The 1947 Green Bay Packers - 6-5-1 (T-3RD - Western Division)
Head Coach: Curly Lambeau
1947 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (3-1)
AUGUST (1-1)
23 G-NEW YORK GIANTS W 17-14 1- 0-0 15,000
29 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 17-24 1- 1-0 31,507
SEPTEMBER (2-0)
14 M-BOSTON YANKS W 14-10 2- 1-0 17,895
21 Washington Redskins (at Baltimore) W 31-21 3- 1-0 18,186
1947 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS
SEPTEMBER (1-0)
28 G-CHICAGO BEARS (0-0-0) W 29-20 1- 0-0 25,461
OCTOBER (3-1)
5 M-LOS ANGELES RAMS (1-0-0) W 17-14 2- 0-0 31,613
12 G-CHICAGO CARDINALS (2-0-0) L 10-14 2- 1-0 25,562
19 M-WASHINGTON REDSKINS (2-1-0) W 27-10 3- 1-0 28,572
26 G-DETROIT LIONS (1-4-0) W 34-17 4- 1-0 25,179
NOVEMBER (1-3-1)
2 M-PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-2-0) L 17-18 4- 2-0 30,073
9 at Chicago Bears (4-2-0) L 17-20 4- 3-0 46,112
16 at Chicago Cardinals (6-1-0) L 20-21 4- 4-0 40,086
23 at New York Giants (0-7-1) T 24-24 4- 4-1 27,939
30 at Los Angeles Rams (4-5-0) W 30-10 5- 4-1 31,040
DECEMBER (1-1)
7 at Detroit Lions (3-8) W 35-14 6- 4-1 14,055
14 at Philadelphia Eagles (7-4) L 14-28 6- 5-1 24,216
G - Green Bay M - Milwaukee
1947 IN REVIEW
Curly Lambeau installed the T formation at Green Bay and developed a respectable passing attack, but quarterback Jack Jacobs was no Cecil Isbell and ends Nolan Luhn and Clyde Goodnight were no Don Hustons. What Lambeau did have was a short-passing offense which moved the ball sporadically, but could not break games open like the old Packer air attacks. Tony Canadeo and Walt Schlinkman kept the running game healthy, moving behind a line which stayed strong despite the retirements of Bill Lee and Russ Letlow. The Packers were a solid, if unspectacular, team, with a cruel streak of bad luck killing their title hopes. They lost by one to the Steelers, by three to the Bears, and another single point to the Cardinals.
JACK JACOBS: HEADING NORTH TO MAKE HISTORY
The Packers spent many fruitless years searching for a replace ment for Cecil Isbell at quarterback. In 1947, they turned to Jack Jacobs. The former Oklahoma star was drafted in the second round of the 1942 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Rams, where he played until 1945. After one season in Washington, Green Bay acquired the passer, but, ironically, he was most productive as a punter, leading the NFL in 1947 with a 43.5 yard per kick average. In three seasons with the Packers, he started 17 games as quarterback, throwing 21 touchdowns, but also 41 interceptions. Jacobs headed to Canada in 1950, where he starred as a Winnipeg Blue Bomber. According to the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, he transformed the Canadian game from a methodical running competition into an aerial battle, completing 709 of 1,330 passes for 11,094 yards in those five seasons. In 1952, he threw six touchdown passes against Calgary. Altogether, Jacobs tossed 104 TD passes in five seasons, an average of more than 20 per campaign. Twice he was named an all-star (1950 and 1952) and twice he led the Bombers to the Grey Cup (1950, 1953). His exciting play helped increase the crowds at Winnipeg Blue Bomber games, leading to the construction of a new, larger Winnipeg Stadium (now called Canad Inns Stadium). The stadium was nicknamed "The House That Jack Built" because of Jacobs' contribution to the success of the team. He was named to the CFL Hall of Fame in 1963. Jacobs died in 1974 in Greensboro, North Carolina from a severe stroke.
NAME NO POS HGT WGT COLLEGE YR PR A G HOW ACQUIRED
Ed Bell 82 G 6- 1 233 Indiana 1 1 26 11
Charley Brock 29 C 6- 1 210 Nebraska 9 9 31 12 1939 Draft-3rd
Tony Canadeo 3 HB 6- 0 190 Gonzaga 6 6 28 12 1941 Draft-9th
Raymond Clemons 48 G 5-10 200 St. Mary's (CA) 1 1 26 9
Ed Cody 17 HB 5- 9 190 Purdue 1 1 24 10 1946 Draft-3rd
Irv Comp 51 HB 6- 3 205 St. Benedict 5 5 28 12 1943 Draft-3rd
Larry Craig 54 E 6- 0 218 S. Carolina 9 9 31 12 1939 Draft-6th
Tiny Croft 75 T 6- 4 280 Ripon 6 6 26 10
Ward Cuff 21 HB 6- 1 192 Marquette 1 11 33 10 1947 FA-Cards (46)
Ralph Davis 66 G 5-11 205 Wisconsin 1 1 25 11
Bob Flowers 35 C 6- 1 210 Texas Tech 6 6 30 12
Aldo Forte 40 G 6- 0 215 Montana 1 5 29 10 1947 FA-Bears (46)
Bob Forte 8 HB 6- 0 195 Arkansas 2 2 25 12 1943 Draft-11th
Ted Fritsch 64 FB 5-10 210 Stevens Point 6 6 26 12
Lester Gatewood 33 C 6- 2 200 Baylor 2 2 26 12 1943 Draft-8th
Jim Gillette 16 HB 6- 1 185 Virginia 1 5 29 10 1947 FA-Bost (46)
Clyde Goodnight 23 E 6- 1 195 Tulsa 3 3 23 11 1945 Draft-3rd
Jack Jacobs 27 QB 6- 2 190 Oklahoma 1 4 28 12 1947 Trade-Wash
Ken Kueper 18 HB 6- 0 205 Georgia 3 3 28 12
John Kovatch 76 E 6- 3 200 Notre Dame 1 3 27 3 1947 FA-Wash (46)
Paul Lipscomb 47 T 6- 5 245 Tennessee 3 3 24 12
Nolan Luhn 38 E 6- 3 200 Tulsa 3 3 26 12 1945 Draft-25th
Robert McDougal 19 FB 6- 2 205 Miami (FL) 1 1 26 1 1947 Draft-9th
Roy McKay 3 HB 6- 0 195 Texas 4 4 27 12 1943 Draft-5th
Ed Neal 58 T 6- 4 290 Tulane 3 3 28 12
Urban Odson 63 T 6- 3 250 Minnesota 2 2 28 11 1942 Draft-1st
Baby Ray 44 T 6- 6 250 Vanderbilt 10 10 31 11
Herman Rohrig 80 HB 5- 9 190 Nebraska 3 3 29 7 1941 Draft-6th
Walt Schlinkman 7 FB 5- 9 190 Texas Tech 2 2 25 12 1945 Draft-1st
Robert Skoglund 52 E 6- 1 198 Notre Dame 1 1 22 9 1947 Draft-13th
Bruce Smith 42 HB 6- 0 197 Minnesota 3 3 27 10 1942 Draft-13th
Damon Tassos 15 G 6- 1 225 Texas A&M 1 3 23 3 1947 FA-Det (46)
Don Wells 43 E 6- 2 200 Georgia 2 2 25 12 1945 Draft-6th
Dick Wildung 45 G 6- 0 220 Minnesota 2 2 26 3 1943 Draft-1st
Gene Wilson 65 G 5-10 175 SMU 1 1 21 9 1947 Draft-6th
NO - Jersey Number POS - Position HGT - Height WGT - Weight YR - Years with Packers PR - Years of Professional Football AGE - Age at Start of Season G - Games Played
1947 PACKERS DRAFT (December 16, 1946)
RND SEL NAME POS COLLEGE
1 6 Ernie Case B UCLA
2 Did Not Draft
3 20 Burr Baldwin E UCLA
4 Did Not Draft
5 31 Buddy Burris G Oklahoma
6 40 Gene Wilson E Southern Methodist
7 52 Dick Connors B Northwestern
8 62 Monte Moncrief T Texas A&M
9 72 Bob McDougal B Miami (Fla.)
10 81 Bob Kelly B Notre Dame
11 92 Tom Moulton C Oklahoma State
12 100 George Hills G Georgia Tech
13 111 Bob Skoglund E Notre Dame
14 122 Jack Mitchell B Oklahoma
15 130 Denver Crawford T Tennessee
16 141 Jim Callanan E Southern California
17 151 Ted Scalissi B Ripon
18 160 Jim Goodman T Indiana
19 172 Dick Miller G Lawrence
20 181 Brad Ecklund C Oregon
21 190 Bob West B Colorado
22 202 Tex Reilly B Colorado
23 211 Ron Sockolov T California
24 220 Herb St. John G Georgia
25 232 Fred Redeker B Cincinnati
26 241 Herm Lubker E Arkansas
27 250 Bob Palladino B Notre Dame
28 262 Jerrell Baxter T North Carolina
29 271 Ray Sellers E Georgia
30 280 Jerry Carle B Northwestern
31 290 Bill Hogan B Kansas
32 297 Ralph Olsen E Utah
BOLD - Played for the Packers
FRITSCH OVERWEIGHT
JAN 3 (Milwaukee Journal) - Ted Fritsch, who went from Stevens Point Teachers college to the NFL and was the leading scorer in the season just ended in competition with a flock of all-Americans and big name players, paid a visit Thursday. Ted has signed with Lon Darling's Oshkosh All-Stars and will be seen in action here in the next pro basketball doubleheader, January 27, at the Auditorium. "I'm working off some weight," he said. "I'm up to 215 pounds, five more than I weighed in the football season. And I have to be lighter for basketball than football. I should get down to 205. You do a lot of running in basketball." Ted was en route to Chicago to join the Stars and play with them Friday night in an exhibition game. Next summer he is going back to Wisconsin to finish his work for his master's degree in education and phy ed. After graduation from Stevens Point, he put in three summers at Wisconsin. One more will finish the work for his degree. "I want to be a coach," he said, "when I'm through playing, and after I coach awhile I'd like to be a principal."
PACKERS TO USE 'V' FORMATION IN 1947
JAN 12 (Green Bay) - The 1947 version of the Green Bay Packers will use the "V" formation - an offspring of the quick-opening style that brought our town three consecutive NFL championships in the 1929-30-31 days of Red Dunn, Verne Lewellen, Johnny Blood and company. Coach Curly Lambeau believes he will have the material next fall to make this shift over to his modernized quick-opening formation which is a variation of the "T". Under the new system, the quarterback will be a quarterback in the sense of the word like Sid Luckman, Bob Waterfield, Sammy Baugh, Paul Christman and others. The last such quarterback Green Bay has was Dunn who engineered the team from the T slot or a corner of the Notre Dame box. When Dunn left and Arnie Herber moved in, Lambeau was forced to revamp the Notre Dame style for a number of reasons. First, Herber was unable to operate from up close and second, such boys as Cecil Isbell and Don Hutson had their experience with the Notre Dame shift at Purdue and Alabama, respectively. Lambeau had considerable success with his Notre Dame style, too, winning championships in 1936, 1939 and 1944 on his system by capitalizing on the amazing receiving ability of Hutson and the passing of Herber and Isbell. Last year the Packers dropped the shift and used a variation of the single and double wing and what a lot of people refer to as the shiftless Notre Dame box. This system, similar to that used since 1932 when Herber broke in, featured a quarterback who did nothing but block...The chief blocking quarterback for the past eight year has been Larry Craig. Larry's assignment next fall under the quick opening program probably will be defensive left end. Craig played that position on defense during Hutson's hey day. The ace receiver was moved into a backfield position on defense. Under the "V" formation, the Packers will have their quarterback a half step to the right or left of the center, making it possible for the center to toss the ball to the fullback or left halfback but the normal and most often pass will be made to the quarterback, who, incidentally, will do the throwing. Here's how the "V" comes in. The quarterback from the lower point and the fullback and left half form the upper tips. At least, that's how it will look from the opponent's side. The fourth man in the backfield, the right half, will be used as a flanker in the vicinity of the left or right end. In the original "T", the man in motion becomes a flanker...Lambeau believes the "V" has a number of advantages over the "T", chief of which is the latitude given the center. In the "T", the quarterback must handle the ball on every play but in the "V" the center can pass to the fullback or left half. Then, too, the quarterback can maneuver easier since he is not directly behind the center, handing the ball off either side regardless of the side of the center he is stationed. The old quick-opening style had Dunn playing close but back from the center and the rest of the backs in something of a box. Lewellen and Bo Molenda were the deep men who got the ball from Dunn on quick-opening shots through the line, while Blood, the right half, was out wide waving his pass catching mitts around. Among the holdovers from 1946, Cliff Aberson is a likely quarterback since he shared that position with Herman Rohrig in Air Corps football. Aberson, a sharp passer, can pivot and run back fast to throw. Then there is Ernie Case, the UCLA lefthander, who would throw a world of deception into Lambeau's attack with his passes from the wrong side. Case was drafted by the Packers, though he's still unsigned...The "V" also will give powerhouse runners like fullbacks Ted Fritsch and Walt Schlinkman a running start - not to mention sly and cagey steppers like Tony Canadeo and Bruce Smith, left halfbacks. At present, Lambeau is basing his 1947 player selections on boys to fit the "V". Actually, any collegian who played in the "T" can easily adapt himself to the "V" because the basic principles are the same. And 98 percent of the college teams today are using the "T" or some variation.
HEWITT LED BEARS TO 14-7 WIN OVER BAYS IN LAST FIVE MINUTES
JAN 15 (Green Bay) - Bill Hewitt, 37, is dead. The former Chicago Bear end succumbed to injuries received in an automobile accident near Sellersville, Pa., Tuesday night. Hewitt is probably one of the Green Bay Packers' bitterest gridiron foes, although the Bays always had plenty of respect for him. His death revives a number of his brilliant exploits at City stadium. Probably his most remarkable football adventure was his feat of producing two touchdowns in the last five minutes to give the Packers a 14-7 win over the Packers here Sept. 24, 1933. It still goes down in Packer books as "the most heart-breaking loss we ever received."...The bulky end, who opposed Green Bay's greatest wings - Don Hutson and Lavvie Dilweg - was known as Offside Hewitt because he always seemed to be offside. The secret was this: Bill got a running start and would, nine times out of 10, cross the scrimmage line just as the ball was being snapped. Hewitt never wore a helmet in his early pro days. "It bothers my ears," oldtimers recall him saying. In his later years with the Philadelphia Eagles, Hewitt was forced to wear a helmet because a special league rule. That 1933 Bear-Packer classic, which needless to say was an infamous day in the minds of true Packer fans, was attended by 10,000 fans. Hewitt played left end and Cy Buckler was at right end. The Packer ends were Dilweg and Milt Gantenbein. The two clubs fought to a standstill during the first half but the Packers engineered a touchdown in the third quarter after Mike Michalske intercepted a pass and ran to the Bear 33. Six plays later, Buckets Goldenberg, subbing for Clarke Hinkle at fullback, charged one foot for the score. Bobby Monnett kicked the extra point...Things were comparatively quiet until the last five minutes of the last quarter when Hewitt asserted himself. It started on the Bear 25 after the Bruins blocked a field goal by Hank Bruder. Jack Manders and Johnny Sisk ran the ball to the Packer 30 where Hewitt started on an end-around play, which at the time as new stuff. The Packers braced and almost caught him but he faded back and threw a pass to Johnsos who took the ball on the five and ran over. The Press-Gazette of 1938 reported that "there wasn't a man within 20 yards of Johnsos, and Hewitt was almost tackled by Dilweg before he passed." The Packers received and, after failing to gain, Arnie Herber stepped back to punt. But Hewitt got himself a running start, and wasn't offside as he swept in to block the kick, recovered the ball on the five, and ran it over for the touchdown. Manders kicked both extra points. This is the story of Hewitt's most brilliant achievement in Green Bay, but there are many others too countless to recall here...We saw Bill in his final year with the Eagles. It was an exhibition between the Packers and the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia combine in Pittsburgh in 1943. Hewitt was at fullback that day and the big boy, helmet and all, got off some good gains though he was only used on offense. Incidentally, the end-around play mentioned above had not been used much in pro ball until Hewitt, some fans say, started it. However, Don Hutson ran it in his collegiate days at Alabama in 1932-33-34 and scored twice on the play with the Packers - the only touchdowns he ever made by rushing. Hewitt was a University of Michigan star before joining the Bears in 1932...Word from Sellersville is that Hewitt's automobile crashed three miles south of the city after striking a culvert. He died in a hospital.
SCHEDULE NEXT STEP IN PACKERS' PLANS FOR '47
JAN 17 (Green Bay) - The second step in what is developing into one of the Green Bay Packers' most interesting seasons takes place in Chicago next week. At that time (Jan. 23, 24 and 25), the NFL will draw up its 1947 schedule, thereby giving Packer fans an opportunity to view the order in which their pro football warriors will stack up for this new championship race. The first step was taken about a week ago when Coach Curly Lambeau announced that the 1947 edition will operate with a "V" formation - a fancy name for the old quick opening style that brought Green Bay three straight titles (1929-30-31). Club representatives are expected to arrange a card similar to the 1946 setup when each team played 11 games - making a total of 110. The Packers, for instance, played a home-and-home series with their four Western division rivals, the Bears, Cardinals, Rams and Lions, and fought Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington in the other three tilts. It is probable that Green Bay will be involved in a similar schedule for 1947, except that Boston or New York may be substituted for two of the Eastern division foes played in 1946. Packer coach Curly Lambeau doesn't expect any abnormal changes in the schedule. Regarding the reported round-robin card in which all of the clubs will play a home-and-home set with each other, Lambeau reported that "this is possible, but not probable, only if club representatives come to a deadlock at the schedule meeting."...Lambeau expressed delight Thursday upon hearing that Charley Trippi had signed with the Chicago Cardinals. Like his fellow NFL coaches, Lambeau believes Trippi's signature on a National league club contract is something of a victory for the NFL over the rival All-America conference. Trippi, probably the most publicized and highly rated player since Whizzer White and tiny Davey O'Brien, will be a marked man next fall, and players from nine other teams will attempt to make him look bad. No doubt, Trippi will cavort in City stadium and, as Lambeau puts it, "young Mr. Trippi will know he's been in a ball game." Incidentally No, 1, how can Charley get so much time off from school to spend over a week in New York? Tsk, tsk. Incidentally No. 2, Charley's signing with a Chicago club rather increases the headaches of the Green Bay men, Jim Crowley, Bill Toohey and John Brogan, who own the Rockets in the AAC. Incidentally No. 3, where was George Halas in this Trippi thing? We never will forgive the Philadelphia Eagles for allowing George McAfee to get away in that so-called trade with the Bears several years ago...Bruce Smith, Packer left half, will go to the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minn, for treatment of an unruly groin. The Minnesota star, who lives at Fairbault, Minn., was handicapped all though last season and never could back to his prewar form except in the Los Angeles game in Milwaukee when he was almost unstoppable. The last Packer who stopped at the Mayo plant came out a new man. Ted Fritsch, the fullback, was there a year ago to have his appendix removed and last fall played without experiencing that tired feeling which handicapped him in former years. Anyhow, Fritsch made every pro team in the country...SHORT STUFF: Don Hutson, Bay coaching aide, soon will be off on a player scouting tour through Oklahoma and Texas. The Packer corporation plans some informal campaigning during the state bowling tournament here in February and ending in May. Reports from Washington that Indian Jack Jacobs may come to Green Bay in exchange for Bob Nussbaumer were scotched by Lambeau Thursday. Fritsch will return to the University of Wisconsin after his stint with the Oshkosh All-Stars to finish work on his master's degree in physical education. Tackle Lou Agase, brother of Packer draftee Alex, is a junior at Illinois. Let's see, the Packers haven't had a brother combination since the Mulleneaux boys! Alex has accepted an invitation to play in a College All-Star game in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 26.
FRITSCH PLANS TO BRING OSHKOSH ALL-STARS HERE FOR LEAGUE BASKETBALL BATTLE
JAN 21 (Green Bay) - Ted Fritsch, the Green Bay Packer fullback, breezed into town Monday wearing a striped suit and all the trimmings. The all-National league fullback, who admittedly feels more comfortable in a T-shirt, sweater, etc., came here on business, representing the Oshkosh Basketball corporation, which sponsors the Oshkosh All-Stars in the National Basketball League. Here's his business: Fritsch, with the assistance of All-Star Manager and Coach Lonnie Darling, plans to bring the All-Stars to Green Bay for a regularly scheduled National league contest with Youngstown, O., Detroit or Tri-City (Moline) Blackhawks. He was here to see school officials regarding use of Washington Junior High school gymnasium. Businessman Fritscsh reported that the All-Stars have two league dates open - Feb. 3 and Feb. 18, both Mondays - for Green Bay. He hopes to make announcements soon the team and date booked for this city. Along the football line, Fritsch didn't have much to say, though he admitted he was taking a bit of kidding from his All-Star teammates. "Those guys want to know which point of the V-formation I'm supposed to play." Ted laughed, referring to the Packers' new formation which will be installed next fall. Seriously, though, Ted is mighty interested in the new setup. He asked: "Is Curly going to have the quarterback hand the ball off, or will he flip or pass it?" Fritsch believes it won't be hard for him to get used to it because "in our formation last year us fullbacks had experience spinning and then taking the ball from the halfback. This should be easier next fall because we can get a head start without bothering to spin." Fritsch reported that his weight was around 218 and "I'm certainly not gaining anything playing basketball." He expects to go about 220 or 225 when he joins the Packers next fall, but will sweat down to 210 or 214 during the grid season. Basketball is a good weight reducing business, as it were. Fritsch and the All-Stars play Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night this week.
ROUND-ROBIN SCHEDULE EYED AS NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE MEETS
JAN 22 (Chicago) - President Lee Joannes and Coach Curly Lambeau of the Green Bay Packers today held pat hands as NFL representatives gathered here and prepared to chart the 1947 schedule. The two Packer envoys were silent on plans for next fall's schedule - at present at least. They'll gather with other club people Thursday, Friday and Saturday in secret meetings to iron out schedule kinks. The only public expression of opinion regarding the 1947 schedule came from George Marshall and Fred Mandel, owners of the Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions, respectively. Each discussed an innovation for next fall...STAY IN DIVISIONS: Marshall said he would like to keep the Eastern and Western divisions (scared of the Packers and Bears?) of the league fully separated, with the five clubs in each bracket playing a home-and-home schedule or possible three games against each other without stepping over the divisional line for league games. Mandel is campaigning for a round-robin schedule with clubs playing home-and-home dates within their respective sections and meeting each club in the other sections once for a 13-game season. Mandel's plan seems the most logical, although Joannes and Lambeau aren't talking. This setup would give Green Bay nine home games - four with Western division clubs and five with each of the Eastern division teams. Last year the league teams each played 11 games, eight within each home division, which left only three dates for inter-division competition. The Bays' Eastern foes last year were Philadelphia and Washington in the east, and Pittsburgh here...UTILIZE BASEBALL PARKS: Also slated for action are more than a dozen proposed playing rule changes, a discussion on the feasibility of utilizing baseball parks of the American Association to expand the Western division of the AFL, and study of an invitation from the Hawaii Warriors of the Pacific Coast Football League for the National league champions to play each January in Hawaii. The NFL currently ban postseason games by member clubs. Commissioner Bert Bell arrived in Chicago today. He will give the NFL a full report on the attempted fix of the 1946 championship game in which the New York gambler, Alvin Paris, attempted to bribe backs Frank Filchock and Merle Hapes of the New York Giants to throw the playoff with the Chicago Bears. Unofficial opening of the three-day parley takes place tonight in the Blackstone hotel when the league will be host to club representatives and members of the press.
NATIONAL LEAGUE TO TALK OF ALL-AMERICA MERGER
JAN 23 (Milwaukee Journal) - The frequently discussed possibility of a merger between the two or three strongest clubs in the young All-America football conference and the National league will come before an executive meeting of the National league at its annual winter meeting in Chicago this week, it was authoritatively learned Thursday. The Cleveland Browns, New York Yankees and San Francisco Forty-Niners were mentioned as possible "seceders" from the young conference if the older league opens its doors. One story said all three of them had already placed their franchise money of $50,000 each in escrow pending action by the National league. While the National league has announced nothing but routine matters for its meeting, now in progress, and has steadfastly insisted it would have no truck with the all-America conference, it is known that "feelers" were sent to Paul Brown, coach and general manager of the Cleveland Browns, early last fall after his team had shown tremendous drawing power at home. It is also known that not all owners in the overbalanced new league were satisfied with last season's results, even with allowance for the customary first year difficulties. If admitted, the three clubs would give the National league a membership of 13 which would be split into two divisions - an eastern of six clubs, consisting of two New York clubs, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and a western, consisting of two Chicago clubs, Detroit, Cleveland, Green Bay, Los Angeles and San Francisco. George Marshall, owner of the Washington Redskins, announced in Chicago, without explanation, Wednesday that he favored opportunity of the eastern and western divisions of the National league as two separate units, which lent credence to the possibility of increased membership. The difficulties which six teams in one division and seven in the other pose might be overcome by admitting only two of the All-America clubs. The one most likely to be dropped would be San Francisco. The Forty-Niners have had difficulties obtaining a playing site. Kezar stadium, the best and largest stadium, is used almost exclusively on Sundays by college teams. What would happen to the All-America conference if two or three of its strongest clubs withdraw is a matter of question. The league could fill in its depleted membership and operate as an eight team league again or it could continue as a six. The loss of Cleveland, which had by far the largest home attendance last season, and the loss of Yankee stadium, where the Yankees play, would be a terrific blow, however. The All-America league's annual meeting will be held in New York starting Monday. Meanwhile in Chicago, the National league occupied itself with routine matters. Commissioner Bert Bell, who has dilly-dallyed around with the Filchock-Hapes case, did some more dilly-dallying with the platitudinous suggestion that the league tighten its antigambling code.
INDIAN PASSER JACK JACOBS COMING HERE FOR NUSSBAUMER
JAN 24 (Chicago) - Jack Jacobs, full-blooded Indian from Oklahoma, will wear a Green Bay Packer uniform next fall. The Washington Redskin quarterback, left and right half and fullback, who couldn't find steady employment last season because of Sammy Baugh's brilliance as a passer, officially came to Green Bay in exchange for halfback Bob Nussbaumer and a player to be selected from the Packer roster or reserve list and agreed upon by both clubs. There was no "wampum" involved. It was the only trade made thus far at the annual winter meeting of the NFL here, and it was announced by Coach Curly Lambeau of the Packers and Redskin owner George Marshall. They had been dickering since last December...WILL HELP PACKERS: First comment came from Dan Reeves, owner of the Los Angeles Rams, who exclaimed: "Jacobs gives the Packers just what they needed last season - a passer, and should make them terribly hard to beat next year." Lambeau believes that he's given up a good runner for a better passer. Nussbaumer got his pro baptism with the Bays last year, while Jacobs joined Cleveland in 1941, played two seasons, went off to war for three years and then was traded to Washington for fullback Jim Hardy and tackle Fred Davis who later was traded to the Bears. Jacobs, who "colleged" under Tom Stidham at Oklahoma, goes 185 pounds, the same as Nussbaumer. He out-heights Nussbaumer by two inches, Bob standing only 5-11. The complicated business of drafting a schedule occupied club representatives today, and climaxes the parley which is scheduled to close Saturday barring a deadlock on the 1947 schedule. Word late Thursday is that there will be a little bickering over next fall's card, through proposals from Detroit's Fred Mandel, Marshall and Lambeau will be heard. Big news Thursday broke early in the afternoon when the league, by unanimous vote, made Commissioner Bert Bell prosecutor, judge and jury of any gambling or bribery charges by league owners...AMENDMENT PASSED QUICKLY: The amendment, passed in only 20 minutes, to the gambling clause calls for either lifetime banishment, suspension or a $2,000 fine for any player, coach or owner who has knowledge and does not report a bribery offer or who received an offer "either directly or indirectly by insinuation to control or fix or accept or bet anything of value on a professional football game." Bell, who authored the constitutional amendment, has power to cancel any contract and will be permitted to order the sale of stock or interest of any owner, officlal or stockholder involved. He will be able to bar "anyone from a park, who, in his opinion, is detrimental to the best interests of the NFL or professional football." The term professional football, incidentally, refers to the NFL or its minor league affiliates. Bell explained that the amendment is not retroactive and therefore Merle Hapes and Frank Filchock, recent Giants involved in the attempted championship fix, "will be dealt with on the basis of facts uncovered and to be uncovered."...KEEP GAMBLERS OUT OF PARKS: The amendment will go beyond attempts to fix a pro football game. Bell has the authority now to keep known gamblers out of NFL parks. The amendment will be written into player-club contracts in the future and any decision made by the commissioner after a hearing cannot be appealed. Two other items of business passed has a bearing on the Packers. The league voted to change a tampering-with-player rule to read "employee". The rule prohibits tampering with scouts, coaches and any other employees of a club and Lambeau, who introduced the change resolution, explained later that "under the old rule we're not protected on coaches and scouts." The Packer pilot was referring to the disappearance of Jack Lavelle, widely known scout, who had been spying on eastern division clubs for the Packers for a number of years until the Giants persuaded him away from his Green Bay duty. Incidentally, Lavelle also scouts for Notre Dame...TAMPERING IS EXPLAINED: Tampering was explained thus: "When a club representative contacts a player, coach or scout without first notifying the employer of his intention." The other item concerns the fifth official, which was okayed after a four-hour session Thursday night. Introduced by Lambeau, the proposal to employ a fifth official was sought by the Packer coach and Assistants Walt Kiesling and Don Hutson since 1945. The new official, who still lacks an official title, covers what can be referred to as "no-man's land" - the territory on the opposite side of the line the head linesman works. It is in this land that most of the infractions take place. And, by the way, end Nolan Luhn of the Packers got his busted beak on a trip into no-man's land at City stadium last Sept. 29...HALAS GETS IN LINE: Though he was the only dissenter to the fifth official a year ago, Coach George Halas of the Chicago Bears said Thursday afternoon that he now favors such a move. The result was that addition of No. 5 was passed unanimously Thursday night. The league also received an application for membership but it didn't come from a team in the All-America conference as predicted by a Milwaukee newspaper. It came from owner Frank Ciraolo of the San Francisco Clippers who deposited a certified $25,000 check. Acceptance of the Clippers would throw the east-west setup of the circuit out of balance but the application was made a matter of record and may be considered at a future date, when there is an opportunity to add an eastern club...BRIEF STUFF: The National league earned over $500,000 for charity during the 1946 season. Underprivileged kids in New York will benefit by nearly $60,000 as the result of the Packer-Giant game in New York last Sept. 10...The league will not make an effort to sign Buddy Young, Illinois grid sophomore, who quit school last week. Young's class does not graduate until 1948 - and so no club owner will negotiate with the Negro star until after the '47 season...The Chicago Cardinals will announce signing of three University of Wisconsin gridders soon...In revealing their want of a fifth official, Ram coach Bob Snyder and Card coach Jim Conzelman said: "We'll play our games to beat the opposition - not the rules."...The general opinion of Chicago writers, many of whom were in New York for the championship game, is that Merle Hapes and Frank Filchock will play no more football in the National league. However, Commissioner Bell has no given inkling of his sentiment. "Waiting final word from the DA's office in New York" is his only answer. Bell gave club owners a complete report of the case as he knows it thus far.
LAMBEAU, HALAS BURY HATCHET BUT ONLY DURING NFL SESSIONS
JAN 24 (Chicago) - Peace, it's wonderful. Things are running so smoothly in the NFL meeting here that Packer Coach Curly Lambeau and Bear Coach George Halas have decided to bury the hatchet for these few days at least. The picture shown above is evidence. This is the first time in the memory of man that these deadly rivals have ever been in such an affable mood - for public purposes, at least. Halas and Lambeau, the only field coaches at the secret business session, have a personal and team rivalry that its unique. They never came to blows, though it's no secret that their players have. The curly one and slightly balding one are instigators of the roughest rivalry in professional football - not exactly a sissy game. Back in the old days, Halas took great delight in rushing in from his end position and smacking down Lambeau to pass. By the same token Lambeau took great interest in sending a flock of blockers around Halas' end. Today the two bespectacled gent are engaged in a mighty struggle of wits. Neither will toy with the other, and each has great respect for the other. The Packer-Bear rivalry is the greatest private institution in the National league, and Lambeau and Halas are two guys who hope it remains that way...ONE-MINUTE REPORTS: Dr. Jock Sutherland, Pittsburgh coach, will announce signing of his No. 1 draft choice (now a secret) in four days. Signing of the new Steeler will be the third No. 1 choice under NFL contract, the others being Card Charley Trippi and Bear Bob Fennimore. Jock says his Steelers received "man souvenirs trying to stop your boy Fritsch in Green Bay last fall."...COMPLIMENT DEPT.: Don Hutson, retired Packer player, still gets a bouquet here and there. Greasy Neale, Philly coach, was discussing his method of putting two men on all good pass receivers like Benton and Kavanaugh. What about Hutson? we asked. "I always put four on him," Greasy snapped. He admitted that it was dangerous to put two men on Kavanaugh because Luckman is smart enough to throw to somebody else. Bob Snyder, new Los Angeles coach, chimed in with a report of passer Bob Waterfield, within hearing distance of Card coach Jim Conzelman. Referring to the Rams' last minute win over the Cards, Snyder said Waterfield was supposed to throw to Benton but saw Pritko open. Pritko proceeded to make a one-handed catch for the winning TD. Smiled Conzelman, "We just couldn't beat you guys two games; it ain't in the books."...RECALLS O'DONNELL: Told of the death of Dick O'Donnell, former Packer end, Halas remembered that "he was that scrappy little end who beat us in Chicago back in the '20s." Halas was reminded that O'Donnell took a pass from Red Dunn at Chicago in 1928 amidst a group of Bears and ran 15 yards for a TD that gave Green Bay a 6-0 win...Commissioner Bert Bell said that the death of Bill Hewitt "knocked me cold". Bell was coach of the Eagles when Hewitt finished his playing career. Regarding his five-year, $30,000 per year contract, Bell admitted that "I still miss the players and coaching the most."
PACKERS TO GET NEW GOLD SUITS
JAN 25 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers are now the gold and blue of the NFL instead of the blue and gold. Coach Curly Lambeau took time out from the annual winter meeting of the NFL here today to purchase new equipment for the new 1947 Packers. The basic colors remain the same, but emphasis will be on the gold. Purchase of the new nylon stuff will make the Packers one of the lightest teams in the league. Literally that is. Each Packer now will lug only eight pounds of uniform, from five to seven pounds less than a year ago. Lambeau, who picked out the stuff with trainer Bud Jorgenson and George Bertrand, remarked that, "We'll still go pretty hefty next season." The long-awaited schedule discussion was the first thing on the docket this morning, and it was just about 24 hours late. The rules business ate up most of Friday morning, and contract clauses, guarantees and a host of other items ruined any chance of finishing the meeting today. The schedule merry-go-round is expected to go well into Sunday...GUARANTEE IS LIFTED: Last bit of news Friday night involved the $10,000 per game guarantee to a visiting team. This was wiped out of the loop's law manual and the 40 percent guarantee (to visiting club) takes its place. Baseball also operates under the same rule. Lambeau explained during a recess that 53 of the 55 league games produced more than the $10,000 ($15,000 at Los Angeles) guarantee anyhow. Boston was believed to have been the site of the two games which failed to make the guarantee. The Packers ranked sixth in its home attendance, it was reported. Owner George Marshall of the Washington Redskins had requested raising the guarantee to $25,000 before the old guarantee was thrown out. The Packers were favorable to upping it to $15,000, and also agreeable to the no guarantee plan. The Packers were linked to trades with the Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles. The Cardinal deal reportedly had Packer draftee back Bob Kelley of Notre Dame going to the Cards for guard Fred Ravoi, also of Notre Dame. Ravoi was drafted by the Cards in 1945. The Philly thing, still in the whisper stage, including switching an Eagle T-quarterback to Green Bay for rights to a Packer draftee. Addition of a T-quarterback to the Bay backfield would come close to completing Lambeau's drive for experienced material for his new quick-opening V-formation which involves a quarterback who handles the ball, passes and punts. The first step was taken Friday when he obtained Jack Jacobs from the Washington Redskins in exchange for Bob Nussbaumer, sophomore right half...FIFTH OFFICIAL TO BE USED: Lambeau was delighted with the turn of the important but drawn-out rules session. His biggest pet was the fifth officials, a surveyor of knockout blows that he had been campaigning for since 1942. The issue came up for vote in 1945 but George Halas' veto killed it for one year. Friday every representative okayed it. Unofficially, Mr. Number Five will be the assistant head linesman. The new official will guard the territory called everything from Suicide Lane to No-Man's Land - the opposite side of the line the head linesman watches. In addition, the league requested a faster whistle, the quickness of which will be decided by Hugh Ray. Rules adviser Ray, incidentally, said that the addition of the fifth official will be the number of plays per game per 160 to 170 the 10 clubs averaged in 1946. Other rules briefly: (1) The pregame toss of a coin was moved up 30 minutes before kickoff time. (2) Returned to the old rule which make ball automatically dead on futile field goal tries and on punts in the end zone. Kickoffs in end zone still may be run out. (3) On flat passes behind line of scrimmage, pass defenders who wave arms at receiver while with back to pass will be guilty of illegal use of hand instead of pass interference. (4) Penalty on forward passes that fall incomplete in passing team's end zone changed from safety to toss of down, which, incidentally, was the only rule directly effecting a score. (5) Permit the defensive team to decline the penalty for too much time in the huddle. In the past, defensive team could not refuse it, giving the offensive team chance for another play or to improve position of the ball for purpose of kicking field goal. In all, there were 20 rules changes made...HARDER SIGNED FOR TWO YEARS: Big player news came from the Cardinals, who announced that Pat Harder's name now was on a contract for action in 1947 and '48. Besides, the Cards decided to reserve all seats in Comiskey park, which is paving the way for big Trippi eyeing crowds...SHORT STUFF: The league voted down elimination of the sudden death proposal of deciding tie games; elimination of the clipping rule; and elimination of the point after touchdown. Players also were banned from participating in postseason games - heretofore, two players from each club had been allowed to participate in such tilts. Jim Mello, great Notre Dame fullback, was signed by Boston. The Giants are looking for a good passer, which may mean something on Frank Filchock's future. Among the outcasts in town are Lee Artoe, ex-Bear tackle, and Dick Hanley, ex-Rocket coach. Artoe can't get back into the NFL for five years because he jumped to the AAC. Washington wants the player limit jumped from 33 to 35, but nobody seems to know why. Two AAC players, who never were in the NFL, are interested in playing in the "major" circuit - Bob Hoernschmeyer and Billy Hillebrand - both of the Rockets. Rumored months ago - but not here was - word that Elroy Hirsch, also a Rocket, wanted to get into the National league. Also in the early Saturday trade winds is Boston's Francis Dancewicz who is wanted by Detroit. The league commended Los Angeles papers for refusing to print betting odds and also wired Atty. Gen. Tom Clark endorsing the efforts towards solving the juvenile delinquency program.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY PACKER TERRITORY UNDER NEW PACT
JAN 25 (Chicago) - No other teams except the Green Bay Packers can invade Milwaukee County without permission of the Packers under a new territorial agreement established at the annual meeting of the NFL here this noon. Excluding Chicago which has two teams, the new territorial rule provides 75 miles from a town's city limits with the exception of Green Bay which received, in addition, all of Milwaukee County as part of its territory. Several years ago Chicago clubs came into Milwaukee for exhibitions with teams other than Green Bay. Now, they'll need permission from the Packers. Along the player front this morning, the Cardinals signed Northwestern back Vic Schwall and Wisconsin tackle Clarence Esser. Don Hutson came in from the south today smiling broadly, and player-contract signatures are expected early next week. The league plunged into the heavy schedule making program this morning, and it expects to adjourn late Sunday.
INDIAN JACK JACOBS TRADED TO PACKERS, SEES BIG CHANCE TO USE PASSING TALENT
JAN 25 (Chicago) - Jack Jacobs wanted to come to Green Bay ever since Dec. 1, when the Packers overpowered the Redskins in Washington, 21-7. The 185-pound Indian boy from Oklahoma "couldn't stand it" with Washington "because I never got a chance to pass, run and kick every Sunday," according to a Washington envoy at the NFL's session here. They talk about the personality of Jacobs around here. One story is that Jack swatted a fan in a train because the irate fan remarked thusly: "The Redskins stink." The Indian boy, who had given his efforts at three positions that day, couldn't stand that crack. Another story about Jack concerns his dislike at playing every position and not being given a chance to master any particular one. Said Jack to a coaching aide: "How soon do you want me to learn the guard assignments." He already had played quarterback, left and right halfback and even fullback. The Redskin envoy got to thinking about that loss to the Packers. "If you'd only had a passer that day you'd have won by 100-7, and maybe we wouldn't have scored that one touchdown either." Jacobs, incidentally,. expressed his intention of being traded privately after the Packer game. Said he, said the envoy: "That club really needs a passer and I sure could fit in with them." And so you have the reason why Jacobs will wear a Packer uniform next fall. The guy wants to pass for a team that needs a passer, and, according to Coach Curly Lambeau, he'll get every opportunity to pass...PASSING STUFF: Addition of Jacobs bears out at the NY draft meeting Lambeau's prediction that Green Bay will not want for a passer in 1947. Boys with pro experience now ready for next season now include Jacobs, Cliff Aberson, Tony Canadeo, Irv Comp plus a raft of collegiate aces he expects to sign. Tops in this group is Ernie Case, UCLA left-handed quarterback, who they say throws a mean pass. Actually the Packers haven't had a high caliber passer since Cecil Isbell left in 1942. Comp, who runs hot and cold like the weather down here, can't be depended on and chances are Lambeau will let Canadeo devote his full time to running. This leaves young Aberson among the holdovers. Abe, according to three opponent coaches here, needs nothing more than experience. He possesses a natural throwing motion. A week ago writers down here questioned several Illinois players on the failure of Case and end Burr Baldwin, both Packer draftees, in the Rose Bowl game. The bowl champs believed that weakness in the center of the UCLA line ruined any hopes Case had of completing passes to his aerial mate, Baldwin. Anyhow, Lambeau is bent on bringing that "passingest team" tile back to Green Bay...JUST STUFF: Detroit coach Gus Dorais may follow the leader and use the T-formation next year. The Lions, on paper at least, are getting ready for it by signing Clyde LaForce who quarterbacked Tulsa's T in 1946. Ram coach Bob Snyder calls Eddie Kotal his "chief scout:". The Rams have 11 scouts besides Eddie. Next year, Snyder plans to have a scout-coach, or somebody who scouts on Sunday and then wings back to LA to coach on Monday. Snyder will announce his new aides next week. Eagle coach Greasy Neale is in favor of ruling out the penalty for interfering with a passer. Neale says a passer has two feet to stand on and doesn't need extra protection of a rule. He's in favor of the rule protecting the punter because the kicker is usually on just one leg anyhow.
