The 1950 Green Bay Packers - 3-9 (T-5TH - Western Division)
Head Coach: Gene Ronzani
1950 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (3-1)
OFF DEF
AUGUST (2-1) RESULT RECORD ATT RSH PSS RSH PSS STARTING QB LEADING RUSHER LEADING PASSER LEADING RECEIVER
12 Cleveland Browns (at Toledo, Ohio) L 7-38 0- 1-0 10,000 124 157 230 300 Jug Girard Billy Grimes (61) Steve Pritko (5)
16 G-CHICAGO CARDINALS W 17-14 1- 1-0 20,136 182 180 161 220 Jud Girard
29 New York Giants (at Boston) W 10- 0 2- 1-0 12,053 71 103 57 100
SEPTEMBER (1-0)
10 M-BALTIMORE COLTS W 16-14 3- 1-0 17,191 215 266 208 161
1950 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS
SEPTEMBER (1-1)
17 G-DETROIT LIONS (0-0-0) L 7-45 0- 1-0 22,096 78 86 38 266 Tobin Rote Tony Canadeo (28) Tobin Rote (55) Tony Canadeo (3-17)
24 M-WASHINGTON REDSKINS (1-0-0) W 35-21 1- 1-0 14,109 175 123 204 296 Tobin Rote Tony Canadeo (58) Tobin Rote (102) Two tied with 2 each
OCTOBER (1-3)
1 G-CHICAGO BEARS (2-0-0) W 31-21 2- 1-0 24,893 179 44 162 240 Tobin Rote Larry Coutre (101) Tobin Rote (39) Al Baldwin (2-39)
8 G-NEW YORK YANKS (2-1-0) L 31-44 2- 2-0 23,871 312 101 190 210 Tobin Rote Billy Grimes (167) Tobin Rote (62) Al Baldwin (4-51)
15 at Chicago Bears (3-1-0) L 14-28 2- 3-0 51,065 171 80 128 87 Tobin Rote Billy Grimes (89) Paul Christman (80) Al Baldwin (3-42)
19 at New York Yanks (4-1-0) L 17-35 2- 4-0 13,661 147 240 106 244 Tobin Rote Breezy Reid (92) Tobin Rote (129) Ted Cook (5-48)
NOVEMBER (1-3)
5 at Baltimore Colts (0-6-0) L 21-41 2- 5-0 12,971 118 171 229 277 Tobin Rote Breezy Reid (64) Paul Christman (163) Two tied with 4 each
12 M-LOS ANGELES RAMS (6-2-0) L 14-45 2- 6-0 20,456 97 200 87 283 Tobin Rote Larry Coutre (32) Tobin Rote (200) Billy Grimes (3-25)
19 at Detroit Lions (3-5-0) L 21-24 2- 7-0 17,752 125 184 135 241 Tobin Rote Tobin Rote (46) Tobin Rote (194) Larry Coutre (5-54)
26 G-SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (2-8-0) W 25-21 3- 7-0 13,196 134 170 184 97 Tobin Rote Billy Grimes (67) Tobin Rote (103) Two tied with 3 each
DECEMBER (0-2)
3 at Los Angeles Rams (8-3-0) L 14-51 3- 8-0 39,323 139 85 199 324 Tobin Rote Breezy Reid (63) Tobin Rote (83) Two tied with 4 each
10 at San Francisco 49ers (2-9-0) L 14-30 3- 9-0 20,797 31 291 223 197 Tobin Rote Tony Canadeo (30) Tobin Rote (256) Steve Pritko (6-39)
G - Green Bay M - Milwaukee
1950 IN REVIEW
New coach Gene Ronzani inherited a deteriorating team, and constant front-office interference did not make his task any easier. Some new talent, however, kept the season from being a total loss. Rookie quarterback Tobin Rote showed some flair both in the passing and running, end Al Baldwin and halfback Billy Grimes both fit into the attack after coming over the AAFC, and rookie Clayton Tonnemaker graded out as the best Packer lineman. An early 2-1 start to the season raised the level of optimism that this was the year that the Packers reversed their previous streak of bad performances. A subsequent six-game losing streak, lowlighted by a 41-21 loss to the winless Colts, greatly reduced the positive outlook of Packer fans. Green Bay managed to eke out a win against San Francisco in late November, but ended the season losing eight of their last nine contest. The defense leaked horrendously, five times allowing 40 points or more, and allowed the most points in Packer history. The offense was inconsistent, as both Rote and Paul Christman shared the quarterbacking duties. The season ended with one positive - there was little talk anymore about the franchise's financial condition - and one negative - the anticipated retirement of star running back Tony Canadeo.
THE NFL-AAFC MERGER
After four years of war, peace came to the world of professional football, when, on December 9, 1949, two days before the AAFC title game, the AAFC and NFL shook hands and merged. Three AAFC teams were admitted to the NFL: the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, and Baltimore Colts. The players of the New York Yankees team were divided up between the New York Giants and the New York Bulldogs (who changed their name to New York Yanks), the Los Angeles Dons and Los Angeles Rams merged, and a portion of the AAFC Buffalo Bills was absorbed into the Browns organization. A special
draft was then held by the league's 13 teams to allocate the rest of the AAFC players. The merged league briefly flirted with the name "National-American Football League", but restored the name "National Football League" in March 1950, reinforcing the belief of some that the NFL simply gobbled up the AAFC, and did not truly merge. Cleveland and San Francisco were the strongest franchises in the AAFC, so it was natural for them to move over to the NFL. The third team caused some debate. There was some sentiment to admit the Bills rather than the Colts, as the Bills had better attendance and the better team. However, Buffalo's size (with only Green Bay smaller) and climate were seen as problems. George Preston Marshall, the rambunctious owner of the Washington Redskins, had long objected to the Colts' proximity to his Redskins. Money made the difference, as Marshall changed his tune and claimed the Redskins and Colts could be excellent rivals, as he agreed to accept a $150,000 fee to waive his territorial rights. Buffalo fans produced more than 15,000 season ticket pledges, raised $175,000 in a stock offering, and filed a separate application to join. When the vote to admit Buffalo was held on January 20, 1950, a majority of league owners were willing to accept Buffalo; however, George Halas, who had a longstanding animosity toward Buffalo's previous NFL franchise, and Dan Reeves blocked the Bills' entry into the league. League rules required a unanimous vote, and the vote was 9-4 in favor of Buffalo, far short of the unanimous hurdle. For some reason, teams were not happy
about going to a 14-team league, and also rejected an expansion bid from Houston. Buffalo owner Jim Breuil was content to accept a minority share of the Browns, and Buffalo would have to wait until 1960, when the AFL gave them the Bills. As for the Colts, they lasted one season, were moved to New York, and the city was absent pro football for two seasons.
