list goes beyond Waterfield what with Jack Banta and Pat West out for one to two weeks. Banta is the Rams' No. 1 right half and West is the starting fullback...The Packers' injury list isn't exactly short either. Carl Mullneaux, the big end who took a two-fisted blow in the Bear game, may be out for two weeks. He's suffering from headaches, the result of a slight concussion. Bruce Smith, the left half, can't seem to open up what with a groin injury. It is also doubtful whether Clyde Goodnight, the successor to Don Hutson, will not see much action because of an ankle injury. Goodnight's end mate, Nolan Luhn, is wearing a face protector to give his badly bruised nose a chance to heal. It was feared that the member was broken after he took a "sock" early in the Bear game.
FARMER MAY REPLACE BANTA AS RAM STARTER
OCT 4 (Los Angeles Times - Milwaukee) - Tom Farmer of Iowa today loomed as the probable starting right halfback for the Los Angeles Rams against the Green Bay Packers here Sunday. Coach Adam Walsh sent his Rams through an afternoon workout at State Fair park during which it was found that Jack Banta, regular right half, still is in doubtful condition. Walsh indicated that if Banta is unable to play, Farmer, marine officer twice wounded on Guam, would draw the starting assignment ahead of Steve Susic. Farmer was hastily switched from left to right half to cover for Banta. The Rams spent most of the afternoon drilling on defense against Green Bay's box offense with the No. 1 defensive backfield consisting of Farmer, Susic, West and Harmon. Bob Waterfield worked out lightly but will be ready to play Sunday. An interesting angle was that Kenny Washington played right half for the team supposed to be Green Bay and looked better than he has a Ram quarterback all season.
RAM QUARTER TO PLAY HERE
OCT 4 (Milwaukee) - The Los Angeles Rams came to town late Thursday night and with them came bad news - bad news for the Green Bay Packers. Bob Waterfield, ace quarterback of the National league's defending champions and the league's most valuable player a year ago, who through the early part of the week was regarded as a doubtful starter because of injuries to his ribs, has recovered sufficiently to take his regular place in the lineup. At the same time, Coach Adam Walsh, center on Notre Dame's great Rose Bowl team of 1925, announced fullback Bob West, halfback Jack Banta and end Bob Shaw, who were also injured last week, had recovered sufficiently to play at least part of the time here. Only Rams definitely not in shape to play were Jack Wilson and Ralph Ruthstrom. The Rams, who bowed to Philadelphia in their league opener last week, arrived here late Thursday night by special plane. They will work out both Friday and Saturday.
LAMBEAU PREDICTS 'A BETTER TEAM'
OCT 4 (Green Bay) - The severely chastised Green Bay Packers Friday put the finishing touches on their preparations for the game with the Los Angeles Rams at State Fair park, Milwaukee, Sunday afternoon after one of the hardest weeks of work in the memory of old observers here. Curly Lambeau never relented in his attempt to whip the team into shape and he felt Friday that he had succeeded at least in part. "You will see a different team this week from the one you saw last week," he said. "We may not win, but we'll look like a football team." The Packers will arrive here Saturday evening.
PACKERS FACE LOS ANGELES RAMS ON SUNDAY
OCT 5 (Milwaukee) - It will be an even month ago Sunday that the Green Bay Packers lost to Philadelphia's T-performers here, 7-6. It was an exhibition but, if you'll remember, the two clubs tore at each like it was for the championship. Tomorrow afternoon at State Fair park, the Packers are making another performance - this time against another bunch of T experts, the Los Angeles Rams, who won the NFL championship in 1945 as Cleveland. And for Sunday afternoon, the Packers have full permission from Coach Curly Lambeau to tear the Rams apart 'cause this will be a league collision with a lot at stake, including an extra slice of lettuce at the end of the season it all goes well from Sunday on. A month ago, the Packers put up what proved to be their best defense of the season, holding the Eagles away from touchdown land on five out of six occasions. Lambeau's gents missed a lot of blocks and tackles, but they have the steam, or spirit, to bear down when Philly got close. Tomorrow, the Packers go into the same arena and face a club that was licked by the Eagles, 25-14. And there'll be a sellout of nearly 32,000 fans watching the Bays with 64,000 critical eyes. They'll be watching every move of the Packers 'cause they're wondering about this 1946 team which dropped a 30-7 league decision in miserable fashion to the Chicago Bears up in Green Bay last Sunday. Many unhappy things have been said about the work of the Bays in that Bear tiff, and tomorrow should prove that have, or have not, regained their old fight-fire-with-fire spirit that brought Green Bay six world's championships. Lambeau had this much to say before leaving on the Northwestern this afternoon: "We may not win, but we'll look like a football team. You'll see a different team this week." Thoroughly disgusted with the manner in which the Packers looked against the Bears, Lambeau prescribed the toughest week of practice within memory of Green Bay observers. They had a four-hour drill on Thursday and topped it off with a fast workout Friday. The Packers are expected to make greater use of the forward pass Sunday than in previous starts. Irv Comp is expected to do most of the pitching although Cliff Aberson, a newcomer, is likely to get a chance to show his wares. Comp is expected to pair in the backfield with Larry Craig or Ken Keuper at blocking quarterback; Herman Rohrig or Bob Nussbaumer at right half; and Ted Fritsch or Walt Schlinkman at fullback. Working with Comp will be Tony Canadeo, Aberson, Bruce Smith and Roy McKay. Texas Roy also may deal from the fullback position. The line, which seems to hold the key to Packer victories, has about 18 men ready for duty but any guess at a starting lineup would be plain foolishness. The key to the line, incidentally, seems to be the guard slot where opponents have been beating a wide path, as it were. Expected to see a lot of duty at guard Sunday is Jug Bennett, the Hardin-Simmong midget who was recalled this week in an effort to bolster that position and give Bay backs a bit of blocking on sweeps around the end. The Rams announced here that Bob Waterfield, the National league's most valuable player in 1945, would see action against the Packers despite a rib injury. Coach Adam Walsh said that a number of other players injured last week also had recovered, including fullback Pat West, halfback Jack Banta and end Bob Shaw. Waterfield, a quarterback, is regarded as one of the league's top flingers...Packer ticket director Carl Mraz has been in Milwaukee the last two days and reported today that the only available seats left are those in the end zone. With good weather, there should be a sellout, he predicted.