DUDLEY UP FOR SALE; A.A. 'DEALS FAIL'
JAN 25 (Chicago) - The Pittsburgh Steelers tonight put halfback Bill Dudley, 1946 offensive star of the NFL, up for sale after Dudley retracted an earlier statement he intended to retire from pro football. At the same time, League Publicist George Strickler reported the rival All-America Conference had attempted to negotiate "secret deals" with the National League on drafted players and had proposed alternate picks of college players selected by both leagues. "There was no genuine inter-league peace move," said Strickler, "but the All-America, after taking big salaries last year, apparently wanted to beat down salaries this season by eliminating open market bidding for players." Owner Art Rooney of the Steelers said Dudley notified him by telephone that he no longer wished to play with the Pittsburgh club, but would consider playing elsewhere in the National League. Rooney said he assured Dudley he would try to sell him at the current schedule meeting of the National circuit which apparently was headed for an overtime session tomorrow afternoon - the sale of two players enlivened today's proceedings. Dudley gave no explanation of his reason for wanting to leave Pittsburgh where he has been an outstanding performer since 1942 after a brilliant career at the University of Virginia. Rooney said there was no salary difficulty involved and that he was at a loss to explain Dudley's antipathy toward Pittsburgh. Rooney, commenting on rumors the Steelers might be interested in swapping Dudley for Glenn Davis, Army star, on whom the Detroit Lions hold draft rights, declared he was "listening to everybody who had a deal to offer." Territorial rights were established, whereby no league team could play an exhibition game within 75 miles of the city limits where another team has a franchise, unless one of the participants is a home club. In the case of the Green Bay Packers, out of bounds would include 75 miles from the limits of Milwaukee County. Milwaukee is considered the Packers' "second" home city.
PAUL BROWN TELLS SENTINEL HE'S NOT JOINING OTHER LOOP
JAN 25 (Milwaukee Sentinel) - Coach Paul Brown of the Cleveland Browns, champions of the All-America Conference, in a call to the Sentinel yesterday from Cleveland, denied flatly that he was interested in shifting his team to the National League or had deposited $50,000 in anticipation of such a move. The story appeared in a local newspaper. "There was some wishful thinking back of that yarn," the debonair young coach insisted. "I control the policy of the Browns and would know first; there is absolutely nothing to it. We cleaned up two years of indebtedness, getting ready, in our first season and made some money. We are in a stronger position that ever, and transfer of the Miami franchise to Baltimore should bolster our whole league. The All-America will definitely be in business next fall, and the Browns in it." Brown was to leave last night for the league's winter meeting in New York. Tom Stidham, Buffalo line coach, will leave from here today for the parley starting tomorrow.
PACKERS AWARE OF REAL NEEDS FOR NEXT FALL
JAN 26 (Milwaukee Sentinel-Lloyd Larson) - The deal for Indian Jack Jacobs and the 1947 draft list are pretty fair tipoffs that Curly Lambeau is fully aware of Green Bay Packer needs for next fall - big time chuckers and receivers who can catch passes and run away from defenders. Three of the first four draftees fit into the obvious patters for revival. Ernie Case, UCLA quarterback, is No. 1; Burr Baldwin, UCLA end, No. 2, and Gene Wilson, Southern Methodist end, No. 4. "We certainly know what we need and feel we are well on the way right now," said Lambeau. "Jacobs is still a terrific prospect, and that's why we made the deal we did with Washington, where he didn't have a chance to show his real class. He's big and can do everything expected of a great back." Then, choking off a question via the mind reading route, Curly added: "Don't be misled by UCLA's team showing against Illinois and Baldwin's personal flop. In spite of the sour showing, everybody agrees the big end has the stuff to click in pro ball. I'm counting on him and on Case, too. Ernie can really throw the ball. Even in the Illinois game he proved it. This boy Wilson is a honey - the closest thing to Hutson I've seen. He was the best man on the field in the East-West game." And something of a promise: "Can you imagine the Packers with the best ground gaining record in the league and not even making the playoff? It won't happen again. Even now we're looking beyond next season."...REMEMBER THIS NAME: BILL HOGAN: The tailend of the draft list reflects this planning for the future. Lambeau now has National League draft rights to Jerry Carle, Northwestern's blocking back; Bill Hogan, 200 pound triple threat back from Kansas, and Ralph Olson, Utah end, who are expected to take advantage of another year of collegiate eligibility. "George Sauer, Hogan's coach and himself a former Packer star, is high on the big back and that's good enough for us," commented the Green Bay boss. "George should know a hot prospect when he sees one." In the scramble for newcomers, no one is losing sight of present members of the cast. Bruce Smith is an example. Ever since his days at Minnesota he has been more or less handicapped by a groin injury. As a result, the Packers are sending him to the Mayo Clinic for what is hoped will be a permanent repair job. "In my book, Smith is the best running back in football when he's in shape," said Lambeau. "We have definite hopes that he will be ready to go full steam next fall."
COMPLETE PACKER LIST OF DRAFTEES ANNOUNCED
JAN 26 (Chicago) - Curly Lambeau's first two choices in the annual National league draft last December were UCLA's boys, Ernie Case, quarterback, and Burr Baldwin, end, it was learned as he made public his complete list for the first time at the league meeting here Saturday. Case was drafted because of his passing ability. He is a left handed pitcher. Along among all the UCLA boys in the recent Rose Bowl game, he won the plaudits of middle western writers. He was sharp and accurate with his tosses and played with poise against a line which rushed the life out of him. Baldwin in the same game looked like an ordinary end, although he was almost unanimously picked for all-American honors. He weighs 215 pounds. The list of 30 boys includes only 7 from this area - Bob Kelley, halfback; Bob Skoglund, end, and Bob Palladino, halfback, of Notre Dame; Jerry Carle and Dick Connor, halfbacks, of Northwestern; Ted Scalissi, halfback, Ripon, and Dick Miller, tackle, Lawrence. Wilson, the SMU end, was one of the
outstanding men on the field in the recent East-West Shrine game. McDougal, the Miami back, lives in Oconto. Sockolov, the California guard, as the one lineman who gave Wisconsin real trouble in the game at Berkeley last September. None of the boys have been signed as yet. A few have another year of competition left, because of the relaxed eligibility rules during the war years, but the Packers now have rights to them upon their graduation.
PRO SCHEDULE IS HEADACHE
JAN 27 (Chicago) - The NFL swung into the fifth day of its annual winter meeting here Monday morning still sweating over its 1947 schedule. The owners worked until 3:30 o'clock Monday morning without arriving at an acceptable schedule, then adjourned until 10 o'clock, when they resumed their labors. A proposal early Monday by Curly Lambeau of the Green Bay Packers that a 12 game schedule be drawn up instead of an 11, promised to help the owners untangle the snarl in which they found themselves. Lambeau's proposal was the basis of the renewed deliberations later Monday. The owners also encountered difficulties in arranging opening dates. They would like to begin the season September 28, but only four of them have parks which would be available at that time.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE TO ADOPT 12-GAME CARD FOR '47
JAN 27 (Green Bay) - Green Bay Packer coach Curly Lambeau made a prediction over long distance telephone from Chicago this morning. "Before nightfall today, the NFL will adopt a 12-game schedule," he said. Lambeau was unable to reveal the order of games for the Packers, but added that "it would be released probably late this afternoon." At the NFL meeting over the weekend, news seeped out of the Blackstone hotel rooms that owner George Marshall of the Washington Redskins and Lambeau were seeking a home-and-home set. Such a game would bring a couple of tradees - Bob Nussbaumer and Jack Jacobs - face to face with each other. Nussbaumer went from Green Bay to Washington in a trade for Jacobs Friday. The league completed its second day of overtime action at 3:30 this morning, and Lambeau is "certain" that his 12-game schedule proposal would be accepted early this afternoon. "It was ironed out last night, with the exception of minor points," he explained. His proposal would bypass two "musts" demanded by most club owners in the 11-game setup: 1. That the five-year cycle of intersectional competition, now in its second year, be continued to prevent inequalities such as opened up in Chicago where the New York Giants have not played a league game since 1942. 2. That the five leading attendance teams of 1946 - the Chicago Bears, Giants, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles - receive six home dates for 1947. The terrific discussion, and argument, also may result in moving the starting date back to Oct. 5, instead of the last Sunday in September - the 28th. In this case, the closing date would be set back to Dec. 14. In the event of a sectional playoff, the championship game then wouldn't be played until Dec. 28. The 1947 championship game must be played on the home field of the Western division champion. This would mean possible adverse weather in four of the Western division cities, the fifth being Los Angeles...The Green Bay Packers became the first club in the league to announce its complete 1947 draft list, although 10 of the player were revealed the last week of December. No. 1 choice was Ernie Case, left handed passing ace of UCLA, and No. 2 was Case's receiver, Burr Baldwin. The group includes 12 backs, seven ends, five tackles, four guards and two centers.
HUTSON ANNOUNCES HE'LL PLAY IN '47 - WITH GRIN
JAN 27 (Chicago) - Don Hutson threw a bombshell in a room containing a group of sportswriters in Chicago Saturday afternoon, but it fizzled out with a grin and another hotel fire was averted. The news on Bill Dudley seeking release from the Pittsburgh Steelers had just broke, and the morning paper inksters were busy writing about Dudley when Hutson waltzed into the room. This was one time the writers were too busy to take Hutson into a corner, but one of them, Harry Sheer, quickly asked: "Gonna play next fall, Don?" The Green Bay businessman answered without hesitation, "Sure, and I've already signed my contract." For a brief moment, the typewriters stopped clicking as each and everybody in the room, including a number of coaches, looked at Hutson. And there he stood, grinning from ear to ear. And slowly, they went back to work...CONFESSION: George Halas, coach of the Bears, confessed that he's a Press-Gazette subscriber. "Can't get along without it," he says, "especially during the football season."...HUDDLE: George Trafton, ex-Packer line coach, and Eddie Kotal, ex-Packer backfield coaching aide, had their noses together most of Sunday. Kotal is rumored as the new scout-coach of the Los Angeles Rams. Kotal now is chief scout, and Saturday head coach Bob Snyder admitted that he's looking for a scout-coach to help him. Trafton, probably the most colorful dresser of the lot, is Ram line coach...ON HIS WAY: Walt Kiesling, Packer line coach, said goodbye to everybody Thursday night since he and his wife had planned to leave for Florida Friday morning. However, Kiesling suffered a relapse from his cold and couldn't shove off until Sunday morning. The odd part was that few people knew that quiet Mr. Kiesling was confined to his room...FUTURE DEPT.: Clarence Esser, Wisconsin tackle signed by the Cardinals Saturday, thinks that Gene Evans, Green Bay halfback, will see "steady action" on the Badger eleven in his next three years. Tom Bennett, Badger end from Green Bay, should be a regular for the next two years, Esser thinks. Incidentally, the Cards are expected to sign two more Badgers, one of whom may be Fred Negus, all-Big Nine center. Evans and Bennett are the first potential hometown Packers since Arnie Herber...INTEREST: The NFL's chief aim in backing minor leagues is to create interest in that type of football. Most coach and officials feel that if a player can't make the major league grade as soon as he's out of college, he never will. In short, the NFL doesn't consider, unofficially at least, the minor loops as a training ground for future stars. Best example is a fullback by the name of Reese, who came up to the Bears from their Akron farm club late last fall. Reese, though widely boomed, isn't expected to make the Bear roster in 1947...VISITORS: Dropping in during the league meetings for a chat were many past and present stars. Among the Packer connectees were Johnny Blood, unofficial scout and look-see man for the Bays; Cecil Isbell, Purdue grid coach; and Bob Nussbaumer, the right halfback, who was traded to Washington Friday for Jack Jacobs. Isbell believes that his Purdue fullback, Ed Cody, who is a Packer draftee, should make the pro grade. Nussbaumer hates to leave Green Bay but expects to fit into the Washington system "nicely". Nussbaumer will work at right half where Steve Bargarus, now a LA Ram, operated...SHORT STUFF: Secret overtures were made by the rival All-America conference in an attempt to do away with competition for drafted players. They were pictured by a league official as wanting an alternate pick system installed which would beat down salaries by eliminating the open market bidding. The National league flatly rejected the idea. The sports people had Bill Dudley playing with just about every team (except Pittsburgh) including Green Bay. Art Rooney, jovial little Pittsburgh owner, just couldn't explain Dudley's request to be traded. Steeler coach Sutherland told us Friday night that "Dudley would be back". George Marshall's plan to up the player limit from 33 to 35 was voted down. For you statistical nuts, the league decided that touchdowns made from scrimmage by air or ground, outside the defensive team's 10-yard line, would be scored as first downs. Another statistical newsie will be yards lost on attempted passes. Previously, this has been charged against the passer's running average when he failed to get the ball away and had to "swallow" it.
PRO SCHEDULE PROBLEM IS HANDED TO BERT BELL
JAN 28 (Chicago) - NFL owners "solved" the problem of their 1947 schedule later Monday night by turning it over to Commissioner Bert Bell for solution and adjourning their annual winter meeting. The owners authorized Bell to arrange a schedule, specifying only that he arrange no more than 12 games for each team. Bell later said that he would complete the schedule within a month, and that he would permit each club to announce its own games. Before passing the matter to Bell, the owners debated a 12 game schedule providing six games at home and six on the road for each club. Each team would play home and home games with the other teams in its division and four of the five teams in the other division, two at home and two away. The suggestion for a 12 game schedule to replace the 11 game schedule was made by Curly Lambeau of Green Bay. Except for the schedule, only other news of interest was furnished by George Halas of the Chicago Bears and Lambeau. Halas announced that he had closed a working agreement with the Honolulu Warriors of the Pacific Coast league and Lambeau announced the signing of two men selected in the recent draft, both ends: Bob Skoglund of Notre Dame and Gene (Red) Wilson of Southern Methodist. Wilson was the star of the recent East-West Shrine game.
PACKERS SIGN 2 END; SEPT. 28 TENTATIVE DATE FOR BEAR GAME
JAN 28 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers had two ends under contract today, and a tentative date for opening of the 1947 NFL season. Gene (Red) Wilson, a little bit of a guy from Southern Methodist, and Bob Skoglund, a strapping youngster from Notre Dame, are the first draftees to sign for next fall. Wilson was fourth in the Packer draft list, and Skoglund seventh. Wilson is the big prize in the Packers' first player package. The SMU wing weighs only 180 pounds and stands a half-inch under 6 feet. Coach Curly Lambeau hopes Wilson is at least a reasonable facsimile of Don Hutson, the peerless Packer pass persuader, who signed him on a recent tour in the south. At any rate, Wilson is built along the lines of Hutson...Matty Bell, Wilson's coach, believes Red was the best product in the Southwest conference the last two years. And the records show that Wilson led the loop in pass receiving in 1945 and 1946. Incidentally, the Southwest wheel also includes the great Oklahoma Hubert Bechtol, who was Pittsburgh's No. 1 choice. Wilson completely outplayed Bechtol in the last two years and gained the starting position with Bechtol at ends on the SW's all-conference squad. Skoglund is the rugged, driving type of end who packs plenty of weight for a wing - 205 pounds. He stand 6 feet 1 inch tall. He'll probably work considerably at defense, although Notre Dame reports say that he is a better than he is a better than average receiver. Both ends are 21 years of age, and they competed against each other in the East-West game last Jan. 1...In Chicago this morning, Lambeau reported that his 12-game schedule proposal was adopted Monday night after 34 hours of debate. The plan was handed to Commissioner Bert Bell who will iron out a number of minor bugs. Lambeau said that "it's almost a certainty that the Packers will open against the Bears in Green Bay Sunday, Sept. 28." Other games cannot be announced at this time since Bell's action may change some of the teams and dates. It was reported over the weekend that the Packers and Washington Redskins would play a home-and-home series. After 34 hours of debate on the playing slate the magnates authorized to draw up a schedule, specifying only that he does not arrange more than a dozen games for each team. Bell announced that he would complete a 60-game slate, 12 contests for each team, within a month, and that he would permit each club to announced its own schedule, including exhibitions...Before passing the problem to Bell, the owners debated a 12-game program providing for six home games and six road games for each club. Each team would have played a home and home schedule with other teams in its division and four of the five teams in the other division, two at home and two away. This proposal, submitted by Lambeau, was a compromise between the present 11-game program and the suggestion of owner Fred Mandel of Detroit that a 13-game slate be initiated to help meet rising costs. Extension of the playing period even for one week posed a problem. Because most of the clubs use baseball parks for their games, they were unable to begin their schedule until Sept. 28. A 12-game slate would require the final games to be played on Dec. 14...Thus, the championship playoff would be held in the park of the Western division winner Dec. 21. If there were a tie in either division, the divisional playoff would be held on that date and the championship contest postponed until Dec. 28. In either event, the weather probably would be unfavorable. During the two-day extension of the meeting, trading talks virtually disappeared. However, the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams made one last minute deal, sending halfback Dante Magnani to the Rams in return for fullback Mike Holovak. Bill Daley, ex-Minnesota and Michigan star who was under contract to the rival All-America conference last season, conferred with representatives of the Pittsburgh Steelers who sought to sign him. However, Daley left for Minnesota without reaching an agreement.
TRACK FLASH JOINS PACKERS
JAN 29 (Green Bay) - Ralph Tate is a hard man to catch. He can run the 100-yard dash in 9.8 seconds. Green Bay Packer chasers, including Coach Curly Lambeau, Assistant Coaches Don Hutson and Walt Kiesling, and staffman Bob Conrad tried to snare Tate for the last 14 months. Probably the longest chase in the history of professional football - reminiscent of Charley Trippi. Anyhow, it finally took Hutson to bring him down. Don was down south a couple of weeks ago and cornered Tate at his alma mater, Oklahoma A. & M., where he's doing postgraduate work. Huston got his name on a contract and it became official today when the necessary paperwork had cleared the NFL office. Tate is a halfback - left or right. And he can pass. He completed six out of nine in one game in 1944. His long suit in amateur circles - the dashes, broad jump and hurdling. He gave up a chance to compete in the 1948 Olympics to play with the Packers. Signing of Tate, who packs about 180 pounds around a 6-foot frame, gives the Packers one of the fastest men in football. Lambeau feels that he'll be invaluable on defense - catching guys like George McAfee from behind, for instance. And he should do OK on offense - with that speed. Tate is the third man signed by Green Bay in two days. The Bays added two ends Tuesday - Gene (Red) Wilson of Southern Methodist university and Bob Skoglund of Notre Dame. Skoglund is the fist Notre Dame product to play here since Bernie Crimmins (1945) and one of a few Irish stars ever to don a Packer uniform. ..The Packers' search for players - and contracts - is going on. Walt Kiesling, line coach, is in Florida on vacation but he's expected to corner a few stars with a contract and pen. Lambeau left for the West Coast immediately after the National league meeting in Chicago. His big business out there is to get the names of Ernie Case and Burr Baldwin, UCLA standouts, on a contract. Another gent Lambeau is chasing is Alex Agase, the great Illinois guard, who was drafted by the Packers several years ago in the war mixup. Agase graduates next June, but he can be signed now since his pro football career ended...The local pro football scene produced a familiar name today - George Trafton, former Chicago Bear, Packer line coach (1944), and present line mentor of the Los Angeles Rams. Trafton is here to visit a number of friends. He had been in Chicago attending the league parley. Now that the National league has closed its annual winter meeting, fans can sit back and watch what the All-America conference does in New York. Most significant news breaking from that meet concerns the overtures made for peace with the National league. Actually, there never has been any war between the two circuits, although they aren't on what you'd call speaking terms. Little or no mention was made of the AAC at the National loop meeting last week - officially, that is. That long awaited National league schedule, which clubs argued over for 34 hours, now is in the hands of Commissioner Bert Bell. The only possible date is Sept. 29 for the Bear-Packer clash in Green Bay.
ALL-AMERICA LOOP READY TO CALL OFF FOOTBALL WAR
JAN 30 (New York) - The All-America conference indicated Wednesday that it was ready to call off its football war with the National league if the National agrees. Despite three court victories after player raids, the one year old AAC now wants a "live and let live" policy. It still insists that there is plenty of room for two major leagues. A report that Bill Daley, former Minnesota star, might jump from the All-America to the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National league temporarily aroused the owners again as they opened the second day of their meeting here, but they calmed down quickly and again indirectly proferred an olive branch to the older league. "We expect to respect the contracts of others," said President Dan Topping of the New York Yankees. "But we also expect to defend our own contracts and our legal battles with the other league will start all over if Daley signed with Pittsburgh." Daley, hard hitting fullback who played at Minnesota and Michigan, was signed to a two year contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers last season and was later traded to the Miami club, which collapsed at the end of the campaign. The AAC contends that his contract reverted to the commissioner's office and later was assigned properly to the new Baltimore franchise.
PACKERS LOSE ILLINOIS GUARD
JAN 31 (Green Bay) - Alex Agase, star guard on the University of Illinois Rose Bowl team, has been signed by the Los Angeles Dons, Coach Bud De Groot said Thursday night. There was no official comment from Packer Plaza today, but chances are that Coach Curly Lambeau, who was to arrive on the west coast today, is a mite disappointed. Agase, in case you haven't heard, was drafted by the Packers in 1945, but he wasn't eligible until after the 1946 season since he had been in service. One week ago today at the National league meetings in Chicago, Lambeau told the undersignee that he was sure Agase would sign with the Packers. The two had a conference in Chicago a week ago last Sunday...COAST GAME BIG BUG: However, the big bug in the ointment probably was the all-star football game scheduled in Los Angeles last Sunday. Agase left for the west coast to play in the game (which was called off) after conferring with Lambeau in Chicago. Once out on the coast, Agase was believed to have conferred with Don Coach De Groot before renewing contract negotiations with the Packers. The west coast game was a fly-by-night affair between two groups of college stars. It was suddenly cancelled after the stars learned that Buddy Young was to receive $5,000 for his efforts. Ernie Case and Burr Baldwin, UCLA stars and both Packer draftees, were to play in the game. Lambeau's first business on the coast is get Case and Baldwin, hailed as the best passing combination in 1946 college football, signed as Packers...Agase was the first Packer draftee to slip into the All-America conference. The only other similar experience involved Ted Fritsch, two-time all-National league fullback, who wandered down to Cleveland late last summer after reportedly signing a Cleveland Brown contract. Fritsch came back to Green Bay after a hectic series of telephone calls, court threats and the like just before the Packers opened practice. On the first day of drill, Fritsch was on hand, and happy about the whole situation. He went on to score 100 points to lead the National league.
PACKER PASSING LOWEST IN 1946
FEB 1 (Green Bay) - The bitter end of that famous bitter-with-the-sweet combination is announced today. It concerns the fact that the Green Bay Packers were the worst passing team in the NFL in 1946. Last Thursday the league announced the sweet - that the Packers had the best rushing attack in the loop. Generally the foremost proponents of aerial warfare, the Packers completed only 54 passes for 841 yards - only seven more passes and seven more yards than Don Hutson accounted for personally a year ago. Once capable of scoring almost at will via the pass, the Packers counted only four times in 1946. Hutson, now retired to the coaching staff, alone caught nine touchdown passes the previous season. The Packers were low in the league in every form of passing statistic except the number of passes attempted. Green Bay attempted 178 and Pittsburgh, which ranked ninth, tried 161 pitches. In contrast to the Packers' showing, the league as a whole had a completion percentage of .446 and an average gain of 15 yards on each toss. Passers threw 2,341 forwards and completed 1,049 of them for 15,736 yards...212 PASSES INTERCEPTED: The tosses
yielded 517 first downs and 129 touchdowns but 212 were intercepted and run back 3,308 yards. Bob Waterfield, a native of Elmira, N.Y., who went west to grow up and become a stand-in for movie leading men, captured the individual championship and his team, Los Angeles, emerged as the top passing club. Waterfield completed 127 of his 251 passes for 1,747 yards, 18 touchdowns and an interception mark of .067 to nose out Sid Luckman of the Chicago Bears for individual honors.
PACKER WINGS IN DEAD HEAT ON RECEPTIONS
FEB 3 (Green Bay) - Long Jim Benton preserved the best traditions of Pine Bluff, Ark., in 1946 by taking over the NFL pass receiving championship vacated by the retirement of his illustrious fellow townsman, Don Hutson. Second to the Green Bay bowling alley proprietor in 1944 and 1945, Benton, himself a bowling alley proprietor, waltzed away from the field in the most approved Hutson manner by catching 63 passes for 981 yards, twice as many catches and more than twice as many yards as his nearest competitor, rookie Harold Crisler of Boston. The 30-year-old Los Angeles Ram caught two or more passes in each of the Rams' 11 games, turning in his peak performance before 48,000 against New York Dec. 1. There he caught 12 of Bob Waterfield's passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns. The Packer pass receiving, according to the official NFL statistics revealed today, reached a new low, but that's no secret what with Don Hutson on the sidelines for the first time since 1935. Oddest part of the Packers' achievements in this difficult field is the fact that the Bays' two ends, Clyde Goodnight and Nolan Luhn, each caught 16 passes. Goodnight made the most yardage, 208 to 224, but Luhn caught the most touchdown passes, two, while Goodnight got one TD pass, that coming in the last game against Los Angeles. No. 2 Packer is Bob Nussbaumer, who is now a Washington Redskin via the trade route. Nussbaumer caught 10 for 143 yards. The man the Packers received for Nussbaumer, Jack Jacobs, a passer, caught four passes for 53 yards. Don Wells, Herman Rohrig, Tony Canadeo, Ted Fritsch and Bob Forte each caught two aerials for the Bays. Fritsch got the only other Packer pass that went for a touchdown. Ace Prescott, who was released midway in the season, and fullback Walt Schlinkman each caught one pass...PASSING NOTES: The longest completed pass of the year went to John Greene, Detroit Lion end, who together with Dave Ryan, engineered an 88-yard touchdown maneuver against Pittsburgh Nov. 10. Bear Ken Kavanaugh was the only player to receive three touchdown passes in one game last fall. He did it against Los Angeles on Nov. 10. 12 percent of the passes completed in the league went for touchdown. Only seven players gained 100 yards or more in a game during the past season. They were Benton, Cardinal Bill Dewell, Cardinal Mal Kutner, Crisler, Bears Ray McLean and Kavanaugh, and Detroit Ivan Schottel. Bill Dudley, the league's leading ground gainer, who finished 13th among the league's passer, also caught four passes, one of which gained 80 yards and a touchdown against Boston Oct. 27.
GENE WILSON BETTER THAN MOST HALFBACKS AT ADVANCING BALL
FEB 4 (Green Bay) - Lester Jordan, who spills ink for Southern Methodist university, gave us some interesting information on Gene (Red) Wilson, the 180-pound end signed by the Packers last week. Writes Jordan: "When the Packers signed Wilson of SMU, they got one of the best ends in the history of the Southwest conference. Not only did he lead the loop in the number of passes caught both in 1945 and 1946, but after he catches the ball he is better than most halfbacks at advancing it. He also worked well on end-around plays, scoring two touchdowns by this method in the final conference game against TCU. Probably he is too light for defensive end in pro ball, but he was a standout in the Southwest. He called defensive signals for the Ponies and varied the defenses so much that the opposition had difficulty in making much ground against the Mustangs. As co-captain last fall, he proved to be an ideal leader both on or off the field. The SMU dean of men praised him highly for the leadership he had shown in the dormitory. As you perhaps recall, Wilson caught the winning touchdown in the East-West game Jan. 1. Coach Matty Bell ranks Wilson as one of the best he ever coached. In 1945 Wilson caught 31 passes for 311 yards. Last fall, he caught 18 for 258 yards."...FACIAL NOTE: Packer Wilson, as displayed in the accompanying picture, is a dead ringer for Andy Hardy, alias Mickey Rooney. If Wilson can get into as much trouble on the gridiron as Hardy did on the screen, the Packers won't have much to worry about...BUSINESS NOTE: Manager Lonnie Darling, manager and coach of the Oshkosh All-Stars, stopped in Monday to report that he hopes to bring his Stars here for a National Basketball league game in March. Accompanied by player Ted Fritsch, Darling said he hoped to bring the Tri-Cities Blackhawks or Buffalo here. Along the business lines, Charley Brock, Ken Keuper and Fritsch would join Darling's off-season Hunkel seed business. Darling is distributor for seeds in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan and Illinois.
NFL SCORING CHAMPIONSHIP IN GREEN BAY 7TH TIME IN 9 YEARS
FEB 5 (Green Bay) - In the matter of scoring points, the Green Bay Packers got back into the saddle again in 1946. For the seventh time in nine seasons, the Packers landed a man, 215-pound Ted Fritsch, at the top of the point making heap. Official NFL figgers, released today, show that Fritsch outpointed his closest rival, Bob Waterfield of Los Angeles, by 39 markers in counting 100 of the Bays' 148 points. Green Bay became the home of the individual scoring champ for the first time in 1938 when fullback Clarke Hinkle scored 58. After Andy Farkas of Washington captured 68 for the title in 1939, Don Hustonitis set in. The sparkling end won scoring honors the next five years, piling up totals of 57, 95, 138, 117 and 85. That 138 total in 1942 stands as a league record. Steve Van Buren of the Philadelphia Eagles won out in 1945 with 110 points. Ted scored in 10 of the Packers' 11 games, faltering only before the Chicago Bears here Sept. 29. Roy McKay got the only Packer touchdown that day and kicked the extra point. Ted made all of his team's points in the Packers' 20-7 victory over Washington Dec. 1 and scored the nine points with which they blanked Detroit Nov. 17. He got 60 on 10 TDs and 40 on one field goals and 13 extra points. Only one other player duplicated Fritsch's feat of scoring three TDs in one game. Ken Kavanaugh caught three TD passes from Sid Luckman against Los Angeles Dec. 10...Among the interesting sidelights to the 1946 scoring was the number of points scored by each team in the various quarters. The Packers, for instance, bottomed the league in the first quarter when they registered only 13 points, all by Fritsch. He kicked a first quarter field goal against the Cards in Chicago Nov. 10, did the same against the Cards here Nov. 24, and then counted the other seven points on a touchdown and PAT against Los Angeles there Dec. 8. The scoring-by-quarter figures showed that Green Bay made 47 in the second canto, 33 in the third, and finished strong with 55 in the final heat. The biggest splurge was the Cardinals' 105 scored in the second quarter...SCORING BITS: For the third consecutive year, National league teams made more touchdowns running (152() than they did passing (126). League teams set a conversion record in 1946, making good on 92.9 percent of their attempts. There were only 20 misses in 278 tries. Only four linemen, guard Augie Lio of Philadelphia, center Ki Aldrich of Washington, tackle Leonard Levy of Los Angeles, and center Stu Clarkson of the Bears, were among the 118 men who scored points in 1946. Six safeties scored (the Packers got two, one each by Nolan Luhn and Urban Odson) set a new major league record. Monk Maznicki, the Bears' kicking specialist, landed among the first 10 scorers without scoring a touchdown, proving again that a good kick has its points.
ISBELL EYEING PRO JOB?
FEB 5 (Lafayette, IN) - Cecil Isbell, head football coach at Purdue university and ex-Green Bay Packer, was in Baltimore today concerning an offer to coach professionally, and Athletic Director Guy (Red) Mackey said the former Purdue star could keep his Purdue job "as long as I'm around." Mackey said there would be "adjustments" in the Purdue coaching staff, but he indicated they would not affect Isbell. The former Boilermaker passing and running ace, head coach here since 1944, left the campus Monday. It was reported that he was meeting officials of the newly-organized Baltimore team of the All-America professional league about the head coaching job.
MICHALSKE RESIGNS AT IOWA STATE
FEB 5 (Ames, IA) - A.M. (Mike) Michalske, head football coach at Iowa State college since mid October 1942, today resigned effective July 1. Michalske, whose teams
have won 18, lost 18 and tied three at Iowa State, would not comment on the resignation, other than to say he had no future plans. Director of Athletics Louis Menze said the athletic council would make no "hurried decision" to replace Michalske. "We want to survey every possibility and get the best man possible for the job," he said. "We hope to have a football staff completed in time for spring practice." Jim Hauss, line coach, resigned last week to take a similar job at Butler university. Michalske starred at Penn State, where he was graduated in 1926. He played two years of pro football with the original New York Yankees before going to the Green Bay Packers where he all-pro guard six times. He served as assistant coach at Lafayette and St. Norbert (De Pere, Wis.) colleges and directed the football program at Stevens Point, Wis., Teachers become coming to Iowa State as line coach in 1942. During his career here his teams placed second once and tied for third once in the Big Six. The Cyclone football team failed to win a major team last fall.
LOS ANGELES DONS SIGN BALDWIN
FEB 6 (Los Angeles) - The Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference claimed another triumph over the Green Bay Packers of the vial National League today when they signed All-America end Burr Baldwin of UCLA. The Dons recently announced the signing of Illinois' All-America guard Alex Agase, who with Baldwin had been chosen in the NFL draft by Green Bay.
PACKERS STILL HAVE SKOGLUND, WILSON; BALDWIN TO LOS ANGELES
FEB 6 (Green Bay) - Burr Baldwin, the all-American UCLA end who didn't impress anybody - especially Illinois - in the Rose Bowl game, will not wear a Green Bay Packer uniform in 1947. He signed with the Los Angeles Dons of the rival All-America conference Wednesday. Packer coach Curly Lambeau, who is out on the west coast now, had expected to sign both end Baldwin and Ernie Case, Burr's passing mate. Case was the Packers' No. 1 draft choice and Baldwin was No. 2. Though no word has come through from the coast, it is doubtful that Lambeau cared to bid too high for the services of Baldwin for two reasons. No. 1 was his poor showing in the Rose Bowl game (in other words under heavy fire) and No. 2 is that two weeks ago who are considered big league material - Gene (Red) Wilson of Southern Methodist and Bob Skoglund of Notre Dame. The Packers, however, are expected to go all out for the services of Case, the midget T-quarterback, who should fit in nicely with the Bays' new quick opening V-formation. Signing of Baldwin represents the second victory Los Angeles holds over Green Bay. A week ago, the Dons added Alex Agase, Illinois guard drafted by the Packers in 1945...NEWS BREAKS: Wednesday afternoon regarding Mike Michalske's resignation at Iowa State and Cecil Isbell's report that Baltimore wants him to coach its team in the All-American conference immediately resulted in a lot of speculation along Packer Plaza. Isbell admitted traveling off to Baltimore to confer with officials of the pro squad. The former Packer passer also, it can be revealed, spoke with Lambeau during the National league meetings in Chicago recently and, of course, that business stirred up a lot of thoughts among the writers all the time. The only official answer to the Lambeau-Isbell meeting was a dissension of the future of Purdue fullback Ed Cody, who was drafted by the Bays. Regarding Michalske's resignation at Iowa State, it is possible that Mike may go into pro ball, where he made his biggest bid for glory as a guard for the Packers.
ALL-AMERICA LANDS CASE
FEB 11 (Los Angeles) - Ernie Case, ace quarterback for UCLA, said today he had signed a three year contract to play with the new Baltimore team in the All-America Conference. Southpaw Ernie, who passed and guided UCLA through an unblemished season last year and then saw it walloped by Illinois in the Rose Bowl did not divulge the salary teams. Case, 26, served with the Army Air Forces, was shot down in Italy and spent 11 months as a prisoner of war. He was the No. 1 draft choice of the Green Bay Packers of the rival National League. His pass catching teammate, Burr Baldwin, also a Green Bay draftee, recently signed with Los Angeles of the All-America loop.
PACKERS SIGN MONCRIEF, TACKLE OF TEXAS A-M
FEB 12 (Green Bay) - Texas Monte Moncrief returned from a honeymoon in sunny Mexico early this weekend, after a conversation with Green Bay Packer coach Curly Lambeau via long distance telephone, signed a contract left at his home a day after he left for said honeymoon three weeks ago. The details of how Moncrief signed are long, delicate and confusing but the big point is that Moncrief has signed a 1947 Packer contract and now is the fourth newcomer with a working agreement in Green Bay next fall. Moncrief is a tackle. He stands about 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs 195 pounds - a bit slight for the heavy traffic over tackle in the National league. However, it's possible that he may be shifted over to guard where reinforcements are needed. Moncrief caught Lambeau's eye in the East-West game where he bolstered the West line. He's fast, rugged, and likes to play the game - three vital qualifications for major league football. He was co-captain of Texas A. & M., for the last three years. Assistant Coach Don Hutson arrived at Moncrief's home in College Station, Tex., a day after he left for his honeymoon. So, Hutson had a chat with Monte's mother, a great southern (or southwest) football fans. Mrs. Moncrief promised that her son would consider the Packer contract left there by Hutson. Early this week, when Monte returned home, Lambeau got his signature - literally via the telephone...The story also popped today that Ernie Case, No. 1 Packer draft choice from UCLA, had signed a three-year contract with Baltimore of the All-America conference. Baltimore this week added Cecil Isbell, ex-Packer, as its coach. Burr Baldwin, also a Packer draftee and passing mate of Case, was signed recently by the Los Angeles Dons. Both had conferred with Lambeau before signing contracts with teams in the other circuit. The Packer coach saw Case and Baldwin in action during the Rose Bowl game...Speaking about the other league, John J. Brogan, former Green Bay postmaster who joined with two ex-city pals, Jim Crowley and Bill Toohey, in purchasing the Chicago Rockets, is looking for a training site for the Rockets in Wisconsin. And what's more, Crowley is considering moving his family to Wisconsin, possibly Green Bay. Though Jim has his present office in Chicago, his family is still in New York. Brogan is enthusiastic about his new venture and particularly likes it "because I'm back in business with two great guys."...A guy who may be wearing a Packer uniform next fall will be in West De Pere tonight in the form of a basketball player. He is Teddy Scalissi, the Ripon college star athlete, who was drafted by the Packers. Scalissi paces the cage squad which will tangle with St. Norbert.
ROCKETS WILL NOT GO TO MILWAUKEE, JIM CROWLEY SAYS
FEB 15 (Chicago) - Owner-Coach Jimmy Crowley of the Chicago Rockets denied rumors Friday the All-America Football Conference club would transfer its franchise to Milwaukee. It was reported that an unofficial representative of the club had explored the possibility of renting State Fair park in Milwaukee and that the Rockets also were considering Borchert field, home of the Milwaukee Brewers' baseball club, as a home site. "We haven't even thought of leaving Chicago," Crowley said. "We'll fight it out with the Bears and Cardinals of the NFL on our own grounds." The Rockets, under former owner John L. Keeshin, reportedly suffered a substantial financial loss in their inaugural season at Soldier field here last year. The Green Bay Packers of the National league claim exclusive professional football rights for the next four years to the State Fair park in Milwaukee.
BERTH IN NBL TO GREEN BAY?
FEB 18 (Green Bay) - The first step toward securing a franchise for Green Bay in the National Basketball league has been taken by Clarke Hinkle, local businessman who formerly carried the ball for the Green Bay Packers from the fullback position. Hinkle has written Oshkosh All-Star Manager and Coach Lonnie Darling for full particulars, and word from Darling, who holds an executive position in the league, is that he is "definitely interested" in advancing Green Bay's hope of some day entering the circuit. Hinkle isn't operating alone. He has enthusiastic support from a host of business associates and friends in Green Bay and De Pere. Piggy Lambert, commissioner of the NBL, will be in Green Bay for the circuit contest between the All-Stars and Detroit Gems at Washington Junior High gymnasium Wednesday night, March 5. At this time, Hinkle and his buddies will discuss the matter with Lambert and Darling. Though the proposal is just in the "feeler" stage at present, a Green Bay franchise in the National league is not an impossibility. To sports fans, Green Bay (through its Packers) is widely known all over these United States. There seems to be no logical reason why Green Bay could not handle a major league cage team. Apparently, the National league is interested in one or two things: (1) Expanding; or (2) shifting franchises around to get the maximum drawing power. No. 2 is mentioned because of the poor patronage shown in Moline (Tri-City Blackhawks) and even in Detroit where, it seems, the fans support nothing but a winner. At any rate, Hinkle's move to bring Green Bay a NBL franchise is a progressive step and should get a lot of support in our sports-minded town...HASH BIN: Charley Brock, captain and center of the Green Bay Packers, has turned down an offer to coach a university football team. But Charley hasn't forgotten the name of the university and the kind folks who offered him the vote of confidence. Brock, who ranks up there with Bulldog Turner and Mel Hein, may be taking notes for 1948, though. Word from Florida is that Walt Kiesling, Packer line coach, really had a tough time battling pneumonia. The big guy lost 51 pounds. Trouble set in when the Packers invaded Los Angeles last December and Walt had a cold ever since. Despite a terrific cold, he drove from his home in Minneapolis to attend the National league meetings in Chicago in January and then (with the Missus) drove drown to Florida after spending a day in bed with that same cold in Chicago. The cold bugs finally broke through his line in Miami where it is now reported he's recovering fast.