NAME NO POS HGT WGT COLLEGE YR PR A G HOW ACQUIRED
Al Baldwin 19 E 6-2 210 Arkansas 1 4 25 12 1950 FA-Buff-A
Bill Boedeker 31 B 5-11 195 Kalamazoo 1 1 26 9 1950 FA
Paul Burris 33 G 5-11 215 Oklahoma 2 2 27 12 1947 Draft-5th
Tony Canadeo 3 B 6-0 190 Gonzaga 9 9 31 12 1941 Draft-7th
Al Cannava 42 B 5-10 180 Boston College 1 1 26 1 1950 FA
Paul Christman 28 QB 6-0 200 Missouri 1 6 32 11 1950 Trade-Cards
Jack Cloud 82 FB 5-10 220 William & Mary 1 1 25 9 1950 Draft-8th
Ted Cook 48 E/DB 6-2 195 Alabama 3 4 28 12 FA-1948-Detroit
Larry Coutre 27 HB 5-10 175 Notre Dame 1 1 22 12 1950 Draft-4th
Ray DiPierro 21 G 5-11 210 Ohio State 1 1 24 12 1950 FA
Wally Dreyer 42 B 5-10 170 Wisconsin 1 2 27 12 1950 FA-Bears
Chuck Drulis 18 G 5-10 220 Temple 1 7 32 11 1950 FA-Bears
Ed Ecker 55 T 6-7 270 John Carroll 1 3 27 11 1950 FA-Chi-A (48)
Bob Forte 8 B 6-0 205 Arkansas 5 5 28 12 1943 Draft-11th
Ted Fritsch 64 B 5-10 210 Stevens Point 9 9 30 12 1942 FA
Jug Girard 36 B 5-11 175 Wisconsin 3 3 23 12 1948 Draft-1st
Billy Grimes 22 HB 6-1 197 Oklahoma A&M 1 2 23 12 1950 FA-LA-AAFC
Leon Manley 90 G 6-2 210 Oklahoma 1 1 24 12 1950 Draft-7th
Bob Mann 31 E 5-11 175 Michigan 1 3 26 3 FA-1950-Detroit
Clarence McGeary 44 DT 6-5 250 North Dakota St 1 1 24 12 1948 Draft-30th
Ed Neal 58 DT/T 6-4 275 Tulane 6 6 31 12 FA - 1945
Tom O'Malley 76 QB 5-11 185 Cincinnati 1 1 25 1 1950 Trade-Cleve
Dan Orlich 49 E 6-5 215 Nevada 2 2 25 12 1949 Draft-7th
Steve Pritko 23 E 6-2 210 Villanova 2 8 28 12 1949 FA-NY Bull
Floyd Reid 80 HB 5-10 187 Georgia 1 1 23 11 1950 FA-Bears
Tobin Rote 38 QB 6-3 200 Rice 1 1 22 12 1950 Draft-2nd
Carl Schuette 17 C/DB 6-1 210 Marquette 1 3 28 12 1950 FA-Buff-A
Joe Spencer 34 T 6-3 240 Oklahoma A&M 1 3 27 12 1950 FA-Cleve-A
Don Stansauk 63 T 6-2 255 Denver 1 1 24 11 FA-1950
Rebel Steiner 74 DB 6-0 185 Alabama 1 1 23 12 1949 Draft-12th
Bob Summerhays 77 B 6-1 207 Utah 2 2 23 11 1949 Draft-4th
Len Szafaryn 51 T 6-2 229 North Carolina 1 2 22 12 1950 Trade-Wash
Clayt. Tonnemaker 35 LB/C 6-2 235 Minnesota 1 1 22 12 1950 Draft-1st
Dick Wildung 45 T 6-0 220 Minnesota 5 5 29 12 1943 Draft-1st
Abner Wimberly 16 E 6-1 210 Louisiana State 1 2 24 11 1950 FA-LA-A
Alex Wizbicki 25 B 5-11 188 Holy Cross 1 4 28 11 1950 FA-Buff-A
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 FA - Free Agent
1950 PACKERS DRAFT (January 21-22, 1950)
RND-PICK NAME POS COLLEGE
1 - 4 Clayton Tonnemaker C Minnesota
2 - 17 Tobin Rote QB Rice
3 - 30 Gordy Soltau E Minnesota
4 - 43 Larry Coutre RB Notre Dame
5 - 56 to Pittsburgh Steelers
1950 PACKERS DRAFT (January 21-22, 1950)
RND-PICK NAME POS COLLEGE
6 - 69 Jack Cloud B William and Mary
7 - 82 Leon Manley T Oklahoma
8 - 95 Harry Szulborski B Purdue
9 - 108 Roger Wilson E South Carolina
10 - 121 Bob Mealey T Minnesota
11 - 134 Gene Lorendo E Georgia
12 - 147 Andy Pavich E Denver
13 - 160 Carlton Elliott E Virginia
14 - 173 Fred Leon T Nevada
15 - 186 Gene Huebner C Baylor
16 - 199 Frank Kuzma B Minnesota
17 - 212 Hal Otterback G Wisconsin
18 - 225 Arnold Galiffa QB Army
19 - 238 Earl T. Rowan T Hardin-Simmons
20 - 251 Jim Howe B Kentucky
21 - 264 Gene Evans B Wisconsin
22 - 277 Chuck Beatty C Penn State
23 - 290 George Mattey G Ohio State
24 - 303 Don Delph B Dayton
25 - 316 Frank Waters B Michigan State
26 - 329 Claude Radtke E Lawrence
27 - 342 Bill Osbourne B Nevada-Reno
28 - 355 Herm Hering B Rutgers
29 - 368 Ben Zaranka E Kentucky
30 - 381 Ray Mallouf B SMU
Note: Ray Mallouf (30th round) chosen off of New York Bulldogs roster
BOLD - Played for the Packers
AAFC DISPERSAL DRAFT (June 2, 1950)
Billy Grimes HB Los Angeles
Alton Baldwin E Buffalo
Homer Paine T Chicago
James Lukens E Chicago
Abner Wimberly E Los Angeles
Wilbur Volz B Buffalo
John Kerns T Buffalo
Ted Cook E Rookie
James Bailey T Chicago
Denver Crawford T New York Yanks
Carl Schuette B Buffalo
Siamont Czarobsky T Chicago
Vic Schleigh T Chicago
Paul Duke C New York Yanks
H.M. Patterson T Rookie
1950 PACKER TRANSACTIONS
January 22 - Traded 1950 5th round to PITTSBURGH
July 21 - Acquired OG Ray DiPierro off waivers from CHICAGO BEARS
August 4 - Traded T Paul Lipscomb to WASHINGTON for T Len Szafaryn
August 28 - Acquired B Wally Dreyer off waivers from CHICAGO BEARS
August 29 - Traded 1951 8th round draft choice to CLEVELAND for QB Tom O' Malley
September 4 - Acquired B Bill Bodecker from CLEVELAND for 1951 4th round draft choice
September 17 - Placed HB Walter Schlinkman on the reserve list. Waived QB Gus Johnson and HB Dick Braznell. Acquired T Don Stansauk off waivers.
September 22 - Acquired QB Paul Christman off waivers from CHICAGO CARDINALS
November 25 - Placed HB Bill Boedecker on waivers. Signed E Bob Mann off waivers from DETROIT.
LAMBEAU DUE HERE MONDAY
JAN 6 (Green Bay) - Packer Coach Curly Lambeau will arrive here Monday night from the west coast where he has been conferring with officials of other NAFL clubs and contacting officials. Lambeau will remain here until shortly before leaving for the league meeting in Philadelphia Jan. 19. Lambeau has been confined to his home on the coast for the past week with an attack of influenza.
HINKLE APPLIES FOR CARDINAL JOB
JAN 6th (Chicago) - Clark Hinkle, one of the greatest fullbacks in National league history, has applied for the job as head coach of the Chicago Cardinals. Hinkle, star of the Green Bay Packers in the early 30's, now resides in Toronto. Ray C. Benningsen, president of the Cardinals, said Thursday night that Hinkle had sent a telegram saying he was available for the post vacated by Raymond (Buddy) Parker at the end of last season. Benningsen spiked a rumor that Parker had been re-signed. Hinkle's application was the only one Benningsen had mentioned specifically. Other applicants, all now connected with professional football teams, have asked that their names not be mentioned, he added.
DALLAS INTERESTED IN PRO GRID SPOT; WEIGH HOUSTON, BUFFALO
JAN 6 (Green Bay) - The professional football merry-go-round found a new customer today - Dallas. Bert Bell, commissioner of the NAFL, said he had received a telegram inquiry from interested persons in Dallas on how to apply for an NAFL franchise. "A gentleman who identified himself only as "Mr. Dicker; asked me for instructions in filing for an application. I told him to write a letter describing his setup - owners involved, their business, capital, ticket potential, stadium, etc., and that I then would mail an application, and a copy of the league constitution pertaining thereto." The Dallas inquiry followed closely an application filed by millionaire oil man, Glenn McCarthy, for a Houston franchise. McCarthy said yesterday he had a group of 40 men ready to finance a pro football venture and would investigate the possibility of using Rice Institute's 70,000 seat stadium. The Houston man also implied he would be able to purchase the player personnel of the defunct Chicago Hornets. The Hornets were members of the former All-America conference and were not included in the NFL-AAC merger because the NFL already had two teams in Chicago - the Bears and Cardinals. Meanwhile, Buffalo, another would-be NAFL member, reported it has sold more than $250,000 in public shares in the Buffalo Football Corp...NO OVERNIGHT CHANGES: Bell, who
Dick Wildung
Larry Craig
spends his days answering queries and trying to make a 1950 schedule for 13, 14, 15 and 16 team leagues, said there had been no overnight changes in the overall situation. "I have not improved on the 14-game schedule which includes Buffalo, and is definitely unsatisfactory to me, undoubtedly will be unsatisfactory to the other league members, and probably won't even satisfy Buffalo," he said. The popular belief here is that no new teams will be admitted to the NAFL at the Jan. 19 founding convention. Bell himself has indicated he doesn't believe there are 16 money making pro football cities. The scheduling difficulties for a league of more than 13 and less than 16 teams appear almost insurmountable. And it is the theory of some owners that the new setup should be given a few seasons to strengthen the weak links to its current chain without taking on headaches in the form of new franchises...Buffalo's pro football boosters reported on Thursday night that 2,727 season tickets, representing $61,279.20 had been subscribed in the first two days of an advance sale campaign. The committee to keep the Bills in the new league hopes to sell 10,000 by Monday. The results of the campaign will be placed before the NAFL club owners Jan. 19 in Philadelphia, when Buffalo's petition for a franchise will be heard. The committee already has sold well over $250,000 in stock in a proposed corporation to operate the club. The Bills were combined with the Cleveland Browns in the recent merger of the National league and the All-America conference. Browns officials have pledged every support, meanwhile, in the local drive to retain the club in Buffalo.