PACKERS AND RAMS BATTLE AT MILWAUKEE
OCT 5 (Milwaukee) - Tomorrow afternoon at State Fair Park in Milwaukee an anticipated capacity crowd of 32,000 fans will witness a NFL game between the defending champion Los Angeles Rams
Green Bay Packers end Carl Mulleneaux is carried from the field after being knocked unconcious during the fourth quarter of a 30-7 loss to the Chicago Bears at old City Stadium on September 29, 1946. The Press-Gazette reported that Bears lineman John Schiechl "caught him under the chin with both ‘mitts.’" Mulleneaux sustained a concussion. From left, halfback Bob Forte and assistant trainers Johnny Proski and Rodney Legener carry Mulleneaux off the field. Dr. Henry S. Atkinson, the Packers’ physician, is at right. Press-Gazette archives
Always aggressive and determined, Ted Fritsch charges through the Bears on September 29, 1946. The Packers lost to the Bears that day, 30-7. Playing from 1942-1950, Fritsch scored 37 touchdowns, 62 extra points, and 36 field goals. His longest field goal was 52 yards, still tied with Paul Hornung, Chester Marcol, Chris Jacke, Ryan Longwell, and current kicker Mason Crosby for the third-longest in team history. For the 1946 season, Fritsch rushed 128 times for 444 yards and nine touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 13 yards and one touchdown — plus one interception on defense. (Photo courtesy of Packerville.blogspot.com)
and the Green Bay Packers, a battle which each club feels it cannot afford to lose. For the Rams it is their first league game on the road under their new name Los Angeles name and it is one they must win to stay up in the running for the Western division championship inasmuch as next Sunday they face the probability of defeat at the hands of the apparently invincible Chicago Bears. For Green Bay it is a season gone sour indeed if the Packers lost, for Curly Lambeau's men have lost three exhibitions and one league game to date without a victory to brighten a picture that begins to border on despair. The Rams expect to start the same lineup they did against the Philadelphia Eagles, with the exception that Tom Farmer probably will replace the injured Jack Banta at right half. Bob Waterfield is nursing a sore side but will play.
PACKERS MEET RAMS AT FAIR PARK TODAY
OCT 6 (Milwaukee) - The battle of redemption it might be called when the Los Angeles Rams, defending champions of the NFL, and the Green Bay Packers take the field at State Fair park Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Each of them opened the season a week ago with high hopes, each of them was whipped, and the team which loses Sunday's second start can just about kiss itself out of the race. The Packers bowed to the Chicago Bears, 30-7, the Rams to the Philadelphia Eagles, 25-14. The first league appearance of the Packers here, despite what happened last week, and the presence in Los Angeles' lineup of such stars as Bob Waterfield, Tom Harmon, Jim Benton and Kenny Washington, just to mention a few, has created a mild football fever, and some 30,000 fans, if not more, will see the game in the new enlarged stands which now rise 50 rows on the east side of the field. Good weather may even bring the attendance up to capacity of 32,500. At any rate, it will be the largest crowd to see a football game here since the championship playoff between the Packers and Giants in 1938. The Rams, with Waterfield definitely ready to play again after his injury of last Sunday, ruled a one touchdown favorite Saturday night. The team has last week's game with the Eagles practically sewed up, 14-6, until injuries forced Waterfield from the field. The collapse followed. Waterfield has meant as much to the Rams as Luckman has to the Bears, or as much as Hutson, in his day, to the Packers. As he has gone, so have the Rams. Without him in the lineup, the club has stumbled. In workouts at State Fair park Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, Waterfield appeared none the worse from the rib injury which forced him from the game last week. The Packers, in anything except a pleasant mood after the hail and brimstone which Lambeau hurled their way all week, arrived here Saturday night ready mentally at least for an about-face after the shoddy showing against the Bears last week. Physically, the team is far from top notch shape with Bruce Smith, Clyde Goodnight and Ken Keuper still ailing slightly, and Bob Adkins lost for another month at lease. The chief hopes rest on the passing arm of Irv Comp and the plunging of Ted Fritsch. Comp was one of the few who last week played up to par.
ALL LEAGUE TEAMS IN ACTION SUNDAY
OCT 6 (Milwaukee Journal) - Sunday's game will be one of a complete schedule in the National league. In others, the Chicago Bears will meet the Cardinals at Comiskey park, the Boston Yankees will be at Philadelphia, the Detroit Lions will visit the teepee of the Washington Redskins, and the New York Giants will be at Pittsburgh. The Bears, Redskins, Eagles and Giants all ruled slight favorites.