SIX-GAME PACKER HOME CARD SET
FEB 24 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers will play their first six NFL games on Wisconsin soil - three in Green Bay and three in Milwaukee. This was revealed today in a telephone conversation with Packer coach Curly Lambeau in Los Angeles. In addition, the Packers will meet the New York Giants, who will train at Superior, Wis., in an exhibition contest at City stadium late in August. Another exhibition contest has been set for
Milwaukee Sept. 14 between the Packers and Boston Yankees. A third exhibition with the Washington Redskins in Baltimore on September 21 was announced during the recent National league meetings. Lambeau reported that the Packers' league road games will be announced at a later date by the particular cities in which the games will be held. It is expected that the Packers will play five more games - making a total of 11 - on Nov. 9, 16, 23, 30 and Dec. 7. The second Bear-Packer game probably will be played in Chicago Nov. 9. The first week in November has been something of a traditional period for this classic which drew 40,000 plus last fall...Lambeau describes the six-game home schedule as "most ideal". He pointed out that it was the first time that "we've ever had six contests in our territory." A year ago, the Packers played the Bears, Steelers and Cards in Green Bay and the Rams and Lions in Milwaukee. Most unique part of the schedule is that the games are scheduled on successive Sundays at "home". Actually, they are alternated between Green Bay and Milwaukee on consecutive Sundays. In addition, this arrangement gives Packer fans a terrific weather break. In the past, a game or two had been scheduled in Green Bay or Milwaukee late in November or early in December. Announcements from the various cities in the National league as to their home schedules are due within the next month, Lambeau indicated...Though the six-game-in-a-row home card is ideal from the fans' view, it probably will be a nightmare for Lambeau. The Packers face four of the league's toughest T-exponents on consecutive Sundays - the Bears, Rams, Cards and Redskins. The Bear and Cardinal games here represent something of a 1947 climax even though the season will be only three weeks old after the Cardinal clash. The Bear-Packer event Sept. 28 speaks for itself. It's a traditional affair and this season's struggle should be a terrific collision if the Packers remember that fateful Sunday here last Sept. 29. The Cardinal-Packer game, it's no secret, was wanted by Milwaukee. On paper, the Cardinals are favorites to snare the Western division crown with addition of Charley Trippi and return of last season's powerful backfield led by Pat Harder and Paul Christman. Detroit, which makes its first appearance here since 1942, is due for a comeback in 1947. Fred Mandel, millionaire owner, revealed at the NFL meetings recently that he's sparing no expense in building his 1947 teams. Washington will be making its first visit to Milwaukee since 1943, while Pittsburgh will be without Bill Dudley who recently resigned to coach at Virginia. The Ram-Packer tilt is expected to highlight the Milwaukee program. The Packers lost to Los Angeles in Milwaukee last fall on a disputed play in the last 20 seconds, 24-17. Incidentally, the Redskin-Packer game will see Bob Nussbaumer and Indian Jack Jacobs on opposite sides of the fence. Nussbaumer was traded by the Packers to Washington for Jacobs last December. Lambeau plans to be in Green Bay March 6 after attending the Russ Winnie testimonial in Milwaukee March 4.
TWO ST. MARY'S TACKLES INK PACKER CONTRACTS
FEB 27 (Green Bay) - A couple of big brutes from St Mary's college of California - William (Bill) McPartland and Fred (Red) Neilsen - have signed Green Bay Packer contracts, Coach Curly Lambeau announced today by telephone from Los Angeles. Both are tackles, Navy veterans, and their weights and heights are almost identical. The Packers now have six newcomers under contract for 1947, including three tackles, two ends and a back....McPartland was drafted by the Packers in 1943 after he notified scouts that he'd like to "play football for that little town up in Wisconsin." The newcomer stands 6-2 and weighs 238 pounds, and, Lambeau added, "he really loves the game." After being drafted by the Packers, McPartland entered the Navy and saw considerable service in the States as a physical education director before going overseas. He returned to St. Mary's last fall and gained recognition as an all-coast tackle. In the Oil Bowl game against Georgia Tech, his performance was outstanding. McPartland is a left tackle, although he can play just about any position in the line...Neilsen toughened himself up for a professional career with plenty of action on two Navy service teams and then closed his collegiate play with St. Mary's last fall...Drafted by the Packers and Uncle Sam in 1944, Neilsen weighs 240 pounds and stands 6-3. The St. Mary's ace, who plays right tackle, had a very noted substitute on the Schumacher field team of California in Service ball. Joe Stydahar, aging Chicago Bears, relieved Big Red on numerous occasions. Later, Nielsen played with Fleet City and some of the other lineman on the same club was Buddy Gatewood, present Packer center. Lambeau said that Nielsen is the big slashing type like Stydahar. With six players under contract, the Packers' home schedule set, and more signees to be announced soon, the 1947 Green Bay pro football program is rapidly taking shape.
INGRAM, NEW A-A HEAD, MAKES PEACE OVERTURE TO NATIONAL
FEB 27 (Los Angeles) - Four star Adm, Jonas Ingram, who played and coached football at Annapolis, started a new job as commissioner of the All-America Football conference today with a peace overture toward the National league. Ingram said he saw no reason why "in two or three years" the two football conference should not be cooperating like the two major baseball leagues. "I knew Bert Bell (National league commissioner) when he was in knee pants," the admiral boomed. "I expect I'll be seeing him real soon. We both have our problems and we should take them over. There is no reason why the two leagues can't work out their problems in a businesslike and amicable way, I'll meet 'em halfway." Ingram, commander of the Atlantic fleet during the last war and Navy's first All-American, said he took the commissioner's job to hold up the ideals of "the game I've always loved." "I'll never tolerate gambling. I'll be just as tough as old Judge Landis was. There will be absolutely no mercy from me." Ingram's salary was understood to be $30,000 a year on a three-year contract.
CHARLEY BROCK TURNS DOWN COACHING POST
MAR 5 (Green Bay) - Charley Brock, captain and veteran center of the Green Bay Packers, will probably cavort another season for the Lambeaus as he recently turned down an active offer to take over as a college coach. This isn't the first time that Brock has got a bid from a "rah rah" institution. Brock is a smart footballer and his pigskin stealing abilities have made him famous in gridiron circles. The former Nebraska star has been with the Bays for eight seasons. He made his debut in postgraduate football with the 1939 pennant winning Green Bay team.
BACK, END JOIN PACKER ELEVEN
MAR 8 (Green Bay) - Green Bay Packer coach Curly Lambeau opened business at his usual stand in the Northland building today with the following transactions: (1) Received contracts of a T-formation quarterback and an end; and (2) prepared contracts of all 1946 veterans for mailing early next week. The new documents contain the signatures of two former Marines - Joseph G. Graham, Jr., the end, and Ralph J. Grant, the quarterback. Neither player has a nationwide reputation, but as Lambeau put it, "Ted Fritsch didn't either." Grant, who carried the nickname Punchy because of his ability to block and run opponents into that condition, started his collegiate football career in 1942 at Bucknell - the same school that produced the Packers' No 1 fullback, Clarke Hinkle. Punchy worked himself up to a co-captaincy in 1944 and then went off to the Marines. After war service, Grant enrolled in Penn State Teachers college (a type of institution that developed another Packer fullback, the above-mentioned Fritsch), from where he will graduate next June. Grant is built along the lines of Hinkle and Fritsch - 212 pounds on a 5-foot, 10-inch frame. He's 23 years old, single and lives in Ashley, Pa...The other G-man, end Graham, hails from the University of Florida, where he captained the grid varsity in 1944. He's just a big guy and closely resembles ex-Packer Harry Jacunski. He stands 6 foot 2 and weighs 210 pounds. Married and father of two children, Graham closed his grid career in 1944 when he captained Florida. He then entered the Marines and later obtained his degree during summer school in 1946 after being discharged. Last fall he coached the Live Oak High school grid team. Graham lives in Jacksonville. Addition of Graham and Grant gives the Packers eight newcomers under contract for 1947, two backs, three ends and three tackles...Announcement of Detroit's home schedule this week gives the Packers dates for seven of their 12 National league games in 1947. The Detroit home card has Green Bay invading giant Briggs stadium Sunday, Dec. 7. The Boston Yanks also announced their home schedule recently but the Packers are not scheduled there. Green Bay will play Boston in an exhibition in Milwaukee Sept. 14. The New York Giants, who will train in Superior, will invade City stadium for an exhibition game late in August.
PACKER DRAFTEE JOINS ALL-STARS
MAR 8 (Oshkosh) - Lon Darling, coach of the Oshkosh All-Stars, current leaders of the NBL's Western division, announced today the signing of Dick Miller, Lawrence collage senior and a Green Bay Packer draftee, to a 1947-48 contract. Darling said the six-foot, two-inch 205-pound forward would not be able to compete in league play this year because the contract deadline has passed, but he added that Miller would play with the Stars in the professional tournament in Chicago next month. Darling did not disclose terms of the contract.
MULLENEAUX NAMED LINE COACH AT ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY
MAR 9 (St. Louis) - Carl (Moose) Mulleneaux, end for the Green Bay Packers, has signed as football coach for St. Louis university athletic director W.J. (Dukes) Duford announced Saturday. Mulleneaux, veteran professional with the Packers during their 1938 and 1944 NFL championships, will assume his duties when spring training begins next month.
PACKER MITCHELL ON HIGH SCHOOL STAFF
MAR 12 (Greenville, TX) - Charley Mitchell, former Tulsa university, Green Bay Packer and Chicago Bear football player, has been named assistant coach at Greenville, Texas, High school. Mitchell joined the Packers last August and remained with the club throughout the season, playing at right half under Bob Forte and Bob Nussbaumer, now of the Washington Redskins. He came to Green Bay in a trade with the Bears for Tom Farris, former Wisconsin quarterback.
DUDLEY MOST VALUABLE, FRITSCH 3RD IN NFL POLL
MAR 13 (New York) - Bullet Bill Dudley of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who called it quits for his professional football career at the close of last season because he was "too small to go on taking a beating", today was named the National league's most valuable player for 1946. The undersized and overworked Steeler halfback star received eight first place and two second place ballots, in a poll of 18 sportswriters who covered the 1946 NFL campaign, to become the seventh winner of the Joe F. Carr Memorial trophy. Bob Waterfield, the Los Angeles Rams' outstanding quarterback who won the award for 1945, was runnerup with four first place votes and as many for second for 28 points. Ted Fritsch, Green Bay Packer fullback, was third with two first place and two second place ballots for 18 points, just one more than the 17 received by Sid Luckman, veteran quarterback for the champion Chicago Bears. Only one other player, Jim Benton, Los Angeles end, received a first place ballot. Three additional NFL backfield stars received second place votes to round out the list of eight players who merited consideration by the scribes. Paul Christman, the Chicago Cardinals' passing ace, was the second choice of three balloters, Frank Filchock of the New York Giants had two second place votes, and Sammy Baugh, veteran Washington Redskin quarterback, had one. Playing better than 50 minutes of every Steeler game and handicapped by a supporting case that was shy of first class talent, Dudley managed to lead the league in rushing with 604 yards in 146 attempts for an average of 4.1 yards per carry, topped the NFL in interceptions and punt returns, was fourth in punting, tied for fifth in scoring with 48 points, and was 13th in passing. Included in his multifarious tasks were those of kicking extra points and field goals and calling the team's plays. Shortly after the season closed, Dudley announced that he was retiring from the pro game and accepted a job as backfield coach at Virginia.
CHARLEY BROCK SIGNS FOR 9TH SEASON WITH PACKER ELEVEN
MAR 14 (Green Bay) - Charley Brock, the leading touchdown-making center in the NFL, has consigned himself to another season of crime with the Green Bay Packers. The former Nebraska All-American penned his name on a Packer contract in the office of Coach Curly Lambeau this morning. Brock was highly satisfied with the number of greenbacks designated for his 1947 labors, though terms were not revealed. Brock, who turns 31 years of age Saturday (March 15 to you taxpayers), is the first of the veterans to sign, and the ninth player under contract thus far. The successful contract ceremony means that Charley will return for his ninth season in a Green Bay uniform. And he'll be back as captain of the 1947 team, too, Lambeau announced. A full-time resident of Green Bay, Brock lives with his wife and two children at 1431 Farlin avenue. And the story is often told that all the kids in Preble want to play center because their favorite neighbor plays that position. Brock's career around the National league has been spectacular even though he often played in the shadow of more publicized Bulldog Turner of the Chicago Bears and Mel Hein of the New York Giants. Most Packer fans will argue in favor of Charley when it comes to picking the best of this big three. Jug Earpe, one of the Packers' great centers in the early championship days, pointed to Charley as the greatest of all pivotmen during the Press-Gazette poll to select an all-time Packer team last fall. Brock is noted for his ball stealing tactics, which accounts for the above-mentioned "season of crime, Charley has scored four touchdowns, more than any other center in the league, and all were the result of stealing the ball out of his opponent's mitts and then racing in the opposite direction for the scores. In addition, Brock set up at least 15 other touchdowns during his career, all of which accounts for a lot of scoring and touchdown assists. His greatest deeds were committed in 1942 when he stole the ball from Chicago Cardinal fullback Bob Morrow and ran for the winning touchdown and in 1945 when he stole the pigskin three times in t4he Giant game in New York - twice from Ward Cuff and one from Julius Havios. Unlike the real crime artists, Brock has been a wonderful influence on all Packer players - especially linemen who generally are in a position to knock on the door of thievery first. Tiny Croft is one of Brock's prize pupils, the giant tackle stealing once in each Bear game last year...BROCKISM: In all, Charley played 16 years of football, including four at Columbus, Neb., High and four at Nebraska. Chosen second by the Packers in the 1938 draft. Born Mar. 15, 1916, in Columbus. Stands 6-2 1/2 and weighs 210. One of a family of nine children, Charley's own two youngsters are Richard D. (11 years) and Mary Alice (3). Was starting center on 1939 College All-Star team and captained West in 1939 All-Star game. Made all-pro several times.
TERRITORY BATTLE FOR PACKERS?
MAR 15 (Green Bay) - As if the war of contracts isn't enough, the Green Bay Packers recently were involved in a territorial battle. There were no battle lines nor any declaration of hostilities. Here's the story, as pieced together from various sources: The Chicago Rockets of the All-American conference recently attempted to move into Milwaukee - lock, stock and barrel. Through officials of State Fair park, it was learned that the Rocket management sough to obtain the State Fair park gridiron for its home games. This effort, however, was blocked because the Packers and the Fair organization have signed a five-year lease which has four years to run. Attempts by the Rockets to play one or two exhibition contests in Milwaukee also have gone awry. The Packers will play three National league games in Milwaukee and one exhibition - Sept. 14 with Boston. The Rockets' interest in Milwaukee brings up the question immediately: What's the situation in Chicago? With the Trippi-packed Cardinals and the fascinating Bears with their traditional Packer rivalry, the Rockets apparently are due for some tough sledding. The Rockets play their home games in Soldiers' field on Friday night, chiefly a high school night in any part of the country. Whether the Rockets can draw fans from Bear and Cardinal games on Sunday is a challenge owners George Halas and Charley (Cards) Bidwill would like to test. Soldier's Field is admittedly a poor place to hold a football game, and whether planned renovations to seating will attract fans remains to be seen. Halas had been requested many times to hold the spectacular Bear-Packer battle in Soldier's Field but Halas always contended that only 20,000 could actually "see" the game. The other 80,000 will need high-powered binoculars. At any rate, the Packers are aware of
the Rocket intentions (Milwaukee) and, by golly, maybe they aren't so honorable.
ED CODY, PURDUE BACK, SIGNS WITH PACKER '11'
MAR 18 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers had a full team of 11 players under contact today, but there were no guards in the lineup. Latest to sign 1947 working papers was Ed Cody, Purdue university fullback, who will play at either halfback or fullback here. Coach Curly Lambeau received Cody's contract by mail this morning. The guard-less squad includes a complete backfield; three ends; three tackles; and one center and captain - Charley Brock. Cody is the ninth newcomer to sign and the fourth back including Tony Canadeo, four-year veteran (two years out for service) and rookies Ralph Grant, Penn State Teachers, and Ralph Tate of Oklahoma A. and M. After serving his freshman season at Boston college, Cody moved into Purdue in 1944 where he earned two grid letters under former Packer player and Purdue coach Cecil Isbell, who is now pilot of the Baltimore Colts...ALL-BIG NINE IN 1945: Cody was all-Big Nine fullback in 1945 and gained recognition on several All-American teams that season. Honors for Cody dropped off in 1946 as the Purdue team, hampered by injuries from the word go, had a poor season. The Purdue grad is married and lives in New Britain, Conn. His playing weight is 190 pounds and he stands 5 feet, 10 inches tall. Lambeau took up the chase for Cody after team scouts saw him in the East-West game. The big back, who likely will play one of the halfback spots in view of fullbacks Ted Fritsch and Walt Schlinkman, gained 85 yards against the West...Other news involving the Packers broke from Chicago where the Cardinals announced their home card. The Bays will invade Chicago Nov. 16, giving them two announced road games. The other will be at Detroit Dec. 7.
LIPSCOMB AND IRV COMP SIGN
MAR 22 (Green Bay) - Paul F. (Lippy) Lipscomb, who started every Green Bay Packer game in 1945 and '46. and Irvin H. Comp, who knows better than any paying customer that "I had a terrible year last year", will wear Packer uniforms next season. Tackle Lipscomb and halfback Comp, from St. Petersburg, Florida and Milwaukee, respectively, signed 1947 contracts in a conference with Packer coach Curly Lambeau today in Chicago. They are the fourth and fifth veterans to agree to fresh terms, and the 13th and 14th players who signified their intentions of
sporting the Blue and Gold. Other vets coming back are center and Captain Charley Brock, fullback Ted Fritsch and halfback Tony Canadeo. Lambeau, via that magic black instrument known as the telephone, said he will leave Chicago late today or Sunday for a journey into the southwest. One stop, for sure, will be Oklahoma City where he'll confer with Jack Jacobs, the Indian lad, who was obtained in a trade with Washington for Bob Nussbaumer. Jacobs expressed an interest in coming to Green Bay after watching the Packers lambast Washington, 21-7, last fall. At the time, Jacobs said, "Green Bay needs a passer and I'm the one for the job." So a trade was arranged by Lambeau and Washington owner George Marshall. Lipscomb came to Green Bay in 1945 and was impressive from the word go. He has been the starting right tackle in the Packers' last 26 games, including four exhibitions, an unusual feat for this modern era where different teams are used depending on whether the squad receives or kicks off. Born Jan. 13, 1963, in Benton, Ill., Lipscomb stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 235 pounds. Married with one child, John M., 2 years old, Lippy is now attending the University of Tennessee where he won all-Southeastern ranking as a collegiate gridder in 1944. Lambeau arrived in Chicago by plane from Tennessee for his meeting with Lambeau. Comp may work out in the "tip" of the Packers' V-formation, although he could be used also as a left half, Lambeau indicated. The former St. Benedict Little All-American told Lambeau that he realized he had a bad year in 1946 but "I believe things will change for the better next fall." Comp had a terrific year in 1944 when the Packers won their sixth title but dropped in efficiency in 1945 and 1946. In 1944, he completed 80 out of 177 for 1,1,59 yards and 12 touchdowns. Don Hutson was his big helper as the Dapper one caught 58 for 866 yards and nine touchdowns. In 1945, Comp completed 44 out of 106 for 865 yards and seven touchdowns. Last year, Comp completed only 27 out of 94 tosses for 333 yards and one touchdown. Comp will be starting his fifth year. Born May 17, 1919 in Milwaukee, he weighs 205 pounds and stands 6-3. He starred at Milwaukee Bay View before entering St. Benedict.
JOIN PACKERS' PUBLICITY STAFF
MAR 24 (Green Bay) - George Strickler, who resigned last week as director of publicity for the NFL, has signed a three-year contract as assistant general manager and director of public relations for the Green Bay Packers, it was announced today by Packer coach Curly Lambeau. Lambeau stated that addition of Strickler to the Bay staff does not affect the status of George W. Calhoun, veteran Packer publicist and director of press ticket arrangements. Calhoun has been with the Packer organization since its start and was the man who "passed the hat" in the early days. Strickler, 43, started his newspaper career at the age of 14 with the South Bend Tribune. After two years at the University of Indiana, he returned to the Tribune as a police reporter and then enrolled at Notre Dame to become Knute Rockne's publicity man in 1924, the highlight of which was placing the Four Horsemen on horseback for a picture. He later played baseball with South Bend and Milton, Wis., where he worked for the Burdick Cabinet company. In 1926 Strickler became bureau manager of the International News Service and a year later joined the Chicago Herald- Examiner where his first assignment was Gene Tunney's campaign for the first Dempsey fight. After serving as sports editor of the Daily Georgian and Sunday American in Atlanta, Strickler became publicity director for Chicago stadium. Strickler joined the sports staff of the Chicago Tribune in 1931 and remained there until 1941 when he became director of public relations under Elmer Layden, former commissioner.
JACOBS SIGNS WITH PACKERS
MAR 25 (Green Bay) - The man who may be the key to the success of the Green Bay Packers' V-formation in 1947 has signed his contract for action next fall. He is Indian Jack Jacobs, former Cleveland and Washington halfback, quarterback and fullback who holds the distinction of playing second fiddle to such heralded fiddlers as Sammy Baugh and Bob Waterfield. Jacobs came to terms today in Oklahoma City after a conference with Packer coach Curly Lambeau, and the Packer pilot wasted no time in phoning news of his prize plum to the hometown. Jacobs is the sixth pro veteran to sign, the other five being Bay graduates, center Charley Brock, tackle Paul Lipscomb, and backs Tony Canadeo, Ted Fritsch and Irv Comp. A full-blooded Creek Indian, Jacobs came to Green Bay on paper last December in a trade with the Washington Redskins for Michigan Bob Nussbaumer, right halfback. Both Lambeau and George Marshall, Washington owner, agreed after making the trade that both clubs will benefit "immediately". Nussbaumer is the Steve Bargarus type - fast, shifty and a good pass receiver. He will fit into the Redskin T-formation system ideally. Jacobs, on the other hand, is, according to Lambeau, one of the four best passers in the league. However, Jacobs was forced to waste his talents on the bench with Cleveland in 1945 and with Washington last season, while the more illustrious Waterfield and Baugh exercised their famous arms. Lambeau expects to use Jacobs at the top of the V, which, for explanatory purposes, is the same spot that Sid Luckman plays with the Bears, Waterfield with Los Angeles, etc. Jacobs, one of the nation's leading passers with Oklahoma and a bright light in his freshman year with Cleveland in 1942, asked to be traded to Green Bay after watching the Packers smother Washington last fall. In 1942, Jacobs played under the then-brilliant Parker Hall but spent 1943 and 1944 in the service. He played football with Ernie Smith and baseball with Joe DiMaggio
on Marsh Field (Cal.) teams. After the 1945 season at Cleveland, Washington obtained him in a trade with Los Angeles. Jacobs, who stands 6-1 and weighs 190 pounds, finished among the first 10 punters in each of his three years in the NFL.
SCALISSI SIGNS WITH OSHKOSH
APR 2 (Oshkosh) - The Oshkosh All-Stars of the NBL today announced the signing of Teddy Scalissi, ace Ripon guard, to a contract for the remainder of this year and next. A native of Madison, Scalissi has also been drafted by the Green Bay Packers, Manager Lon Darling of the All Stars said Scalissi would make his first pro appearance here Tuesday night in an exhibition with the New York Rens. Scalissi was named to a guard post on the All Midwest conference basketball team selected for the Associated Press this year by the nine conference coaches.
PACKER-GIANT CONTEST HERE AUG. 23 UNDER SPONSORSHIP OF LEGION POST
APR 4 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers will have two dates with New York's football Giants next season. From the Packer headquarters came news today that the scheduled exhibition between Big Town and Little Town will be played in City stadium Saturday night, Aug. 23. From the Giants office came word that the Packers will invade New York three months later, Nov. 23, for a NFL contest. The battle at City stadium will be staged under the auspices of the Sullivan-Wallen Post No. 11, American Legion. It was announced this morning as a Legion benefit event, with the proceeds of which will go into the Legion's building fund. R.M. Tetzlaff, veteran Legionnaire, will serve as the general chairman, taking up the reins from Walter Scherf, who served in the same capacity for the Legion's first pro football promotion - the Packer Army-Navy All-Star contest held last Aug. 28. Tetzlaff, who will appoint committees in the near future, announced that "we're aiming for a sellout." Tetzlaff plans to make it s statewide event, with assistance from Legion posts throughout the state...TWO SPECIAL TRAINS: He already has assurance from the Packer office that Olle Haugsrud of Superior will operate two special trains (the North Western) from Duluth and Superior to Green Bay for the game. Haugsrud, incidentally, owned the Duluth Eskimo franchise in the early days of the National league. Superior has been the home training grounds for the Giants for a number of years - since the days of Tuffy Leemans, a Superior boy who starred with the Giants. Today's exhibition business completes the Packers' three game display card. After the Giant fuss, they'll invade Milwaukee for duty against the Boston Yanks Sept. 14. On Sept. 21, Green Bay meets Washington in Cecil Isbell's backyard - Baltimore.
Today's league business still leaves two holes in Green Bay's 12-game championship program, Nov. 9 and Dec. 14. The Nov. 9 date would be with the Bears in Chicago, and the Dec. 14 likely will be with an eastern outfit...SIX STRAIGHT HOME TESTS: Green Bay had the most unusual home card in the league's history, opening with six straight circuit battles here or in Milwaukee. Road games already set at with the Cardinals, New York, Los Angeles and Detroit. The Legion's All-Star game last fall drew roughly 16,000 fans - a surprising turnout in view of the fact that there was a light rain late in the afternoon. The 1947 attraction is even more spectacular because it may serve as a tipoff on the strength of the two clubs. A year ago, the Giants played the Bears in an exhibition in Chicago and found themselves walloped by three touchdowns but the New Yorkers went on to win the Eastern division title. Oddly enough, the Packers have replaced the Bears in the Giants' book for 1947.
MCDOUGAL OF OCONTO JOINS PACKER ELEVEN
APR 5 (Green Bay) - Green Bay Packer fan Robert J. McDougal of Oconto is Packer player Bob McDougal. The former Oconto High and Miami university backfield star joined the Bay organization by means of signing a contract which became official today following the usual sojourn through the NFL office, Coach Curly Lambeau revealed. McDougal, single and handsome, is the 16th player under Packer colors thus far, and No.
10 among the rookies. Green Bay now has eight backs, three ends, four tackles and one center, Captain Charley Brock. Son of the Duncan J. McDougal, 527 Pecor Street, Oconto, Bob has been a Packer fan since he was five years of age but never realized the chances of playing with them until he was a sophomore in high school. The big back came through with such terrific play in his junior and senior prep years that the University of Wisconsin beckoned...WAR ACTION IN PACIFIC: After playing freshman ball at Wisconsin in 1939, he entered Miami university and personally led the Hurricanes to some startling upsets in 1940 and 1941. He entered the Marines early in 1942 and received training in the V-12 program at Duke university. McDougal later saw action at Okinawa, Iwo Jima and New Guinea. He seems to be a cross between Ted Fritsch, the Packers' burly all-league fullback in 1945 and 1946, and Walt Schlinkman, the leading ground gaining rookie fullback in the circuit last fall. The only difference is that Bob is taller. He stands 6 feet, 2 inches and carries 205 pounds. His playing weight at times leaped to 215 pounds. In view of the cool weather here, McDougal may pack between 210 and 215...THREE TD'S IN ONE GAME: He had his biggest collegiate day against Ohio university in 1941 when he scored three touchdowns in a 20-7 upset victory. First, he scored on a short plunge after racing 20 yards to put the ball in position; then he scored on a fumble; and three plays later he counted from 10 yards out. Against Washington and Lee the next season, Bob caught a lateral pass and ran 18 yards for a score and turned in what observers called "spectacular play" as a defensive right half...MCDOUGALISMS: Bob is 25 years of age. His football career covers 10 years, starting in 1947, although it was interrupted by the war. The Oconto star is endowed with that extra gift - breakaway running, which comes in handy once past the line of scrimmage. He earned three letters each at Oconto and Miami in basketball, track and football. As a sidelight, McDougal is a better-than-average golfer, firing in the low 80's.
TED SCALISSI, RIPON SCAT BACK, CAST LOST WITH ROCKETS
APR 5 (Green Bay) - Teddy Scalissi, the 170-pound scat back from Ripon college who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, has cast his lot with the Chicago Rockets, it was learned today. The announcement by the Rockets is expected soon. Scalissi had been sought by both clubs but contract ceremonies were held up because Teddy still had track competition left. However, Scalissi decided to give up track and subsequently signed with the Oshkosh All-Stars basketball team, opening the way for a football pact. Packer Coach Curly Lambeau first
learned of Scalissi's decision this week and immediately got in touch with the Ripon ace to verify the report since Packer officials were under the impression that Scalissi had agreed to join Green Bay. Reached in Chicago where he is quartered with the All-Stars this morning, Scalissi stated as follows: "I agreed 50 percent with Mr. Lambeau on coming to Green Bay and I feel that I had a perfect right to take the contract of my own choosing. And I don't believe I'd be exactly happy in Green Bay. I'd like to try the T-formation, but I don't believe I'd fit into the Packers' V setup." Asked if he ever played the T before, Scalissi replied: "No, we used the short punt formation at Ripon. I expect to play left half or right half decoy with the Rockets." Scalissi reported that "money came second in this business. I really want to play football and expect to go all out as a pro." The Italian back, whose home is in Madison, said, "I'd sure like to bump heads with Ted Fritsch; he's a great guy." Regarding Dick Miller, the Lawrence college tackle who was drafted by the Packers, Scalissi said "Dick is undecided about his pro football future because of a knee injury."
PACKERS BUY WARD CUFF FROM CARDS, SIGN HIM
APR 19 (Green Bay) - The New York Giants may not like this, but Ward Lloyd Cuff now is the property of the Green Bay Packers. Mr. Cuff, a 10-year veteran in the NFL, has been purchased from the Chicago Cardinals and already has signed a Packer contract, Coach Curly Lambeau revealed today. A year ago, Cuff asked for his release from the Giants because of business interests in Milwaukee. However, he still had intentions of continuing football and the Giants were fully aware of the fact that he wanted to go to Green Bay. So they traded him to the Cardinals for guard Bob Dobelstein. Jimmy Conzelman, discussing his team at the National league meetings last winter, mentioned more than once that "Ward acted as a wonderful stabilizer and really put fire and brains into our backfield. He 'made' us." Conzelman, however, now is confronted with a backfield loaded with young stars and the white-haired mentor found himself in a position where he had to trade or sell Cuff. That's whether Lambeau came in - with an undisclosed amount of cash plus a Packer contract...GIANTS' FIRST OPPONENT: With Merle Hapes and Frank Filchock gone, the Giants probably would welcome Cuff next fall. To make things merrier, Cuff's first appearance in a Packer uniform will be against the Giants in the American Legion benefit game next Aug. 23. Cuff is the 17th player under contract, the seventh pro veteran; and the second star moving here from an opponent squad. Indian Jack Jacobs recently was obtained from Washington in a trade for Bob Nussbaumer. The story of Lambeau's interest in Cuff began in 1937 when the Guepe twins were running wild at Marquette. However, earlier in the season, Lambeau had seen Marquette play and immediately declared his intentions, locally, of drafting Ward. Giant Coach Steve Owen made a special trip out to Milwaukee to watch the Guepe boys play, but he fell in love with the way Cuff operated. That winter, Owen got first crack at the draft and picked Cuff who went on to score more points than any other Giant by touchdowns, kicking extra points and field goals during the next nine years...STILL WANTS TO PLAY: Cuff still wants to play football, which is one of the chief reasons Lambeau concocted the deal. The veteran, now 33, is one of the best defensive halfbacks in the business, and, with a chance to run, should regain prominence as one of the two best wingbacks in the business, the other being Ernie Caddell of Detroit. Cuff, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 192 pounds, is what the experts refer to as a field general. He is one of a few players who can be trusted on defense - particularly on pass defense. He can be compared to ex-Packers like Johnny Blood and Joe Laws, who were invaluable in the backfield even in their late years. Addition of Cuff gives the Packers two expert field goal and extra point kickers, what with fullback Ted Fritsch's toe being responsible for 13 extra points and nine field goals last fall. Cuff, incidentally, kicked 28 extra points last fall and five field goals - one against the Packers in that muddy debacle last Nov. 24 in City stadium. Cuff's 10-year record reads like a Who's Who in professional football...LIFETIME AVERAGE OF 5.3: The Marquette grad has a lifetime pro running average of 5.2 yards and in 1943 led the league by gaining 523 yards in 80 attempts for an average of 6.5. In 10 years he has gained 1,844 yards in 343 attempts. His pass reception average is 14.8 yards on 106 catches for 1,569 yards. He led the league in field goals in 1938 and 1939 and has a total of 36 FG's to his credit. The veteran really had only one bad year - in 1945 when he suffered a groin injury early in the season. At that, he averaged 4.4 yards in 48 attempts at running. Even with the star-studded Cardinals last fall, Cuff averaged an even six yards in 13 attempts. Cuff, his wide and three children are vacationing in California at present. He is a native of Redwood Falls, Minn.
PACKERS ATTEND BIDWILL SERVICES
APR 22 (Chicago) - The Green Bay Packers were represented among the mourners at funeral services for Charles W. Bidwill, Chicago millionaire owner of the Chicago Cardinals, in St. Catherine of Siena church in Oak Park this morning. The Green Bay delegation included Lee Joannes, Packer corporation president; Coach and General Manager Curly Lambeau, who came in from the west coast; Assistant Coach Walt Kiesling, who drove down from Minneapolis; and George Strickler, assistant general manager. Other professional football people included Bert Bell, commissioner of the National league; Tim and Wellington Mara and Steve Owen of the New York Giants; Fred Mandel of Detroit; Ted Collins of Boston; George Halas, owner-coach of the Chicago Bears; and Art Rooney of Pittsburgh. Team representatives were to meet with Bell, Cardinal Coach Jim Conzelman and business associates of Bidwill to discuss operations of the Cardinals for the 1947 season. Bidwill died last Saturday after a four-day fight with bronchial pneumonia.
PACKER NOTES
APR 24 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers are thinking of setting up a ticket office at the nearby Menominee Indian Reservation since they acquired Indian Jack Jacobs, former Oklahoma star...Incidentally Jack, who was coaching in Oklahoma, climbed into a suit and began daily workouts as soon as he heard of his transfer from Washington to Green Bay. Apparently he's one Redskin who doesn't care for the Redskins.
EVERY CLUB IN NFL EXCEPT PHILLY TO PLAY PACKERS IN GREEN BAY OR MILWAUKEE
APR 24 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers have been blessed with the most amazing schedule in the history of the NFL - six straight championship contests in their two bailiwicks, City stadium in Green Bay and State Fair park in Milwaukee. In addition, two exhibitions have been carded - against the New York Giants in Green Bay and Boston in Milwaukee, making a total of eight games on Wisconsin soil. Actually, Green Bay fans, and thousands of others in Wisconsin, can see every club in the league except Philadelphia. With this astonishing, highly-polished, non-skid and foolproof item to sell, the Packers are now in the process of going whole hog in the matter of salesmanship. They've got a lot of games to sell and there could be another - the league championship fray which this year will be played in the Western sector. George Strickler, assistant general manager of the Packers, started the sales ball rolling last week by stopping in six cities in the southern half of Wisconsin, including Milwaukee, Beaver Dam, Madison, Janesville and Oshkosh visiting the men who stand between words spoken by the Packers and the people who read them; in short, representatives of the press and radio. This is just the beginning. During the next two months, Strickler will branch off into the western part of the state, hop over to St. Paul and Minneapolis, leap up to Superior and swing down through the Fox valley. The chief reason for expanding is merely this: Sell out City stadium and State Fair park for every one of those eight contests - exhibition or championship. The reason for selling out the two parks is this: It costs almost twice as much to operate a professional football team this year at it did five years ago. Therefore, the crowds should be twice as fat as they were five years ago. The top sales item, of course, is the Green Bay Packers as a team. Right now, the Packers don't have a Trippi, but Coach Curly Lambeau, before getting on his last tour which netted the signatures of Indian Jack Jacobs and the brilliant Ward Cuff stated that "we're in the market for boys who want to play the game for the love of it; and not just for the money they can earn." Lambeau hinted that the Packers will offer something different, and more powerful, this fall when he announced last winter that Green Bay will use the quick-opening formation that brought three straight championships in the days of Red Dunn and company. The setup has been changed slightly and labeled the V-formation. Next came contract signatures from Charley Brock, the veteran Packers captain and center; fullback Ted Fritsch, halfback Tony Canadeo to mention a few - indicating that Lambeau intends to mold his team around his chief threats of 1946. Then to spice things up a bit, Lambeau traded Bob Nussbaumer, the scat back from Michigan who prepped here last fall, to Washington for Jacobs, the Creek Indian who had the misfortune to get "stuck" behind Parker Hall, Bob Waterfield, and Sammy Baugh in his four years in pro ball. Latest move was the purchase of Ward Cuff from the Cardinals and his subsequent signing for the 1947 season. Cuff, a great Wisconsin favorite ever since his days at Marquette, is a heady veteran of 10 years. Cuff should give the Packer backfield that extra bit of wisdom - especially on defense where he, as the coaches say, can be trusted. He's got a talented toe (like Fritsch) and is a good pass receiver and still a hard runner despite his long service with New York. There are a number of other surprising deals in the offing, but mum's the word at present. And, besides, this isn't the football season. Or is it.
BOSTON YANKS MEET PACKERS IN MILWAUKEE
APR 30 (Boston) - The Boston Yanks have scheduled two exhibitions prior to the opening of the NFL season. They will play the Green Bay Packers in Milwaukee Sunday, September 14, and the Chicago Cardinals in a night game in the Cotton bowl at Dallas, September 19.
JANKOWSKI GETS WHITEFISH BAY POST
MAY 1 (Milwaukee) - C.L. Mullen, superintendent of schools in suburban Whitefish Bay, announced Wednesday that Eddie Jankowski, former University of Wisconsin and Green Bay Packer fullback, had been appointed head football coach at Whitefish Bay High school. Jankowski gained all-Big Ten honors at Wisconsin in 1936 and came to the Packers in 1937. He played with Green Bay five years before entering the Navy in 1942. With the Navy, he played under Bernie Bierman with the Iowa Seahawks.
PACKER BACK DID 120 HIGHS IN 14 FLAT
MAY 2 (Green Bay) - Ralph Drum, the Green Bay Packers' freshman halfback, must be a fast customer. The Oklahoma A. & M. flash once ran the 120-yard high hurdles in 14 seconds flat and clipped the distance in 14.2 in the Drake, Penn, and Texas relays in 1944 and 1945. His 14.2 tied the mark set by Fred Wolcott of Rice in 1938. In the Drake event last week, Harrison Dillard, the Negro, ran the event in 14.1. Tate's best distance in the broad jump is 24 feet, 11 inches. Though the Packers don't "play" track, speed afoot had been known to come in handy on the gridiron. Incidentally, Tate gave up a crack at the 1948 Olympics to play pro football.
BO MOLENDA IS SIGNED AS AIDE TO LAMBEAU
MAY 3 (Green Bay) - Bo Molenda, fullback star on Green Bay's first three world championship teams and coach of the powerful San Diego Naval Base service eleven, was added to the Packer coaching staff today as backfield assistant to Curly Lambeau. Molenda's return to Green Bay, where he helped win titles in 1929, 1930 and 1931, gives Lambeau three assistants, all former Packer stars. The others are Don Hutson and Walter Kiesling, who have been members of the staff for the last two seasons. Varsity fullback on Michigan's Big Ten championship teams in 1925 and 1926, Molenda broke into professional football in 1927 as a member of Red Grange's New York Yankees. When the Yankee bubble burst in midseason of 1928, Molenda joined the Packers...SOLD TO GIANTS: He remained here through the 1931 season, then was sold to the New York Giants, for whom he played until he was named assistant to Coach Steve Owen in 1936. As a Giant player he participated in two playoffs, 1933 and 1934, carrying the brunt of the Giants' victorious offense in the famous gum-shoe game against the Chicago Bears in 1934. Leaving the Giants in 1941 to become end coach at Lafayette, he enlisted in the Navy as a chief petty officer early in 1942 and was discharged as a full lieutenant after 45 month's service, during which he took part in the Hollandia and Leyte invasions in the Pacific. In 1943 he was given an eleventh hour assignment to whip the San Diego eleven into shape. Using the Packers' offense in which he had starred, his team defeated eight opponents, including Southern California and UCLA, before it ran into the famous March Field club led by Indian Jack Jacobs, the triple-threat star recently signed by the Packers...UMPIRED IN ASSOCIATION: Jacobs had one of his typical field days and handed Molenda's team its only defeat of the season. Molenda, who spent four summers before the war umpiring in the American Association and International league, will report to the Packers' camp at Rockwood lodge on Aug. 1. At present he resides in California. Bo was a member of the famous 60-minute Packer team that won 12 games, lost none and tied one in 1929...PACKER QUIPS: Molenda is considered a student of offensive football and in his later years with the Giants directed the squad from the fullback position. He is most familiar with the Packers' V-formation since the Bays used that quick-opening formation in their triple threat days and he installed that setup on his San Diego squad. The Packers are searching for an insignia to be used as an identifying seal on stationery and uniforms. The water Green Bay players drink at Rockwood lodge, their bayside home and headquarters, is pumped from a well sunk 1,500 feet below the surface through a shelf of solid rock several hundred feet in depth.