HOUSTON, DALLAS MAY GET BERTHS
JAN 7 (Dallas) - Dallas and Houston both may have teams in the NAFL next season. Houston became an applicant through Glenn McCarthy, millionaire oilman, who said he planned to purchase the defunct Chicago Hornets. Friday, Edward T. Dicker, Dallas businessman, requested a franchise. The Hornets were not included in the merger of the National league and the All-America conference recently because the National league already had two teams in Chicago. McCarthy plans to move the Hornets to Houston if he obtains the franchise, using the new Rice Institute stadium, seating 70,000 for his games. Dicker said he planned to meet Bert Bell, commissioner of the pro football league, next week in an effort to secure a local franchise in the circuit. He said he and a group of associates are prepared to spend a "half million dollars" to bring pro football to Dallas. Dicker added, if a team is fielded, it will be made up of Southwest conference players and that the coach would be "well known to Southwest conference football fans."
NOTHING TO RAM JOB RUMOR, SAYS LAMBEAU
JAN 10 (Green Bay) - The man without a contract - E.L. (Curly) Lambeau, by name - returned to his desk in the Packer office today. The head coach, general manager and vice president of the Packers - talking at a press and radio conference - had something of an "if" to his usual optimism. "The Packer franchise is sound and don't ever forget that," he stated, "but I certainly can't feel too optimistic about the future if this thing is not run properly." Apparently disturbed by the lack of confidence shown in him after the board of directors voted to renew his contract for two years at a meeting here Nov. 30, Lambeau said that he has not signed a new pact yet, adding: "I am proceeding on the assumption that I will be here the next two (1950-51) years although I haven't heard a thing regarding a contract since the November meeting." Lambeau's previous five-year pact expired Dec. 31, 1949. The coach revealed that terms of the contract, as voted by the board, as the same as his previous pact...PREPARE FOR MEETINGS: At the moment, Lambeau said "it is my duty to prepare for the meetings (NAFL) in Philadelphia." Lambeau expressed the need for absolute harmony in the Packer family. Without criticizing the executive committee of the Packer corporation Lambeau said he believes that "disunity in our ranks results from a general lack of information." He explained that "no group of men can meet from 12 (noon) to 1:30 p.m. once a week during the season and operate properly a corporation like the Packers. That can't be done." He added that "I can't possibly bring the corporation up to date in such a short time." Lambeau, who founded the Packers as a sandlot team in 1919 and then coached it to six world's championships, stated that "I am not a brilliant man but I certainly feel qualified to run our organization." Lambeau called the reorganization of the Packers a "must", who added that "we also must sell stock". The sale of $200,000 in stock was recommended by the board of directors at the Nov. 30 meeting. No action has been taken on the stock issue, which must be approved by present stockholders. The committee working on the sale of stock is headed by Vic McCormick. Lambeau, in favoring the sale of stock, said that expansion of the Packers is necessary for the competition in big business. His impression was that the meeting in Philadelphia and the future of the league will be a "battle of management". He based this view on the fact that "the draft is set so that all of us will have good teams. The teams with the best management will survive." He said that "disunity and nipping in the front office is bound to hurt the team."
A WORKING CARD WITH ACES FOR EVERYBODY - THAT'S BELL ACHE
JAN 10 (Green Bay) - Three years ago this month in Chicago, NFL club representatives debated for 34 hours on the 1947 schedule before they voted to toss the complicated task of schedule-making into the lap of Commissioner Bert Bell. The business of arranging a workable playing card (with aces for everybody concerned) has been in Bell's hands ever since, but the upcoming meeting of the new NAFL in Philadelphia promises to make that 1947 problem as simple as
Larry Coutre
the upcoming meeting of the new NAFL in Philadelphia promises to make that 1947 problem as simple as junior's first jigsaw puzzle. Bell's job is particularly tough because he doesn't know how many teams will play next fall - 13 if Buffalo is left out, 14 if Buffalo is admitted, and 15 or 16 if Houston and/or Dallas are added. The chances are that the Texas requests will be tabled for another year or so while the new NAFL solidifies itself. Without going into the mountain of problems confronting the infant organization, it might be interesting to delve into several of the past NFL meetings. In retrospect that 1947 session in Chicago's Blackstone hotel was rather epic from a Green Bay standpoint because it was the official start of the Packers' last good season - six victories, five defeats (four by nine points) and one tie. A week or so before the session, Coach Curly Lambeau announced that the Packers would return to the quarterback-under-the-center system and one of his objectives would be an experienced quarterback to go with Irv Comp and Herman Rohrig, then the only veteran QBs since Cliff Aberson had decided to cast his lot with baseball. Midway at the session, Lambeau came out of a huddle with Washington Chief George Marshall and announced that Jack Jacobs, Sammy Baugh's understudy at Washington, had been traded for Packer halfback Bob Nussbaumer, then a sophomore. That trade saved the news day for this department since most of the meeting announcements were cold, dry and carefully censored because of the All-America conference. Lambeau and Marshall may been in agreement on the Jacobs-Nussbaumer deal, but they were at odds on the schedule. Marshall and Fred Mandell, then owner of the Detroit Lions, wanted a 13-game card and Lambeau favored a 12-game program. As it turned out, the league played its first 12 game card since 1936. What's more, the Packers got an unusual split - the first six games at home (Green Bay and Milwaukee) and the last six on the road, with the home season ending on Nov. 2. The 1948 session in New York was rather hush hush and the only Bay news was that Walt Kiesling would return as line coach for his fourth season. The 1949 effort in Chicago was a dilly; it came on the heels of the first meeting of the AAC and the NFL the previous month in Philadelphia. On the personnel front, it was revealed that Charley Brock, the Packers' center great, will return to the Packers as a coaching assistant and that Kiesling's pact would not be renewed. The National league was stationed at the Blackstone and the AAC boys were bivouaced in the Stevens across the street. There wasn't an official move (for publication, at least) between the two foes but the communications platoons were busy. Nobody made any official announcements and the direction of the wind wasn't learned until the AAC announced that it would play with seven teams in 1949. For Green Bay, it meant another year in the treacherous cash war. It may be interesting to reveal an incident that occurred before the AAC made its announcement. We were sitting with Lambeau, Kiesling and Bo Molenda in the coach's room when there came a knock at the door. It was a famous back from a nearby Big Ten school, drafted by the Packers, who had come to talk contract with Lambeau. Kiesling, Molenda and the writer moved into the next room while coach and player went into a huddle. Ten minutes later, Lambeau came in and revealed that "he wants a new car to sign besides too big a salary." The kid had been anxious to play in Green Bay but said that if he didn't get what he wanted he'd go speak again with the Baltimore Colts, the AAC team which drafted him. The papers announced several hours later that he had signed with the Colts, and, of course, never mentioned the car. It's noteworthy to add that the boy lasted a month with Baltimore and then headed for home - in a new car. To this writer, that one incident will always remain as a momento of Green Bay's struggle in the pro grid dollar war. Out in Philly Jan. 19, the problems will be great and many but there won't be anybody around asking for a new car - or the price of one.