PITTSBURGH, PACKERS IN EXHIBITION ON AUG. 29
MAY 13 (Green Bay) - The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers will play a night exhibition game at Forbes Field Aug. 29, three weeks ahead of the opening of the NFL season, the Pittsburgh club announced today. The game will be sponsored by the Dapper Dan club of Pittsburgh, with proceeds to be used for Greek relief. The Steelers haven't won any of their 12 games with the Packers. The Packer-Pittsburgh test is the fourth exhibition game arranged by the Green Bay club thus far and fattens the 1947 program to 14 games, with two dates still open.
CLEANING THE CUFF
MAY 13 (Green Bay) - Surgeons at Rochester, Minn., have traced the injury that kept Bruce Smith on the Green Bay Packers' bench most of last season to a callous formation on a bone and have fixed Bruce up so he can really run next fall.
SMITH, WILDUNG SIGN '47 PACKER CONTRACTS
MAY 15 (Green Bay) - "The doctors say I'm perfect - I've worked out and felt no pain and I feel I'm finally ready again to play the kind of football expected of me - So here is my signed contract." The author of that quote was Bruce Smith, the former Minnesota All-America halfback, who today became the 18th Packers to officially arrange for 1947 action. The Packers also announced today the signing of Dick Wildung, All-American tackle at Minnesota in 1941 and 1942, to his second Green Bay contract, giving the Packers a pair of All-American tackles at the guards. Monte Moncrief, a unanimous All-American tackle choice at Texas A. and M. in 1945, was signed previously to play guard. Moncrief will be making his major league debut with the Packers. Wildung, six feet and 220 pounds, was switched over to guard last season and toward the end of the season was considered the outstanding rookie lineman in the National league, rating over such highly publicized stars as DeWitt Coulter and Jack White of New York. To add to the seriousness of his intentions, Smith mailed his contract special delivery and the envelope contents included a report from Mayo brothers surgeons at Rochester, Minn. Coach Curly Lambeau is hoping Smith can pull a "Ted Fritsch". Fullback Theodore marched into the Mayo clinic a year ago and came out minus his appendix. Last fall, Ted was in such fine mettle that he scored 100 points and gained the fullback spot on every all-pro team in these 48 states. His tummy troubles had been handicappping his "wind". Smith entered the clinic about two months ago and specialists discovered a callous on the hop bone which shortened adductor tendons and produced painful muscle strains. The callous was removed and muscle lesions severed. Smith is definitely optimistic about 1947, as indicated in Paragraph 1. What's more, Bruce, as honest as the day is long, feels that he didn't play the type of ball in 1945 and 1946 that he is capable of playing. Smith, a sporting goods merchant in Northfield, Minn., came down with the groin injury late in the training season last fall and made only periodic appearances in six of the Packers' 11 league games. He starred defensively against the Bears at Green Bay and was outstanding offensively on brief appearances against Los Angeles, both at Milwaukee and on the coast. But his inability to play regularly weakened the Packers' offense, leaving it without a breakaway threat. Despite his injury, Smith gained 119 yards in 22 attempts last year, averaging 5.4 yards per attempt. He broke away for 36 yards through the Rams at Milwaukee and went to the five-yard line before his leg tightened up and Clarence Gehrke was able to drag him down from behind. A star in the East-West game at San Francisco on Jan. 1, 1941, and in the following summer at the Chicago All-Star game, Smith led the Great Lakes Naval Training Station eleven in 1942 and 1943. He joined the Packers late in 1945 after his discharge from the Naval Air corps with the rank of Ensign. In good shape and teaming with Fritsch, Indian Jack Jacobs and any one of three outstanding wingbacks, Smith will make the Packer backfield one of the most feared in football, on the ground and in the air.
PACKERS COMPLETE 16-GAME SCHEDULE, PLAN SEASON DUCAT SALE
MAY 20 (Green Bay) - This spring day marks the opening of the Green Bay Packers' annual season ticket sale and announcement of the most elaborate schedule in their 27 years of existence. The 1947 card, 16 contests strong, has been completed with inclusion of championship games in Chicago Bear and Philadelphia Eagle territories on Nov. 9 and Dec. 14, respectively. The big deal, as far as Green Bay fans are concerned is just this: The Bays will play four games at City stadium - one exhibition and three league - and the same number and brand at State Fair park in Milwaukee. This gives Green Bay and Wisconsin backers, in general, an opportunity to witness the Packers against ever major league team, except the Eagles. What's more, this terrific card will be completed before the snow stacks up, as they say hereabouts, Nov. 2 being the date of the last tilt. Green Bay's efforts toward the world's title will include six straight games on Wisconsin soil and the next six in other league bailiwicks. Before playing these dozen battles, the Packers will engage in four exhibitions, one each in Milwaukee (Boston Yanks), Green Bay (Giants), Pittsburgh, and Baltimore (Washington). Let's take a trip down Coach Lambeau's rocky path: Steve Owen's Giants, line coached by Red Smith, incidentally, will visit Green Bay August 23 for a benefit battle sponsored by the Sullivan-Wallen American Legion Post No. 11. Then the Packers move out to Pittsburgh for a Greek relief encounter, under the auspices of the Dapper Dan club. After a Sunday off, Green Bay tests Boston in Milwaukee Sept. 14, and a week later, the Packers invade Baltimore to meet Washington in the Variety Club's annual promotion in which the Packers have made two previous appearances. After the exhibitions the Bays should be fairly well used to their new V-formation. Used to it or not, they tangle with the T-formed Bears here in the league opener Sept. 28. Then they jump back and forth between Milwaukee and Green Bay like this: Oct. 5, Los Angeles in Milwaukee; Oct. 12, Chicago Cardinals in Green Bay; Oct. 19, Washington in Milwaukee; Oct. 26, Detroit at Green Bay; Nov. 2, Pittsburgh at Milwaukee. After Nov. 2, Green Bay fans will have to consult the newspaper for minute details of the Packers for the next six Sundays (and there could be a seventh) on the road as follows: Nov. 9 at Bears; Nov. 16 at Cardinals; Nov. 23 at New York; Nov. 30 at Los Angeles; Dec. 7 at Detroit; Dec. 14, Philadelphia. The season ticket story goes like this, although the entire business is told in the City stadium chart and price list with this story: Season tickets for the four games in Milwaukee and those at Green Bay are being sold in separate sets. Unsolicited orders placed before the sale opened today gives Packer officials hopes of setting new records for season tickets at both Green Bay and Milwaukee. In accordance with established Packer practice, the season tickets are being sold in six ranges ($18, $13.80, $11.40, $9, $6.60 and $4.80) for each set of four games. Orders for individual games will not be filled until after the close of the season ticket sale and no tickets will be allocated for any individual game until two weeks before each contest. This policy is necessary, it was explained, in view of the demand for season tickets.
ED NEAL JOINS PACKERS
MAY 22 (Green Bay) - Ed Neal, the 290-pound Texas blacksmith who can take an alarm clock apart and put it together blindfolded, has accepted his third Green Bay Packer contract. The giant, who bulwarked the club's superb defense in 1946, joins sophomore Dick Wildung and freshman Monte Moncrief of Texas A. and M., on the roster of guards. Oddly enough, these three guards played different positions in college ball. Wildung was an all-American tackle at Minnesota and Moncrief played three years of tackles. Neal served as a fullback and tackle at Louisiana State, Tulane and Ouashita college in Arkadelphia, Ark. Coach Curly Lambeau switched Neal to utilize his terrific charge against T-formation clubs. Neal, who is part Irish and part Cherokee Indian, is the 20th Packer to be signed for 1947. Ed's history is long and interesting, but the most spectacular phase took place in 1946 when the Laughing Boy delighted in creating fumbles. His greatest compliment came from Bulldog Turner, the stylish Chicago Bear center, who called Neal the "toughest man I ever played against." Turner made that statement after Neal, despite an injured leg, gave Bulldog a terrific going-over in the Bear-Packer classic in Chicago last November. His performance made it impossible for the Bears to open a hole two feet on either side of the center. It was in Philly last fall that Lambeau realized Neal's amazing power. Ed personally led the Packers to their first league victory by knocking Philadelphia Eagle center Vic Lindskog into quarterbacks Roy Zimmerman and Al Sherman on three successive plays. Each time the quarterback fell under his own center for a five-yard loss, the last one winding up over the goal line for a safety. Against the Cardinals in Chicago, Neal reached his peak and added more grey hairs to Jimmy Conzelman's crop. The big center bumped Steve Banonis so much that Paul Christman fumbled five times. This fumbleitis so upset the Cardinals that the Packers did not have any trouble winning, 19-7. The elements were with the Cardinals in the second game in Green Bay Nov. 24. The field was buttery from a steady rain and Neal didn't get a chance to dig in for his charge. The result was that Christman fumbled not once and got off a lot of passes that helped the Cards to a 24-6 win.
NOLAN LUHN 21ST PACKER TO SIGN
MAY 24 (Green Bay) - Nolan Luhn, generally regarded as the most underrated end in major league football, will try to change that rating next fall when he'll return for his third season with the Green Bay Packers. Luhn today became the 21st player to sign a Packer contract. He's the first of the veteran ends to come to terms. The other wings under contract are Bob Skoglund of Notre Dame, Gene Wilson, star of the East-West game and captain of the Southern Methodist eleven in 1946, and Joe Graham, a giant from the University of Florida. Among the holdover ends from last year still unsigned are Clyde Goodnight, Luhn's mate at Tulsa university, and Don Wells, the Georgia whitehead. Goodnight played left end - the position vacated by the immortal Don Hutson, while Wells paired with Luhn at right end. Wilson, built along the lines of Hutson, probably will work left end. Six feet three and 200 pounds, Luhn came to the Packers in 1945 with a brilliant offensive record. Late in this first season he began to develop defensively and last year rated with Larry Craig as the club's leading wing defender. Offensively, however, Luhn had an admirable record. He tied with Goodnight for the lead among Packer pass receivers with 16 receptions good for 224 yards and two touchdowns. His average gain was 16 yards and the longest was 36. A native of Kinney, Tex., Luhn spends the offseason as an engineer in the oil fields and plays basketball, at which he earned five varsity letters in college. The present four ends, plus two or three more veterans, are expected to give the Packers the balanced strength lacking at the ends at time last year.
SCHLINKMAN IS IN PACKER FOLD
MAY 25 (Green Bay) - The 1947 Green Bay Packer picture reached a focus point today that revealed a fair country starting team, with a one-two punch. The contracts numbered 22 this morning with receipt of signed papers from Walt Schlinkman, the dynamic fullback from Texas Tech. This figure represents two-third of the number of players the Packers will be allowed to hustle around, officially, during the National league campaign. Schlinkman, the former Texas Tech sprinter who finished eighth among National league ground gainers as a rookie last year, captained the TT eleven in 1944 and 1945. With the Packers he gained 379 yards in 97 attempts in his freshman year, averaging 3.9 yards per attempt while relieving Ted Fritsch. Signing of Schlinkman gives the Packers four fleet fullbacks, Fritsch, the league scoring champion in 1946, and two rookies, Ed Cody of Purdue and Bob McDougal from the University of Miami in Florida. The present 22 players give Coach Curly Lambeau a fair sample of what to expect in 1947. Starting in the middle, Lambeau has experience returning at center in the form of Charley Brock, field captain. At the guards, veterans Ed Neal and Dick Wildung already have consented. Working with Neal and Wildung on this imaginary squad is Monte Moncrief, the promising roughneck from Texas A. and M. Paul
Lipscomb is the only veteran tackle signed thus far but this situation may be corrected soon with more vets. The rookie tackles are Bill McPartland and Fred Nielson, both of St. Mary (Cal.). The end picture is much the same with one veteran, Nolan Luhn, and three freshmen under contract, Bob Skoglund of Notre Dame, Gene Wilson, Southern Methodist, and Joe Graham. The backfield story is fairly flashy although the position of several of the men may be changed from last year. The reason, of course, is that Lambeau will install the V-formation next fall. The V is practically the same setup used in the triple championship days of Red Dunn. Veteran Packer backs under contract include Tony Canadeo, Irv Comp and Bruce Smith besides Fritsch and Schlinkman. Pro veterans joining "us" next fall are Indian Jack Jacobs and Ward Cuff, obtained from Washington and the Chicago Cardinals, respectively. Newcomers are Ralph Tate, Oklahoma A. and M., Ralph Grant, Bucknell, and Cody and McDougal. Fritsch and Schlinkman are expected to give the Packers the necessary one-two punch that helped Green Bay to nearly half of its ground yardage last season. They totaled 823 yards - mostly on power drives inside the tackles. Anyhow, that's the story to date. Opening practice may be a little more than two months away, but within another month the Packers may swell to 35 or 40 players. Lambeau plans to have 40 or 45 out for the opening drill.
PACKERS TO BE THREE DEEP IN EACH POSITION
MAY 29 (Green Bay) - Monsieur Earl Louis (Curly) Lambeau arrived from sunny California the other day and found Green Bay in the depths of of football weather. So, the Packer football coach was in the mood to paint a picture of the 1947 season, which, incidentally, isn't far off. Practice will start at Rockwood lodge two months from next Wednesday - on Aug. 4. Discovering 22 signed contracts on his desk, Lambeau decided that it would be reasonable and safe to announce that "we'll be three deep in every position come training time. Right now, we're almost three deep with a lot of contracts coming in soon." A bit optimistic but not over-boardish, Lambeau thinks "we'll have a good team next year." His particular reason for reporting such is that one of the faces in the picture is particularly clear and in focus. It belongs to Indian Jack Jacobs. "I've heard nothing but good reports about that boy's playing ability," Lambeau mused, "and the best came from Paul Schissler of the Los Angeles Rams." Lambeau ran into Schissler while watching UCLA complete its spring training. "Paul says Jacobs will be one of the greatest pro backs in the country if he gets a chance to play," Lambeau repeated. Schissler, said Lambeau , feels that Jacobs was "pushing around ever since he left Oklahoma and never got an opportunity to show his ability as a passer." For instance, in one game with Washington last year, Jacobs was forced to play every backfield position, including three in one game. The Packer coach isn't making any bones about this: "Jacobs will get a chance to play." And that includes passing, running and punting from the quarterback slot...Though Larry Craig and Ken (Red) Keuper, quarterbacks in the old system, have not signed, Lambeau reported that - "if they sign" - they will be at new positions. Craig will be at left end offensively and defensively while Keuper will operate at right half. Craig, who generally signs his contract the day before practice starts, had been Lambeau's chief blocking quarterback for the last eight years but, with installation of the new quick-opening formation, Craig's blocking duties will be utilized at end where he starred in college and on defense with the Packers during the Don Hutson era. Seeing Keuper carry the ball will be a new experience for Packer fans since Roughie Red had
This January 23, 1947, file photo shows Chicago Bears owner George Halas, left, and Green Bay Packers coach Curley Lambeau, at a meeting in Chicago.
This sterling example of late-1940 Packers letterhead. It was sent on June 1, 1947 to returning players — this particular copy went to defensive tackle Ed Neal — along with the team's playbook. In the purple ink of a hand-cranked mimeograph machine, head coach Curly Lambeau gives a quick overview of the playbook and invokes secrecy: BY ALL MEANS DO NOT BE CARELESS IN HANDLING PLAYS. THEY ARE FOR YOUR EYES ONLY. TREAT ALL ADVANCE INFORMATION WITH CONFIDENCE. The sheet's graphics are bold and clear, six decades later. The top of the letterhead features an unusual wordmark in the team's proud gold and blue. (Source: The Wearing of the Green (and Gold))
NFL owners and coaches meet with Bert Bell, seated at center, league commissioner, July 20, 1947 in Pittsburgh. (Left to right, seated): Art Rooney, Pittsburgh Steelers; Tim Mara, New York Giants; Bell; Curly Lambeau, Green Bay Packers; Fred Mandel, Jr., Detroit Lions. Standing: Dan Reeves, Los Angeles Rams; Walter Halas, Chicago Bears; Jack Mara, New York Giants; Roy Benningsen, Chicago Cardinals; George Marshall, Washington Redskins; Al Ennis, Philadelphia Eagles; Ralph Brizzolara, Chicago Bears. (AP Photo/Daniel P. Jacino)
confined his activities strictly to blocking and backing up the line on defense. Under Lambeau's new system, referred to as the V-formation (that from which the T grew), the quarterback will pass, run and kick. If your memory is rusty, it can be stated that such fellows as Sid Luckman and Bob Waterfield are quarterbacks. From the business end of Lambeau's desk, it was learned that a total of 511 orders have been received for season tickets - the exhibition with the N.Y. Giants Aug. 23 and the three league games with the Bears Sept. 28, Cardinals Oct. 12 and Detroit Oct. 26. Most amazing is the fact that those 511 orders are "new ones". This means that regular holders of season tickets should return their applications as soon as possible to prevent any disappointment during the usual last minute rush for season ducats.
ODSON IS 23RD PACKER SIGNED
JUN 2 (Green Bay) - Signing of tackle Urban Odson to his second Green Bay Packer V.T.B.T. (veteran tackle beef trust) up to an even 500 pounds. Odson, who scales 265 pounds, hereby joins the other tackle vet, Paul Lipscomb, who signed last March 22. Lipscomb weighs 235. Odson and Lipscomb play at opposite sides of the line, Odson at left tackle and Lippy at right. A slow starter as a rookie last year, Odson "arrived" about mid-season and Coach Curly Lambeau expects him to be one of the outstanding linemen in the National league next fall. A general store proprietor from Raymond, S.D., and former All-American tackle at the University of Minnesota, Odson is the 23rd player to join the Packers for 1947. Odson, a line officer who saw three and a half years service in the Pacific, joined the Packers shortly after being discharged by the Navy last fall. Having been away from football since he starred on the Great Lakes eleven in 1942, Urban found it difficult to regain his old form at the start. Lambeau is counting on Odson for 1947 - especially on defense where his six feet, four inches and tremendous strength make him a bulwark against any type of ground attack. Odson, who is 28 years of age, was the Packers' first choice in the 1941 major league draft. Lipscomb and Odson are the only veteran tackles under contract, although two rookies have been signed. They are Bill McPartland and Fred Nielson, both of St. Mary (Calif.).
BOB FORTE TO RETURN
JUN 5 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packer office in the Northern building received two letters today. One contained the signed contract of Robert (Bob) Forte, the dark-skinned halfback from Arkansas. The other held a letter from the nation's top collegiate football coach, Bob Leahy of Notre Dame, who requested two tickets for the Chicago Bear-Packer classic in City stadium Sept. 28. Leahy said he will be accompanied by Wally Butts, the Georgia coach. Described by Coach Curly Lambeau as the best rounded rookie in the National league last year, Forte is the 24th Packer signed for the coming season. Forte, a former University of Arkansas star and tank commander under Gen. Patton in the Rhineland, Central Europe and the Ardennes Forest campaigns, will be used at right half where his chief rivals for a first team berth will be the veteran Ward Cuff and rookie Ralph Tate, the Oklahoma A. and M. sprint and hurdle champion. Six feet and 190 pounds, Forte came to the Packers last fall with a reputation as a rough and rugged tailback. Illness (a tonsillectomy) handicapped his progress during the early part of the year, but flashes of form during the latter part of the training season led Lambeau to retain him when it came time to cut the squad. Forte substantiated the coach's judgment by starring in the Packers' first league game after his complete recovery, the 19-7 triumph over Philadelphia. He went on from there to average 4.3 yards on 17 ball carrying attempts, completed three out of seven passes, one for a touchdown, received two passes and intercepted two. His greatest value to the Packers, however, lay in his defensive skill. At present he is enrolled at Arkansas, where he is completing a physical education course interrupted by three years in the Army. He is 25 years old....The visit of Leahy and Butts to Green Bay probably is being made for "technical" reasons. A couple of students of the game, Leahy and Butts, are reportedly interested in watching Lambeau's V-formation, the setup from which the T originated. Both Leahy and Butts use the Bear style T-formation. Leahy each year places his backs in the hands of Bear quarterback expert, Sid Luckman. Butts, incidentally, had the pleasure of coaching the talented Chicago Cardinal, Charlie Trippi, at Georgia the last three years.
CLIFF ABERSON 25TH PACKER TO SIGN CONTRACT
JUN 7 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers relaxed today with the arrival of a contract signed by Cliff Aberson. Versatile Cliff reportedly has been eyeing a baseball career since he's been hitting like a DiMaggio with the Chicago Cubs' Des Moines, Ia., farm. Aberson, who dented Joannes park fences as a member of the Janesville Cubs in 1941, is the 26th Packer to sign and the 12th back under contract. Des Moines, incidentally, is leading the Western league largely on the strength of Aberson's home run. His 10th circuit clout a few days ago broke up a tie, coming with two men on. Currently, he is hitting .292. Signing with the Packers means that Aberson will leave Des Moines at the end of July to report for the Packers' opening practice Aug. 3. A six-foot, one-inch combat infantryman, Aberson joined the Packers without collegiate experience last fall after 41 months in service, during which he played on the Kessler Field and 18th Army Infantry eleven with unsigned former Packer Herman Rohrig. He appeared in eight games at left halfback but will be shifted to quarterback in 1947 where Coach Curly Lambeau expects him to develop in a season or two into one of the National league's outstanding forward passers. Lambeau is convinced that Abe's best game is football in which he possesses everything except big time experience. His rivals for the Packers' first string quarterback assignment will be Jack Jacobs, the Indian triple-threat star purchased from Washington, and Ralph Grant, a 212-pound rookie from Bucknell. Aberson is one of the few players who made the National league without college experience. However, the "training" he received in service grid ranks was a mixture of pro and college since he played with and against college and pro stars. A native of Chicago, Aberson is an expert at another game - golf. He served as a pro at a Chicago course for one year, and shoots regularly in the low 70's. Other backs under contract include Bob Forte, Tony Canadeo, Irv Comp, Ted Fritsch, Walt Schlinkman, Ward Cuff, obtained from the Cardinals; Jacobs; obtained from Washington in a trade; and rookies Grant, Ralph Tate, Oklahoma A. and M., Ed Cody, Purdue, and Bob McDougal, Miami (Fla.). Among the regular backs still unsigned are the two former blocking quarterbacks - Larry Craig and Ken (Red) Keuper. Craig, who will be shifted to left end, generally signs on the first day of practice while Keuper is reportedly interested in returning. Keuper will move to right half.
POTENTIAL PACKER ALL-STARS ASKED TO REPORT AUG. 1
JUN 9 (Green Bay) - Coach Curly Lambeau today ordered all Green Bay Packer centers, backs and rookies with a chance of being invited to the Chicago All-Star game to report for practice on August 1. The remainder of the Packers' 1947 squad will assemble at Rockwood Lodge, the club's headquarters and training base, on August 4. Between 40 and 45 men are expected to answer the two calls. Packer rookies eligible for the Chicago All-Star game include Ed Cody of Purdue and Ralph Tate of Oklahoma A. and M., both backs; Monte Moncrief of Texas A. and M., William McPartland of St. Mary's, and Baxter Jarrell of North Carolina, all tackles, although Moncrief will play guard for the Packers and ends Bob Skoglund of Notre Dame and Gene Wilson of Southern Methodist.
PACKERS TRADE PREGULMAN TO DETROIT FOR DAMON TASSOS, 5TH DRAFT CHOICE
JUN 12 (Green Bay) - The one player "I don't want to lose" today became the property of the Green Bay Packers. he is Damon Tassos, regular right guard for the Detroit Lions in 1945 and 1946, and the guy who didn't want to lose him is Gus Dorais, coach of the Lions. Tassos came to the Packers in a trade for Merv Pregulman, ex-Michigan star who expressed a desire to remain closer to home - East Lansing, where he and his father are in the furniture business. In addition, the Packers will receive Detroit's first choice in the National league player draft next December. Packer Coach Curly Lambeau negotiated the trade with Fred Mandel, Detroit Lion owner, who had a special eye for Pregulman. However, Dorais, a keen judge of talent, hadn't heard of the trade until the contracts were switched via the NFL office. Dorais immediately telephoned the Packer office and remarked in part: "Tassos is one player I didn't want Mandel to trade." Gus was of the opinion that Mandel wanted Pregulman principally because of his drawing power in Detroit. The husky Jewish star captained Michigan and gained All-America honors in 1945. Known as "The Greek", Tassos is one of the four top linemen turned out at Texas A. and M. The others are Ernie Pannell, former Packer tackle; Marshall Robnett, Chicago Cardinal guard of 1939; and Monte Moncrief, new Packer guard and a former teammate of Tassos. In fact., Moncrief succeeded Tassos as Aggie captain in 1945 and 1946. The two were buddies at Texas A. and M. and Lambeau feels that they'll be making a rugged combination, although they'll be battling for the regular right guard assignments. Both were All-Americans. Twenty-three years old and a native of San Antonio, where he is a restaurant proprietor, Tassos came to the Packers' attention in four appearances against them in the last two years. The Greek stands 6-1 and weighs 225 pounds. He starred for the Aggies in the 1943 Orange Bowl game and was a member of the Chicago All-Star squad in 1945. He won track letters at Texas A. and M. in 1944 and 1945 as a weight man. The 26th Packer under contract, Tassos is the second newcomer obtained via the barter method. The other is Indian Jack Jacobs who came to Green Bay from Washington in exchange for halfback Bob Nussbaumer, who, incidentally, came with Pregulman from Michigan last year. Mandel's program of moving the University of Michigan into Briggs Stadium widened late this morning with word from Detroit that Paul White, Michigan halfback last year, has been signed to a Lion contract. In addition, two other Michigan stars, fullback Bob Westfall and end John Greene, had accepted terms for their fourth pro seasons. Another Michigan ace, tackle Bob Derleth, had previously signed a Lion contract. Dorais announced that he will alternate Pregulman at center with the veteran Frank Szymanski. Pregulman played center at Michigan but was converted to a guard in Green Bay.
PACKERS IGNORE TIP ON 'GRID STAR'
JUN 13 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers had a tip on a prospect at a small western college, but didn't do anything about him after they received this letter from his coach: "We had a good back...who flunked out. Weight 165 pounds. Best broken field runner and punter in the district. He was in Army and rejected. He has a bad knee and a twisted vertebrae in neck. He is tough, but has only played three games for me. He could be a whiz but for his handicaps. He gets knocked out so much. He scored 230 points one year in high school. He doesn't train good. He is 9-9 on hundred with a fast start. He can run through a crack, and hit hard, but when he gets hit just right on the head he goes into a spasm. This happened every game. Twice he was OK in about 10 minutes and went in again. He can't block." The Packer management said the club probably could play its National League schedule without the prospect.
BUD GATEWOOD 27TH PACKER TO SIGN PACT
JUN 14 (Green Bay) - Lester B. (Buddy) Gatewood today became the 27th Green Bay Packer to sign his 1947 contract. The lanky Texan is the second center to agree to terms, the other being Charley Brock, who holds the grade of captain. The third veteran center, Bob Flowers, has yet to sign. Gatewood didn't wait long last season to tamp himself as a hot prospect. After the first three games, Gatewood became the No. 1 relief man to Brock who carried the bulk of the load. Coach Curly Lambeau figures he's set at the center of the line, with Flowers expected to sign shortly. All three of the centers are versatile in that they can be used on offense or defense. Former Baylor, Tulane and service star, Gatewood was one of the most sought after players in the 1942 draft. He was taken early by the Packers ahead of the Chicago Bears and New York Giants, but entered the Navy before he had an opportunity to report. In the Navy, Gatewood starred on the great Bainbridge eleven of 1944 and the next season played on the championship Fleet City club. Gatewood turned 26 last May 30, and is of Irish-English descent. He graduated from Baylor before reporting to the Packers last fall, receiving a B.A. degree in business administration. He won all-Southwestern conference rating in 1942 and captained Tulane in 1943. With nearly 30 players already under contract, the Packers have only 10 or 12 more to go before being at full strength for opening of practice at Rockwood Lodge Aug. 4.
CROFT, KEUPER ARE 28TH, 29TH PACKERS TO SIGN
JUN 17 (Green Bay) - Kenneth (Red) Keuper, the man who put Frankie Sinkwich on the map and knocked Lee Artoe out of the NFL, and Milburn (Tiny) Croft, the second largest gentleman in professional football, today became the 28th and 29th Green Bay Packers under contract for 1947 duty. Registration of these two put Coach Curly Lambeau within 15 players of his 1947 strength - the sum total of which will gather at Rockwood Lodge Aug. 4, just about six weeks away. Keuper is the 14th back to sign and Croft is the fifth tackle, joining veterans Paul Lipscomb and Urban Odson and rookies Red Nielsen and Bill McPartland, both of St. Mary (Calif.). At present, Croft is the largest gent in the game since he's packing slightly over 300 pounds, but for playing purposes Tiny sweats down to a mere 285. Ed Neal, a signed Packer guard, is the heaviest man in the game, 287 pounds. Croft started his pro career with the Washington Redskins who placed him 18th on their draft list in the spring of 1941. After three exhibitions in 1942, the Washingtons traded him to Green Bay where Tiny has made his home. The giant tackle had has a number of "hot" Sundays, particularly against the Chicago Bears and has a delightful habit of coming up with fumbles at the right time. In the Bear game in Chicago last fall, Croft pulled a steal deep in Bear territory to set up the Packers only touchdown in their 10-7 loss...STARTED AT ALABAMA: Tiny started his collegiate career at Alabama in 1938 but later moved to Ripon college where he made the Midwest Conference team in 1940 and 1941. Born Nov. 7, 1920 in Chicago, Croft played prep ball at Steinmetz High. Keuper had no intentions of playing pro ball when he left Georgia. The Red Head signed as an assistant coach and chief scout at Georgia, and, oddly enough, picked the Wisconsin territory for his looking-around area. While watching East and West High teams perform in 1944, someone talked of professional football and eventually a contract. In 1945, Keuper made his debut and proved a valuable blocker with veteran Larry Craig. Though the details are too bloody to mention, Keuper reportedly was the gent who "took care" of Artoe, the terrible Chicago Bear tackle, in a game in Chicago in 1945. Artoe had been giving every team in the the league terrific trouble until he ran into the Red Head. Artoe moved out of the league and into the All-America conference last season. An all-southeastern back in 1942, Keuper played in the Orange Bowl in 1942; in the Rose Bowl in 1943; in the North-South game in 1944; and the College All-Star game in 1944. He prepped at Waukesha High where he won letters in football, basketball and track.
NATIONAL LEAGUE MOGULS TO MEET WITH BELL JULY 20
JUN 19 (Philadelphia) - Bert Bell, commissioner of the NFL, announced Wednesday he will hold an important meeting with league club owners in Pittsburgh July 20. Bell said the owners will discuss a draft of the 1948 schedule drawn up by the commissioner's office and a five-year cycle plan for schedule-making. Deals with minor league teams, major-minor league club agreements, and the question of signing players still eligible for college ball will also be discussed.
PACKERS RECALL 250 POUND TACKLE
JUN 21 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers have recalled Wilder Collins, a 250 pound tackle, from the San Diego Bombers of the Pacific Coast Professional Football league. Collins trained with the Packers last summer, but was sent to San Diego for seasoning. He is a former Tulsa university star and the Packers' sixth choice in the 1944 draft.
GOODNIGHT IS PACKER NO. 31
JUN 24 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles, all of whom meet on the NFL battlefield next fall, today came out with fancy contract announcements. Clyde (Nip) Goodnight, who had the toughest assignment in the professional game in 1945 - filling Don Hutson's fleet brogans - became the 31st Packer to sign his 1947 toiling document, according to word from Coach Curly Lambeau. The "Bars" and Eagles produced the inked papers of Clyde (Bulldog) Turner, the six-time All-league center, and Johnny Martin, graceful halfback, respectively. Turner will return for his seventh season and his signature automatically renews his feud with the Packer pivot ace, Charley Brock. Martin played with the Bears, Chicago Cardinals and Boston Yanks before edging into Philly. A student at the University of Tennessee's medical school in Memphis, Goodnight caught 16 aerials for an average of 19.2 yards per and scored one touchdown, although he was handicapped all season by a series of injuries. Anyhow, the figures reveal him as the leading pass receiver for the Packers in 1946. A graduate of Tulsa university, where he captained the football team in 1944, Goodnight played starring roles in four bowl games, participating in the Sugar Bowl twice, the Orange and Sun Bowls. He relieved Hutson in 1945, his first year in the major circuit, and was being groomed to take over for Hutson last year when he suffered a muscle injury in the hip a week before the first Chicago Bear game. The Packers' end situation, however, prevented Goodnight from receiving the rest necessary and led to recurrences of the injury throughout the fall. The big end held off signing his contract until he was certain the injury had healed completely, but now reports he is ready to resume the Packers' regular left end. Return of Goodnight, who is six feet one and 195 pounds, brings together the so-called Tulsa Twins, the other "T" being Nolan Luhn, who worked opposite Clyde at Tulsa. They joined the Packers together in 1945...Most every coach in the league figured Detroit was woefully weak at tackle last season, and this fact has been confirmed thus far in 1947. Of the 50 Lions signed, 14 are tackles. The Boston Yanks have 39 under contract while Washington has 51. Lambeau, who started 1946 training with nearly 60 athletes, has decided on a smaller squad for next fall. He'll have about 42 players out at Rockwood come Aug. 4.
LIPSCOMB OVERWEIGHT, KEUPER PUTS HIM TO WORK IN GEORGIA
JUN 24 (Green Bay) - Walt Kiesling, the big Packer line coach who doesn't seem to worry about anybody or anything, produced a slight wrinkle in the Packer Northern Building headquarters Wednesday. George Strickler, aide to Coach Curly Lambeau, was thumbing through the mail when he spied a letter from Ken Keuper, now stationed in Augusta, Ga., with Mrs. K, and the youngster. "Holy smokes," roared George to Walt, "listen to this." "Lipscomb drove up the other day and I put him to work; Lippy's weight has gone up to 270 so I guess he needs the work." quoted Strickler. Kiesling was aghast. One of his ace tackle was 25 pounds over his playing weight. Said Walt: "Write Lipscomb a letter right away and tell him to take off the extra weight; he must be eating like a horse." Keuper, a stickler for training, probably boiled 10 pounds off Lippy in that one workout because next fall the Sunday will come when Red's success in reaching the opponent's goal line will depend on Lipscomb's ability in that line. Incidentally, Kiesling drive in with the Missus for a couple of days from Minneapolis. Actually, Kies has only one month of vacation left since he'll be back here the last week in July. Or would you call it a vacation; that stack of mail also included a letter from Lambeau which contained a flock of play diagrams...On the gridiron subject, here's a bit of plug for that Legion-sponsored Packer-New York Giant exhibition in City stadium Saturday night, Aug. 23. The Giants recently recalled a Joe named Gordon Paschka from their New Jersey farm club. A 210-pound fullback from the University of Minnesota, Paschka is billed highly in the Big Town. He gained 515 yards in 76 rushes for a 6.7 average and led New Jersey to the American league championship in the playoff with Akron. They say he runs like Ted Fritsch, which, if true, should give the Giants a lot of power at fullback.
TACKLE BAXTER JARRELL JOINS PACKERS FOR '47
JUL 1 (Green Bay) - If weights and uncommon given names mean anything, the Green Bay Packers are blessed with a lot of talent at tackle. The newest addition is Baxter Jarrell, a 240-pound number from the University of North Carolina. In the odd-given-name department, Baxter Jarrell joins Milburn Croft and Urban Odson, a couple of veterans from Ripon college and the University of Minnesota, respectively. Other tackles under contract are rookies Fred (Red) Neilsen and William McPartland, both of St. Mary's of California; and veteran Paul Lipscomb from the University of Tennessee...AVERAGE 244 POUNDS: The six tackles give Coach Curly Lambeau a total of 1,465 pounds to direct. This makes for an average of 244 which tops last year's figure by three pounds. Jarrell never made any All-American teams, but, as Lambeau generally quips, "neither did Fritsch". The newcomer is coming here at the recommendation of Packer players who had seen him play last season, and Lambeau hastened to draft him. Another selling point is this: After Sugar Bowl game last Jan. 1, Georgia coaches admitted privately that they would not have eked out a victory had Jarrell been in the Tarheel lineup. It seems that Baxter stepped in a hole on the practice field and injured an ankle so severely that he was unable to make even a brief appearance. Lambeau had drafted him two weeks before the Sugar Bowl incident. However, word from Jarrell is that his ankle is completely healed. Jarrell is six feet, three and one-half inches tall, and 28 years old. A veteran of five years' service in the Army Air Force, Jarrell attended William and Mary college in Virginia and Southwestern Tech in Weatherford, Okla, before transferring to North Carolina. He is a native of Asheboro, N.C. Lambeau plans to use Jarrell at left tackle, the position he has played at three universities. In addition to football, Jarrell earned varsity letters and amateur championships...Of the 33 players signed thus far, 18 are from southern schools, two hail from California institutions, and the remaining 15 players from colleges in what some folks call Yankee territory. Of the four guard under contract, three starred at tackle in college - Dick Wildung, Minnesota; Ed Neal, Tulane; and Monte Moncrief, Texas A. and M. Jarrell is one of seven players eligible to play in the College All-Star game against the Bears.
MILLER, BAY WING, NAMED GRID COACH
JUL 3 (Easton, PA) - Thomas M. Miller, former end for the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and Green Bay Packers, today was named assistant freshman football coach at Lafayette college. Miller played with the Eagles in 1934-44, the Redskins in 1945 and the Packers last year. He retired from pro football to go to college and plans a coaching career after graduation.
PACKER NOTES
JUL 8 (Wisconsin State Journal) - Cliff Aberson, a fine back with the Green Bay Packers last fall, is said to have decided to concentrate on baseball after a recent meeting with Jack Sheehan, head of the Chicago Cubs farm system. Aberson was to have reported to the Packers on August 3. The Cubs have offered to sign Aberson to a big league contract and bring him up to the Cubs after Aberson finishes the season with Des Moines of the Western League. He has cracked out 20 home runs for Des Moines this year. Richard "Red" Smith, a coach with the Cubs, an assistant coach with the New York Giants pro footballers, and formerly an assistant with the Packers, must feel very badly about robbing his old pal Curly Lambeau of a fine back. That's a joke, son!
PACKERS BOLSTER GUARD POST WITH RALPH DAVIS
JUL 9 (Green Bay) - Guard-conscious Curly Lambeau, the Packer head coach, today forged the third link in the player chain to correct a situation which brought him little pleasure in 1946. He announced the signing of Ralph Davis, a Jefferson, Wis., High school product, who starred with the University of Wisconsin after stretches at Michigan and Pennsylvania during the war as a Navy V-12 assignee. The guard from downstate joins Damon Tassos and Monte Moncrief as a member of a new trio on whom Lambeau will count heavily to bolster the Bays in those positions where, on several occasions last fall, there was a need for improvement. A two-year National league veteran as a member of the Detroit Lions, Tassos is the No. 1 addition to the guard corps, but Lambeau also expects Davis and Moncrief to be outstanding first year performers. Like Tassos, Moncrief, who earned unanimous All-American tackle rating in '46, hails from Texas A. and M...SEVENTH FROM WISCONSIN: Besides the strength he is expected to bring to the guard spot, Davis also increases the Packers' Wisconsin representation. The 25-year old left guard is the seventh native son signed by the Packers, joining Ward Cuff, Irv Comp, Ted Fritsch, Ken Keuper, Tiny Croft and rookie Bob McDougal, the fullback from Florida's Miami university, all of whom prepped in Wisconsin high schools. Ironically enough, he came to the attention of the Packers last year and was scouted by the entire team at Michigan indirectly through Bob Nussbaumer, who is no longer with us, when Bob entertained his Packer colleagues at his alma mater for the Wisconsin game. The Packers, you may recall, were in Detroit at the time to beat the Lions, which they did, 9-0. Although only five feet, eleven and 205 pounds, Davis led the Badgers in a futile fight against Crisler's juggernaut that day. Lambeau, on recommendation of several of his veteran linemen and on what he saw himself, went after Davis as soon as he learned the former Jefferson star would received his degree with the June graduating class. With the signing of Davis, the Packer roster under orders to report to Rockwood Lodge for the opening of training Aug. 4, now numbers 33 men. Six or seven others are being sought by the veteran Packer coach, who expects to take 40 to camp. That number will make up the smallest Packer squad since the beginning of the late war and is another result of football's return to normalcy. During the war it was necessary to take on every candidate who wanted to play, but now that quality players again are plentiful. Lambeau is able to use greater care in selecting his men. The Packer mentor, who never believed in signing anyone whom he was not certain had a good chance to remain with the club, expects Davis to make the NFL grade on ruggedness and speed, although his size normally would count against his selection. Davis, like many others, will continue his education in the offseason. He will return to Wisconsin after the season to study for a master's degree.
CLIFF ABERSON FACES CHOICE OF PACKER OR CUB CONTRACT
JUL 15 (Green Bay) - DOUBLE DILEMMA: 'Tis a hard choice that Cliff Aberson, the Packer passer, faces, and with good reason. At present reading he's spending many an hour pondering for a 1947 Packer contract from Head Coach Curly Lambeau waited only for his signature. But now the picture has taken on a different hue. He's tentatively ticketed for a shot at baseball's big time after a prosperous homer rampage with Des Moines in the Class A Western association which has attracted the attention of the parent Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have indicated that they will take him up at the conclusion of the Western association season, some time in early September, IF he hasn't signed to play pro football. Therein, obviously, lies his probe. The Cubs don't want him for baseball if he returns to the Packers, fearing an injury to his arm or shoulder. Meanwhile, both Packer and Cub officials, Lambeau and General Manager James T. Gallagher of the Bruins, in particular, await his decision, as will, no doubt, thousands of northeastern Wisconsin grid fans who saw him in action at City stadium and in Milwaukee last season. Until this thing came along, Aberson figured prominently in Lambeau's plans. The Packer coach considered the 5-1, 195-pound back ideally suited to the V-formation which he plans to reinstall starting Aug, 1, pointing out that his bullet-like passes off the quick opening V would give the Packers an aerial threat second to none in the National league, Aberson alternating with the new Packer, Indian Jack Jacobs, who came here in a trade for Bob Nussbaumer during the winter. Paradoxically enough, both clubs have vowed that they won't try to influence Aberson in his choice. According to George A. Strickler, Packer assistant general manager, "Mr. Lambeau has decided that he won't say anything to Cliff, and Gallagher, whom I talked with in Chicago over the weekend, won't either. As Gallagher says, "We (the Cubs) feel that in time Cliff may become a very good ball player and command good money in the National league. Yet we know that has the makings of a great football player and within two years could be as good as there is in the game. That's why we're not saying anything to him.' " For the same reasons, in reverse, the Packers will remain neutral. There can be little doubt that Aberson's power could be a tremendous asset to the Cubs, currently languishing in the doldrums of the National league's second division, if he can hit big league pitching. There again we find the finger of fate pointing toward football for although he has hit 20 homers with Des Moines thus far this season, many seasoned baseball men who have seen him in action, don't believe he can do ti. They point out that Aberson, after starting the season with Los Angeles of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, was sent to Tulsa in the Texas League, a Class A loop, and when the competition proved to be too tough there, was later shunted to Des Moines, where he immediately set the league on fire with his slugging. The end of our story, unfortunately, awaits the final chapter.
ABERSON ON HIS WAY TO JOIN CHICUBS
JUL 16 (Green Bay) - Cliff Aberson, freshman star with the Green Bay Packers in 1946 and the Western League's home run king during the current baseball season, is en route to New York to join the Chicago Cubs for an outfield trial either Wednesday or Thursday, it was learned here today. Word of Aberson's purchase by the Cubs came as no surprise to the Packer office here, although the fact that it had come before the end of the Western league season was. They were aware that he was considering a possible big league career with the Cubs, who had stipulated that he would not be able to play pro football. James T. Gallagher, vice president and general manager of the club, told George Strickler, assistant general manager of the Packers, that they wouldn't however attempt to influence his decision. Aberson, who had bulked large in Head Coach Curly Lambeau's plans for the 1947 season, is reported to have told Herman Rohrig, veteran Packer halfback, in a long distance telephone conversation Tuesday that he had chosen baseball because the Cubs had promised to add whatever he would earn in football this season to his baseball salary. Packer officials, although a little taken aback by the suddenness of the affair, said that perhaps it is fortunate Aberson is getting his chance now, for if he doesn't make the major league grade, he can return to the Packer fold before preseason practice is far advanced. Aberson was purchased by the Cubs from Los Angeles. The Angels had optioned the rookie outfielder first to Tulsa of the Texas league and then to Des Moines where in 60 games Aberson batted .300 and hit 20 home runs. He is expected to play in one of Thursday's two games with the New York Giants.
PACKER OFFICIALS TO MEET JULY 25
JUL 17 (Green Bay) - The annual stockholders' meeting of the Green Bay Packers, Inc., will be held in the assembly room of the county courthouse at 8 o'clock Friday night, July 25, President L.H. Joannes announced today. Purpose of the meeting, he said, will be to select a board of directors for the ensuing year. The stockholders will also hear a report from Treasurer Frank J. Jonet.
LAMBEAU INSPECTS ROCKWOOD
JUL 19 (Green Bay) - CHANGES MADE: Not long after he blew in from California, Head Packer Coach Curly Lambeau looked over the new and improved setup at Packer training headquarters at Rockwood Lodge on the Sturgeon Bay road, pronouncing himself in complete approval of the changes made in his absence by George Strickler, assistant general manager. One of the new things he noted was the new bed arrangements. The cots and double deck bunks which were used in 1946, first year under the Rockwood roof, have been eliminated and replaced by standard single and double beds. The doubles, naturally, are for such sizable gentlemen was Tiny Croft, Baby Ray and Ed Neal, all 250-pound plus fellow. The food contracts have been again let to Mal Flagstad, who was chef in charge of the Bays' training table in '46. The big Bay mentor was also happy to see the way the 1947 season ticket sale, which ends Sept. 15, has been going. Indications are that those who rely heavily on being able to secure individual game tickets for the three City stadium contests may be disappointed if the present buying pace continues.
LAMBEAU, 8 OTHERS FOR NFL'S FIVE-YEAR CARD
JUL 21 (Green Bay) - Coach Curly Lambeau of the Green Bay Packers was one of nine club representatives approving a proposed five-year schedule at the annual summer meeting of the NFL over the weekend. Under the five-year cycle, the Packers would met the Eastern division clubs in two home and home series, with the Giants, Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Boston playing in Wisconsin twice and the Packers twice in the East. The New York Giants were the only club objecting, but, according to Lambeau, "it was a slight objection and will be ironed out soon." All of the five schedules are 12-game affairs, with six home games annually for the Packers. If the tentative 1948 schedule is adopted, the Packers will play New York and Boston in Wisconsin in regularly scheduled games...PLAYER LIMITS INCREASED: Player limits were increased from the present maximum of 33 to 35 for the first three league games and 34 from the fourth game through the remainder of the schedule. Lambeau was responsible for the passage of the 34-35 rule. Its principal proviso is that a player who goes to camp with a team cannot be recalled by that team after being placed on its reserve list before first going through waivers, giving any club the right to claim him. This will prevent, Lambeau pointed out, any club from carrying seven, eight or 10 players on its reserve list, as was the case in 1946. As a case in point, if Bruce Smith were injured, the Packers couldn't place him on the reserve list, if they wanted to retain his services - he would have to be carried as an active player. "The National league has to start protecting itself by protecting the colleges," Lambeau emphasized in referring to the new rule prohibiting the signing of players still eligible for competition after their original classes have graduated. It provides that any player who enrolls in school for the coming semester will not be eligible for play in the NFL until he gets permission from his college coach." About 400 players are in this group, classed as graduated and free agents, according to the Packer coach. An estimated 200 others whose classes have graduated and have been drafted but returned to school are in the same category, with the permission of their coach required for a National club to deal with any one of them...DUDLEY TO LIONS?: Lambeau also announced that he had given the Los Angeles Rams permission to deal with James Callahan, an end from the University of Southern California. Under the terms, if he's still with the Rams on the first game of the 1947 season, the trade becomes a cash deal for an undisclosed amount. If he is not, then his contract reverts to the Packers. The Packer mentor indicated that no other player deals are in the offing, commenting that "everybody wants our ball players but they don't want to give us anything for them. In other words, none of them are too good but still they all want 'em." There was little other trade talk except an "iffy" deal which would put William (Bullet Bill) Dudley, Pittsburgh Steeler star, in a Detroit Lion uniform provided Dudley changes his mind about retiring. The terms in such a deal for the 1946 NFL's leading ground gainer, who says he will definitely not return to Pittsburgh, were not announced. In the one-day session here, the NFL also voted financial aid of an undetermined amount to $500,000 project for the establishment of a pro football "hall of fame" in Latrobe, western Pennsylvania town the circuit recognizes as "the official birthplace" of the play-for-pay grid game.
RAY PIETROWSKI JOINS 1947 PACKER LINEUP
JUL 21 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers further strengthened their line today with the signing of Ray Piotrowski, a center from the Honolulu Bears and star in service football in Hawaii during the war. Piotrowski, six feet, two inches and 215 pounds, is a product of Milwaukee High school. He passed up college to enter the service, but comes to the Packers with considerable big time experience picked up in the Marines where he teamed with such players as the late Smiley Johnson, Packer guard, Special Delivery Jones and others. Although he was used at center on the Camp Lejeune team and was named an All-Island selection in Hawaii at the time when most of the outstanding players in service were assigned to Hawaii, he has had experience at tailback. During an athletic field day in Honolulu, Piotrowski threw a pass 73 yards, punted 57 yards, kicked an 80-yard placekick and dropkicked 45 yards. Coach Curly Lambeau expects to use him at center, behind Capt. Charley Brock and Buddy Gatewood. Piotrowski, who is 27 years old, will report at Rockwood Lodge, the Packers' bayside headquarters and training camp, on Aug. 1, when backs, centers and rookies open drills four days ahead of the remainder of the squad.
LAUNCH TICKET DRIVE FOR PACKER-GIANT GAME
JUL 22 (Green Bay) - Tickets for the Green Bay Packer-New York Giant exhibition game in City stadium Saturday night, Aug. 23, will go on sale Wednesday. The game, sponsored by Sullivan-Wallen post No. 11, American Legion, will launch the 1947 campaign for both clubs. R.M. Tetzlaff, general chairman, announced that Maurice (Chief) Kemper will serve as director of ticket sales, heading a huge staff of salesmen who will include virtually every member of the Legion. Locally, Green Bay fans can purchase their tickets at the Packer office in the Legion building on Walnut street or from Legion salesmen. In addition, Legion posts up and down the Fox valley and most of this section of Wisconsin will sell tickets. The drive unofficially opened during the state Legion convention in Appleton over the weekend, and Tetzlaff reported a "good response". One or two trainloads of fans are expected from Superior where the Giants will start training Aug. 1 and Legion officials will handle the sale through the Superior post. Tetzlaff announced that the Legion's chief objective is a "complete sellout". This is the Legion's second annual production - proceeds of which will go into the post's building fund. A year ago, the Packers were split into Army and Navy teams for what was called the Legion Packer All-Star game. City stadium was three-quarters filled for the contest despite threatening rain shortly before the game. This year, Legion officials believe they have something better to sell - a contest between two league teams. Tickets have been scaled at $3, $2 and $1. All seats are reserved.
L.H. JOANNES RETIRES AS PACKER PRESIDENT; SERVED 17 YEARS
JUL 23 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers, Inc., must elect a new president! For seventeen year, the directors of this corporation have met annually and elected L.H. Joannes. This happy arrangement was terminated at noon today, when Joannes told members of the executive committee of the Packers of his intention to retire from the presidency which he has held since 1930. The executive committee had met in the Hotel Northland preparatory to the annual meeting of the corporation to be held in the assembly room of the courthouse Friday evening, July 25, at which time the stockholders will consider a proposal to enlarge the board of directors from 20 to 25 members and to increase the executive committee from 9 to 11. Joannes gave as his reason for retiring his complete occupation with the development of the Grocers Equipment Service corporation, a new equipment supply house for modernizing grocery stores, meat markets, restaurants and institutions. He stated that since he had sold his interest in Joannes Brothers he has been obliged to devote all of his time to the development of this new venture. He said that if the
stockholders desired him to do so he would remain as a director of the Packer corporation, but that he must be relieved of his duties as a member of the executive committee as well as of the presidency...SHOCK TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: A.B. Turnbull, one of the oldest members of the group, said that President Joannes' decision "came as a shock to the members of the executive committee who had come to depend upon him not only for energetic leadership but also for the proper execution of the many details necessary for the administration of Packer affairs since the tremendous growth in professional football business in recent years." President Joannes' contribution to professional football in Green Bay cannot be measured along by the length of service although that is a good indication of his success. There have been only four presidents of the Packer corporation since it was organized originally between the 1922 and 1923 seasons. In 1923, after a group of Green Bay businessmen had become interested in making the Packers a community success, Turnbull accepted the presidency and continued in office until 1927. R.E. Evrard was the second president, serving through 1928, and he was succeeded by Dr. W.W. Kelly in 1929. Joannes was elected for 1930 and has been reelected annually ever since. He was a member of the original group of businessmen who have their time and talents to putting the Packer club on a sound financial basis in 1922. Of that first board, only Joannes, Turnbull, Dr. Kelly and G.W. Calhoun are still directors. E.L. Lambeau, now vice president and general manager, was not on the board in the early days, although he was coach and attended all board meetings. During the past 17 years the Packers have had their ups and downs, not only on the playing field but also in their business relationships. In 1931, which may be recalled as the very darkest year of the depression, the Packers were struggling to make income cover expenses when disaster struck. One of the patrons at a Packer game fell through the seats in the bleachers and was injured. The injured man went to court and secured a judgment against the then Green Bay Football corporation for several thousand dollars which forced the corporation into receivership. After operating for two years in receivership, the club was facing a judgment which it was unable to pay, and was threatened with the sale of its assets even including its player contracts to meet this judgment...JOANNES ACCEPTS CHALLENGE: Green Bay, in common with the rest of the United States, was engaged with the problems of the depression. The outlook for raising money to settle this judgment was discouraging. Some felt that the end of professional football in Green Bay was near. However, the board of directors, under the leadership of President Joannes, accepted the challenge that they were, by the fact of their position on the board, bound to make an effort to raise the money and keep the team functioning. The effort was made. A new corporation was formed, the Green Bay Packers, Inc., and stock in the new corporation was offered to the public in an amount sufficient to pay the judgment, take over the assets of the old corporation and start the Packers off anew. The man who led the fight to keep the Packers in Green Bay and the man who actually sold the bulk of the stock by personal calls on Green bay businessmen is L.H. Joannes, who is now retiring after 17 years at the head of the Packer corporation.
ROHRIG SIGNS FOR '47; SEEKS 'QUARTER' SPOT
JUL 24 (Green Bay) - Herman F. Rohrig, who made the Army T-formation a success, will attempt to the same with the Green Bay Packers next fall. The stumpy little man from Lincoln, Neb. - heretofore a right halfback with the Bays - will be one of the candidates for the important quarterback position under Coach Curly Lambeau's revised quick-opening setup. His signed contract was received today. Despite four years at left halfback at Nebraska, where he won All-American rating, Rohrig, then a captain, mastered the T-quarterback duties with such savvy that he was picked all-service quarterback in 1943 and 1944 as a member of the Kessler field eleven. Rohrig also did a stint with the Western Army All-Stars who lost to the Packers in Milwaukee in 1942. At Keesler field, Herman had a pretty fair country helper - a sergeant by the name of Cliff Aberson, who, at present, is under contract to the Packers for football and to the Chicago Cubs for baseball. Aberson will also be a candidate for quarterback - if he picks football - together with the experienced Indian Jack Jacobs and Irv Comp. Actually, Rohrig was playing out of position last fall at right half. Lambeau figures the little guy can throw as he demonstrated in the Army and at times with the Packers. Even at right half, Rohrig pegged two passes, one for a touchdown, for a total gain of 97 yards. Herm will be the shortest quarterback in the NFL and possibly the lightest. He stands 5 feet, 9 inches and weighs 185 pounds, most of this weight being congregated around powerful shoulders. Paul Governali of the Boston Yanks, who is due for a great season, was the smallest quarterback with his 5-10, 195-pound finale....A visit to Rockwood Lodge Wednesday revealed that the Packers' 1947 season is at the next corner. Guard Ed Neal and back Irv Comp are on hand and using their football muscles for moving furniture about the building. The first contingent is scheduled to arrive late next week and official practice starts Monday, Aug. 4. Probably the biggest change is installation of individual beds - enough to handle about 30 players. Last year, double-deck, barracks-type beds were used. In addition, individual wire locker stalls are being completed. Lambeau reported that "we'll do everything out here now." Superintendent of Grounds Ira Clark said that 10 inches of dirt has been placed on the practice field and the grass is thick enough to withstand weeks of cleat-battering. Goal posts and tackling-dummy stands have been erected...PRO FOOTBALL: Hold your hat, folks. 'Tis reliably rumored and reported Bill Dudley will wear a Detroit Lion uniform next fall. Which, if true, manes that the Lions will have an extra set of claws when they tackle the Packers at City stadium Oct. 26. Dudley put on a spectacular individual performance here last Oct. 20, when he gained 133 of Pittsburgh's 154 yards by rushing. As a goodwill gesture, the NFL is considering making educational movies of blocking, tackling and line play for use by high schools and colleges. The program would cost the league $15,000. The Packers are keeping an eye on television. At the league meeting last week in Pittsburgh, it was heard that television observers leaped from 8,000 to 200,000 in two months - May to July this year. The Packers are also keeping their eyes posted on Cliff Aberson, who now has three hits in 20 times at bat for the Cubs.
RAY ACCEPTS TERMS FOR 10TH YEAR WITH BAYS
JUL 25 (Green Bay) - They opened the mail in the Green Bay Packer office just about the time Cliff Aberson hit his second triple for the Chicago Cubs Thursday afternoon. The boys were feeling kinda low because every hit (especially extra-basers) Cliff gets means that Mr. Aberson may like his baseball well enough to quit pro football. This, in turn, means that the Packers will lose a sharp-throwing quarterback. Anyhow, to offset those two triples, the mail openers found a missive from Baby (Buford) Ray, who said, in part: "I'll be there for opening practice; the terms look okay to me." Though Ray can't peg passes, Coach Curly Lambeau is welcoming Baby with those proverbial arms. He's the fourth veteran tackle returning and joins Tiny Croft, Urban Odson and Paul Lipscomb. Rookies fighting for the veterans' jobs will be Fred Nielsen and Bill McPartland, both of St. Mary's, and Baxter Jarrell, North Carolina. If you're interested in weights, addition of Ray gives Lambeau 1,715 pounds of tackle for an average of 245. Baby goes 250 and stands 6-6. Mr. Ray will be starting his 10th season with the Packers.
E.R. FISCHER ELECTED PRESIDENT OF PACKERS, REPLACING JOANNES
JUL 26 (Green Bay) - E.R. Fischer, president of the Atlas Warehouse and Cold Storage company, and a resident of Green Bay since 1904, became the fifth president of Green Bay Packers, Inc., at the annual meeting of the stockholders at the courthouse Friday night. Fischer replaced L.H. Joannes, who earlier this week announced his plans to retire after 17 years of service because of his complete occupation with development of the Grocers Equipment Service corporation. The new president, elected at a meeting of the board of directors following the stockholders' session, had been a member of the board of directors since 1936. He was born in Plymouth, Wis., and attended school there. E.L. Lambeau, founder of the club and its head coach for 28 years, was reelected vice president, and F.J. Jonet was retained as secretary-treasurer. Joannes' resignation reduced the executive committee to eight members. The four new members who were elected were Boex, Bogda, Lhost and Servotte. Those reelected were Bero, Clifford, Jonet, Lambeau, Turnbull, Leicht, Fischer and Wintgens. Joannes was elected as president of the Packers in 1930 and successfully led the corporation through the trying early 30's. Turnbull accepted the first presidency in 1923 after a group of Green Bay businessmen became interested in making the Packers a community success, and continued in office until 1927. R.E. Evrard was the second president, serving through 1928, and he was succeeded by Dr. Kelly in 1929. It was Kelly who presented a resolution Friday night commending Joannes for his excellent service. The resolution, which passed unanimously, follows: "Be it resolved that the stockholders and directors of the Green Bay Packers, Inc., have learned with deep regret of the resignation of Mr. Leland H. Joannes as president of the corporation. Further that the stockholders and directors are fully mindful of the long and valuable services which he has rendered to the corporation over a long period of years at great personal sacrifice of time and energy. That they are further aware of the large degree to which his unselfish service and able leadership contributed to the success of the organization. Be it further resolved that the stockholders and directors hereby extend to Mr. Joannes their sincere thanks and appreciation for his valuable service on behalf of football not only throughout the community and state but to the NFL as well. Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be spread upon the minutes of this meeting." Joannes was in charge of the meeting, and, by special motion, was asked to preside over the new board's session after Fischer was elected. The stockholders heard and accepted the annual financial report given by Jonet.
LAMBEAU GIVES REPORT ON 1947 PACKER ELEVEN
JUL 26 (Green Bay) - The 1947 Green Bay Packers will hold their own against anybody - meaning the other nine teams in the NFL. That's the way Coach Curly Lambeau explained his newest aggregation of Packers at the annual stockholders' meeting in the courthouse Friday night. "We should be as good, and better, than previous years. One thing, the morale will be sky higher than last year when most professional and college teams had trouble along those lines," the coach stated. Regarding individual players, Lambeau stated that his backfield of Jack Jacobs in the quarterback slot; Bruce Smith at left half; Bob Forte at right half; and Ted Fritsch at fullback would match any other combination in the league. He is looking forward to the Jacobs to Gene Wilson passing combination. "Excluding Don Hutson, Wilson should prove to be one of our all-time best receivers - Don is in a class by himself." Lambeau believes that the Packers are due for a few breaks in 1947. "We were bothered badly by injuries in 1945 and 1946, which made us an up-and-down club." The Packer coach, in looking over the Western division of the NFL, said that the Los Angeles Rams have the best material; the Bears are and always will be tough; Detroit is building a powerful machine; and the Cardinals will be good enough to beat anybody. He added that "all five clubs will be potential contenders for the championship."...SQUAD IS HAND-PICKED: Lambeau pointed out that he had hand-picked his 1947 squad. He'll start practice with 42 players as against the 60 who were present a year ago. "We expect to work longer with each boy this season, and haven't sacrificed a thing in starting with a smaller squad."...BRIEF PROSPECT NOTE: Wilder Collins, who returns to Green Bay after a season at tackle with San Diego, will be used at guard. Paul Lipscomb is only 23 and Lambeau expects him to be tougher than ever. Rookie tackle Bill McPartland of St. Mary's is the Bill Kern type. Lambeau briefly reviewed his revised backfield system which will have the quarterback handling the ball, passing, punting and running occasionally.
PACKERS SELECT SUB-COMMITTEES
JUL 29 (Green Bay) - Subcommittees to the executive committee of the Green Bay Packer, Inc., have been appointed for the purpose of unifying and expediting the operation of the club, it was announced today by the corporation. E.R. Fischer, Packer president, and E.L. Lambeau, general manager, vice-president and head coach, will serve as members of each subcommittee. The groups follow: Contracts and publicity - A.B. Turnbull, chairman, G.F. Clifford, Milan Boex; finance - H.G. Wintgens, chairman, William J. Servotte, Russ Bogda; grounds - Fred Leicht, chairman, H.J. Bero, Harvey Lhost; legal and league affairs - Clifford and Lambeau. The ground committee will handle affairs concerning Rockwood Lodge, the stadium, handling games, groundskeepers, public protection, etc. Each subcommittee is empowered to act on normal routine matters. Problems or matter of unusual important will be acted upon by the entire executive committee. Fischer said it is hoped that this division of work will make for more efficient operation, and expedite the handling of the corporation's affairs through its general manager.
ORIENTATION WEEK AT PACKER U.; ATHLETES ARRIVING, CLASSES START MONDAY MORNING
JUL 29 (Green Bay) - Orientation Week at Packer university in Green Bay is upon us, dear students of football. Dean Earl Louis Lambeau has started conference with Professors John Molenda and Donald Hutson on this year's curriculum which includes stiff debates with nine other universities; namely Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, Detroit, Los Angeles and two schools in Chicago - the Bear Tea Institute and the Cardinal Horticulture college. One "perfesser" is still missing - Walter Kiesling, who has been studying advanced literature on the complexities of the forward wall flower in the woods back in St. Paul. Among the early student arrivals are John (Jack) Jacobs, Roy McKay, Paul Lipscomb, Irv Comp and Ed Neal. The resident pupils, who plan to take up business here upon graduation, are Tony Canadeo and a Mr. Milburn Croft. All have registered for the 1947 season except McKay, who is expected to confer with Dean Lambeau sometime this week. McKay led the entire National Circuit of Major League Universities in the matter of leg art (punting to the freshmen) for the last two years. Classes will start next Monday at the university's beautiful country home - Rockwood Lodge. The Dean is expected to send his students through a dry run Sunday - the idea being to give the early birds a chance to acquaint themselves with the implements of education; namely, a football, shoulder and hip pads, cleated shoes, and, of course, the finer scholarship tests such as blocking and tackling. A walk up and down the campus (Adams street and Rockwood Lodge) uncovered a visiting dean - Paulus (Bear) Bryant, who conducts classes in football at the University of Kentucky. Bryant was drooling at the sight of the Packer athletes and readily admitted that "they could decorate any classrooms any day." Bryant was here for a visit with Hutson. The two were teammates at the University of Alabama, Don playing left end and Bryant right end. In retrospect, Paulus said that "my only claim to fame was playing opposite Brother Hutson at Alabama.'' Bryant started his head deaning at the University of Maryland in 1945 where he posted a 6-2 record and last year moved over to Kentucky where his record was 7-3, including a lopsided victory over Marquette. Also lolling on the campus was that fellow from Muskogee, Okla. - Mr. Jacobs. Jack is in excellent condition since he summered with the Clovis team in the Class C New Mexico-West Texas league. Jacobs was a pitcher and had a good chance to sharpen his throwing arm for competition in the above-mentioned football debates. Since he is the first of a group of "strangers" to be wearing Packer U. togs, it can be explained that Jacobs is packing 185 pounds on his six-foot, one-inch frame - the same amount he'll be carrying when action starts. He is 27 years old. That's enough of that "collitch" stuff? Let's go: that New York Giants game here (Aug. 23) is only 25 days away.
ROY MCKAY IS 36TH TO SIGN
JUL 30 (Green Bay) - The second of two displaced persons, Roy D. McKay, signed his 1947 Green Bay Packer contract today. Herman Rohrig was the first misfit who got mixed up in the battle of formations. Herman inked his toiling papers July 24. Here's an explanation to the D.P. problem which started to develop last winter when Coach Curly Lambeau announced his switch back to the three-championship-in-a-row quick-opening system that preceded the Herber and Isbell to Hutson era: McKay, 36th Packers under contract, played fullback the last two years, and, in most cases, he was used merely to punt although he did score one of the two touchdowns against the Chicago Bears in 1946. With boys like Ted Fritsch and Walt Schlinkman lumbering, McKay concentrated on punting with such gusto that he won the NFL championship for the second straight year. Now, friends, McKay will play left halfback, a spot that will allow him to run as well as punt since under the quick-opener both the quarterback and left half undoubtedly will handle the bulk of the booting. As to Rohrig, Little Herman for three years was a right half, but he really is a quarterback by trade. So, the Packer coach will place him at QB. Of course, the switch in system backfires somewhat although Lambeau feels that it's for the best. For instance, Larry Craig, if and when he signs, will shift to end - chiefly on defense. Craig was the No. 1 blocking quarterback under the old system. Former QB Ken Keuper, who reported Tuesday afternoon, will be moved to right half where he'll get a chance to run and block, too...The revised quick-opening system's big advantage over the T - as used by the Bears - in that the left half and quarterback can pass with equal deception. Lambeau's entire program is based on deception. The Packers thus far have 15 backs under contract and this figure includes four rookies - Bob McDougal, Oconto and Miami; Ed Cody of Purdue; Ralph Tate, Oklahoma A. and M.; and Ralph Grant, Bucknell. Missing from the quarterback list is Cliff Aberson, who is now playing baseball with the Chicago cubs. Aberson, who throws a football like it was a baseball, is reportedly undecided on his football future pending his play with the Cubs...McKay's winning, the punting title last year, is considered extraordinary in view of the fact that he was forced to punt for position most of the time, thereby cutting his distance. Coach Curly Lambeau generally calls him one of the best spot punters we ever had. The Texan finished with an average distance of 42.7 yards despite the fact that one punt was blocked. He kicked 64 times which is a new season's record. Incidentally, Jacobs, with Washington last year, delivered 10 punts for a 42.8 yard average. McKay kicked all but one of the Packer boots. The other was made by Fritsch in the Bear game here...The Green Bay Packers had a captain on deck today. He is Charley Brock, veteran, who arrived from Columbus, Neb., to start his 10th Packer season. Also in today's group was Bruce Smith, left halfback. The Tulsa Trio - Nolan Luhn, Clyde Goodnight and Wilder Collins - were due in by motor this afternoon. Quarterbacks Ralph Grant, a first year man, and Herman Rohrig were expected on the 4:20 Milwaukee Road this afternoon...The Packers received news that Bill Osmanski will return to the Bears Tuesday with the "I told to you so" look. Like the Packers' Don Hutson, Dr. William, a Chicago dentist, announced after the 1946 campaign that "I'm through". Osmanski, an All-American at Holy Cross in 1938, is starting his seventh year. The Bears open training at Collegeville, Ind., Thursday.
ANDY URAM TO TRY COMEBACK
JUL 31 (Green Bay) - Andy Uram, the one-time Minnesota flash, will attempt a comeback with the 1947 Green Bay Packers. Uram came to Green Bay in 1938 and in six years of action scored 99 points - six of which came on a 97-yard runback of a kickoff against Detroit in '42. Andy enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and got in two seasons of service football. He remained out of pro football in 1946, although he trained for a month before the opening of last season, then declined to return. In signing the veteran back today, Coach Curly Lambeau announced that the 32-year old veteran will work at his old position - right halfback. To relieve the congestion at right half, Lambeau switched Ralph Tate, the Oklahoma A. and M. first-year man, to left half. Uram, 37th to sign, will be competing with Ward Cuff, obtained from the New York Giants, and veterans Ken Keuper and Bob Forte. With Tate at left half, Lambeau has five players fighting for that position, the others being Bruce Smith, Tony Canadeo, Irv Comp and Roy McKay. Uram is packing around 205 pounds, but this is expected to melt down to about 187, his normal playing weight, after a week or two of drills. Uram, who wore No. 42 - now sported by Minnesota Smith - before the war, averaged seven yards per try with the Gophers and played with Cecil Isbell in the 1938 College All-Star game. With the Packers, Uram scored 16 touchdowns and kicked one extra point for his 99 points, leaving him a tie with Bobby Monnett who played from 1933 to 1938...The Packers kept coming today from all parts of the country, and there are about 20 now at Rockwood Lodge. Lambeau will start preliminary briefing for rookies, including the four participating in the College All-Star game, at the lodge this weekend and the main practice will start officially Monday morning. Packers competing against the Bears (for the All Stars) are Bob Skoglund, Notre Dame end; Bill McPartland, St. Mary's tackle; Monte Moncrief, Texas A. and M. guard; and Cody. They'll leave for the All-Star camp Monday...PICKUPS: Charley Brock and Ken Keuper have both left their families home, and there doesn't seem much need for an explanation. Brock plans to open bowling alleys (a la Hutson) in Columbus, Neb., population 10,000. Charley says the "old alleys were closed there five years ago and the people want to bowl." Lou Brock, former Packer back, is executive vice president of a housing firm in Indiana. If years mean anything, the Packers will be powerful at right half. Cuff and Uram are each 32 years of age. Forte, the blazing runner from Arkansas who is the No. 1 right half candidate, got a three-week delay in starting due to an appendectomy last year. Wonder what'll happen if he isn't delayed this fall?
HEATH WILL SEEK PRO GRID CAREER
JUL 31 (Milwaukee) - Stan Heath, former Shorewood high school football star who was dropped from the University of Wisconsin last fall and quit summer school a week ago, is reported seeking a professional football career. Heath's class doesn't graduate until 1950 and under their own rules pro clubs cannot sign him until that time. However, since Heath can't return to Wisconsin and probably wouldn't be admitted to any other major school. Coach Earl "Curly" Lambeau of the Green Bay Packers has promised to take his case to Pres. Bert Bell of the NFL.
WELLS RETURNS FOR 2ND YEAR WITH PACKER '11'
AUG 1 (Green Bay) - The first chance to view the 1947 Green Bay Packers - in roster form - is furnished today. But a number of explanations are in order. The name. Donald Wells, was attached at the last minutes today when his signed contract was received in the Packer office. The right end, onetime Mr. Georgia at the University of G., is starting his second season. Of the 40 players listed, two are still unsigned - end Larry Craig and tackle Baby Ray. As in the past, Craig will sign when he arrived this weekend, while Ray already has accepted terms by mail. He'll also ink his contract before official practice starts Monday. Cliff Aberson, now playing the outfield for the Chicago Cubs, was listed for the simple reason that he signed his 1947 Packer contract last spring. Whether he reports for his sophomore Packer season depends on his success with the Cubs who brought him up from Des Moines three weeks ago. Missing from the roster are such familiar names as Bob Adkins, Bill Kuusisto, Russ Letlow and Bill Lee. Adkins, who sustained a leg fracture in the Washington game at Denver last fall, has decided to go into coaching since his leg failed to respond properly. Kuusisto is continuing in the wrestling game on the west coast, while Letlow and Lee both have retired after a total of nearly 20 years with Green Bay. Gone via the trade route are Merv Pregulman and Bob Nussbaumer. Pergulaman went to Detroit in exchange for Damon Tassos, while Nussbaumer is now wearing a Washington Redskin uniform. He was traded to the 'Skins for Indian Jack Jacobs, Packer quarterback. Bob Flowers, third-string center last year, who has decided to join the New York Yankees of the All-America conference. Bud Gatewood, the handsome center from Baylor, beat out Flowers last year for the No. 2 spot behind Charley Brock. Ray Piotrowski of Milwaukee, who starred in the Hawaiian league, is the third Packer center...Coach Curly Lambeau and his three aides, Walt Kiesling, Bo Molenda and Don Hutson, started unofficial practice at Rockwood Lodge this morning with the rookies, including end Bob Skoglund, tackle Bill McPartland, guard Monte Moncrief and back Ed Cody, who has been selected on the College All Star team that face the Chicago Bears in Chicago Aug. 22. These four will report to the All Star camp on Monday. The All Stars will start drills Monday and the four Packers won't return until Aug. 23, on the night of which the New York Giants and Packers will tangle in the Legion sponsored exhibition test at City stadium. Chances are Lambeau will give them a brief test that night. The Packer coaches are spending most of their time familiarizing the newcomers with Lambeau's revised quick-opening formation which will be used this season for the first time since 1933 when Arnie Herber started pitching passes to Johnny Blood...That roster includes approximately 8,635 pounds of talent or an average of nearly 220 per athlete. Midgets among the backs are fullback Walt Schlinkman and quarterback Herman Rohrig, each of whom stand 5 feet, 8 1/2 inches tall. In weight, Ralph Tate is tiniest with his 175 pounds. Up front, Gene Wilson, the new end from Southern Methodist who reportedly carries glue in his palms, is the smallest, packing only 175 pounds on a 5-foot-10 frame. Largest, of course, is that guard, Ed Neal, who lugs 290 pounds. Ray is the oldest, 33, while Ward Cuff and Andy Uram are each 32. The only other player in his 30's is Charley Brock, who measures 31. At 21, Wilson is the youngest.
PACKERS ADD CLEMONS, GUARD FROM ST. MARY
AUG 2 (Green Bay) - Ray Clemons, 26, a Hungarian, father of two children and captain of the powerful 1946 St. Mary (Calif.) college football team, likes the Green Bay Packer setup - Rockwood Lodge, the coaches, the system and the players. In fact, the stocky guard is so agreeable to the local situation that he signed a contract to play football this fall. Clemons had offers to play with four other professional football clubs, but decided on Green Bay because "it's got the best layout." Ray stands 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds. And he's considered exceptionally fast for a guard. Clemons came here Thursday with Bill McPartland, St. Mary tackle, for the ride, as it were. Both were selected on the College All Star team and the two had planned to drive to Chicago together Monday but Clemons had no intention of returning until he got a whiff of the Green Bay program. Addition of Clemons gives the Packers five players in the Star game Aug. 22, the others being Monte Moncrief, Bob Skoglund and Ed Cody...The Packers unofficially opened 1947 practice Friday with a two-hour session of calisthenics, punting and running through plays. About 30 players, including 16 backs, were on hand and three different backfields alternated on the various plays. A similar session was on tap for today and Sunday. Official practice will get underway Monday morning with the full squad (minus the five All Star players) in practice togs. Opening of practice is the 29th such occurrence for Coach Curly Lambeau, who founded the team. Twenty-eight of those sessions were spent in preparing for NFL campaigns. This season the Packers and Lambeau are driving for their seventh championship to add to crowns posted in 1929, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1939 and 1944...An inkling of what to expect this fall came out of the Friday practice when the backs ran through the quick-opening formation that was used, with Red Dunn in the slot, in winning those three straight titles. Three quarterbacks worked in the important hole near center in the first practice - Jack Jacobs, Herman Rohrig and Ralph Grant, a rookie from Bucknell. Jacobs worked beautifully, showing the experience gained from playing center at Cleveland and Washington. The Indian boy pitched passes under arm, side arm and off his right ear in an exhibition that led this observer to believe that the 1947 Packers will do plenty of passing. Rohrig was obviously "at home" in his new position. The short guy got off some good passes and "fed" the left half and fullback like a veteran. Rohrig played T-quarterback in service ball for three years. Grant has a year of working quarterback experience behind him. He was a blocking quarterback at Bucknell for two years but when the school used the T last season when he was shifted into the slot...PRACTICE JABS: Most of the athletes were short-winded from nine months of civilian life, and after the dummy play practice, Lambeau asked those to run who need it. Most of them took off behind Don (Always In Condition) Hutson, while others remained on the ground to bicycle their legs. Andy Uram, who probably has the toughest conditioning job, toiled long after the practice and announced that he's looking for plenty of aches over the weekend. Ken Keuper walked into the liniment room and reported that "Ah. turning to stone". And he pointed out two toes to Trainer Bud Jorgenson that "haven't got any feeling." Walk Schlinkman is seven pounds underweight, the result of a tonsillectomy about 10 days ago. Ward Cuff reported shortly after the practice, and looked in condition. Ted Fritsch was begging for wing "I'm a long ball hitter (with Manitowoc) so I didn't run much this summer," joked Ted. Incidentally, Fritsch made his '47 appearance at the lodge Thursday a rare one. He waltzed into the lodge dining room carrying a shoe shine kit. "Open for business," he yelled, "only five cents a shine." Don Wells, the Georgia blonde, showed up with a deluxe suntan. He spent the summer as a beach lifeguard. The only player present who missed Friday's practice was big Ed Neal, but Lambeau thinks he got more of a workout putting in a pipe below the lodge. Clemons, the new guard, was a lieutenant in the Navy during the war. One of the surprises of the opening practice was the quick start displayed by the Purdue fullback, Ed Cody.
30 PACKERS GIVEN INFORMAL PRACTICE
AUG 2 (Green Bay) - Thirty players, the vanguard of the Green Bay Packers' 1947 squad, reported to Coach Curly Lambeau Friday at Rockwood lodge for three days of informal practice. Training opens officially on Monday for the NFL. Among the early arrivals was Don Wells, veteran right end, who signed his contract and took part in the drill. Jack Jacobs, Indian back obtained from Washington, highlighted the drill with his ball handling in the Packers' new offense. The former Oklahoma star also set the pace in punting and passing.