CLARK DIES
JAN 10 (Green Bay) - Ira J. Clark, 75, builder of the City Stadium and groundskeeper for the Green Bay Packers at Rockwood Lodge, died Tuesday after a three-year illness. Mr. Clark was the superintendent of buildings and grounds for the Board of Education 27 years during this time. He planned and supervised the construction of the 25,000-seat stadium in which all Packer home games are played. Before working with the city, he was an engineer for the Wisconsin State Reformatory 14 years.
NOTHING TO RAM JOB RUMOR, SAYS LAMBEAU
JAN 11 (Green Bay) - Packer Coach Curly Lambeau said today there was nothing to the report that he was interested in the job of general manager of the Los Angeles Rams. Information had come to Green Bay from a reliable source in NAFL circles that Dan Reeves, the wealthy co-owner of the Rams, who retired recently as general manager of the club, called Lambeau his “favorite choice” for GM. Asked about the report, Lambeau said that “there’s nothing to it”. Lambeau, who returned to Green Bay Monday night after scouting the Rose Bowl and East-West games on the west coast, said that he has had “a number of conferences” with Reeves, also a west coast resident, but “all of them had to do with problems in preparation for the league meetings in Philadelphia”. The Packer coach also pointed out that a number of other club officials, including owner Anthony Morabito of the San Francisco Forty Niners, conferred with him on league matters. Lambeau said that “it is our (the various club officials) plan to agree on as many matters as possible before getting to Philadelphia”…STILL WITHOUT CONTRACT: Though he’ll represent the Packers in Philadelphia, Lambeau is still without a contract. The Packer corporation’s board of directors last Nov. 30 voted to renew Lambeau’s five-year pact, which expired Dec. 31, 1949, for another two years. It is believed that nothing will be done about signing of the new contract until after the meeting in Philadelphia. No meeting of the executive committee, which was requested by the board of directors to draw up Lambeau’s contract, is scheduled before the league sessions. Packer President Emil R. Fischer is in Florida but will attend the Philadelphia parley. Fischer is president of the National division on the new NAFL. The fact that Lambeau is without a contract has increased rumors concerning a possible move by Lambeau into the Ram front office. Clark Shaughnessy is the Ram head coach and one of the assistants is George Trafton, former Packer line coach…TWO-CHOICE DRAFT SYSTEM: Lambeau’s main objective in Philadelphia will be the two-choice draft system. The plan was used in the National league in the late 1930s and early 1940s and then discarded during the war. The system was designed to balance the circuit and helped such onetime doormats as the Chicago Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams immediately. Three of these four clubs won six divisional championships in the last three years, and the fourth, Pittsburgh, has improved considerably. The Eagles won the Eastern crown the last three years and took the loop honor the past two. The Cards won Western titles in 1947 and 1948 and the loop crown in ’47, while the Rams gained the Western division bunting last fall. The two-choice system would help clubs like the New York Bulldogs, the Baltimore Colts, Detroit Lions and Packers. Concerning the Packers, Lambeau feels that the “fruits of being low will come in the draft now” since the low-finishing clubs the previous years get early picks…POOR CLUBS GET SIX: When last used, here’s how the two-pick system worked: In the first round of drawing, each of the 10 clubs selected one player with the club finishing lowest in the standings getting the first crack, etc. Then, in the second round, the four “low” clubs selected two players. In the third round, each of the 10 clubs selected one player again. The fourth round saw those same four low clubs each picking two more players each. A complete 10-club draw (one each) was held in the fifth draw and in the sixth the four lows each grabbed two more players. After the sixth draw, the teams returned to the one-player pick until each team had selected 25 or 30 players – whatever number was agreed upon in advance. In other words, the poor clubs would get six players apiece while the rich clubs would get three each in the first six rounds.
TWO NAFL OWNERS SAY THEY'LL VOTE TO ADMIT BUFFALO
JAN 11 (New York) - Two club owners said today that they would vote to admit Buffalo to the NAFL but most other NAFL officials said they would not make their decision on the upstate New York bid until the new circuit’s meeting at Philadelphia, beginning Jan. 19. John V. Mara, president of the New York Giants, announced that he would vote for a Buffalo franchise and Arthur McBride, owner of the Cleveland Browns, echoed Mara’s statement. Mara said the Giants were impressed “by the enthusiasm and drive shown by the Buffalo fans in subscribing to more than 10,000 season tickets.” “We would welcome Buffalo into the new league and will vote for its admission,” said McBride. Officials of six other NAFL teams, however, refused to commit themselves, while the Los Angeles Rams indicate that they would back Houston, the other city seeking a franchise in the new circuit. Ed Pauley, a heavy stockholder in the Rams, wired Houston oilman Glenn McCarthy that Los Angeles would support the Texas city’s bid. The number of season ticket pledges in Buffalo’s campaign for a franchise in the NAFL jumped to 14,110 Tuesday. That would be about $285,000 in cash. Dr. James L. Ailinger, ticket drive chairman, said it would continue until Jan. 18, the day before the 13-member league will act on Buffalo’s application in Philadelphia.
REORGANIZATION OF PACKERS' ADMINISTRATIVE SETUP SEEN
JAN 13 (Green Bay) - Some reorganization of the present administrative setup of the Green Bay Packer Football corporation seems definite in the near future. Various officials of the club have been talking about a reorganization for next season for some time with the idea of remodeling the corporation drafted in 1935 to meet the needs of Green Bay’s role in the new NAFL. Since his return from California early this week, Packer Coach Curly Lambeau has also asked for such a reorganization. Some phases of the reorganization are fairly well agreed upon, arrangements for raising money through the sale of stock, revision of some of the by-laws, etc. Some changes in personnel of the board of directors and executive committee also appear likely. But the main issue appears to be: Should Lambeau be given complete authority over the operations of the corporation?...MANY INTERPRETATIONS RESULT: The board of directors some years ago set up an executive committee to act as the policy-making group for the corporation, with Lambeau as the general manager under the committee as well as the head coach of the team. The executive committee then broke down into four sub-committees to supervise various phases of the business operations. Lambeau was a member of the executive committee and all the sub-committees. Upon his return from California this week, Lambeau held a press conference in which he outlined his ideas for changing this setup. Since then his remarks have been interpreted differently by various newspapers and radio commentators. Some of the interpretations resulted in headlines like these: Lambeau Asks More Authority. Lambeau Wants More Power! Present Setup Is Criticized! The following is how Lambeau explained the various interpretations in an interview today: “It isn’t what I want. I am not demanding a thing. It is what I think should be done to make the Packers a success – financially and on the football field. This is strictly my own opinion. I am in favor of complete reorganization and the sale of stock throughout the state.”…KEEP CONTROL IN GREEN BAY: “Stock should be voting stock and profit sharing and should sell at $25 per share with a goal of $250,000. The reason stock should not be sold at $10 a share is that we’d lose money in handling it – mailing, etc. (The board of directors at its Nov. 30 meeting recommended the sale of $200,000 in stock at $10 a share.) I feel that there are enough buyers (of stock) in Green Bay and vicinity to insure that the control of the Packers would remain in Green Bay. Everyone who puts money in the Packers should have a voice in operation. Professional football is a battle of managements. In the old days, the battles for success in the league fought on the field. Today, there is an added battle – management. Therefore, we must operate efficiently. We must have men who are thoroughly qualified to do the work assigned to them. Furthermore, professional football demands that business be started in January. In fact, I believe that January is the most important month in a new season. We can’t wait until the leaves start to fall.”…PRESENT SITUATION UNWORKABLE: “I would like a setup similar to the one we had previous to 1947 or before my authority was decentralized. I believe that the present situation is unworkable and we cannot exist under the present arrangement of operation through committees and subcommittees. (The present system of operating with committees and subcommittees was started in 1947.) Most important is that we have complete harmony from top to bottom. I am not in favor of abolishing the present executive committee. The majority of the members are very helpful and useful to the Packers. I would like to see at least one football man on the committee and my choice there would be Don Huston. A football man on the committee would substantiate the things that I report on football (field) matters.”