LAMBEAU HOPEFUL AS HIS PACKERS GO TO TRAINING CAMP
AUG 3 (Green Bay) - This is it again, and the whole town has a bounce in its step. This is it, for Monday Citizen Lambeau - first Citizen Lambeau these dog days - gathers his centers and guards and ends and all the others about him at Rockwood lodge, just up the peninsula, to attempt some more of those wonders which down the years, 28 to be exact, have put this town on the map as nothing else has. Yes, sir, this is it again: Football. The Packers are going to camp. And the whole town feels it. A few of the early arrivals have been doing some informal work since Friday. They couldn't wait. It won't be until Monday morning, though, that Lambeau counts all of the noses. Seven ends, eight tackles, seven guards, three centers and 16 backs - 41 of them all told. And then the real grind will get underway. The start will be quick - will have to be quick. On August 23 the team will get its first test in an exhibition game with the New York Giants here, August 29 it will get in an exhibition with the Pittsburgh Steelers at Pittsburgh, on September 14, still another with the Boston Yankees at State Fair park, and on September 21, a fourth with the Washington Redskins at Baltimore. On September 28, it will open the league season with the Chicago Bears here. The schedule leaves no time to dally along. And what, getting down to cases, may a schedule such as this hold? Well, at this time, there is only Lambeau's word, of course - and who after 28 years is not familiar with this? Come these early days in August, the big Belgian, with timetable regularity, gushes enthusiasm, optimism and unshakable faith in what he had. Nothing can change him. All the disappointments of the year before, he can easily dismiss. All the strengthenings by other clubs he can accept. "Look," he said again Saturday as he has on so many other Saturday before the other starts, "we've got a squad this year that will stand up with any of them. This, with some breaks along the way, could be our year again. We needed guards and ends last season and we got them. We needed passing last year and we got that. Wait till you see what we got. Yes, this could be our year ago - and that goes for the Bears." The man's enthusiasm is overwhelming. It brooks no argument. And it is supported, of course, by a personal records as if not better, than any other in league - 225 victories, 87 defeats, 22 ties not counting exhibitions - and not always with the best of material. The fact is, as Lambeau itches to be started, that where the Packers needed help most they apparently got it. They were slow and not strong at the guards last season, so they got Damon Tassos, one of the best in the league, in a trade with Detroit, Monte Moncrief of Texas Aggies, an almost unanimous All-American both in 1945 and 1946, Wilder Collins of Tulsa, who was up for a brief trial last season and who developed rapidly at San Diego later, and Ralph Davis of Wisconsin. They were shaky at the wings last season, so they picked up three new ends in the seven who will report Monday: Bob Skoglund of Notre Dame, Gene Wilson of Southern Methodist and Joe Graham of Florida - and Lambeau reaches some of his highest notes of enthusiasm over Wilson. They were woefully weak in passing last season, so they got themselves a passer - perhaps one of the best in the league, Jack Jacobs, the big Indian who played for Tom Stidham at Oklahoma. Jacobs, of course, is no newcomer to pro ball. He played two years at Cleveland, behind Parker Hall and Bob Waterfield, which was not exactly an easy assignment, and then after a stretch in the service, another year at Washington behind Sammy Baugh, which was not exactly an easy assignment, either. But Jacobs has what it takes, no question, not only as a passer, but as a kicker and a runner, too, and he will be of tremendous help where help last season was probably needed most. It was a peculiar thing about the Packers a year ago. They had the best rushing team in the league with 1,765 yards. They had the best punter in the league in Tex McKay, who averaged better than 42 yards on 64 kicks. They had the league's individual scoring champion in Ted Fritsch, who scored an even 100 points. They had the third best team in kickoff returns, the second best team in pass interceptions, the third best team in clean ball handling. Yet they finished with one of their worst records since the early thirties - and the reason was simple. They had the poorest passing team in the league, the very poorest, with the lowest efficiency average, .303, and the fewest yards gained, 841. The presence of Jacobs, therefore, and some ends with a bit of Hutson in them - Lambeau thinks he certainly sees some in Wilson - can't help but be of vital significance this fall. Perhaps the timetable enthusiasm of Citizen Lambeau Saturday really had a lot more than timetable significance. Of the 41 men who will go to camp, 24 will be veterans, and these include men with some good football in their systems - Nolan Luhn, Larry Craig, and Clyde Goodnight at ends; Paul Lipscomb and Urban Odson at tackles, Dick Wildung at guard, Charley Brock and Les Gatewood at center, and Bruce Smith, now fully recovered from a groin operations, Tony Canadeo, Irv Comp, Ted Fritsch, Walt Schlinkman, Bob Forte, Ken Keuper and Ward Cuff in the backfield, just to mention some. Yes, Lambeau is satisfied. Old-timers will probably have their thoughts turned back to the happy years of '29, '30 and '31 more than once - the years of Red Dunn, Jug Earpe, Verne Lewellen, Lavvie Dilweg, Mike Michalske and Johnny Blood - for along with the additions in personnel, which may be so vital, the big Belgian has decided to revert to the offensive formation he used in this happy three year title era. It is a form of the T with the quarterback to the right of the center, permitting a direct pass to the left halfback, and with an occasional right halfback flanker. Lambeau believes his material this year, with a quarterback like Jacobs and a left halfback like Smith, will fit particularly well in this pattern, not only believes it but enthuses over it - and that's Lambeau all over again. Don Hutson, still his sleek old self, Walt Kiesling as big and reliable as they come, and Bo Molenda, the battle scarred veteran of earlier Packer years, will help Lambeau. This will be Molenda's first year. Hutson will handle the ends, Kiesling the line, and Molenda, the old fullback, the backfield. And just in case the story somewhere along the way gets around, as stories sometimes do, that Hutson might play - HE WILL NOT. The cleats are up for good. So this is it again: Football. The Packers are going to camp and the whole town steps with a new bounce - well, the whole state for that matter.
PACKER ELEVEN OPENS 29TH SEASON; HOWARD TOLLEFSON JOINS TEAM
AUG 4 (Green Bay) - This is the day the Green Bay Packers officially start their 28th season in the NFL and their 29th in operation. At Rockwood Lodge this morning, neatly 40 huskies launched intensive workouts for what they and Coach Curly Lambeau hope will be the Packers' seventh world's pro football title. Missing were veterans Baby Ray, now en route to Green Bay; Larry Craig, veteran end; Joe Graham, rookie end from the University of Florida; and the five Packers who are participating in the College All-Star game - Ed Cody, Bob Skoglund, Bill McPartland, Ray Clemons and Monte Moncrief. The crop included newcomers - Howard Tollefson, former University of South Dakota and St. Norbert college guard, who signed his contract Saturday night. Howard, now a Green Bay resident, is a brother of Charley Tollefson, who left the Packers early last season because of a shoulder injury that failed to heal. Howard stands 5-10 and weighs 220. Lambeau, who founded the Packers 29 years ago and then led them to six world's championship, eyes his newest gang with optimism this morning as the backs raced through his quick-opening formation - being used this season for the first time since 1933. It was this setup that helped Green Bay to consecutive championships in 1929, 1930 and 1931, with Red Dunn playing the key quarterback role. This season, Jack Jacobs, the veteran Indian boy who was obtained from Washington last winter, leads the candidates for the Luckman position. Backing him up are Herman Rohrig, who learned the T in service ball, and rookie Ralph Grant from Bucknell...CUFF BOOTS 'EM: The greater portion of the squad arrived over the weekend. Ward Cuff, 10-year veteran with the New York Giants and Chicago Cardinals, tried his magic toe for the first time Sunday morning. His first two boots went off to the side (extra points) but the next 15 split the uprights. One of the surprises of the early practice was the possibilities in Grant as a passer or blocker. The rookies up front seem to have the proper amount of Lambeau enthusiasm. All of the newcomer linemen are built like Packers - big and strong. Moncrief and Damon Tassos, received in a trade with the Lions for Merv Pregulman, probably will be big assets as will Baxter Jarrell, Red Nielsen and McPartland. Among the late arrivals was Bob Forte, the dark-skinned right halfback from Arkansas. Forte was excused from arriving last Friday because his Fayetteville team was participating in the state semi-pro baseball tournament. The squad captured the state championship and Forte was named the most valuable player. The main point, however, he was in shape when he worked out Sunday morning. A considerable part of today's practice was devoted to punting, with Jacobs and McKay, 1945 and 1946 NFL
punting champion, setting the pace. The Packers have 17 days of practice before the opening exhibition game with the New York Giants in City stadium Saturday night, Aug. 23. And just for memory's sake, the Bays open the National league season with the Chicago Bears at City stadium, Sept. 28.
FRIGID OR HOT, PACKERS DRILL
AUG 5 (Green Bay) - Baseball weather or not, you will have a Packer football story today. The temperature was sizzling around 95 Monday when the stalwarts representing Green Bay in the NFL went through a spirited drill. And spirited is the word. Seventy-five percent of the Packer team is made up of southern boys, who, oddly enough, feel that Wisconsin's weather is rather cool. So, friends, the weather that wilts you and I is helping to put weights on some of the Packers. Take that little end, Red Wilson, for instance. It was so hot down in his native Troup, Tex., that the 175-pound pass catcher lost weight. At the moment, Red is thriving and eating like all those proverbial horses, and Coach Curly Lambeau is letting him eat, having given Red permission to take two helpings of everything - off the food table, that is. Generally, most of the southern boys gain weight when they hit Yankee territory. A year ago, halfback Bob Forte of Arkansas looked like a 75-pound weakling. He has his tonsils out and proceeded to close in on 200 pounds. Walk Schlinkman, from Texas, is rapidly gaining back the seven pounds he was minus when he reported last Friday. Walt, too, has been given permission to take an extra bite occasionally, though his permit isn't as liberal as that of Wilson. The food is good at Rockwood Lodge. After Monday's morning drill the players sat down to plenty of head lettuce - with a snot of dressing - beef stew (including potatoes and carrots), bread, butter, coffee, iced tea or milk, and chocolate ice cream. Steaks (the best in the land, 'tis said) were served for dinner Monday evening...Getting on with the more serious side of the training, it can be revealed that Irv Comp, the veteran passer who stepped into Cecil Isbell's big shoes back in 1942, worked several times at quarterback Monday. This means that Irv will do double duty - at left half and QB, thereby giving him a chance to run at left half and pass from the quarterback slot, although he can do both from left half. Other left halfbacks struggling with Comp are Tony Canadeo, Ralph (Tater) Tate, Roy McKay and Bruce Smith. The Packers will install their pads Wednesday and a controlled scrimmage is set for Saturday. Lambeau and his aides, Bo Molenda, Walt Kiesling and Don Hutson, are satisfied thus far with the progress made...A newcomer in the person of Ed Bell, a left tackle, started drilling today after signing his contract Monday. Bell, who stands 6-1 and weighs 233 pounds, played at Indians in 1941 and 1942, and in the College All Star game in 1945 and 1946 after spending some time in the service. He played with the Miami Seahawks last fall and was made a free agent when the club moved to Baltimore. Packer agents had heard of his record at Indiana and immediately sought his services after his free agency was made know. Still missing from the workouts were veteran Baby Ray and Larry Craig and rookie Joe Graham of Florida. ray was detained at his home in Nashville when his four-year old son, Donald, cut his arm on a broken milk bottle. Eight stitches were needed to close the wound. Ray is expected later this week.
NFL TO DRAW 2,500,000, SAYS BELL, FOR NEW GATE RECORD
AUG 5 (Philadelphia) - Bert Bell, commissioner of the NFL, predicted today that his circuit would set a new attendance record of at least 2,500,000 during the approaching season. "I rarely go in for predictions of that sort," said the husky, middle-aged man in the tan gaberdine suit, "but I believe my enthusiasm can be pardoned at this time because of the very favorable reports we have been receiving from the various clubs' front offices and from the training camps." Bell, a ruddy chap - who has a sharp, prominent nose like Bob Hope, and who parts his brown, gray-fringed hair in the middle, explained that his 2,500,000 forecast verged on the consecutive because last year the league's 10 clubs hit a new high total of 2,283,378 spectators. "We certainly ought to do a couple hundred thousand better in '47 because the standard of play will be higher throughout the league and because a record of 60 league games will be played - five more than last season," Bell said. "Moreover, advance reports indicate that the Boston and Detroit clubs will be much improved this year. Boston was last in the Eastern division in '46, and Detroit was the Western low club." Play will be better on all clubs, he said, because this season actually will mark the beginning of "the great postwar era of professional football." It will be the first season, he emphasized, in which all players who were in service not only have had a chance to return to the gridiron, but have had the opportunity to condition themselves properly for a full season of play. Will there be any innovations in the game this season? Yes, there would be a fifth official on the field - a back judge. He would officiate in "no man's land" - on the opposite side of plays from the head linesman. His presence there would prevent any uncertainty about plays in his area, and would help to speed up the game. "We are interested particularly in keeping the game moving at a fast pace, with as little delay as possible between plays," he pointed out. "Last season our games averaged 160 plays per game. And the games required an average of less than two hours and 20 minutes. That's what the fans want - a fast-moving game, and that's what we're giving them. I might add also that we're trying to keep the game as open and spectacular as possible for the sake of the spectators; but meanwhile keeping it as safe as possible for the players." How much money did Bell figure was now invested in the 10 National circuit clubs? He made a rough estimate or slightly more than $6,000,000. In 1946, only one club suffered a loss, he replied. Two broke even, and seven enjoyed a profit. This year all should do better, he prophesied.
VANT HULL RETURNS; GUARD ROSTER BOOSTED TO 10; CRAIG, RAY COMING
AUG 6 (Green Bay) - The men who play on the immediate left and right side of center in a football line are known as guards. Chief reason for naming them suchly is that they guard opponents from scoring. Next in importance, of course, is to cut a big enough path through which their own ball carriers can run to a score. Some observers feel that 90 percent of the nation's grid games are won or lost by the guards who, particularly in any quick-opening formation, must be expert at nudging or blocking out an opponent at exactly the opportune moment. The Green Bay Packers, for instance, have ten guards on their 1947 roster. And, if numbers mean anything, the Packers could give opponents a lot of headaches in the payoff slots. When championship play starts, the guard contingent probably will be reduced to six or seven which means that 10 guys will be battling their respective heads off from now until the last squad cut is made come Chicago Bear week. Latest guard on the Rockwood Lodge campus is Fred Vant Hull, who played with the Bays in 1942 after three years at the University of Minnesota. Vant Hull, who signed today, served in the Navy four and a half years, including 12 months at Annapolis. Vant Hull, now stacking 225 pounds on a six-foot frame, feels that he can get back into the swing of things with little trouble. Fred hails from Hopkins, Minn. Vant Hull is one of six Packer guards with pro experience, the others being Wilder Collins, a tackle last season; Ed Neal, giant defensive ace; Dick Wildung, the modern Mike Michalske; Damon Tassos, obtained from Detroit last spring in a trade for Merv Pregulman; and Ed Bell, who played with the Miami Seahawks last fall. Rookie guards are Ralph Davis, Wisconsin; Monte Moncrief, Texas A. and M.; Ray Clemons, St. Mary (Calif.); and Howard Tollefson, college star and brother of former Packer Charley. Moncrief and Clemons are now training with the College Al-Stars in Chicago. This is the first year in many that the Packers have been without a 10-year man at guard. The last were Russ Letlow, who closed action last December, and Buckets Goldenberg, who finished in 1945 after 13 years. The present Packer guards average 232 pounds, with Neal's 290 topping the list. Neal is considered the largest and strongest player in professional football. Davis is the midget of the lot, going only 205 pounds...Despite the 98-degree heat, the Packers went through a regular workout Tuesday morning. Coach Curly Lambeau called off the after-lunch session, but ordered his charges to study their plays. The Packers put on their pads, the first time today. A controlled scrimmage is set for Saturday - first of the season. Lambeau was hoping for a break in the weather which is handicapping some of the boys. The heat, however, has helped the overweight athletes reduce - in a hurry...Definite word was received from Larry Craig, missing quarterback from Ninety Six, S.C. Craig reported by phone to Lambeau that he's looking to a "good man to run my farm, but I can make it by the weekend." Craig, a blocking quarterback for eight years under the Packers' old system, will be switched to end under the present quick-opening program. Baby Ray, too, will be in over the weekend. The veteran tackle was delayed in Nashville when his son cut himself on a broken bottle.
PACKERS DRILL PASSING IN HEAT FOR 2 HOURS
AUG 7 (Green Bay) - Looks like maybe the Green Bay Packers will throw a pass or two next fall - in National league competition, that is. In blazing temperatures (near 100) Wednesday, the backs and ends went through a two-hour program of throwing and receiving - quick blasts over center or out in the flat and long tosses straight down the alley. All of the throwing was done by the quarterback candidates - Jack Jacobs, Herman Rohrig, Irv Comp and Ralph Grant, although a left half occasionally whipped out for a toss. Chief receivers were right ends Don Wells and Nolan Luhn and left ends Red Wilson and Clyde Goodnight. Wilson may be moved to right end. Comp has been appointed a "swing back", which means that he'll swing between quarterback and left half, as it were. The big guy can pass and is fast learning the movements under the center. Occasionally, the ends made what the writers refer to as a spectacular catch. Wells made a two-handed stretch catch that prompted Assistant Coach Bo Molenda to tell, "touchdown sure". Wilson handled several long throws nicely and Luhn and Goodnight worked mostly on short heaves. The backs did a lot of receiving, too, but the idea was chiefly give them ball handling. Aces among backfield receivers will have to be deleted for security reasons - for the time being at least. The basic purpose of the long drill, however, was to iron out the backfield's timing which, according to Coach Curly Lambeau, "must be perfect if we expect to execute any play - even a punt." Some plays were run over five and six times by the same backs in order to get the right "stepping" and timing. Nary a running play was practiced during the two-hour session, giving every indication that the Packers intend to score by air - in short, the shortest distance between the line and six points. And if your memory is rusty, it can be repeated that the 1946 Packers bottomed the league in forward passing, gaining only 841 yards on 54 completed passes in 178 attempts. Los Angeles, the top team, gained 2,080. In 1942, the Packers won the NFL passing championship on 2,407 yards gained, which is still the league record. And if your memory is still rusty, the Packers won the ground gaining by rushing title last year, with 1,765 yards in 560 attempts...Today's chance in weather was received with welcome arms and Lambeau immediately resumed his two-a-day practice sessions. Most of the heavy work will be done in the morning. With the exception of Andy Uram, veteran halfback who is attempting a comeback, every candidate is within a couple of pounds of his best playing weight.
FIRST 60 MINUTES (PACKERS VS. GIANTS HERE AUG. 23) HARDEST?
AUG 8 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers will play 960 minutes (16 games at 60 minutes per) of professional football this fall. And like the gentlemen who just passed his 100th birthday, the Packers might say that the first 60 minutes are the hardest. Though the Packers may have tougher opponents (the Bears, for instance), the opening hour against the Giants at City stadium the night of Saturday, Aug. 23 may be the hardest because it will be their first competitive effort since last fall. At the moment, the team is working as a unit for the 1947 chores with a great amount of gusto. They put the pad son for the first time Wednesday and tomorrow - just two weeks before the Giant game - will hold their first scrimmage. Coach Curly Lambeau has pronounced them in excellent condition despite the adverse weather conditions and "we're ready to see what the boys look like during body contact." Up in Superior, the Giants are also progressing fast in their fourth season at the training site. Coach Steve Owen and his stalwarts started toiling last Sunday, and if the Giants have an advantage over the Packers it's because the Superior weather has been cool. In fact, it got so cold one night a Northern league baseball game had to be postponed. By contrast, the Packers drilled for three days in 98-degree heat. Whatever happens now will be forgotten, however, come the night of Aug. 23 when the two clubs engage in a contest that may have some bearing on the NFL championship. A year ago, the Giants and Bears opened their exhibition grind in the Windy City and the Bears won handily, 21-0. After the game, New York line coach Red Smith predicted that "we'll beat 'em in New York.:" The Giants backed up Smith's statement by blanking the Bears in Gotham, 14-0, and went on to capture the Eastern division title. In the championship game last fall, the Bears turned the tables, 24-14. The 1947 Giants appear to be bigger, faster and more plentiful than were the 1946 Giants. New faces predominate. The backfield alone shows 15 rookies - and all fast. Gene Roberts ran the 100-yard dash in 9.7
at Chattanooga; Ray Polczynski and Max Culver have done it in 9.8, while Ben Barber is billed as the successor to the deposed Frank Filchock. The stocky Nix took up where Davey O'Brien left off at Texas Christian. Last year, the Giants had the best line in the league. This year the "Gladchuk Line" and the "DeFilippo Line" may be the two best walls in the league, but no one can say which will be better, according to word from Coach Smith, former line coach of the Packers who recently joined the Giants after coaching the Chicago Cubs...Another veteran arrived on the scene this morning. He was Buford (Baby) Ray, the giant tackle who pulled in from Nashville. Expected to arrive during the weekend is Larry Craig, who'll get permanent duty at end following a flock of seasons during which he divided his time between playing a wing and blocking back. Ray was delayed by an accident to his son, while Craig needed another week to find a capable man to run his farm in Ninety Six, S.C. Only missing Packers are the five now working out with the College All Stars in Chicago.
PACKERS HOLD FIRST SCRIMMAGE OF SEASON
AUG 9 (Green Bay) - It was one down and two weeks to go for the Green Bay Packers today before their first test with the New York Giants at City Stadium Aug 23. The big, typical Packer squad of nearly 40 players collided in a controlled scrimmage at Rockwood Lodge this morning - first of the season. Everybody got a chance on defense and offense - particularly the four groups of backs who toiled for a half-hour each on scoring maneuvers. Half the two-hour session was used in drilling the proper execution of the forward pass; so draw your own conclusions regarding the 1947 attack. There was a light shortage of ends what with veteran Larry Craig and rookie Joseph Graham still on the missing list and rookie Bob Skoglund drilling wit the College All-Stars in Chicago. On defense, a couple of speedy guards, sophomore Dick Wildung and freshman Ralph Davis, moved over to end. Craig was scheduled to arrive Sunday. The bulk of the end work, of course, was done by the ends who spent their time running after passes. Red Wilson, the little guy from Southern Methodist, made a couple of sweet catches and apparently has regained his confidence, some of which was lost when he made his first appearance at Rockwood and took one look at his much bulkier mates...Sunday will be Picture Day at Rockwood Lodge and the entire morning will be devoted to snapping shots to be used for publicity purposes throughout the country. The Press-Gazette, Associated Press and Milwaukee newspapers will have cameramen on hand. A Chicago Tribune photog stopped at the lodge earlier this week to take a couple of color pictures. All of the players will be dressed in their game uniforms, including stockings...A double program was held Friday, starting with a mild batting of heads in the morning and ending with group instruction in the afternoon. The first casualty was Red Nielsen, the rookie tackle from St. Mary, who suffered some strained muscles in his back. He was dispatched immediately for treatment by Bud Jorgenson. He took it easy the rest of the day, but will be ready for rough stuff next week. Purpose of Friday's dish was to give the passers and punters a hard time. In short, the defense rushed the daylights out of the offensive backs. When it over the score read like this: Offense 0, Defense 0...WEEKEND HASH: Seven Packers have been placed on the extra ration list, meaning among other things that they can take a snack at night if they desire (and they do). Those needing more weight are Don Wells, Clyde Goodnight, Jack Jacobs, Walt Schlinkman, Nolan Luhn, Ralph Tate and Wilson. All are southern boys, incidentally. Ward Cuff weighs 192 pounds - his playing weight last year. Baxter Jarrell, the 240-pound rookie from North Carolina, will play left tackle. Some experimenting is still going on, and the exact position of some of the linemen won't be known for a week. The backs are set for present and the only change made thus far was moving left half Irv Comp to swing back - between quarterback and left half. The Packers' new uniforms will arrive Aug. 15 and will be used in the Packer-Giant tussle. They are gold with dark blue numbers. Big Baby Ray made his first appearance Friday morning while the team was drilling. Ray stepped on the field wearing a gorgeous cream-colored suit and if it wasn't for his size one would have mistaken him for one of those city slickers. Bernie Bierman, head football coach at the University of Minnesota, visited Rockwood Lodge this week and expressed astonishment at the "ideal setup you have here". He said he saw none better in the country - college or pro. Bierman visited with Packer coaches and his former grid students - Fred Vant Hull, Dick Wildung, Bruce Smith, Urban Odson and Andy Uram.
NEW BOOKLET FOR PACKER TILTS; CUFF, STRONG IN SCORING DUEL
AUG 9 (Green Bay) - When you enter City stadium this season for a Packer game, don't be alarmed if one of the vendors yells, "You can't tell the players without a review!" The word program is no longer in the Packers' latest, unabridged dictionary. That booklet, containing between 50 and 60 pages, will be known as the Packer Pictorial Review. One-third of the book will contain rare action shots of former Packer games, gathered up George Stickler in his five years as publicity chief for the NFL. It will also contain several pages of individual Packer players and sketches on each and, of course, the team rosters and starting lineups. It will contain souvenir material for scrapbook fans. Each book will carry a special cover for the particular game at hand. For instance, the cover of the Packer-Giant game Aug. 23 will show American Legion designs since the tilt is being sponsored by the local post...Another word found in the Packer dictionary is confidence. Wilder Collins, the big Tulsa tackle who was sent down to San Diego last fall for seasoning, is going to play tackle or guard for the Packers in 1947. The giant says he is. From numerous little confidences, big confidences grow - like victories over the Bears and stuff. They say Joe Graham, new Packer end, is on his way this year. The rookie always got involved the couple of years and never could report. He wired Friday saying that he's driving his folks from Florida to Oklahoma and then he'll go to Green Bay...Backfield coach Bo Molenda is used to championships. He was fullback on the University of Michigan title teams of 1926 and 1927; fullbacked the Packers to three straight NFL crowns in 1929, 1930 and 1931; and toiled at the same spot for the New York Giants in 1933 when they won the Eastern division title and in 1934 when they beat the Chicago Bears in that famous rubber-shoe championship classic, 30-14. Molenda stayed on with the Giants as coach until 1942 when he entered the Navy, serving four years are lieutenant. The bulky coach saw action at New Guinea and Leyte...Ward Cuff, Packer right half and a Giant immortal, and Ken Strong are tied with 319 points apiece on the Giants' all-time scoring list. Ken gained a tie last year by kicking 32 extra points and four field goals. Ward, however, is still leading Ken in total scoring because he added 55 points (two touchdowns, 28 extra points and five field goals) last season for the Ch-Cardinals. Anyhow, Ward and Ken probably will point duel when they meet here Aug. 23...Figures aren't available but the word is that ticket business is really humming at the Packer ducat office in the Legion building. Your best bet: Get a season ticket if you want to be sure of seeing Luckman, Trippi and Dudley and Companies at City stadium.
AS JACK JACOBS GOES, SO MAY THE PACKERS GO
AUG 10 (Milwaukee Journal) - As Luckman goes, so go the Bears. As Baugh goes, so go the Redskins. And as Jacobs goes, big Jack Jacobs the Indian, so now may the Green Bay Packers go. It's a tantalizing situation up along the banks of the Fox this fall. As little as one man could transform what a year ago apparently was just another football team into a contender of the very first rank. One man - but he must be good and he must be a passer. And it could be Jacobs. The Packers a year ago took more bumps than any other Packer eleven since the early thirties. The final standings showed six victories, five defeats and a thousand new gray hairs on Lambeau's curly head - well, a hundred, anyway. Yet in most ways, it wasn't an ordinary team at all. It had the markings of a good one. It had Ted Fritsch, who led the league in scoring, and Tex McKay, who led the league in punting. It had a ground attack which punched out more yards than any other team in the league, and a defense which yielded fewer points than any other, except the Pittsburgh Steelers. It had other things. But it lumbered along, winning and losing, looking bad, then looking good, and it barely managed to keep its head above .500. It had 10 good parts, so to speak, but it didn't have the eleventh. It had no passer...TEAM BACK INTACT - AND JACK JACOBS: The team of 1946 is back almost intact - and Jacobs. That's the big thing. There are other who can throw - Irv Comp, Herman Rohrig, Tony Canadeo, Bruce Smith, Ralph Tate and Ralph Grant- but Jacobs is the hope - the big hope. As he goes, so now may the Packers go. Jacobs, acquired from Washington last winter for Bob Nussbaumer and the draft rights to Jack Ferraro, a Southern California lineman, is not exactly a stranger here. He first broke in the headlines in 1940 when he lad an Oklahoma team into Dyche stadium early in the season and knocked off a Northwestern team that had been almost unanimously picked as the class of the Big Ten. He next became of on Tom Stidham's favorite topics after Stidham left Oklahoma to succeed Paddy Driscoll at Marquette. "What a football player," Stidham always admired, and for that matter, still admires. "The guy is one of the best I've ever seen." He got his pro football baptism with Cleveland in 1942, which had made him its second choice in the draft, but had to play behind the league's most valuable player, Parker Hall, his first year and then, after a stretch in the Navy air corps, behind Bob Waterfield in his second. As a matter of fact, he did not rejoin the Rams until the last four games of the 1945 race, slightly out of shape and with Waterfield already well on the way to a new league passing record. A year ago, after a trade that the volatile George Marshall flatly insisted upon after seeing him, he played with Washington, but again he played the second fiddle. A guy by the name of Baugh was still around. And worse, to cure a succession of backfield ills, he was shifted from one position to another until he didn't know whether he was on one of his forebears' mustangs or on foot...JACOBS AT GREEN BAY WILL HAVE FIELD ALONE: The fates so far, clearly, have not been kind to him. But this may be the year. As far as the neck could stretch and the eye could see, there wasn't a passer to be seen in Green Bay last year and except for a miracle in some of the veterans, which Lambeau in August of course always thinks he sees, there probably won't be any around now - except the 6 foot, 190 pound Indian. He will have the passing field almost to himself. Jacobs does everything well. As a passer, he rifles them short and he lobs them long - and each whether he is set or not. As a punter, with his own peculiar hooking style, he ranks with the very best. And as a runner, playing quarterback in Lambeau's new style of attack, he can carry his full share of the load, although he runs on feet that haven't the usual cushions. Incidentally, the conformation of his feet threatened for awhile to keep him out of the service. Anybody with feet like his, they thought, might lose the war. A kind commander, or an admiral with an eye for touchdowns, or somebody along the way relaxed the rules, however, and he finally got in. Quite naturally, the squad in an intangible way has responded to his presence. The boys themselves knew what they didn't have last year and they know what they have now. The whole spirit is high...LAMBEAU 'DETECTS' OTHER IMPROVEMENTS: While Lambeau naturally goes into rhapsodies about Jacobs and what the big Indian may mean to the club, he also sees what at this stage of the season, is always a startling improvement in the veterans and real promise in some of the new men. It was ever thus. And there is always the chance, of course, that it may be so. If the big Belgian is right, however, it still remains to be proved. Comp could be a sharpshooter, has been on occasions, but has all too frequently suffered lapses of mediocrity. Canadeo throws them well one day, bad the next. Smith, one of the finest running backs in the league, never did pass much at Minnesota. Grant, a little fellow built along the lines of a fireplug, has the makings of a good one, but he had a lot else to catch up on if he is to play quarterback. Rohrig has looked good, surprisingly good, but it remains to be seen whether he can hold the form. He has looked good in practice other years, too. Tate, one of the pleasant all-around surprises in camp, has been shifted from right half to left half partly because of his passing, and he may be a sleeper. He has looked very good, but he still needs polish and he must still prove himself under fire. But Jacobs - there is the man. Even Lambeau's August enthusiasm must be accepted. As Jacobs goes, so may the Packers go. It could be all the way, too, and that ain't fooling.
PACKER GUARD SUSPENDED 5 YEARS BY NFL CHIEF BELL IN FIRST RULING
AUG 11 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers sharpened their claws with 60 minutes of football Saturday and a drastic order from the office of NFL Commissioner Bert Bell Sunday. With the opener against the New York Giants only 13 days away (here Aug. 23), the Packers went back to work this morning under a broiling sun to discuss and iron out the errors made in the elongated scrimmage, which saw the Whites beat the Blues, 14-10. Top story of the weekend was Bell's edict on Fred Vant Hull, veteran guard, who was released by the Packers by order of Bell, who ruled the former Minnesota star ineligible to compete in organized football. Vant Hull, the commissioner informed the Bays, was under suspension for five years for having played last season with a team in the All-American conference, which is considered an outlaw
league by the NFL...INVOKES RULE FIRST TIME: It was the first time Bell, who is given jurisdiction over the eligibility of players in organized ball by the major-minor league agreement entered into a year ago by the National league and three ranking minors, has invoked the five-year suspension rule governing contract jumpers. Under the ruling Vant Hull will be ineligible to play, coach or be associated with any team in the National, Dixie, American and Pacific Coast leagues for five years. The All-America conference is the only professional circuit not included in organized football. Green Bay had signed Vant Hull, a member of the 21942 Packer team, several weeks ago on the assumption that his case did not come under suspension rules inasmuch as Vant Hull had joined the Los Angeles team of the All-America conference only after contacting the Packers in the summer of 1946...NOT INCLUDED ON SQUAD: Since Vant Hull, who had been in the Navy four and a half years, did not make known his availability until the Packers had filled their roster and because he was none too certain about whether a knee injury would permit him to play, he was not included on the 1946 squad. Bell's directive to the Packers, however, declared that technically Vant Hull was a contract jumper inasmuch as he was a contract player who had been released or waived out of the major league before signing with a team in an outlaw organization. The rule, Bell pointed out, permits no deviation for extenuating circumstances and will be enforced to the letter in all similar cases. Vant Hull left the Packer camp immediately upon receipt of the commissioner's ruling. He intimated that he would try to sign with an eastern club in the All-America conference...On the field, the Packer manufactured four interesting chapters of football Saturday and the following day put on their Sunday clothes for the annual go with Mr. Cameraman. The first half of the contest, officiated by the coaches, was scoreless but things began to pop in the third when Blue quarterback Herman Rohrig heaved a 30-yard pass to rookie end Red Wilson to the White 25-yard line. Here the Whites stiffened and Ward Cuff, the toe specialist, booted a 37-yard field goal to give the Blues a 3-0 edge...TIME FOR TOUCHDOWN: Somebody said it was the fourth quarter, and, of course, time for touchdowns. The Whites blistered back with a touchdown on the next series as Bruce Smith wheeled off tackle behind Ken Keuper's sturdy blocking and skipped 55 yards into pay territory. The Blues, quarterbacked by Rohrig, came back a moment later to go ahead, 10-7, as Wilson went all the way to the three yard line on a 20-yard pass from Rohrig and a 15-yard run. Giant Bob McDougal, former Oconto and Miami fullback, lugged it over. With only three minutes to go, quarterback Jack Jacobs moved his White team down the field for the winning touchdown. He ran 12 yards, passed to Clyde Goodnight for 15 and followed three rushes with a 35-yard toss to Goodnight, which put the ball on the three-yard stripe. Right half Keuper, ace of the contest, took a pass from Jacobs for the winning marker. No extra points were tried but the assumption was that "we'll make 'em anyway."...THREE DAYS AT QUARTERBACK: Besides Keuper, Wilson, Goodnight, Jacobs and Smith, outstanding jobs were turned in by Urban Odson, veteran tackle; ends Nolan Luhn and Don Wells; halfback Bob Forte and veteran quarterback and left half Irv Comp. Incidentally, Comp had worked only three days at quarterback. Baxter Jarrell, rookie tackle, looked good at times. There were four men on the sidelines with injuries. They included rookies Ralph Grant, quarterback; Ralph Tate, halfback; Fred Nielsen, tackle; and veteran fullback Walt Schlinkman. Baby Ray, the Packers' veteran 10-year man at tackle, reported Friday and, feeling in good condition, worked a good deal of the game.
ATLAS CUFF SNAPS IRON PIPE; STILL NO CRAIG
AUG 12 (Green Bay) - Ed Neal, the big Packer guard, has a rival for his position as the strongest man in pro football. He is Ward (Atlas) Cuff, veteran right halfback who has been around the play-for-pay whirl for over 10 years. Cuff nudged Neal for the honorary strong man ranking by cracking off an iron pipe and an iron spring with one nudge of his pad-less shoulders during Monday's practice. The iron pipe supports a circular stuffed pad about five feet tall and the spring forms a base under the padding. Cuff's backfield was running through a play when he brushed against the dummy lineman which is supported in the ground on the pipe. The entire practice was halted a few minutes while the players and coaches pondered over two things: (1) Cuff's strength; and (2) an inferior grade of pipe iron...Coach Curly Lambeau is anxiously awaiting the arrival of end Larry Craig who was to report over the weekend. Craig's appearance would alleviate some of the suffering now being experienced by the four wings - Nolan Luhn, Don Wells, Clyde Goodnight and Red Wilson. Each has been losing from eight to nine pounds per practice session, although they gain it back before the next drill. When two teams operate against each other, the four ends must work continually. Ralph Davis, the University of Wisconsin guard, has been switched to end temporarily on defense. Though he's too short for regular duty at end, Davis is fast and likes his assignment...Ted Fritsch, all-league fullback who led the NFL with 100 points last season, is still overweight. The extra poundage has slowed him up considerably which automatically hinders the timing of the backfield. Bob McDougal, a conscientious guy who fears exile to Oconto, and veteran Walt Schlinkman have been pushing Fritsch hard. McDougal, a big bruiser, is fast while Schlinkman
is back in stride after an injury. The fourth fullback, ex-Purdue Ed Cody, is working out with the College All-Stars and will report here the morning of the Packer-New York game at City stadium Aug. 23...PIGSKINNERS: Irv Comp, recently turned quarterback, turned in an exceptional passing performance Monday together with Jack Jacobs, Ralph Grant and Herman Rohrig. The effects of Saturday's scrimmage was noticeable Monday when the squad looked much smoother. Tony Canadeo, left halfback, has foot trouble and worked out in rubber shoes. All of the other cripples are back - tackle Red Nielsen, halfback Ralph Tate, Grant and Schlinkman. Two-a-day drills are scheduled all this week - heat or not. Despite the baseball weather Monday, business was booming at the Packer ticket window in the Legion building on Walnut street all day. During the noon hour, there were as many as 20 fans waiting in line at one time. Most of the sales are season tickets for the three league games here (Bears Sept. 29, Cardinals Oct. 12, Detroit Oct. 26) and ducats for the Giant-Packer exhibition Aug. 23 - a week from next Saturday night.
MR. WEBB HAS RIVAL IN GRAHAM
AUG 13 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers have another Babe Webb. He is Joseph Graham, elusive end. Mr. Webb, in case your memory is spotty, first signed with the Packers in 1942 and finally reported in 1945 after missing the boat twice from his native Hawaii. Graham signed his first Packer contract in 1945 and was due to report last week - "for sure". Webb's difficulties were, in part, promoted by the war, because at the time it was no cinch for a civilian to gain passage to the States from Hawaii. However, he made shore in 1944, but, for some doggoned reason, didn't show up until the following year. He stayed for about a month and then all of sudden disappeared. Now comes Graham. Mr. Joseph, a star at the University of Florida, had various excuses for not reporting in 1945 and 1946, and his last word (Aug, 4, 1947) was that he was driving his folks from Florida to Oklahoma and "I'll be up there when I complete the trip." It's going on two weeks now and Coach Curly Lambeau is wondering just how much Mr. Graham wants to play football. Anyhow, it's safe to assume that Joseph will have to get ready in a big hurry if he expects to make the 1947 squad which has five sure-fire wing shooters - veterans Larry Craig, Nolan Luhn, Don Wells and Clyde Goodnight and veteran Red Wilson. Speaking about Craig, a nine-year man, the Packers are anxiously awaiting his arrival. Larry, unlike Webb and Graham, has been keeping in touch with the Packer office. The last word, received Tuesday, is that he will report next weekend. Craig's trouble is finding a capable man to handle his farm in Ninety Six, N.C. Larry still is unsigned, but it's his usual procedure to ink his working papers when "ah gets there". The temperature was buzzing around 92 when your pro football representatives advanced their training in preparation for the NFL's newest campaign. Everybody wore pads and a sort of half and half scrimmage was held, although the ball was always brought back to the same spot. The linemen batted into each other, and, among other items, Ed Neal, the ferocious guard, had an immense amount of pleasure dumping the center into the quarterbacks' respective laps. Another guard for a time, however, was placed opposite Neal and the two had quite a fuss. His name is Damon Tassos, the mane received from Detroit in trade for Merv Pregulman. After bucking heads with Mr. Neal, Damon probably will find other guards around the league so much putty. Three of the quarterbacks looked mighty good again. The fourth, Ralph Grant, had some trouble getting off his slick passes under the heat of charging linemen. The three are Jack Jacobs, Irv Comp and Herman Rohrig. Comp was particularly accurate and gave opposing linemen a headache when he ran. Pass defense occupied a good part of the scrimmage and a couple of performers left a sweet taste for the coaching staff. Though the heat didn't disappoint, the athletes got out in sweat suits (ugh, ugh) for a workout Tuesday afternoon. As a clincher Tuesday morning, the athletes decided to have a bit of fun. Immediately after the practice, Captain Charley Brock, Neal and Rohrig scooped up George Strickler, the publicity chief and general manager's aide who was wearing shorts and a T shirt, placed him on a canvas chair and aimed a cooling stream of water at him. Brock poured while Neal and Rohrig held his arms. The occasion? It was Strickler's 44th birthday.
EX-PACKER BECOMES SPORTS ANNOUNCER
AUG 13 (Milwaukee) - Joseph (Red) Dunn, former Marquette university and Green Bay Packer football sat, said Tuesday he would become a sports announcer over a new Milwaukee radio station, WEXT, this fall. Dunn said he would handle the broadcasts of Wisconsin home games with Purdue, California, Marquette and Michigan, and Marquette home games with San Francisco and Villanova.
BELL SEEKING PERFECT HARMONY BETWEEN GRID LEAGUE, COLLEGES
AUG 13 (Philadelphia) - Commissioner Bert Bell of the NFL today proposed a three-point program aimed at "perfect harmony between colleges and pro football." The commissioner said he will meet with NCAA representatives and other college officials next week in Chicago with the following suggestions in mind: 1. That no player with college eligibility be signed by any club in the NFL without the consent of the head of the conference or association or of the head football coach of the college. 2. That the colleges permit their employees and college football officials to officiate in the NFL. 3. That the colleges remove any rules, restrictions or discrimination against any professional football player becoming a member of a college football coaching staff. The league already has a rule against NFL clubs dickering with college players until their class has graduated.
NFL, AAC WILL JOIN, INGRAM PREDICTS AGAIN
AUG 13 (San Diego) - Adm. Jonas Ingram, outspoken enough to tell the Navy after his recent retirement that it was "too big", will start a countrywide tour Saturday during which he will expound his idea that professional football should also trims sails. His first stop, Ingram said, will be Chicago, where he'll watch the annual All-Star contest. During the rest of his extended trip he will take in 28 other games. He declared he was still standing by his prediction that the All-American conference and the National league would "get together" within a year, trimming and consolidating. This would include agreement on the draft of college players, adjustment of schedules and trimming of franchises. In the latter matter, Bojens said Ingram has in mind the transfer by the National league to the All-America of one of its Chicago clubs and reciprocal action by the latter league in New York.
IT'S OFFENSE VERSUS DEFENSE; NATCH
AUG 14 (Green Bay) - As is usually the case, offense will be meeting defense when the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants collide at City stadium Saturday night, Aug. 23. The Offense vs. Defense phase of the Packer-Giant football mix is quite unusual for a couple of good reasons. Coach Steve Owen and his line pilot, Red Smith, have been in the habit of pounding the easiest side of preseason training defense. This means that the New Yorkers will be several steps ahead of the Packers in this department. Owen is of the belief that his offense will come along by itself during the exhibitions, and that the biggest problem is keeping the team from scoring. Coach Curly Lambeau and his staff, however, think along a different line. Lambeau's big card has five letters on it, and they spell out s-c-o-r-e. For the past two weeks, 80 percent of the drills have been spent on offense, ways and means of scoring. Lambeau doesn't generally believe that old saw about "the best defense being the best offense" although he was forced to do so last year when his aerial offense folded. The Giants will send two of the best lines in the league against the Packers, providing a perfect test for what the Green Bays have to offer offensively. Exclusive of ends, the Giant wall composed of Jim White, 220 pounds, right tackle; Len Younce, 218, right guard; Chet Gladchuk, 235, center; Bob Dobelstein, 220, left guard; and Tex Coulter, 264, left tackle, was considered by Bear Coach George Halas as one of the best he saw last year. This group is intact for 1947. The Bears, incidentally, gave this line trouble in the opener, an exhibition, last year but in the next meeting in New York the Bears were shut out by the same wall. The New Yorkers went on to win the Eastern division championship but fell in the title playoff with the Bears...The Packers pounded their offense again in Wednesday's drill and the coaches were 50 percent satisfied. Most of the plays, particularly the passing maneuvers, worked beautifully, but the running was off color. A terrific wind blowing out of the southeast raised havoc with the passing and on long heaves the wind seemed to give the ball an extra 10-yard ride - generally in the wrong direction. Ralph Tate, rookie left halfback, suffered a hamstring pull on a run through center and went to the training room. He was to be ready for today...Along the business front, Chief Maurice Kemper, the Legion's director of ticket sales for the Packer Legion game, reported the sale of tickets as "good". Tickets may be obtained at the Legion building during the day and at the Legion office until 8 o'clock each evening. The Legion has a large number of salesman who are also handling tickets, in addition to agencies throughout the Fox valley. Superior, where the Giants are training, will send down a trainload of fans for the contest.
PACKERS DEBUT V-FORMATION HERE
AUG 15 (Green Bay) - After watching the Green Bay Bluejays score three touchdowns and kick the extra points (21-3) last night, it is difficult to distinguish a football from a baseball today. However, the New York Giant-Green Bay Packer fuss being only nine days away (Aug. 23 at City stadium), it might be well to "touchdown" on football even though that pigskin at Rockwood Lodge this morning looked like something they used at Joannes park last night. Anyhow, the subject for today's gridiron sermon might well be termed: "The Quick-Opening" by Harry Griswold. Whoops, pardon, the author is Curly Lambeau. (Those baseballs are flying around here.) Here's the point: When the Packers and Giants collide at City stadium a week from Saturday night, you all (that's southern talk, suh) will see a Packer team using the quick-opening formation for the first time since 1932 when quarterback Red Dunn retired to a life of selling insurance in Milwaukee, which later developed somehow into a sports broadcasting career. Now 1932 is 15 years ago, so we'll try to explain what's going to happen when the Packers get the ball the first time Aug. 23. The backfield (one of them at least) will have Indian Jack Jacobs (Dunn) standing just a shade to the left or right of center. The left half, Bruce Smith (Verne Lewellen), is about five steps almost directly back of the center and fullback Ted Fritsch (Bo Molenda) is opposite Smith. Viewed from the opposing backfield, these three form a "V" which is where the term V-formation originated. Right half Bob Forte (Johnny Blood) is off to the right or left somewhere near the end. The right wing has sometimes been called the handled to the "V"...DECEPTION UNDER CENTER: The principle, of course, is to give the backs a running start for those quick-opening slits in the line on the handoff from the quarterback. Since 1932, the ball was passed directly back to one of the halfbacks or fullback before the magic took place. Now the deception occurs almost under the center. On passing, and you'll probably see plenty of it, the quarterback will either go straight back or stand in the "pocket" to deliver his strikes, 'tis respectively hoped. On occasion, the ball may be centered to the left half who also can pass...The daily practice at Rockwood continued for the Green Bays today, and there was a bit of rough stuff although not a scrimmage. For the fourth time this week, Lambeau drilled his passing, with Jacobs, Irv Comp, Ralph Grant and Herman Rohrig on the throwing end. This type of drill accomplished a double purpose, the second being pass defense. Everybody worked hard except left half Ralph Tate, who had an official excuse because he's suffering from a leg injury. Tate will take it east from now until the Giant game when Lambeau expects to give him a thorough test...Latest news from Ninety Six, S.C., is that Larry Craig will arrive here this weekend. His last wire to Lambeau revealed that he has found a capable man to operate his farm. From Superior, where the Giants are training, comes word that the New Yorks will stage their first intra-squad game at Virginia, Minn., in preparation for their exhibition in Green Bay. All 46 candidates are expected to see action in the tilt except Jim White, tackle, Chet Gladchuk, center, and Frank Liebel, end, who are recovering from injuries. And from Waukesha is the news that Coach Jim Conzelman called his Chicago Cardinals together after a tough two-hour dummy scrimmage Thursday, loaded the gridders into eight automobiles, and took them to nearby Oconomowoc for an all-afternoon beach party, plus a fundamental drill.
PROTECT PASSER! NO, RUSH HIM!
AUG 16 (Green Bay) - In order to complete a forward pass, the guy who throws said pass must be protected; in order to keep said passer from throwing he must be rushed off his feet. Since the Green Bay Packers are interested in the Offensive and Defensive ends of football, Coach Curly Lambeau sent his charges through a long session of protecting - and at the same time - rushing the passer. It was a brutal hour of rough stuff designed to break up the New York Giants' pass attack and to polish the Packer aerial game for that first game at City stadium August 23 - one week from tonight. The defense held the upper hand, which means that the Packer passing attack suffered. Chief varmints of the Pass Breaking Up Society were Don Wells, the right right end, and Bob McDougal, the fullback who filled in at left end. Wells got in considerably to smother the passers. With Line Coach Walt Kiesling spurred both the offensive and defensive lines on, the boys' defense seemed to cause the most damage. Dick Wildung, sophomore guard from Minnesota, anticipated the call one time and leaped clean over the center and took the ball out of the quarterback's mitts. Damon Tassos and Ed Neal, also guards, also practiced that Neal specialty - dumping the center into the quarterback's laps. Though it was misery on the offensive club, it was good practice for both the offense and defense. Jack Jacobs got off the most passes as he danced in and out of the arms of would-be tacklers...After this phase of the drill, Lambeau gave a brief, but sharp, speech. He announced that there will be two "overweight" tables for "you boys who are too heavy." He ordered them to "lay off desserts and if you're hungry eat all the salad you want." The Friday afternoon drill was called off to give the athletes a rest before the scrimmage this morning. Lambeau urged the players to stay off their feet and that, of course, meant no golf. After Lambeau's talk, the players ran through 20 minutes of plays in front of the practice dummies and finished off with the daily sprints...The ticket sale for the Packer-Legion game is stepping up, according to Chief Kemper, Legion director of ticket sales. The 14 agencies around the Fox Valley have already sold out and one has requested an order for more tickets. This means, said Kemper, that "Green Bay fans had better not waste any time." Giant-Packer ducats are sold at the Packer office and the Legion office in the Legion building on Walnut street.
JACOBS' PITCHING REVIVES SPARK IN GREEN BAY CAMP
AUG 16 (Green Bay) - Nights are peaceful and serene for Curly Lambeau again. When he wants to go to sleep, he doesn't count sheep; he merely counts the passes Jack Jacobs completed in the day's workouts. The big Indian, who wanted to be a Ram and eventually was told by George Marshall that he couldn't even be a Redskin, has just about wiped away the memories of all those days last fall when the Green Bay Packers pleaded for a pass and got a cross buck. Fifteen days of drills have established that the Packers, once the most feared aerial combination in football are back in the air again with an attack that eventually must command a great deal of respect from championship rivals. Jacobs' chief "catcher" has been Gene Wilson of Southern Methodist, who has done a grand job of snaring everything thrown his way the last two weeks. The great work of these two boys has revived talk of a possible Isbell-Hutson combination blossoming out, which would certainly mean bad news for the rest of the National League clubs. Jacobs' performance has lifted the entire squad. Not only has the former Oklahoma star, whom Tom Stidham once called the greatest halfback in America, shown the way in passing, but his kicking has been sensational, and on defense he has been sufficiently impressive to guarantee him pretty steady employment for the greater part of every Sunday afternoon starting September 28. Six feet 1 1/2 inches and 190 pounds, Jacobs has fit perfectly into the original Packer system which Lambeau is reviving this fall for the first time since Red Dunn, Verne Lewellen, Bo Molenda and Johnny Blood passed from the Green Bay lineup. Paced by Jacobs, such veteran performers as Herman Rohrig and Irv Comp, two men who have had a tendency in the past to be hot and cold, have managed to remain hot in the first two weeks of drills. With 15 rookies in camp, every one of whom has a chance to survive the final cuts, the Packers will present their share of new faces in this season of great turnovers. Outstanding among the newcomers are Ralph Tate, a hurdle champion who came up from Oklahoma A&M as a right halfback, but soon was shifted to the tailback spot; Bill McPartland, a 6 foot four inch tackle from St. Mary's and Bob McDougal, a 205 pound fullback from the University of Miami, a native of Oconto. Ray Piotrowski, a Milwaukee high school product, will back up Capt. Charlie Brock and Buddy Gatewood at center and there seems little prospect that anyone will get Ralph Grant out of the third quarterback spot, although Comp is being groomed there in addition to left half just for emergency. Although offense, with special emphasis on passing, has been the watchword at every drill, the Packers' defense again looms as the same powerful dissuader with which Green Bay led the league last year. Such veterans as Baby Ray, Ed Neal, Tiny Croft, Urban Odson, Paul Lipscomb, Dick Wildung and Brock will enable Lambeau to field as big a line as there is in the league.
TWO PACKERS HURT
AUG 16 (Green Bay) - Halfback Tony Canadeo and guard Dick Wildung, two veterans who figure heavily in Coach Curly Lambeau's plans, were sent to the hospital today as the Packers engaged in their second scrimmage of the training season. Canadeo suffered a shoulder dislocated when tackled viciously by Ken Keuper, veteran right halfback on the victorious White side, and Wildung came up from beneath a line buck with an injured leg. Team physician Dr. Henry S. Atkinson said he expected to have both men ready for the New York Giants in Green Bay next Saturday night. Before his ill-fated attempt to run over Keuper along the sidelines, Canadeo had starred in the scrimmage. Jack Jacobs led the White backfield and gradually led it goalward with a six yard pass to Keuper for a touchdown. Several minutes later, after a Blue fumble, he passed 12 yards to rookie Gene Wilson, the sparkplug of the White attack, for the winning touchdown. Bruce Smith made the final score, 21 to 7, with a 36 yard run for touchdown.
PACKERS HAVE HOPES - FOR MANY REASONS
AUG 17 (Milwaukee Sentinel-Lloyd Larson) - A wave of optimism out of Green Bay is nothing new at this time of the year, to be sure. But there is something more definite about the 1947 model cheery outlook, judging by all reports from Rockwood Lodge, where the Packers are bearing down. Boss Curly Lambeau figures he's well stacked at every position with the possible exception of center. Even there, the presence of Charlie Brock makes up for lack of depth. Buddy Gatewood is the only other reliable pivot man. The end situation is improved with the addition of Gene Wilson, late of Southern Methodist, and Bob Skoglund of Notre Dame. Ditto the tackles, where Bill McPartland, Baxter Jarrell and Fred Nielson should give Baby Ray, Urban Odson, Paul Lipscomb and Tiny Croft the necessary help. Shifting of Dick Wildung, plus the signing of Monte Moncrief and the deal for Damon Tassos, served to brighten the guard picture. A mid-winter operation is said to have made a new man of Bruce Smith. Other holdover backs - like Ted Fritsch, Walt Schlinkman, Herman Rohrig, Bob Forte and Ken Keuper - are said to be as good or better than a year ago. The pro league veteran, Ward Cuff, is bound to help, as are newcomers Ralph Grant, Ralph Tate, Bob McDougal and Ed Cody...THE HEAT'S ON JACOBS FOR SURE: There's new spirit and the players are said to be strong for Lambeau's new (or revival of the old) basic formation. But all these elements of cheer, important as they are, won't spell championship without Jack Jacobs, the passing wizard. Lambeau made no secret of the fact that he pinned his hopes on Indian Jack when he swing the deal with Washington for his services. And he hasn't changed his mind. Irv Comp, Rohrig, Grant and Canadeo can and will do some chucking. But for the championship variety, Jacobs is the man. If he fails - well, the Packers will undoubtedly play interesting ball, but the mid-December title playoff very likely will be out of their reach. So the heat's on the Indian for sure.
BAYS SPEED UP DRILLS FOR GAME WITH GIANTS
AUG 18 (Green Bay) - Irv Comp and Jack Jacobs, a pair of tall, strong armed triple threat veterans, took commanding leads in the fight for the regular quarterback assignment today as the Green Bay Packers speeded up drills for their opening exhibition game against the New York Giants in Green Bay Saturday night. Comp and Jacobs starred in a long passing drill as the emphasis in the Packer camp continued to be offense. Ted Fritsch, the overweight fullback and captain of the fat man's table, again held a marked edge over Roy McKay, league champion, and Jacobs in the punting drill. Larry Craig, the veteran blocking back, who will be shifted to end, put in a belated appearance this morning.
PUSH TICKET SALE FOR N.Y. GIANTS TILT SATURDAY NIGHT; CRAIG HERE
AUG 18 (Green Bay) - This is Packer-Giant Week, the time when all good Green Bay professional football followers start to discuss, seriously, the Packers' chances in the 1947 National league campaign. This verbal banter will reach a focus point next Saturday night when the Packers and New York Giants collide in City stadium in the first of four exhibitions for the Bays. They'll invade Pittsburgh Aug. 29, meet Boston in Milwaukee Sept. 14 and then close with Washington in Baltimore Sept. 21 before starting league fire with the Chicago Bears at City stadium Sept. 29. From now until kickoff time, the Packers will be drilling and going over plans that they hope will launch their season on a victory footing. At the same time, the Packer front office and the Sullivan-Wallen post No. 11, American Legion, have stepped up the ticket sale for the contest which is the second annual sponsored by the Legion post. Proceeds will go into the post's building fund. A shot of cool weather Friday and Saturday spurted the ticket sale and, despite the heat today, the post's army of salesmen and the tellers in the Packer and Legion ticket office in the Legion building reported "good sales". Meanwhile, the Packers went back to serious work this morning, diving into a bit of rough stuff with the keynote on timing, downfield blocking and getting down under punts. There was a newcomer in the Rockwood Lodge camp - one Larry Craig, the veteran end from Ninety Six, S.C. Craig was delayed two weeks while he looked for a capable man to handle his forms. He's expected to sign this week. Coach Curly Lambeau conducted the second full-length scrimmage for the Bays Saturday, with the White team posting a 21-7 victory. The stiff workout revealed that the Packers are about two weeks ahead of their 1946 schedule. The morale of the players and smoothness of operation, despite installation of the quick-opening V-formation, are far advanced over last year...MAKE STIFFEST COMPETITION: For the scrimmage, the two squads were evenly balanced and linemen and backs were switched from one team to the other to give both outfits the stiffest competition possible. The coaches, spectators and players shuddered midway in the battle when Tony Canadeo, left half veteran, suffered a dislocated shoulder when tackles by White back Ken Keuper, who pulled a muscle Sunday. Canadeo went to the training room immediately. Dr. H.S. Atkinson, club physician, X-rayed the member and discovered no break, although the Gonzaga flash won't be ready for the Giant fray. Until he was injured, Canadeo had himself a sweet time. He peeled off 56 yards earlier in the game but official Don Hutson said he was offside, and just before Keuper came in with his tackle Canadeo ripped off three 15-yard chunks. The only other injuree was Dick Wildung, sophomore guard, who bruised his leg. Wildung, like Canadeo, probably will be held out of the Giant contest. With Walt Schlinkman pounding out long gains, the Blues took a 7-0 lead with Irv Comp plunging over. The Whites bounced into a tie as Jack Jacobs completed three long passes to Gene Wilson, the SMU star, and one to Keuper for the touchdown. A moment later, Jacobs pegged 12 yards to Wilson in the end zone for another White touchdown. Near the end, Bruce Smith sped off tackle and outraced the secondary in a 36-yard touchdown jaunt for Whites. Wilson gave a brilliant performance both on offense and defense. Wilson was one of four end who played the entire game, the others being Don Wells, Clyde Goodnight and Nolan Luhn. Veteran center Buddy Gatewood and rookie guard Ralph Davis starred in line play together with Wilson. Schlinkman's pounding kept the Blue team in the game. Bob McDougal, another fullback, showed up well.
POWERFUL NEW YORK LINE COULD BLOCK PACKERS' CHANCES HERE
AUG 19 (Green Bay) - On the train coming back from New York last fall, Tiny Croft remarked: "That Coulter ain't so hot." Croft, Green Bay Packer tackle, had just finished his first experience with the then highly-publicized DeWitt Coulter who dropped out of West Point because of deficiency in mathematics after being rated as the Army's greatest all-time tackle. Not generally a boastful individual, Giant Croft went on to tell his buddies that "I knocked him around a couple of times and he didn't appear any better than the average pro tackle." Tiny probably had himself a big time against Coulter but the West Point ace was green as the grass that covered the Polo Grounds; it was DeWitt's first major league game. The 255-pound ex-Army lieutenant apparently learned something about football mathematics because he helped the Giants to the Eastern division championships and was named on several Eastern all-league teams. When the Packers and Giants collide at City stadium Saturday night, Croft and Coulter will meet somewhere along the line and Tiny, who can really explode if he so desires, will get another chance to see just how much Coulter has improved. The two clubs didn't meet during the championship season last year. The line play in Saturday night's struggle will probably be a feature of the night. Last year the Giants finished the season with the best line in the league. This year the new material promises to be such that the "Gladchuk line" and the "DeFilippo Line" might well be the two best in the loop, but no one can say which will be better. Bill Hacten of Stanford, Tom Reilly of Fordham and John Zeger, a discovery of Red Badgro, the Giants' all-time end, will give even such standbys as Len Younce and Bob Dobelstein a run for their positions...FLANKS ARE UNTURNABLE?: The tackle corps is led by Coulter and Jim White with Frank Cope and Phil Ragazzo right behind. At end, Poole (Ray, that is), Sigurd Jensen and Ed Kaminski are three top-notch rookies who will help to make the flanks unturnable. Hachten is labeled as the Giants' best guard prospect since 1941 - and that's the year Younce was a rookie. Bill Schuler might beat out either White or Coulter for a starting tackle assignment - he's that good. That about wraps up the Giants' line which, incidentally, is coached by Red Smith, ex-Packer line pilot. The Packers will attempt to do the same at City stadium - and carry it into pay dirt...The Packers went through rugged drills Monday and today, and came out with an injury list containing 10 men some of whom were injured in the Saturday scrimmage. Three of the injurees probably won't see action against the Giants - guard Dick Wildung and halfbacks Tony Canadeo and Andy Uram. Canadeo has a shoulder dislocation; Wildung has an inured leg; and Uram a bad foot. Others on the hurt list who will play Saturday are backs Ken Keuper, Ralph Tate and Walt Schlinkman, muscle pulls; back Roy Mckay and Croft, knee; tackle Baxter Jarrell, hand; and fullback Ted Fritsch who is bothered with that terrible disease known as Overweight. Fritsch, however, is working overtime every day in an attempt to get his weight down and his wind up...PRO ROUNDUP: Chris Iverson will be the only rookie back starting for New York. He is 6-2 and weighs 210...Larry Craig really means business. The Packer left end, who's starting his ninth season, made a 1,400-mile non-stop trip from his farm in Ninety Six, S.C., to Green Bay to participate in the long drill Monday...Jimmy Conzelman reports from Waukesha that there is nothing wrong with his Cardinals that another good end and guard couldn't cure...Best quote of the day came from Detroit Coach Gus Dorais: "The Lions are through playing dead for the rest of the league; anybody who thinks we'll be the soft touch we proved to be last season can roll up his sleeves and get set for a few surprises." Gus calls his new formation the Detroit "T" or for brevity's sake: the "D-T".
CURLY LAMBEAU STORMS ABOUT SHABBY BLOCKING
AUG 19 (Green Bay) - Only five days away from their first exhibition of the season, a game with the New York Giants here Saturday night, the Green Bay Packers Monday were roundly chided by Coach Curly Lambeau. Downfield blocking in Saturday's scrimmage was less effective than any he has ever seen, Lambeau said. "Ball games are won and lost on details," he said. "Downfield blocking is a detail without which no offense can go. We'll have downfield blocking or we'll have something else - very drastic." Meanwhile, double sessions will be held daily as Lambeau seeks to perfect enough offense to carry the Packers by the encounter. With five men in the all-star camp and five on the hospital list, only 31 men will be available to face the eastern division champions. Backs Tony Canadeo and Andy Uram and guard Dick Wildung in all probability will not take part in anything rough until the Pittsburgh game August 29. Uram, attempting a comeback, has been hobbling on a bad ankle for a week. Larry Craig, veteran blocking back, who will be shifted to end this season, reported Monday and immediately took part in the drills.
OWEN PICKS BACKFIELD FOR PACKER GAME
AUG 19 (Superior) - Coach Steve Owen sent his New York Giants through two heavy workouts Monday and had more of the same on the books for his squad Tuesday. The drills were specifically in preparation for the Giants' exhibition with the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay Saturday. Owen indicated Emery Nix, Bill Paschal, George Franck and rookie Chris Iverson, husky blocking back from Oregon, would be in the starting backfield Saturday.
PACKER BEEF TRUST ON DISPLAY
AUG 20 (Green Bay) - Now that the New York Giant line had been exploded to the high heavens, it is time to report on the Green Bay Packer wall. In the interests of the ticket office and good reporting, it must be added that the above-mentioned masses of blood and guts will collide at City stadium at 8 o'clock Saturday night. That's just 72 hours away, Bub. Walter Kiesling, the easy-going Packer line mentor who is starting his 22nd year in professional football, has been quietly forming the 1947 Packer front wall at Rockwood Lodge for the last three weeks. Big Walt, rarely in an optimistic mood like Boss Man Curly Lambeau, isn't shouting the praises of his 1947 beef trust, but neither is he moaning and groaning. Let's start with the tackles and work toward the center, and leave the ends for another night when space will permit. These are facts, mind you, and no uncalled for rhubarb: From tackle to tackle, the 19 Packer linemen total 4,400 pounds for an average of 231.5 The seven tackles weigh 1,720 pounds for an average of 245.7; the nine guards 2,060 pounds for an average of 228.8; and the three centers 620 for an average of 206.6. Three of the 16 will be playing for the College All-Stars against the Bears in Chicago Friday night and probably won't be used against the Giants. They are tackle Bill McPartland of St. Mary and guard Ray Clemons of St. Mary and Monte Moncrief of Texas A. and M. Other Packers in the game are fullback Ed Cody, Purdue, and end Bob Skoglund, Notre Dame. If it comes to a battle of weights, the Packers can field a line that averages 255 pounds per individual with Tiny Croft (280) and Paul Lipscomb (245) at the tackles; Ed Neal (290) and Damon Tassos (225) at the guards; and little Charley Brock (210) at center. Though the boys are still battling for those so-called No. 1 positions, and there is always the possibility of a change, the top offensive guards are Tassos and Dick Wildung, both speedy boys who can pull out and block. Defensively, Neal and Tassos lead the parade. Spelling this trio are rookies Ed Bell, Clemons, Ralph Davis, Monte Moncrief and Howie Tollefson and veteran Wilder Collins...BIG YEAR FOR ODSON: At tackles, the best lookers thus far are veteran Baby Ray and Lipscomb although they'll be getting competition galore from veterans Croft and Urban Odson who is ticketed for a big season. Rookie tackles are Baxter Jarrell, Red Nielson and McPartland. Buddy Gatewood, the Texan who gave a great performance in last week's scrimmage, will share most of the center duties with the talented Brock, the team's captain. Ray Piotrowski is the third center and faces a tough job. Anyhow, these are the men who face the task of stopping what the New York Giants call "the two best lines in pro football" at City stadium Saturday night...The heavy rain was welcomed at Rockwood Lodge for the cool breezes it carried. However, the field was slightly flooded after the heavy deluge this morning, but practice went on as usual. Coach Curly Lambeau ordered some rough stuff today and will taper off Thursday. The chief worry was play execution and downfield blocking. Ed Bell, new guard, came up with a sore shoulder Tuesday but will be ready for duty Saturday night...At Superior, Gordon Paschka, former Minnesota guard but now a back, scored two touchdowns as the New York Giants second team defeated the varsity, 18-6, Tuesday as the Giants prepared for the special game with their traditional NFL rivals, the Packers. Paschka, perhaps the outstanding rookie in camp, plunged through the line for his tallies. Frank Regan, former Penn star, made the other second team score with a spectacular run, while Wild Bill Paschal raced 15 yards through guard for the only varsity counter.
PACKERS FEAR GOPHER BACK
AUG 20 (Green Bay) - Defense was added to the Green Bay Packers' two a day program Wednesday as Coach Curly Lambeau continued to drive the squad in preparation for Saturday night's opening game against the New York Giants in Green Bay. Reports on the Giants' intersquad game in Virginia, Minn., last week caused Lambeau to switch his defensive plans, originally designed to handle Bill Paschal, ground gaining champion in 1944 and 1945. Paschal was forced into a back seat in the Virginia exhibition by Gordon Paschka. Pashcka, a guard who wasn't good enough to stay in the league a year ago, has come back from the Giants' Jersey City farm as a fullback whom stout Steve Owen has publicly acclaimed as the "greatest thing since Nagurski." A Bierman product at Minnesota, Paschka won the American league ground gaining title last year and made an auspicious start as a major league fullback by going 80 yards in three consecutive plays against Owen's varsity line last week.
PASCHKA SCORES TWICE AS GIANTS SCRIMMAGE
AUG 20 (Superior) - Gordon Paschka, former Minnesota guard but now a back, scored two touchdowns as the New York Giants reserves defeated the varsity, 18-6, in a practice scrimmage Tuesday. Paschka, outstanding rookie in camp here, plunged from inside the 10 for both of his tallies. Frank Reagan, former Penn star, scored the other touchdown for the reserves on a 50 yard run. Bill Paschal raced 15 yards through guard for the only varsity tally. The Giants will meet the Green Bay Packers at Green Bay Saturday night.
AFTER 28 YEARS, G.W. CALHOUN WILL SEE HIS FIRST GRID KICKOFF
AUG 21 (Green Bay) - One of the most prominent behind-the-scenes figures in the Green Bay Packers' rise to a power in professional football will be absent from the City stadium's official picture this fall for the first time in 28 years. He is George Whitney Calhoun, secretary of the Green Bay Football corporation from 1923 through 1940 and its publicity director from 1923 until his retirement March 15 of this year. Actually, "Cal" is as old as the Packers themselves, having called the first meeting of Green Bay's original team at the bowling alleys of Hagemeister park at the behest of E.L. (Curly) Lambeau, the man who was later to guide his elevens to six NFL championships...BEGAN PASSING THE HAT: During the first three years of the Packers' independent existence (1919-20-21) and even after they entered the NFL, the successor to the American Professional Football association. Calhoun, besides handling the team's publicity from his Press-Gazette sports desk, also served it as manager and general factotum. In those days, one of his functions was to utilize his fedora as a collection plate along the sidelines at Hagemeister park, asking spectators to chip with a coin or two to help defray expenses. Later, he was to see the day when thousands of fans were eager to part with their folding money to watch his self-styled "ponderous pachyderms" in action. Although there is no way of tracing, Cal probably is the pioneer in disseminating information to the press in the NFL. He also was the first to begin compiling his own team's statistics, and the first to publish a yearbook, which ultimately grew into a handsomely bound volume, as a guide to radio and newspaper men, throughout the country...WAS ATHLETE IN BUFFALO: Cal, who has
been on the Press-Gazette's editorial department for nearly 30 years, was the first to turn out a weekly news sheet - the Packer Football News - faithfully sent to upwards of one hundred newspapers over the nation, which he edited from Jan. 5, 1938 to April 30, 1947. Though a little known fact hereabouts, Calhoun was something of an athlete in his own time, distinguishing himself in hockey, football and baseball at the University of Buffalo. Generally recognized as the Packers' official historian, the retired publicitor also has his roots in the history of the city itself. One of Green Bay's parks, Whitney, is named for his maternal forebears, who donated the land on which the park now stands and an elementary school here also bears the family name. He was born in this area, Sept. 16, 1890..WILL CONTINUE TO WRITE: His active career over he will continue as a member of the board of directors of the Green Bay Packers, Inc., of which he is a charter member and at the games he will occupy his customary seat near the sidelines. After having missed every kickoff since the Packers have been in the NFL because his presence was required at the press pass gate, he will not be able to see a full 60 minutes of play. Calhoun intends to keep his typewriter in football. Working in conjunction with an eastern writer he has already wrapped up a magazine article about the "Pro Football Capital of the Middle West". He also plans to write a history of the NFL based on his game by game records which are complete in every detail since the Packers entered the circuit in 1921. Bert Bell, commissioner of the NFL, on being advised that Cal had resigned, wrote him a letter expressing regret. Two of Bell's paragraphs follow: "For the league members and myself, I want you to know how deeply we appreciate what you have done for the Packers and the NFL. I think your proposed book of a history of the NFL will be a great thing for the league and if I can be of any service to you kindly call on me immediately."
GIANTS CLAIM BEST PUNTER, FULLBACK; PACKERS DISSENT HERE SATURDAY NIGHT
AUG 21 (Green Bay) - The New York Giants claim, in black and white publicity matter, they'll present a second Bronko Nagurski and the best kicker in football at City stadium Saturday night. In short, the Giants left themselves wide open for argument from the Green Bay Packers who will provide the opposition for those loud-speaking Giants. For instance No. 1: The Giants report that they have a mysterious human dynamo named Gordon Paschka, former University of Minnesota guard, who is now an almost un-bring-downable fullback. Paschka is tops of the 16 first-year backs in the Superior camp, and Coach Steve Owen says this about him: "Paschka has as much driving power as Nagurski showed at his peak. He's considerably faster than was the Bronk." High praise, indeed...EVER HEAR OF FRITSCH?: For argument purposes, Coach Curly Lambeau might snap back: "Haven't those mugs ever heard of Ted Fritsch?" Fritsch made every league team in the country last year and was hailed as one of the top power drivers in pro circle. When you start comparing anybody with Nagurski you've got to bring in Clarke Hinkle, the former Packer fullback who gained more yardage than the Bronk and stopped the big Bear on a number of occasions - one of which Nagurski failed to get up under his own power. And for food measure, Fritsch led the National league in scoring last year. What's more, the Packers have three more fullback who probably would run rings around Paschka - Walt Schlinkman, Bob McDougal and Ed Cody. Schlinkman is due for a great year, starting with the Giant game...For instance No. 2: The Giants, it said, will have the strongest punting department in the circuit. That's a joke, son. The Packers, and this comes from the chief of the board of strategy, will be happy to march anything or anybody the Giants can offer as a punter. For one thing, the Packers have in their midst one Roy (Tex) McKay who led the National league in 1945 and 1946. Lambeau figures Tex is the best spot punter in the business...KICKED ONE IN 1946: And to add heat to the punting, it is hereby stated that Fritsch has been outpunting both McKay and Indian Jack Jacobs in practice thus far. Jacobs has a terrific reputation as a punter. Fritsch delivered one punt all last year - in the opening Bear game here but it went 60 yards. The Giant punters? Chief is Frank Regan, the former Penn star, and he's spelled by George Franck, ace of the Giant kickers last year. The Giants have a secret kicking weapon in Tex Coulter, 265-pound tackle, who gets off 70 yarders with impressive regularity. But if the Giants are even thinking of pulling a lineman out to do the punting, then said Giants are "hard up" for kicker...The Packers went out on the practice field for the first time in two days today after Lambeau had conducted indoor examinations and skull drills in the Rockwood Lodge building. Lambeau reported that he was undecided on a starting lineup but added "we'll probably use an all-veteran alignment in view of the strength in the Giant line." From Superior, Owen announced that Chet Gladchuk has left the injury list and will be ready against the Packers. Gladchuck is the pivot man in the strong New York wall. The probable starting backfield will have Chris Iverson, Oregon rookie, at quarterback; veterans Emery Nix and George Franck at halfbacks; and Paschka at full.
PACKERS LOOKING FOR RETURN OF FORWARD PASS SATURDAY NIGHT
AUG 22 (Green Bay) - The Packer-Giant game at City stadium Saturday night may mark the return of Mr. Forward Pass who has been virtually missing since 1945. Green Bay has seen many great passers, chiefly Arnie Herber and Cecil Isbell, and many talented receivers, led by the peerless Don Hutson and unpredictable Johnny Blood. There probably never will be another point-producing snatcher like Hutson and chances are you'll never see a vagabond like Blood - on or off the field. Though the Packers have no Hutson in a playing uniform, there seems to be some suspicion that the 1947 Packers may have something of a passing attack. This can be confined by viewing the proceedings Saturday night, but for the moment let's delve deeper into this suspicion. One day last winter, Coach Curly Lambeau got into a huddle with General George Marshall of USS Washington Redskins and came out with the contract of Indian Jack Jacobs. In return for such, Lambeau gave back Bob Nussbaumer and rights to a player on the 1948 draft list. The method in Curly's madness, which seems to be turning to glee, was to obtain for the Packers a back who could pass and step into the quarterback slot on the Packer quick-opening V-formation. Jacobs worked under the center during his entire pro career, and has a terrific reputation as a passer. He had the misfortune of playing behind Sammy Baugh at Washington and Parker Hall at Cleveland. Consequently, Jacobs was unhappy. Lambeau believes Jack is happy in his new surroundings, and what's more, Jacobs is delighted to be with the Packers because he knows he won't be subjected to splinter torture. The Oklahoman will get his first chance against the Giants. Spelling him will be quarterbacks Herman Rohrig, Irv Comp and Ralph Grant. Comp also toils at left half - also a passing position. Receiving Jacobs will be a little bit of a guy called Eugene (Red) Wilson, who universitied at Southern Methodist. Wilson is fast and has been making some spectacular catches in camp. He'll be at left end along with Clyde Goodnight and Larry Craig. Little has been said about Wilson for the simple reason that he's untested. But for the record, the kid has a world of speed, guts and an uncanny ability of catching a football like it was a baseball. The other ends, Don Wells and Nolan Luhn, are defensive gems - especially Wells. Luhn occasionally came up with a catch or two last year, while Wells had himself a gleeful time playing defense. In brief, the Packers will make their first attempt since Hutson retired in 1945 to break loose with a devastating passing attack against the Giants here Saturday night...From the Rockwood Lodge, Lambeau reported that he's not satisfied with the team's operation. "The boys aren't working as smoothly for the Giant game," he pointed out, adding that injuries, extra weight and even the heat have cut the efficiency of the club. The Packer coach had hoped the team would reach some of the possibilities that he had expected for the opener. Ted Fritsch, high scoring fullback, has been badly bothered by extra
poundage. Injuries have already put Tony Canadeo, Andy Uram and Dick Wildung out of action. Other hurtees who will see some action are backs Ken Keuper, Ralph Tate, Roy McKay and Walt Schlinkman; tackles Tiny Croft and Baxter Jarrell, and guard Ed Bell..The Giants contintued their grooming for the exhibition Saturday against Green Bay with a long drill stressing passing and punting at Superior Thursday. The first string backfield of Emery Nix, Bill Paschal, George Franck and rookie Chris Iverson was particularly effective on offense in the drills. Coach Steve Owen expects the Giants to be close to top form for the contest. However, tackle Jim White, end Frank Liebel and Ben Barber, a rookie back, are injured and probably won't get into the game.
PACKERS, NEW YORK GIANTS MEET AT CITY STADIUM TONIGHT
AUG 23 (Green Bay) - Major league football goes on display at City stadium tonight, with the Green Bay Packers meeting the New York Giants, defending Eastern division champions, in the first game of the season for both clubs. The benefit contest, sponsored by the Sullivan-Wallen post, American Legion, marks the opening of the Packers' 29th year in pro football and the 28th in the National loop. It was six years ago to this very day, Aug. 23, 1941, that the Packers and Giants struggled to a 17-17 tie here. They didn't collide in an exhibition opener until last season when the Packers invaded New York and retreated with a 35-21 setback. Tonight's contest, starting at 8 o'clock with the customary kickoff, has numerous incentives to the undecided fan. The Packers will show their quick opening V-formation for the first time since 1931 when Coach Curly Lambeau scrapped it to fit new talent like Cecil Isbell and Don Hutson. The quick opener was used during the triple championship seasons of '29, '30 and '31...This will be the first game in which two NFL teams operate with five officials. The fifth - known as the Back Judge - will play opposite the head linesman. One of his duties will be to guard Suicide Lane or No Man's Land, the area where dirty work is likely to take place. Lambeau launched efforts to get a fifth official in 1945, and succeeded at the league's Chicago meetings last winter. Along with the Packers' quick opener will be a new aerial attack built around Indian Jack Jacobs, who will work under the center at quarterback. The chief receivers will be Gene (Red) Wilson, a rookie from SMU who has been snag4ging everything coming his way in the two practice scrimmages. Among the surprises will be Kenneth (Red) Keuper, the former blocking quarterback, who has been shifted to right halfback. New in Packer togs will be Ward Cuff, who put in nine years with the Giants and one with Chicago's Cardinals. Cuff, a right half, and Ken Strong, ancient Giants back, are tied for scoring honors on the New York club with 319 points apiece...Lambeau is starting his 29th season with enthusiasm, but the big pilot has a wrinkled brow because the 1947 outfit does not have the smoothness that he expected at this time of the season. Then, too, three players are definitely out with hurts - Tony Canadeo, Dick Wildung and Andy Uram, and nine others will be handicapped by injuries, including fullback Ted Fritsch. If the Packers win the toss and receive, they'll likely lead off with veterans Clyde Goodnight and Nolan Luhn at ends; Baby Ray and Paul Lipscomb at tackle; Ed Neal and Damon Tassos at guards; Captain Charley Brock at center; Jacobs at quarterback; Bob Forte at right half; Bruce Smith at left half; and Walt Schlinkman at fullback. If Green Bay kicks off, Larry Craig and Don Wells probably will be at the ends; Urban Odson in place of Lipscomb at tackle; and Herman Rohrig, Roy McKay, Forte and Keuper in the backfield...Stout Steve Owen, Giants' coach, has what the Eastern writers call "the two best lines in pro football" to thrown at the Packers. They are known as the Gladchuk and DeFilippo lines. Aces are Len Younce and Bob Dobelstein, guard, and Tex Coulter and Jim White at tackles. The New York walls are coached by Richard (Red) Smith, a well-known gent in these parts. He formerly played and coached for the Packers; managed the Green Bay Bluejays; and calls nearby Combined Locks his home. Chris Iverson, a rookie, and veteran Emery Nix are expected to handle the passing formerly conducted by Frank Filchock, who was suspended indefinitely for not reporting a bribe before the championship game last December.
PRE-GAME SIDELIGHTS, GRID CHATTER
AUG 23 (Green Bay) - You can buy Packer-Giant tickets at the Legion building on Walnut street up to 4 o'clock this afternoon. The ticket windows at City stadium will open at 6 o'clock this evening - two hours before kickoff time...The Giants, plus 200 Superior fans, will arrive at the Chicago North Western station about 5 o'clock this afternoon and leave at midnight tonight...New York Line Coach Red Smith will be interviewed over the Press-Gazette's radio station, WJPG-FM, at 5:30. Station WDUZ will broadcast tonight's game, with Ben Laird giving the play by play...Watching tonight's game will be the entire Chicago Cardinal
team plus head coach Jimmy Conzelman. The Cardinals visit Green Bay in October. Every club in the league, including the humbled Chicago Bears, will have scouts in the stands...The Packers spent Friday night at Rockwood Lodge listening to the All-Star game in Chicago. Bob Skoglund, Packer rookie end from Notre Dame, was mentioned consistently in mussing up the Bear offensive. Other Packers in the game were back Ed Cody, guard Ray Clemons and Monte Moncrief and tackle Bill McPartland...Dr. John Kelly, former Packer gridder and now a dentist in Superior, made arrangements for the special excursion of 200 Superior fans to Green Bay...Russ Leddy will be master of ceremonies during the program between halves. He'll present the championship Blatz Legion band which won 17 state, four national and one intersectional championship. Herman Runge, state Legion commander, will speak briefly...Coach Curly Lambeau sounded the Packer "thought" between halves of the All Star-Bear game last night when he said "if the Bears lose they'll be hard to beat." Radio commentator Red Grange added at the end of the game, "Halas will hold this defeat over the Bears' head during the entire league season."...The Junior Legion baseball team will be guests of their Legion backers. The Wausaukee High school football team will attend the game in a body, guests of the school.
PACKERS PLAY GIANTS TONIGHT
AUG 23 (Green Bay) - The long awaited debut of Indian Jack Jacobs in a Green Bay Packer uniform will take place here Saturday night when Coach Curly Lambeau sends an all-veteran lineup against Steve Owen's New York Giants in an American Legion benefit football game. Lambeau, in announcing his lineup just before he departed for Chicago to watch five Packer rookies in the all-star game, said he wanted plenty of experience to cope with the initial assaults of what generally is accepted to be the greatest line Owen has ever assembled. After the veterans have worked out on Owen's best, rookies in the Packer camp will be trotted out for their baptism under major league fire.