BUFFALO WRAPS UP CAMPAIGN FOR NAFL SPOT
JAN 13 (Green Bay) - Buffalo’s football-minded citizenry has wrapped up its campaign to retain the professional grid sport and sent off the results to the NAFL. These are the wallet-talking aspects of the Buffalo picture expected to appeal most of the 13 NAFL club owners: 1. Advance season ticket pledges totaling 14,726 and worth $298,299.60 in cash. 2. A public stock sale which brought in $261,460 in $5 par value shares. Albert T. O’Neill, president of the Buffalo Bills football club, dispatched a formal letter of application yesterday. It will be acted upon by the league Jan. 19. “It is significant,” O’Neill wrote to NAFL Commissioner Bert Bell, “that despite the fact that the preseason sale of season tickets in 1949 for professional football in Buffalo aggregated but 5,000, the gate still averaged approximately $50,000 per game.” He added that “from the second year of Buffalo’s entry into professional football, Buffalo never ranked worse than third in the All America conference in both total attendance and total dollars in income.” The city’s drawing population, he said, is 2.354,575. This covers an area within a radius of 100 miles from Buffalo, including adjacent Canadian territory…Dallas has left the professional football field open to Houston – for now at least. Edward T. Dicker, head of a local group that had sought a franchise in the NAFL, said Thursday the application was being withdrawn. He said it was his group’s opinion that Texas would support only one pro football team at the present time. Houston oilman Glenn McCarthy has made application for a pro grid franchise. If he can’t get one, Dicker said, the Dallas group will try…The Chicago Cardinals have postponed the selection of a successor to Head Coach Ray (Buddy) Parker, who resigned from the NFL post last month. Ray Bennigsen, the Cardinals president, said a new coach will not be named until the newly-formed NAFL meetings in Philadelphia next week. Parker, former Centenary college star who served 12 years as a player and coach for the Cardinals, resigned Dec. 12, the day after the Cards lost their final game of the season to the Chicago Bears, 52-21.
PACKERS SEEK PLAYER POWER AT LOOP PARLEY
JAN 16 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers – winners of only five of their last 24 games – will start their 1950 rebuilding in Philadelphia this week. The power needed to put the Packers back into championship contention will come from two sources: the draft of 1949 college stars and distribution or draft of players of the non-operating teams of the defunct All-America conference. From a Green Bay standpoint, the quest for players easily looms as the top item of business for Packer representatives at the first meeting of the new NAFL starting Thursday. Packer Coach Curly Lambeau will recommend two separate draft plans – both aimed at strengthening the so-called weaker clubs like the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and the Baltimore Colts. Lambeau’s proposals, forwarded to NAFL Commissioner Bert Bell today at his request, call for (1) a draft of all veteran players of all the All-America conference clubs that are not operating – the Los Angeles Dons, Chicago Hornets and Buffalo Bills; and (2) a draft of the 1949 college stars plus all men on the reserve list of all clubs…TWO ALREADY STRENGTHENED: The coach’s No. 1 plan is designed to fortify the Packers, Lions and Colts with seasoned players. He feels that the Bulldogs and New York Giants should not participate in the draft of the All-America leftovers because they already have been strengthened by the split-up of the New York-Brooklyn Yankee team. Terms of the recent merger of the National league and the AAC gave the Bulldogs rights to deal with all but six of the Yankee players. The remaining
six will be turned over to the Giants. The draft of the pros would utilize the usual draft method (selecting one player on each draw) except the Bulldogs and Giants would not participate, according to Lambeau’s plan. In addition, he proposed that any previous deals made on draft choices should not apply. One important deal that would be cancelled, for instance, would be the Bear-Bulldog deal regarding quarterback Bobby Layne. When Layne was sent to the Bulldogs last year, the Bears received in return the Bulldogs’ No. 1 draft choice in 1950…CHANGE MANNER OF DRAFTING: Lambeau’s No. 2 plan suggests a change in the manner of drafting. Instead of each club drawing one player, the Packer coach would have the Packers, Colts and Lions each draw two players on the second, third and fourth rounds. The first round would be as usual – one for each draw with the low clubs drawing first. Lambeau also proposes that every club participating in the draft should retain all of the men who were active on their rosters at the conclusion of the 1949 season. All other players including those on the reserve list of the 13 clubs should be thrown in with the new crop of college players. The selection of college stars plus those on the reserve list would constitute the regular draft, Lambeau said. All of the clubs have large reserve lists. For example, Oklahoma’s Charley Mitchell is on the Packer reserve list since he was drafted by Green Bay but never played professional football. Other reservists are Glenn Davis, Doak Walker and Charlie Justice. Davis belongs to the Los Angeles Rams but is still in the Army. Walker and Justice were drafted when their classes were graduated but they still had a year or more of college eligibility left. Walker belongs to the Lions, via a trade with the Bulldogs, and Justice is property of Pittsburgh, via a trade with Philadelphia. The Packers will draw in the No. 3 position on the first round by virtue of their finish (percentage) last year. Drawing first will be the Colts, who closed 1949 with .083 on one victory and 11 defeats. Next will be the Bulldogs, with .100 on one victory, ten setbacks and one tie. The Packers are third with .167 on two victories and 10 losses…The Packers will have five representatives at the meeting – President Emil R. Fischer, Coaches Lambeau, Charley Brock and Tom Stidham and Publicity Director George Strickler. More than 40 representatives of the pro grid teams will take part in the meetings…By the time the sessions are concluded, the NAFL will be a working organization of from 13 to 16 teams. From the standpoint of the fans, the biggest result probably will be the type of competition involved, winding up in a real world championship game between the two winners of the league’s two divisions. For the harried club owners, the peace pact may mean an end to the box office setbacks caused in large measure by the costly competition for both patronage and players. As matters now stand, the new loop will include 10 NFL clubs and three from the All-America. Retained from the NFL are: New York Giants, New York Bulldogs, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams. Taken in from the AAC are: Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns and the San Francisco Forty Niners. Two other cities – Buffalo and Houston – are known to have made application for entrance to the NAFL. Others are expected before the meetings get down to the serious business at hand.
LAST RITE FOR AAC CARDED IN NEW YORK
JAN 17 (Green Bay) - Little has been said about the funeral of the All-American football conference. Burial is scheduled in New York today – without fanfare, thus ending a battle that threatened to end the lives of a lot of innocent bystanders including the Green Bay Packers. The official AAC obsequies (at least the announcement of same) drew little, if any, attention from the Associated Press and United Press – two of the world’s leading news distributing agencies. In fact, news of the funeral seeped into the midwest via a Chicago newspaper noted for its staunch support of the late-lamented loop. Anyhow, owners or representatives of the seven AAC clubs are meeting in New York today to vote on ratification of last month’s merger with the NFL. The report is that the All-America will seek revisions of terms of the merger that will weld it with the National loop in the new NAFL. The agreement, of course, is expected to gain eventual approval. National league observers, however, are wondering what sort of revisions the AAC can possibly ask since three and possibly four of the AAC members have already agreed to the merger. The three big AAC powers (those admitted to the NAFL) are the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco Forty Niners and Baltimore Colts. The Buffalo Bills’ request for membership awaits the approval of the present 13 teams…OFFICIAL MARRIAGE ACT: The New York session, labeled as the kickoff of the big pro football week, will be presided over by O.O. Kessing, conference commissioner. From New York, the unattached AAC members will travel to Philadelphia to officially “join up” with the 10 veteran NFL clubs. The official marriage act is expected to be nothing more than a routine procedure since, with the exception of Buffalo, the comeovers from the AAC were agreed upon shortly before the merger was announced last December. The meeting procedure may vary somewhat from previous pro football meetings in that the new structure has two new presidents – Emil R. Fischer, president of Green Bay Packers, Inc., and Daniel Sherby of the Cleveland Browns – who were appointed presidents of the National and American divisions, respectively, at the time of the merger. Commissioner Bert Bell, of course, will wield the big stick in Philly, but Fischer and Sherby may be taking an active part in their respective divisions at the meetings as soon as the makeup of the two sectors is agreed upon. The duties of the new presidents no doubt will be outlined during the convention. Fischer, incidentally, will fly into Philadelphia from Florida Wednesday afternoon. The rest of the Green Bay delegation, including Head Coach and General Manager Curly Lambeau, Assistant Coaches Charley Brock and Tom Stidham and Publicity Director George Strickler, will arrive there Wednesday morning. They left Green Bay today…BIG PROBLEM OVERCOME: While all of the club representatives are preparing for what is loosely termed as the “battle of our lives”, it can be pointed out that the big problem – the cash war – already has been overcome. The so-called battles in Philly will not be over dollar bills for players. As an example, a year ago in Chicago at the NFL meetings, the representatives talked in terms of losing thousands of dollars in 1949. Most of them did. At Philadelphia, the clubs will be suggesting sound business methods because they know they no longer will have to shell out sometimes ridiculous salaries for playing talent. Earlier this week, Bell outlined some of the items of business to be transacted. Here they are: 1. The application of cities for franchises in the NAFL which now numbers 13 operating franchises. 2. The organization of the two divisions, the National and American. 3. Amendments to the constitution and by-laws of the old NFL, under which the NAFL now operates. 4. A schedule for 13, 14, 15 or 16 teams. 5. The college draft. 6. Disposition of the 122 players tossed into a common pool through the merger last month of the two loops. 7. A decision on what records will be retained from standards set by the NFL and AAC clubs.