ALL-AMERICA LOOP HAS ITS TROUBLES
DEC 15 (New York) - Having clarified the Chicago Rocket situation, club owners in the All-America Football conference turned their attention today to the Brooklyn problem before getting down to the business of drafting college stars of the recent season. Although Brooklyn's financial structure is not believed to be in as precarious a plight as that of the Rockets, whose franchise in the loop was terminated Saturday, there have been numerous hints that "fresh" money might be needed to insure a Dodger eleven next season. The resignation last Tuesday of Fred Fitzsimmons, general manager of the club since its inception, was interpreted by some that W.D. Cox, president of the club and one-time owner of the Philadelphia baseball Phillies, had failed in his search for cash. While the Rockets, winner of only one game in 14 tries, were ousted from the league, Commissioner Jonas Ingram was quick to announce that the league would continue in Chicago and would battle the National for patronage. Henry Crown was reported eager to buy the franchise. Among the club's few assets are draft rights to Johnny Lujack, Notre Dame All-American. Ingram would not comment on what would occupy the owners when they met today but from other sources it was learned that the Brooklyn problem was the No. 1 subject. From that the owners will turn Tuesday to the draft. Brooklyn is known to have Charles Conerly of Mississippi high on its list and the Yankees are after Francis Peratoni, Princeton center, who is regarded as a defensive genius. The conference, which now owns the Rocket franchise, will draft for the club in the talent drawing.
LINK LAMBEAU, DONS
DEC 16 (New York) - Benjamin J. Lindheimer, president of the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Conference, declined today to deny reports that Earl L. (Curly) Lambeau of the Green Bay Packers in the rival National league would become head coach of the Dons next season. Asked about rumors that Lambeau, who is vice president, general manager and head coach of the Packers, would switch to the Dons, Lindheimer refused to confirm the report, but added that he would not deny it. He said he had four men under consideration for the head coaching berth vacated by Dud DeGroot but could not discuss any of them at present.
LAMBEAU DENIES RUMORS ON LEAVING GREEN BAY; 'STORIES ARE UNFOUNDED,' CLAIMS COACH
DEC 16 (Green Bay) - Coach Curly Lambeau of the Green Bay Packers today personally denied coast to coat rumors that linked him with the Los Angeles Dons of the All-American Conference and the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL during the past three weeks. Lambeau, who has just completed his 29th season as Packer mentor, explained what he knew about the start of the rumors, in his officer here this morning. He said that the story first popped up before the Packers arrived in New York for the game with the Giants Nov. 23. "A New York newspaper reported that I was being placed on probation in Green Bay. Immediately, football people contacted me and asked about my plans for 1948. From their connection with me, the rumors spread further," Lambeau pointed out. "No offers of any kind were made to me for next season," Lambeau added. Next to enter the picture were the Los Angeles papers, which are divided in their support of the two rival pro football circuits. Braven Dyer, sports columnist of the Los Angeles Times, suggested the possibility of Lambeau entering the All-America as coach of the Dons. Dyer's comments appeared Wednesday after the Packers defeated the Rams, 30-10. "After the game, Dyer and other sportswriters from Los Angeles paper were in the dressing rooms talking with the boys and me, but none made any comment or even hinted at the rumor that started in New York." From Los Angeles, the rumor spread to Green Bay and later to Milwaukee where the Sentinel published stories Sunday and Monday of this week..."HEARD" IN MILWAUKEE: Regarding the rumor in general, Lambeau explained that "it is based on unfounded facts that could have originated in Green Bay. Comments in the Sentinel were particularly unfounded and have no bearing and were utterly enlarged upon." A check with the Sentinel by the Press-Gazette revealed that Sentinel writers "heard" the rumors in Milwaukee. From that source, the rumors were expanded. The Packer corporation had only one answer to the rumors: "Coach Lambeau's contract still have several years to run."
DRAFT MEETING IN PITTSBURGH; BAYS' DEFENSE
DEC 16 (Green Bay) - This is Tuesday - the day for announcing next Sunday's Green Bay Packer opponent. However, there seems to be some difficulty. The NFL schedule doesn't show a game for the Packers the coming Sabbath. Instead, it says: "Dec. 21 - World Championship Playoff in the West." There is only one logical explanation. The league's regular schedule has closed for the 1947 season. However, instead of the "world championship" next Sunday, there will be a playoff between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to determine the Eastern division titlist which will meet the Cardinals for said world crown in Chicago the following Sunday. The Packers officially disbanded for 1947 today. About 28 of the 32 players arrived in Green Bay Monday evening and closed out their business today. Two players, halfback Tony Canadeo and tackle Tiny Croft, didn't have far to go home. They are Green Bay residents...PERMIT ONLY 210 POINTS: Despite the 28 points Philadelphia scored on them, the Packers turned in the best defense-against points record in the league, allowing 210 in 12 games for an average of 17.5. Los Angeles was second best with 214. Green Bay came home with a record of six victories against five losses and one tie. Four of the five defeat were administered by only nine points. In four exhibition games, the Packers won three and lost one. The third quarter proved to be the Packers' most productive since they counted 85 markers in that period. The Packers scored 164 of their 274 points in the last half. Defensively, the Packers did best in the first quarter.
PACKERS 49 61 85 79 - 274
OPPONENTS 37 57 38 58 - 210
The next business involving the Packers take place in Pittsburgh over the coming weekend when Coach Curly Lambeau will draft players for the 1948 season with other team coaches. Each club is expected to draft about 30 players. In the annual one-player "gift" draft, Washington will get its first choice. In the regular draft, the New York Giants will get their first choice since they finished with the lowest percentage in the league - .200 in two victories, eight losses and two ties. After the draft, coaches will watch the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia playoff game. The next league business will be the annual meeting scheduled in New York Jan. 14, 15, 16 and 17...MISCELLANY: It probably looked like a typographical error in the statistics Monday night, but the Packers and Philadelphia Eagles each gained 20 yards
through the air Sunday. And each team made 17 first downs. Incidentally, when Ernie Steele "scored" on his long run for the Eagles, it was his fifth TD counted by Steele in recent years and the fifth one nullified by penalty...The Packers are steamed up about Larry Craig getting the thumb from the officials Sunday. Always a terrific player, Craig never is dirty. Craig took a sock on the jaw from Al Wistert, Eagle tackle, and Larry grabbed him around the shoulder to prevent any further fighting. Wistert screamed, "he's fighting" to the official and the stripe-shirter believed him. Craig just doesn't believe in fighting on the gridiron. At Los Angeles, Kenny Washington, a Negro, took a swing at Craig. Being a native of South Carolina, Craig might be expected to swing back but he just held his temper and walked away...Most of the players left Green Bay today, while several others are expected to pull out over the weekend. Bruce Smith remained in Philadelphia where his wife's parents reside, while Jim Gillette left Philly for his home in Virginia. Dick Wildung switched to a Minneapolis train when the club stopped in Chicago Monday.
DRAFT MEETING FRIDAY
DEC 17 (Pittsburgh) - The NFL's annual draft meeting will be held at the Fort Pitt hotel Friday night. The meeting, expected to attract owners and coaches of all 10 National league entries, had been scheduled for the same night at Chicago, site of the loop's title playoff originally set for next Sunday. However, the eastern division playoff between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Pittsburgh Sunday made necessary a change in plans, Commissioner Bert Bell said Wednesday.
DONS FAIL TO DENY REPORTS LAMBEAU MAY BE SIGNED
DEC 17 (Milwaukee Sentinel) - Curly Lambeau's future coaching status is still uncertain today. The Packers mentor yesterday vehemently denied in Green Bay he was considering offers from two Los Angeles pro clubs, as was printed in Sunday's Milwaukee Sentinel. However, the reaction Packer President Emil Fischer was significant in that he declined comment other than to say: "Lambeau's contract has several years to run." But, Benjamin Lindheimer, president of the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference, when questioned in New York, refused to deny reports that Lambeau would become head coach of the Dons next season. Lindheimer said he had four men under consideration for the coaching post vacated by Dud DeGroot late this season but could not discussed any of them at present. He said he hoped to announce his new coach by March 1. Hinting at "a situation" in Green Bay, Lambeau said: "Rumors that I will leave Green Bay are based on unfounded facts that could have originated in Green Bay." Lambeau, angered at any hint he would leave the club which he has handled since he organized it in 1918, said the first inkling he had of "rumors I was leaving" came in New York when the Packers arrived to play the Giants. "A reporter from a New York paper wrote that I was being placed on probation in Green Bay," Lambeau said. "Immediately football people contacted me and asked me about my plans for 1948. No offers of any kid were made to me for next season." The Packers played the Rams at Los Angeles the following week and Lambeau said the rumors spread to the coast. "After we beat the Rams," Lambeau said, "Braven Dyer of the Los Angeles Times and the other sports writers were in the dressing room talking with the boys and me. None of them made any comment nor even hinted at the rumor from New York." However, Lambeau said, Dyer later wrote a column stating Lambeau might become head coach of the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Conference.
LAMBEAU TO COACH PACKERS AS LONG AS HE WANTS TO; FISCHER
DEC 17 (Green Bay) - Emil Fischer, president of the Green Bay Packers, expressed amusement today over reports, apparently emanating from New York, that Curly Lambeau, founder of the team and its coach for 29 years, had been operating "on probation" throughout the 1947 season. "Curly Lambeau will be coach of the Green Bay Packers just as long as he wants to be and we hope that is for the rest of his coaching career," Fischer said. "Why, we in Green Bay wouldn't know how to act if Curly wasn't coaching the team. And I don't think the team would either." Lambeau, back in the city after a two week road trip with the team, credited the report with having given rise to the rumors that he would become the new coach of the Los Angeles Rams in the National league and also the Los Angeles Dons in the All-America conference. "Several owners queried me about the report," Lambeau said. "Obviously, any report of that nature would create some curiosity. And it must have been purely curiosity because none of them made me an offer." Fischer, commenting on the Los Angeles report, said. "Curly spent four hours yesterday with the executive committee, outlining his plans for the Packers' 1948 season. He told the committee he never wanted to leave Green Bay."
CANADEO TOPS IN WESTERN SECTOR; JACOBS PUNTING
DEC 17 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers sliced themselves a pretty fair piece of the NFL's statistical championship, Indian Jack Jacobs, obtained from the Washington Redskins last winter in an effort to bolster the Packers' then-sagging aerial attack, did just that. Jacobs, who is looking forward to even greater things next year, finished as the second-best passer in the Western division behind Sid Luckman, beating out such noted throwers as Bob Waterfield, Paul Christman and Clyde LeForce. Jacobs completed 108 passes in 204 attempts for 1,615 yards and 16 touchdowns. A year ago, the Bays made only four touchdowns by passing. In addition, Jacobs chalked up the punting title with an average distance of 43.7 on 57 boots. This is the third straight year in which Green Bay snared the kicking title. Roy McKay took league honors in 1945 and 1946. Jacobs probably would have been a shoo-in for 1947 honors, but he had his first punt of the season blocked in the Philadelphia game last Sunday. Frank Reagan of New York finished a close second with 43.5. Green Bay missed by five yards of having the No. 1 and No. 2 ball carriers in the Western division. Tony Canadeo, Packer left half, took Western honors with 464 yards in 103 attempts for a 4.5 average, while Kenny Washington of Los Angeles was second with 444. Fullback Walt Schlinkman was five yards behind Washington with 439...SECOND IN ALL-TIME LIST: Canadeo's performance this year ranks him second among all-time Packer ball carriers. The Gonzaga flash boosted his total to 1,987 yards, displacing Joe Laws, who gathered 1,916 yards in 470 attempts in 12 seasons (125 games). Canadeo carried the ball 483 times in six seasons (54 games). Clarke Hinkle, who fullbacked for Green Bay from 1932 to 1941, still tops the Packers and the league with his 3,860 yards in 1,171 attempts. Nolan Luhn topped the Packer pass receivers and finished third in the Western sector with 696 yards on 42 receptions for seven TDs. Teddy Fritsch, the fullback, was the Bays' leading scorer with his 56 points - 44 less than he scored a year ago. Ward Cuff was second with 51. Bob Forte, rugged Packer defensive expert, Tommy Harmon of Los Angeles and Red Cochran of the Chicago Cardinals finished in a tie in the Western division with eight pass interceptions each. Herman Rohrig and Irv Comp helped the Packer cause with five apiece. Pat Harder, fullback on the Western division winning Chicago Cardinals, is the new scoring king of the league with 102 points - the fourth highest mark in league history. The former University of Wisconsin great reached that total by scoring seven touchdowns and kicking seven field goals and 39 extra points. His 1947 total was two points more than the mark with which Fritsch won in 1946 - and 36 points under the all-time record of 138 points set by Don Hutson of Green Bay in 1942. But in all National league history only Hutson (who also had 117 points in 1943) and Steve Van Buren of Philadelphia have scored more points in a single season than Harder. Van Buren had 110 points in 1945. Van Buren, who finished third in ground gaining in 1946, not only won the title this year but shattered the all-time record of 1,004 yards which Beattie Feathers of the Chicago Bears established back in 1934. Van Buren's final total for the year was 1,008. He lugged the pigskin 217 times - which was one more try higher than the previous top of 216 carries registered by Cliff Battles of Washington in 1937. Feathers, when he set his record, ran the ball only 117 times.
REDSKINS' MARSHALL CUTS LOOSE AGAIN
DEC 18 (Milwaukee Sentinel-Lloyd Larson) - The breach widens - if the end of the pro football war is in sight, you would never guess it from the latest verbal shots. There was no hint of peace in George Marshall's demand that the National League pull out of the annual Chicago All-Star series. The noisy Washington owner added that Commissioner Bert Bell already has been given the authority to take such action. Meanwhile All-America officials, switching from the needling challenge system, said the next move, if any, is up to the National loop. Which, in effect, mean they're telling the senior circuit to go fly a kite...AH, THOSE REVEALING MOVIES AGAIN!: The season is over and the Packers aren't doing too much talking about the windup game at Philadelphia last Sunday. But it's no secret that they are unhappy
about two scoring pass plays which ultimately provided the Eagles with their 14 points margin of victory. "Each time they had ineligible linemen downfield, at least 20 or 25 yards beyond the line of scrimmage," a member of the Packer family insisted. "And that wasn't the first time, for movies of other games showed they had pulled the same stuff before," he added.
SCRAP ALL-STAR GAME, PRO GRID LOOP URGED
DEC 18 (Pittsburgh) - Club owners of the NFL meet here tomorrow for their annual player draft but the confab may air problems more vexing than building for next year. Items reported to be disturbing the calm of some owners included: 1. A suggestion by George Preston Marshall, owner of the Washington Redskins that the annual game between the league champion and the College All-Stars in Chicago be cancelled. Marshall charged the "game's sponsor violated the contract". 2. The future of Earl L. (Curly) Lambeau, vice president, general manager and coach of the Green Bay Packers. 3. The prospective sale of the Detroit Lions and its effect on Coach Charles E. (Gus) Dorais. 4. Future policy toward the rival All-America Conference. Alexis Thompson, young and wealthy owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, has indicated he's one owner who favors some sort of rapprochement. The leagues now have no relations. Bert Bell, National League commissioner, arrived here today ahead of the club owners and blithely disclaimed knowledge of these problems "except where I've read." He said that officially the meeting was to draft collegiate players for next year "and the clubs are entitled to draft 300 (30 to a team) if they wish." The National League's boss declared that Lambeau "told me definitely there's nothing to the story" that the Green Bay tutor may turn up as head coach of the Los Angeles Dons of the All-American Conference.
POINTS, TACKLES, RIGHT HALFBACKS BIGGEST BUY NEEDS FOR NEXT SEASON
DEC 18 (Green Bay) - What do the Green Bay Packers need for 1948? At first thought, we'd say points and plenty of 'em to prevent any such business that took place this past season. If you'll recall, the 1947 Packers lost four of their five games by the miserable total of nine points (14-10, 18-17, 20-17 and 21-20). At second thought, however, the Packers will need some additions to the 1947 squad for next season. Coach Curly Lambeau will readily agree with that statement and Friday night in Pittsburgh at the NFL's annual draft he expects to bolster the 1947 nucleus into a front runner and possible champion in 1948. Two positions, in particular, will need strengthening for '48 - the tackles and offensive right halfbacks...ROOKIE TACKLES FAILED: The Packers operated with five tackles the first half of the season and six the last half. The sixth was a honey - Dick Wildung, the former Minnesota great who was switched from offensive left guard to defensive left tackle. The tackle situation was low from the start when rookies Bill McPartland, Monte Moncrief and Baxter Jarrell couldn't make the pro grade. This left the tackles in the hands of Baby Ray, Tiny Croft, Urban Odson, Paul Lipscomb and Ed Bell, switched from guard early in the season. Ray, in his 10th year, was a spot player and had to be rested from time to time. Lipscomb and Croft both had tough seasons - a decided letdown from previous years. Odson, still a youngster in point of service, was injured midway in the campaign and was forced to ease up. Chances are Ray will decide to retire some time this winter, although this is just a guess. Chief tackle need for 1948 will be two rugged defensive gents to work with Wildung...NEAL HOT AND COLD: At right halfback, the 1947 Packers operated with Bob Forte, Jim Gillette, Ward Cuff and Ken Keuper. Forte and Keuper both are defensive experts and generally play when the other team takes the ball. Cuff was used only to kick extra points and field goals, but Gillette carried the bulk of the offensive load because he possessed the speed required in the quick-opening formation. The squad is fairly well set at guards. The offensive guard leaders last season were Aldo Forte, the Bear castoff, and rookie Ralph Davis of Wisconsin. Both could pull out fast and block effectively. Defensive guards in the Packers' five-man line were Ed Neal and Damon Tassos. Neal, a terrific player when he's right, ran hot and cold. Captain Charley Brock may not return next season, but, don't forget that, too, is just a guess. Charley put in nine seasons already and was the league's top center in at least five of them. Bob Flowers and Buddy Gatewood did a capable job at the pivot but one more may be added...LEAGUE'S BEST DEFENSIVE ENDS: At ends, the Packers had two of the best in the league on defense - Larry Craig and Don Wells. Craig had a terrific season in 1947, and, though he has played nine years, probably will be back in 1948 to pair with Wells. Offensively, the Tulsa twins - Nolan Luhn and Clyde Goodnight - were tops. Bob Skoglund, who showed sharpness as a defensive wing, is also expected to return. Indian Jack Jacobs, second best passer in the Western division, is looking forward to greater things next season. Lambeau, however, is in the market for a first line substitute, thereby giving Herman Rohrig and Irv Comp more of a chance on defense. The left half spot was in the capable hands of Tony Canadeo, the Western division's top runner, Bruce Smith and Roy McKay. Though Smith got off some long runs, his defensive ability was most valuable to the team. All three are expected to return...SKETCHES ON 500 PLAYERS: The fullbacks? That's where we shine. Though Ted Fritsch had an off year, so to speak, the Central Teachers charger is expected to turn on the heat in 1948. Walt Schlinkman carried on with brilliance and finished third in ground gaining in the Western division. Ed Cody, a rookie, has plenty of speed and ran wild in a couple of games - particularly the Detroit tilt here. That's the 1947-48 picture, so take it from there. In Pittsburgh, Lambeau has thumbnail sketches on over 500 college players at his fingertips. Some are listed as "sure bets" and others as "doubtful". Regardless, the results of the Packers' draft won't be known until the end of next August when the first cuts are made. The Packer staff at the draft meeting besides Lambeau will include Assistant Coaches Don Hutson and Walt Kiesling, George Strickler, Bob Conrad and Attorney Jerry Clifford.
PACKER CHOICES IN NFL DRAFT WILL BE SECRET
DEC 19 (Green Bay) - Barring leaks, the Green Bay Packers will keep names of players drafted tonight in Pittsburgh a "deep secret", Coach Curly Lambeau indicated before he left here this week. The Packers will
have 30 choices, but the names will be "off the record" for feat of supplying vital information to the rival All-America conference. The Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants and several other clubs also will clamp down the secrecy lid. It's possible that the names will leak out through various sources, Lambeau said, but "it is our hope to keep them secret." Names, however, will be announced if there is a definite chance of the players coming to Green Bay, he added. Speaking about names, Lambeau stated the Bay fans might as well know the worst right now - the Packers' roster next year wont' have names like Gilmer, Lujack or Chappius. In fact, the club will be lucky to land any of the "name" players in the annual National league draft tonight at Pittsburgh. The Packers won't even get a choice until five other clubs which finished below them in the standings pick a man. And they won't come up again until the 19th time around. Their third choice actually will be No. 31...CREAM WILL BE GONE: "The cream will be gone before we even get a chance," said Coach Curly Lambeau prior to leaving for Pittsburgh this week. "Sure, we'll get some good ball players as we always have, but still the fans aren't happy because we seldom come up with a big name player." The reason for this, of course, is that the Packers rarely finish out of the first division and the theory of the draft is to provide the tailend teams with top talent from the graduating collegiate ranks. "But the fans forget that," Lambeau continued, "and they always ask, how come?" As a matter of fact, stars like Gilmer, Lujack and Chappius won't even be considered tonight. Gilmer was picked earlier by Washington, which won this year's "bonus" draw. Lujack and Chappius were drafted a year ago by the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, respectively, under a special wartime arrangement because the college classes they started in originally had been graduated. Chappius later was "traded" to Pittsburgh in the deal which brought Bill Dudley to the Lions. Tonight New York and Detroit get first draw because they finished at the bottom of the standings. Then, Washington, Boston and Los Angeles. By this time six men will have bee chosen, including Gilmer via the bonus...SIXTH MAN TO BAY: The seventh man will be Lambeau's choice. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and the Chicago Bears and Cardinals follow and then they'll start all over, except that Detroit and New York, the only teams which failed to win four games, have extra choices between rounds. That's how come the gap of 12 instead of 10 between the Packers' choices.
PACKERS SEE LITTLE LIKELIHOOD OF GETTING 'NAME' STAR IN DRAFT
DEC 19 (Green Bay) - Football fans might as well know the worst right now - the Green Bay Packers' roster next year will not show any names like Gilmer, Lujack and Cappuis. In fact, the club will be lucky to land any "name" player in the annual National league draft Friday at Pittsburgh. Five clubs which finished below them in the standings each picks a man before the Packers, and Green Bay will not come up again until the nineteenth pick. Its third choice will be No. 31. "The cream will be gone before we even get a chance," groaned George Strickler, assistant manager, before leaving for Pittsburgh. "We'll get some good ballplayers, as we always have, but still the fan aren't happy because we seldom come up with a big name player." The reason, of course, is that the Packers rarely finish out of the first division and the theory of the draft is to provide the tailend teams with top talent from the graduating collegiate ranks. As a matter of fact, Gilmer, Lujack and Chappius will not even be considered in this draft. Gilmer was picked earlier by Washington, which won this year's"bonus" draw. Lujack and Chappius were drafted a year ago by the Chicago Bears and Detroit, respectively, because their college classes had been graduated. Cappius was later traded to Pittsburgh in the deal which brought Bill Dudley to the Lions. New York and Detroit get first draw because they finished at the bottom of the standings. Then Washington, Boston, Los Angeles and finally Green Bay.
GIANTS DRAFT MINISI; GILMER GOES TO 'SKINSDEC 19 (Pittsburgh) - The New York Giants, making the first pick in the NFL's annual draft meeting, tonight chose Tony Minisi, flashy University of Pennsylvania halfback. Minisi, who returned to Pennsylvania for the 1946 season, after having been a student at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, is regarded as one of the greatest backs produced at the Philadelphia school. Before the draft got underway, Richard McCann, general manager of the Washington Redskins, confirmed his team's "special" choice of Harry Gilmer, star Alabama University back. But before Commissioner Bert Bell called the owners, general mangers and coaches together, sessions in the hotel lobby and rooms brought forth the following information: 1 - Fred Mandel, owner of the Detroit Lions, reiterated that his club was for sale and has been ever since he purchased it for a reported price of $225,000 in 1940. "Anything I have is for sale providing I can dispose of it for a profit," said the Chicago department store owner, adding that he had discussed the matter with a syndicate from the Motor City. 2 - Curly Lambeau, general manger and coach of the Green Bay Packers for 29 years, again denied he had any intention of leaving the Packers to pilot the Los Angeles Dons in the All-America Conference. 3 - The league, as whole, enjoyed its best year from an attendance standpoint, drawing approximately 2,500,000 people in exhibition and championship games. 4 - At least six of the 10 member clubs finished the season on the right side of the ledger. Those who failed to make money were said to the Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions and Boston Yanks, with the New York Giants just about breaking even.
PACKERS SELECT 29 PLAYERS IN DRAFT; PICK GIRARD, RENNEBOHM FROM U.W.
DEC 20 (Pittsburgh) - Here's a surprise - the Green Bay Packers' draft list. Though Coach Curly Lambeau had planned to keep the names secret, it was decided about 5 o'clock this morning, when the NFL's annual draft session closed, to reveal the names but not the order in which they were selected. They were placed in alphabetical order to keep rival league coaches from knowing the importance the Packers place on each selection. The Packers selected 29 players - 11 backs, seven tackles, six ends, three centers and two guards. Though each team is allowed to draft 30 players, previous commitments reduced the figure by one. The Packers owed their seventh choice to New York on a player deal transacted before the war and their 15th choice to Washington as part of the Jack Jacobs deal. The Packers got one player back because Detroit promised its 5th choice in the switch that sent Merv Pregulman to the Lions...STEELERS WANTED GIRARD: Most noted selectee in these parts is Earl (Jug) Girard, the University of Wisconsin triple-threat halfback from Marinette. Girard was recently drafted by the New York Yankees. Girard announced Friday night that he plans to turn professional. The Pittsburgh Steelers were reportedly interested in Girard but the Packers got first crack at him early today. Other Wisconsin boys drafted by Green Bay are end Bob Rennebohn, a defensive star, and Milwaukee Stan Heath, who started at the Badger school and finished last season with success at Nevada. Counted on to give the Packers more speed at right halfback are George Walmsley, the All-American from Rice, and John Panelli of Notre Dame. Walmsley is light, 170 pounds, while Panelli goes about 198. Lambeau drafted two Minnesota linemen who are expected to fit in nicely with Dick
Wildung and Urban Odson, who just finished their sophomore seasons. The Gopher newcomers are guard Larry Olsonoski and tackle-end Clarence McGeary. Olsonoski was named the most valuable player on the Minnesota team last fall. O. Ed Smith, who goes by just plain Ed Smith, is considered one of the top backs in the southwest. From Texas Mines, Smith packs 190 pounds on a six-foot frame. Jay Rhodemyre, 195-pound center from Kentucky, is also considered a "good bet". He was recommended by Kentucky Coach Bear Bryant, a teammer of Don Hutson's at Alabama...AGASE, MOSS ARE PICKED: Lou Agase, the second of the famous brothers at Illinoism, was one of two boys selected from that school. A tackle in college, Agase wants to play tackle and Lambeau probably will give him that chance. His brother, Alex, was drafted by the Packers last fall but he decided to sign with the Los Angeles Dons. The other Illinois selectee is Perry Moss, who started his career at Tulsa. Moss is a passing quarterback and led the Illinois eleven to its Rose Bowl victory over UCLA last Jan. 1. Coach Lambeau figures the draft list "as good as any in the league."
JUG GIRARD OF BADGERS IS DRAFTED BY PACKERS
DEC 21 (Pittsburgh) - Earl (Jug) Girard, Wisconsin's star halfback from Marinette, was the Green Bay Packers' prize selection in the NFL's annual draft of college players Friday night. Among the other Packer choices were Stan Heath of Milwaukee, who played for Wisconsin in 1946 and for Nevada this year. Girard was also picked by the Chicago Rockets in the All-America conference draft. He has not finished college but has indicated that he will quit school to make money. Since he enrolled in 1943, his original class will be graduated next June and under the league rule the Packers may sign him if possible. Girard, however, has had pro baseball offers and cannot play football if he signs a baseball contract. Heath was included in the draft list due to a mistake at the league headquarters and this cost Green Bay a player. Heath had enrolled at Wisconsin in 1945 and his class will not graduate until 1949. When George Strickland, assistant manager of the Packers, learned this Saturday, he said that Green Bay would not approach Heath. The Packers also got rights to one of the outstanding centers in the country, Jay Rhodemyre of Kentucky, a fine tackle in Claude Biggers of Catawba; a Notre Dame back, John Panelli, and a crack sprinter, George Walmsley of Rice, who weighs only 170 pounds. Big Nine players picked by manager Curly Lambeau were Perry Moss, Illinois star passer; tackles Lou Agase and Bob Cunz of Illinois, and Clarence McGreary of Minnesota; guard Larry Olsonoski of Minnesota, and ends Bob Rennebohm of Wisconsin and Stan Gorski of Northwestern.
GIRARD MUST CHOSE...THE MEEK FINALLY INHERIT
DEC 22 (Milwaukee Journal) - Jug Girard would be a desirable addition to the Green Bay Packers, who have drafted him, but we think he would be making a mistake to go in for pro football before he finds out whether or not he can go in pro baseball. Jug was such a good third baseman that Frankie Frisch had an eye on him as far back as 1943 and we understand Charley Grimm of the Cubs and Bill Veeck of Cleveland would like to sign him. The maximum rewards are greater and the wear and tear is less in baseball...Much as the sports editor would like to see Green Bay in the NFL playoff, he must say it is a great boon for pro football to have the Chicago Cardinals triumph in the western division and the Philadelphia Eagles play the Pittsburgh Steelers for the eastern division title. The meek, so says the Bible, shall inherit the earth. Goodness knows, the Cards, the Eagles and the Steelers were doormats for the rest of the league long enough.
SPEED KEYNOTE OF POTENTIAL 1948 PACKERS
DEC 22 (Green Bay) - In cold figures, the Green Bay Packers bagged 5.916 pounds of football flesh at the NFL's annual draft mart in Pittsburgh over the weekend. The 11 backs total 2,025 pounds and the 18 linemen weigh 3,891. The backfield averages 184.1 - rather light for pro ball - while the line, from end to end, goes 216.2. The line, from tackle to tackle, scales 223.3 pounds. Actually, the Packers came out with only 28 players who are eligible for next season. Stan Heath was included in the draft by mistake, Coach Curly Lambeau discovered Saturday night. League rules specify players must be in the class graduating the following June. Heath enrolled in 1945, and his class will not be graduated until 1949. Heath, son of Mickey Heath, former Milwaukee Brewer, will not be approached, Lambeau said...SWITCHED TO NEVADA: Heath first earned recognition at the University of Wisconsin but switched his talents to the University of Nevada for the 1947 season. Getting back to weights, Lambeau's plan for 1948 apparently is based on speed - judging from the sizes. The heaviest tackles - a position at which the Packers seem to need strengthening - are Aubrey Allen of Colorado, 246 pounds, and Clarence McGeary of Minnesota, 235. The ends, guards and centers are normal size, as it were. Only two guards were selected - Herb St. John of Georgia, 215, and Larry Olsonoski of Minnesota, 210. Under Lambeau's defensive system, however, the guards and tackles can be switched frequently. An example of this is the switch of Dick Wildung from guard to tackle on defense. Speed in the backfield is needed particularly at right half where the Packers had only one "really fast" gent at that position last fall - Jim Gillette, who may call it quits next year. There of the Packer draftee backs go only 170 pounds - George Walmsley of Rice, Perry Moss of Tulsa and Illinois, and Ralph Earhart of Texas Tech. Those in the 180 to 190-ppund bracket are Earl (Jug) Girard, Wisconsin, 180, and Fred Provo, Washington, 185...DRAFTEES IN BOWL GAMES: Five of the draftees will be playing in bowl games Jan. 1. Tackle Charley Tatom of Texas will be facing Alabama in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans; tackle Charles Biggers of Catawba will be facing Marshall in the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Fla.; end Weyman Sellers and St. John of Georgia will oppose Maryland in the Alligator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla,; and back Ralph Earhart plays for Texas Tech in the Sun Bowl in El Paso against Miami...MISCELLANEY: Giarard, who also has been drafted by the New York Yankees of the All-America conference, plans to play baseball this summer - possibly in a B league...Though business will be at a standstill in the Packer office during the holidays, Lambeau and Aide George Stickler will be on the road contacting drafted players...Announcements probably will be forthcoming about the time of the National league meetings in New York midway in January. The first deal announced in 1947, incidentally, occurred at the league session in Chicago. It was the trade that brought Indian Jack Jacobs from Washington to Green Bay for Bob Nussbaumer. Thus far, little talk of trade has emerged from club headquarters. Coach George Halas of the Bears spiked all Sid Luckman-leaving rumors during a brief radio chat between halves of the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh game Sunday. He also named Cardinal coach Jimmy Conzelman as professional football's coach of the year.
THOMPSON DENIES PLAN TO QUIT NATIONAL LOOP
DEC 22 (Pittsburgh) - Alexis Thompson, owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, new NFL Eastern division champions, denied through a spokesman Sunday night that he had expressed intent to quit the NFL unless the league adopted a common draft of college players with the rival All-America conference. However, Thompson reiterated through the spokesman that he favored the common draft and "would continue to fight for it."
PACKER DRAFTEES TO SEE ACTION
DEC 30 (Green Bay) - Green Bay and northeastern Wisconsin football fans will be able to hear the bowl game of their choosing New Year's Day, with the five major contests to be aired over local or area radio stations - and to make them doubly interesting - all will involve collegiate standouts on the Packers' 1948 draft list. Biggest future Packer contingent will see action in the East-West game with three on each game. On the East roster are guard Howard Brown of Indiana; guard Larry Olsonoski of Minnesota; and end-tackle Louis Agase of Illinois. The West squad included back O. Ed Smith of Texas Mines; back Fred Provo of the University of Washington and guard Buddy Burvis of Oklahoma, on the Packers' reserve list. Others drafted by the Packers who will play in other bowl contests include Red Hogan, quarterback for Kansas in the Orange Bowl; tackle Charley Tatom and Travis Raven, understudy to the brilliant Bobby Layne, both of Texas, in the Sugar Bowl at New Orleans; Lloy Baxter, Southern Methodist center, in the Cotton Bowl; back Ralph Earhart of Texas Tech in the Sun Bowl at El Paso; center Floyd Thomas of Arkansas vs. William & Mary in the Dixie Bowl at Birmingham, Ala.; guard Herb St. John and end Weyman Sellers of Georgia vs. Maryland in the Gator Bowl at Jacksonville, Fla.; Stan Heath, of Wisconsin and Nevada, vs. N. Texas Teachers in the Salad Bowl at Phoenix, Ariz.; and tackle Charles Biggers of Catawba in the Tangerine Bowl. The Packers will be well represented at most of the contest, particularly in the southwest, with Assistant Coach Don Hutson heading the list. He will be at the Sugar Bowl tilt in New Orleans, where he will be reunited with his old coach, Frank Thomas, now athletic director at the University of Alabama, and an old teammate, Paul (Bear) Bryant, coach at Kentucky. Of the Packer players, Roy (Tex) McKay, Bob Forte and Indian Jack Jacobs will be at the Sugar Bowl with Hutson; Larry Craig will take in the Gator Bowl; Clyde Goodnight and Paul Lipscomb at the Delta Bowl in Memphis; Walt Schlinkman and Bob Flowers at the Sun Bowl at El Paso, Tex.; and Gene Wilson at the Cotton Bowl in Houston. Head Coach E.L. (Curly) Lambeau, who has found some of his best talent on his annual New Year's day pilgrimage, will follow a custom of long standing and attend the East-West game in San Francisco, although he had originally planned to break precedent and take in the daddy of all bowl contests, the Rose Bowl, at Pasadena, Calif.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE - ALL-AMERICA FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
FRANCHISES MOVING : Miami Seahawks to Baltimore Colts (AAFC)
FRIDAY AUGUST 29
A-Los Angeles 24, CHICAGO 21
SUNDAY AUGUST 31
A-SAN FRANCISCO 23, Brooklyn 7 A-BUFFALO 28, New York 24
AAFC EASTERN DIVISION AAFC WESTERN DIVISION
Buffalo 1 0 0 1.000 28 24 San Francisco 1 0 0 1.000 23 7
Baltimore 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Los Angeles 1 0 0 1.000 24 21
New York 0 1 0 .000 24 28 Cleveland 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Brooklyn 0 1 0 .000 7 23 Chicago 0 1 0 .000 21 24
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5
A-CLEVELAND 30, Buffalo 14 A-NEW YORK 48, Chicago 26
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7
A-SAN FRANCISCO 17, Los Angeles 14 A-BALTIMORE 16, Brooklyn 7
AAFC EASTERN DIVISION AAFC WESTERN DIVISION
Baltimore 1 0 0 1.000 16 7 San Francisco 2 0 0 1.000 40 21
Buffalo 1 1 0 .500 42 54 Cleveland 1 0 0 1.000 30 14
New York 1 1 0 .500 72 54 Los Angeles 1 1 0 .500 38 38
Brooklyn 0 2 0 .000 14 39 Chicago 0 2 0 .000 47 72
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12
A-Cleveland 55, BROOKLYN 7 A-New York 30, LOS ANGELES 14
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14
A-BUFFALO 28, Chicago 20 A-SAN FRANCISCO 14, Baltimore 7
AAFC EASTERN DIVISION AAFC WESTERN DIVISION
New York 2 1 0 1.000 102 68 San Francisco 3 0 0 1.000 54 28
Buffalo 2 1 0 .667 70 74 Cleveland 2 0 0 1.000 85 21
Baltimore 1 1 0 .500 23 21 Los Angeles 1 2 0 .333 52 68
Brooklyn 0 3 0 .000 21 94 Chicago 0 3 0 .000 67 100
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19
A-LOS ANGELES 48, Brooklyn 21 A-Buffalo 31, CHICAGO 14
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21
PITTSBURGH 17, Detroit 10 A-CLEVELAND 28, Baltimore 0
A-New York 21, SAN FRANCISCO 16
NFL EASTERN DIVISION NFL WESTERN DIVISION
Pittsburgh 1 0 0 1.000 17 10 Chicago Bears 0 0 0 .000 0 0
New York 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Chicago Cards 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Philadelphia 0 0 0 .000 0 0 GREEN BAY 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Washington 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Los Angeles 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Boston 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Detroit 0 1 0 .000 10 17
AAFC EASTERN DIVISION AAFC WESTERN DIVISION
New York 3 1 0 .750 123 84 Cleveland 3 0 0 1.000 113 21
Buffalo 3 1 0 .750 101 88 San Francisco 3 1 0 .750 70 49
Baltimore 1 2 0 .667 23 49 Los Angeles 2 2 0 .500 100 89
Brooklyn 0 4 0 .000 42 142 Chicago 0 4 0 .000 81 131
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 26
A-Cleveland 41, CHICAGO 21
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 28
GREEN BAY 29, Chicago Bears 20 CHICAGO CARDS 45, Detroit 21
PHILADELPHIA 45, Washington 42 A-New York 21, BALTIMORE 7
A-San Francisco 41, BUFFALO 24
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 29
Los Angeles 48, PITTSBURGH 7 BOSTON 7, New York 7 (T)
NFL EASTERN DIVISION NFL WESTERN DIVISION
Philadelphia 1 0 0 1.000 45 42 Chicago Cards 1 0 0 1.000 45 21
Pittsburgh 1 1 0 .500 24 58 Los Angeles 1 0 0 1.000 48 7
Washington 0 1 0 .000 42 45 GREEN BAY 1 0 0 1.000 29 20
New York 0 0 1 .000 7 7 Chicago Bears 0 1 0 .000 20 29
Boston 0 0 1 .000 7 7 Detroit 0 2 0 .000 31 62
AAFC EASTERN DIVISION AAFC WESTERN DIVISION
New York 4 1 0 .800 144 91 Cleveland 4 0 0 1.000 154 42
Buffalo 3 2 0 .600 125 129 San Francisco 4 1 0 .800 111 73
Baltimore 1 3 0 .250 30 70 Los Angeles 2 2 0 .500 100 89
Brooklyn 0 4 0 .000 42 142 Chicago 0 5 0 .000 102 172
FRIDAY OCTOBER 3
A-Brooklyn 35, CHICAGO 31
SUNDAY OCTOBER 5
CHICAGO CARDS 31, Chicago Bears 7 Detroit 21, BOSTON 7
WASHINGTON 27, Pittsburgh 26 Philadelphia 23, NEW YORK 0
Green Bay 17, L. Angeles 14 @ Mil A-BALTIMORE 28, San Francisco 28 (T)
A-Buffalo 27, LOS ANGELES 25 A-CLEVELAND 26, New York 17
NFL EASTERN DIVISION NFL WESTERN DIVISION
Philadelphia 2 0 0 1.000 68 42 Chicago Cards 2 0 0 1.000 76 28
Washington 1 1 0 .500 69 71 GREEN BAY 2 0 0 1.000 46 34
Pittsburgh 1 2 0 .333 50 85 Los Angeles 1 1 0 .500 62 24
New York 0 1 1 .000 7 30 Detroit 1 2 0 .333 52 69
Boston 0 1 1 .000 14 28 Chicago Bears 0 2 0 .000 27 60
AAFC EASTERN DIVISION AAFC WESTERN DIVISION
New York 4 2 0 .667 161 117 Cleveland 5 0 0 1.000 180 59
Buffalo 4 2 0 .667 152 154 San Francisco 4 1 1 .800 139 101
Baltimore 1 3 1 .250 58 98 Los Angeles 2 3 0 .400 125 116
Brooklyn 1 4 0 .200 77 173 Chicago 0 6 0 .000 133 207
SUNDAY OCTOBER 12
Chicago Cards 14, GREEN BAY 10 Los Angeles 27, DETROIT 13
CHICAGO BEARS 40, Philadelphia 7 Pittsburgh 30, BOSTON 14
WASHINGTON 28, New York 20 A-BUFFALO 20, Baltimore 15
A-SAN FRANCISCO 42, Chicago 28 A-NEW YORK 31, Brooklyn 7
A-Los Angeles 13, CLEVELAND 10
NFL EASTERN DIVISION NFL WESTERN DIVISION
Philadelphia 2 1 0 .667 75 82 Chicago Cards 3 0 0 1.000 90 38
Washington 2 1 0 .667 97 91