Ted Fritsch
comparison. Both Packer officials maintained a silence on some of the league matters coming up, including the expansion of the league beyond the present 13 clubs. Commissioner Bert Bell, who will preside at all sessions, has encouraged the Buffalo Bills to continue financial operations (ticket and stock drives) and present an application for membership. Besides Buffalo, franchise applications will be made by Houston and Oakland. The Houston request is backed by Tex McCarthy, a wealthy oilman, who would like to take over one of the defunct clubs, the Chicago Hornets, Los Angeles Dons or the Bills, if they are not admitted. The Oakland franchise application will be presented by Frank Ciraolo, former owner of the San Francisco Clippers. Ciraolo, at present, is building a stadium with an 80,000 seating capacity. Bell stated that the territorial rights of the San Francisco Forty Niners must be considered in Oakland’s case. Oakland is across the bay from San Francisco…INTERESTED IN DRAFT: Fischer and Lambeau are vitally interested in the draft of college players and disposition of some 122 holdover players from the Dons, Hornets and possible the Bills. Lambeau feels that the Packers, Baltimore Colts and Detroit Lions should be given special consideration in the two player-distributing plans because of their low standing last fall. The New York Bulldogs, who also finished way down, are receiving enough help through the split-up of the N.Y. Yankees and should not be given special help, Lambeau said. Also of vital interest is the circuit the Packers are placed in. The Green Bays, of course, want to compete in the same sector as the Chicago Bears and vice versa. The traditional rivals, however, are considered a “cinch” to backbone the tradition of the National division. Though owners must still vote on the makeup of the two circuits, the National division is expected to include the Bears, Packers, Washington, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New York Giants. The American division would have Baltimore, Cleveland, Chicago Cardinals, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York Bulldogs. The Bills would be admitted to the National…”WORLD SERIES” ATMOSPHERE: It can be noticed that the rivalries of the two big towns – New York and Chicago – are in separate divisions. This idea seems to have been patterned after baseball – the Chicago White Sox and Cubs, Boston Braves and Red Sox, etc. – to create special interest and thus form a natural “world series” atmosphere. Bear Coach George Halas is understood to be disinterested in such a setup since he would like to continue the two-game series with the Cardinals. Card Prexy Ray Bennigsen agrees with Halas.
'LONG LIVE PACKER-BEAR FEUD!' MAY BE BATTLE CRY IN PHILLY
JAN 18 (Green Bay) - Long live the Packer-Bear rivalry! That might well be the battle cry of the Packers and Bears when they sit down this week to discuss, among other things, the makeup of the two divisions of the NAFL. The chances of putting the Bays and Bears in separate divisions are remote. In fact, Packer Coach Curly Lambeau says “it won’t happen”. The Packer-Bear rivalry has been one of the big bulwarks of pro football. It ranks as the bitterest of gridiron feuds – certainly the all-time Number 1 natural in pro ball and one of the leading rivalries in all football. The Bays' invasions of Chicago in 1948 and 1949 offer a couple of good examples of big city fandom think of a Bear-Packer game. The Bears of 1948 were still in the running at the time and the Packers were out - but good. Besides, the Bears were 21-point favorites. Nearly 47,000 fans shelled out hard cash to see the two rivals collide despite the fact that there was no championship at stake. They were richly rewarded with a 7-6 skirmish – certainly a phenomena in these mad scoring days. Last fall, both clubs were out of the running but 45,000 were on hand to see another great battle. The final score was a trifle lopsided, 24-3, but it was anybody’s game until the last five minutes. Though Packer pickings have been lean these past two years, they had enough on the ball to draw nearly 100,000 persons to Chicago’s Wrigley field for two games. Needless to say, the Packer-Bear game is the backbone of the Packers’ City stadium schedule. It has always been a sellout and always will. Next fall, the Bear game will pivot the Packers’ new and enlarged City stadium card. Instead of the usual three games (since 1933), four NAFL league contests will be played here. Though Commissioner Bert Bell has been mum on the makeup of the two divisions, it is believed that the Packers and Bears will share their gunpowder with Washington, Philadelphia, New York Giants and Pittsburgh in the National sector. The American loop would be composed of Baltimore, Cleveland, Chicago Cardinals, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York Bulldogs. The Buffalo Bills, if they are admitted, no doubt would go into the National sector. It is interesting to note Cleveland Coach Paul Brown’s recent remark that “we don’t want to get into a division of weak sisters.” Brown’s statement would indicated that he does not look into the future. Weak sisters of 1949 and 1948 could be strong brothers of 1950 and 1951. Who are the weak sisters, anyway? There are the New York Bulldogs, Green Bay, Baltimore and Detroit. The Bulldogs, with over half the New York Yankee roster going over to them plus the talented George Ratterman from Buffalo, loom as a big brother right now. The Packers, Colts and Lions are loaded with optimism and will get early choices in the draft. The Lions, certainly not the weakest club in the NFL last year, will field a sharper Frank Tripucka not to mention Doak Walker who is due for delivery next fall. The Colts and Packers both have good, sound lines on which to build for ’50, and, incidentally, the same guy had to do with both of them. Tom Stidham, the Packer line mentor, handled the Colt line for two seasons before coming here last summer. The Baltimore line last fall was coached by Mike Michalske, the ex-Packer guard great. Both the Colts and Packers are in the market for the same things – offensive backfield material and good defensive men back of the line. Anyhow, Mr. Brown, please be careful with such terms as “weak sister”. Your remarks may find themselves into the dressing rooms of some of your opponents next fall.
BUFFALO BID FOR FRANCHISE FAVORED BY PACKER OFFICIALS
JAN 19 (Philadelphia) - The Green Bay Packers viewed the Buffalo Bills with an open mind as the NAFL launched its historic meeting here today. Both Packer President Emil R. Fischer and Head Coach Curly Lambeau leaned a bit toward admitting Buffalo and thus enlarging the new NAFL to 14 clubs – seven in each of the two divisions, National and American. Voting on new franchises was the first order of business this morning and club spokesmen, including Fischer and Lambeau, indicated that the applications would be settled “very quickly”. Houston and Oakland also will present franchise requests, but, to put it bluntly, neither has a chance. Oakland would violate the loop’s territorial rights (San Francisco) rule, and few of the owners care much about expanding to Texas. In fact, Los Angeles Rams owner Dan Reeves, who favored Houston earlier, changed his mind when he heard that Houston would be unable to play in Rice stadium. The Buffalo application is commanding more than a little interest because of the Bills’ successful drive to raise $250,000 in pledges and cash for season tickets and operating expenses. Besides, NAFL Commissioner Bert Bell publicly encouraged Buffalo in its finance campaign recently and urged the Bills to make application. The request was presented by Albert T. O’Neill. Bell’s encouragement plus the sentiment on the part of sports fandom toward Buffalo’s big fight for pro football survival has swayed a lot of the NAFL clubs, including the Packers. Both Fischer and Lambeau felt privately that Buffalo warrants a chance to make good. However, unanimous consent is necessary to admit a new team. It is understood that the Chicago Bears are not anxious to have the Buffalo team. Other teams, including Green Bay, want to see the Bills’ financial and attendance figures for games played during the All-America conference seasons. Commissioner Bell, in a facetious remark which may hold more truth than humor, said player distribution probably will come up tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon and then added: “Then on next Tuesday we’ll get down to the other business.” Club officials had agreed in preliminary meetings Wednesday to iron out the draft problem before setting up the two divisions which is scheduled for sometime Friday. It’s possible that only the draft of the college players and inactive players on the rosters of the 13 clubs will be held at the current sessions. Officials indicated that the disposition or draft of members of the defunct Los Angeles Dons, Chicago Hornets and possibly Buffalo Bills will be put off until next June. The Green Bay contingent was comparatively quiet from a news standpoint Wednesday as the club representatives gathered. Lambeau held a number of conferences with other clubs to help reach an agreement on various problems. Fischer flew in from Florida Wednesday afternoon and went into a huddle with Lambeau. Fischer was to confer with Bell today in regard to his new duties as president of the National division. Dan Sherby of the Cleveland Browns is the prexy of the American loop. Packer Assistant Coaches Tom Stidham and Charley Brock took part in the annual pre-meeting rules meeting Wednesday night. The coaches recommended that the free substitution rule, which was approved for 1949 only, be kept in force for another season. The coaches also clarified a number of other rules including the motions of a quarterback under the center. Some of the predicted fireworks threatened late Wednesday afternoon when the clubs okayed the New York Giants’ pick of six players of the defunct New York Yankee roster. The remainder of the New York Bulldogs under terms of the merger. Bulldog Owner Ted Collins sent a scorching 500-word message (which was not made public) to Commissioner Bell on just why the Giants shouldn’t be given any of the Yankee personnel. Collins feels that since he purchased the Yankees, “Why shouldn’t I get all of the players.” When Collins hadn’t arrived here at 8 o’clock Wednesday night, the NY writers feared that something serious was afoot. Anyhow, Collins arrived a couple of hours later still boiling but willing to play ball. Anyhow, the Giants will bet Arnold Weinmeister, all-pro tackle; John Mastrangelo, former Pittsburgh guard; Dan Garza, end; Otto Schnellbacher, Kansas’ great offensive end and defensive halfback; and Sherman Rowe and Tom Landry, halfbacks. Among the Yankee stars going to the Bulldogs will be Brad Ecklund, the center drafted by the Packers a year ago; Sherman Howard, Negro fullback ace who played with Stan Heath at Nevada; the talented Buddy Young; tackle Martin Ruby and end Jack Russell. One of the highlights of Wednesday’s lobby show was the arrival of the aforementioned Mr. McCarthy. The millionaire oilman wore a pure white overcoat, three-tone shoes, pink trousers, a pure silk (natch) shirt with no tie; and no hat. Following him like a bodyguard were 11 characters wearing cowboy hats and boots. As Lambeau remarked later, “He should have brought himself along a football team”…MEETING BRIEFS: The house was full of rumors, but the one that had everybody stumped concerned the coach of the Chicago Cardinals. The pilot won't be announced until after the meetings but everybody and his brother were placed in the Cardinal waiting line. Three of the latest picks were Cecil Isbell, Dudley DeGroot and Red Dawson, all former pro head coaches. Isbell said he was "just looking around". Bob Conrad, former member of the Packer staff, is in attendance and may connect with a club in the league. Another familiar face in the lobby was Max Patkin, the baseball funnyman and former Bluejay. The Packer contingent came out here in the same train with representatives of the Bears and Cardinals...One of the topics of conversation was a trade which would send Pat Harder, the Cardinal fullback, to the Packers. Both Bear George Halas and Ray Bennigsen, Card prexy, agreed that Harder should play in his home state. What the Cardinals would want for Harder is something else again. The conversation, 'tis said, really got interesting when Halas, the humorist, offered to trade his entire backfield with the exception of Johnny Lujack and George Gulyanics for Harder, Trippi and Angsman.
MARA OFFERS SCHEDULE FAVORABLE TO PACKERS
JAN 19 (Philadelphia) - The 1950 schedule of the NAFL may not come up for discussion until later in the week by Tim Mara, owner of the New York Giants, today presented (unofficially) an idea for a 14-team card that would be quite favorable to the Green Bay Packers. The entire plan, however, includes the Buffalo Bills, who aren't official members of the circuit yet. Voting on the Bills' franchise was the first order of business today. Mara's schedule would give the Packers home and away games with (and look at the power) the Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco Forty Niners, Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions. That would take care of 10 of the Packers' 12 contests. The remainder would be a home game with the Chicago Cardinals and a road game with the New York Bulldogs. The Bulldogs, incidentally, are listed as Yankees in Mara's draft. In short, the Packers would play home games with the Bears, Browns, Forty Niners, Rams, Lions and Cardinals, four of which will invade City stadium under the Packers' new and enlarged "home" card. The other two games will be played in Milwaukee. Packer Coach Curly Lambeau, of course, is in full agreement with Mara's plan. First, the schedule keeps safe the traditional two-game Bear-Packer rivalry. Next, the Packers will tangle with the cream of the AAC come-overs, the Browns and Forty Niners - champions and runner-up for the last four years. It's generally believed that the present meeting will not decide on the 1950 schedule, although the owners may recommend a card or two to Commissioner Bert Bell. Bell then work out the schedule the next two weeks.
NEW PRO GRID LEAGUE TO BE SET THURSDAY
JAN18 (Philadelphia) - The Green Bay Packers moved into the City of Brotherly Love today to take part in the organization of the new and more powerful NAFL. One of 13 members of the circuit created by the merger of the NFL and the All-America conference last December, the Packers will be guided at the peace table by President Emil R. Fischer and Head Coach and General Manager Curly Lambeau. Fischer and Lambeau went into a huddle here late this afternoon to go over Green Bay strategy in the secret meetings scheduled to start at 10 o’clock Thursday morning in the Bellevue-Stratford hotel. Also in the Packer delegation are Assistant Coaches Charley Brock and Tom Stidham and Publicity Director George Strickland…HAVE OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK: Fischer, Packer prexy since July 26, 1947, when L.H. Joannes retired after 18 years of service, also will attend the sessions in his new capacity as president of the National division of the NAFL. His mate will be Daniel Sherby of the Cleveland Browns, American division chief. Both were appointed at the time the merger was announced in December. Both Fischer and Lambeau will enter the meetings with an optimistic outlook. The chief reason, of course, is that the deadly cash war is over. Everything else seems minor by
Buffalo didn't make the grade. This development means that there will be one "swing" team, Baltimore. The Colts will play each of the other 12 teams once while they (the others) will play home and home scheduled. The meeting was scheduled to reconvene at 1:30, Green Bay time, this afternoon and Daley said that the owners might discuss the draft before going into the alignment of the two divisions.
PACKER-BEAR FEUD MUST BE CONTINUED, LEAGUE AGREES
JAN 20 (Philadelphia) - The NAFL continued its three-way juggling act today. The new circuit, which opened its historic sessions here Thursday morning, went through the afternoon and part of the night, agreeing to disagree on these three problems: (1) The admission of Buffalo; (2) The alignment of the two divisions, National and American; and (3) The schedule. The 10-hour session, interrupted twice for the purpose of taking on food, saw each of the 13 club representatives okay the continuance of the famed Packer-Bear series on a home and home basis...NOT MUCH ELSE NEW: For you grid stalwarts back home, that was the big news, although very few of the actual discussions taking place inside the meeting rooms have been revealed by Commissioner Bert Bell in his three fireside chats with nearly 50 writers. Packer Coach Curly Lambeau, reviewing the meetings, said that four or five proposals for schedules have been made and all of them include the home and home Packer-Bear series. Washington President George Marshall, it was reported, told the meetings "that the Packer-Bear series is about the only thing we can settle." Lambeau, in an optimistic mood, joked: "We'll play two games with the Bears as long as I have two legs, two hands and a big mouth." From the entire discussions, it was gathered that (1) Buffalo is still very much in the running and (2) Houston is practically out. Bell explained that most of the meeting talk has concerned Buffalo but "we have discussed 13 and 14-club settings." The present 13 clubs are the Packers, Chicago Bears and Cardinals, San Francisco Forty Niners, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, New York Bulldogs and N.Y. Giants. Thus Buffalo would be the 14th club...TWO MOTIONS SIDETRACKED: Two motions have gone before the meeting. The first, that the NAFL increase its membership from 13 to 14 clubs, was withdrawn. The second, the admission of Buffalo, was still before the house when the meeting adjourned Thursday night. The clubs are attempting to iron out all three problems at the same time. For instance, the league apparently does not wish to expand to 14 clubs unless a satisfactory schedule is worked out. While working on a schedule, the representatives are deciding which clubs will make up the two divisions. Bell revealed one 14-team, 12-game schedule proposal that was discussed considerably. Each team would play a home and home series with four of the clubs in their own division, thus accounting for eight games. Each team would play a single game with one club in their own division, increasing the total to nine. Then, each club would play single games with each of two "swing" teams, increasing the total to 11 games. Finally, each club would play a traditional foe in the opposite division, making a 12-game card for each club. The two swing teams would play everybody but each other. As an example, if the Lions were a "swinger" they would play a single with every club in the league except the other swing team, thus making their 12-game card...PACKERS TRADITIONAL FOE?: Incidentally, it might be interesting to work up a traditional foe for the Packers in the opposite division. Figuring that the Cardinals and Detroit remain in the same loop with the Packers, the logical traditional foe would be the Giants. If the Cards and Lions move to an opposite sector from the Pack, the Cardinals no doubt would be a natural rival. Another 14-team, 12 -game schedule proposal being discussed would have a home and home series with one club in the opposite division; three home and home games with teams in the same division; two single games in the same division, and two swing games. If the stalemate continues, several club spokesmen said that the entire schedule problem could be pitched into Bell's lap. Earlier, it was reported that Bell would be handed the card and told to work it out - for better or worse. However, the clubs want to the meeting with the feeling that Buffalo would be a good professional football bet. Apparently they think highly of the Bills since they are included in both of the schedule arrangements. Albert O'Neill, head of the delegation from Buffalo, outlined his city's assets is asking for a franchise. O'Neill explained that Buffalo had raised $265,000 in stock and has sold 15,000 season tickets in cash and pledged. Reportedly, the Bills have $167,000 in the bank. Jim Breuil, former Buffalo owner, was called in Thursday afternoon to give his version of the Bills' operation during their four years in the AAC. Breuil pulled out when the AAC merged but the fans, headed by O'Neill, quickly organized and raised money with encouragement from Bell...SIDELIGHTS: With plenty of spare time between announcements, the rumors are flying thick and fast - it has been revealed that (1) Cecil Isbell, the former Packer passer, has applied for the Cardinal head coaching job and (2) Buddy Parker is still in the running to succeed himself as the Cardinals' head coach. On the subject of Isbell, a lot of Chicago writers are trying to fit Mr. Isbell into the Packer backfield coaching pictures. It can be added that Bob Snyder, present Packer backfield pilot, has another year to go on his contract...The trade talk that generally surrounds a league meeting was completely missing until the report started to bounce that three famous Detroit backs are in Coach Bo McMillin's dog house and thus on the trade block. They are quarterback Clyde LeForce, fullback Camp Wilson and halfback Bill Dudley. The Cardinals have an eye on LeForce, because veteran quarterback Paul Christman has revealed he is retiring. Christman's current employer, the Wilson Sporting Good's company, which has a sales room here, says that Paul must quit the game or else look for a new offseason job. Anyway, the Cards will need another quarterback to go with Jim Hardy. Pittsburgh reportedly wants Dudley and Bill, 'tis said, might like playing with the club on which he started his pro career some seven years ago...The writers were pretty well stumped for news Wednesday and passed part of Thursday afternoon by watching the league highlight movie - an excellent production showing each club in action. One of the Packer thrills was Ralph Earhart's 61 yard touchdown run on a punt return against the Giants in Green Bay. Giant Coach Steve Owen, standing behind the writer during the showing, wondered, "How the hell did he ever do it."...It's pretty generally known now that the disposition of the Los Angeles Dons and Chicago Hornet players and possibly those of the Buffalo Bills will be deferred until June, though no official announcement has been made. Another delay, if you want to call it that, will have Commissioner Bert Bell working out a schedule after the meetings and announcing it in about a month. Most of the clubs, however, will know their opponents before the game dates are actually set. President Emil R. Fischer, Coach Curly Lambeau and George Marshall, owner of the Washington Redskins, lunched together twice during the intermission from the meetings. The trio then went on the air via a Buffalo station, WBEN, broadcasting from the Bellevue-Stratford hotel here. Don Larsen, of the Larsen Canning company, is attending a food convention a couple of rooms from the football meeting. Larsen says "it is hard to keep one's mind on food with the Packers practically next door." Fischer, incidentally, hopped a plan for a quick trip to New York Thursday night. Was to return for the meeting Friday.
PACKERS BATTLE FOR RIGHTS TO TONNEMAKER
JAN 21 (Philadelphia) - The Green Bay Packers fought for draft rights to Clayton Tonnemaker, the University of Minnesota's great center, as the NAFL today moved into its third day of deliberation. The touchy draft problems came up for discussion Friday night after the 13 clubs of the new circuit failed to reach an agreement on the makeup of the two divisions, National and American, and the 1950 schedule. The arguing over the alignment of the two loops and the card - a couple of headaches that were to be cured simultaneously - followed the league's decision to operate with 13 clubs in 1950, thus eliminating the Buffalo Bills. Once the draft is completed, the clubs will attempt to hatch the schedule and division setup. Tonnemaker is one of 10 or 15 players who was drafted by clubs in the NFL and the All-America conference - now merged into the NAFL. The Gopher star was drafted the Packers and San Francisco Forty Niners, but he already has been signed by the West coast team. Another key player in the same boat is Lynn Chadnois, Michigan State's terrific back, who was drafted by Washington and Cleveland. Chadnois already signed with Cleveland. Packer Coach Curly Lambeau says he wants Tonnemaker as the Packers No. 1 choice but it will be a battle in the meeting rooms before San Francisco would give him up. The same goes for Chandois and a lot of other players..."DEFINITELY WANT TONNEMAKER": Lambeau declined to comment on "just how the h--- we're going to work it out", but added that 'we definitely want Tonnemaker." He also declined to mention the name of the Packers' second draft choice in case Tonnemaker is lost. What's more, Lambeau has a hunch judging from Coach George Halas' previous remarks that the Bears want Tonnemaker, and the Packer enemy has a good chance of getting him. Here's why: Baltimore, which will draft first, needs a fullback and is expected to overlook the Minnesota great. The New York Bulldogs draft next but the Bears own the Bulldogs' first draft choice as part payment. The other part was $50,000 on the Bobby Layne deal last summer. Thus, the Bears would get a chance at Tonnemaker before the Packers, who draft third...INTERESTED IN WEINER, TOO: Lambeau also expressed an interest in Art Weiner, North Carolina's star end, who was on the Hornets' draft list. Since the Hornets are no longer in operation, the way is clear. Dick McKissack, the Packers' third choice in the recent NFL draft together with Tonnemaker and Weiner, could not be found on any of the old AAC draft lists. The Cardinals drafted him in error before his class graduated a year ago and then had to relinquish rights. Commissioner Bert Bell revealed that the AAC had signed most of the 10 or 15 players already under contract. "For goodness sakes," Bell winked, "there's even one guy who signed a contract with a team in the NFL and one in the AAC before we merged." The manner of drafting is being discussed at length and it appears that the lower clubs in the standings in 1948 will get extra consideration. A tentative plan, which may be used, would have each of the 13 clubs taking one player on the first round. Then on the second round only the low five clubs (Baltimore, N.Y. Bulldogs, Packers, Detroit and Washington in that order) would draw one player each. On the third round, each of the 13 teams would again draw one player each. On the fourth, the low five teams would draw again...ADVANTAGE FOR LOW CLUBS: The advantage is that, when the Packers and the other four low teams will have made their third picks the top eight will not have made their second selections, the order of drawing is based on the clubs' previous percentages in the 1949 final standings. Here are the bottom five: Baltimore .983; Bulldogs .091; Packers .167; Detroit .333 and Washington .500. Club officials reported that the three new AAC clubs are "generally quiet in the meeting rooms." Lambeau, for instance, felt that Commissioner Bell was doing a great job in conducting the sessions and "making the three newcomers feel at home." Shortly after the meeting resumed Friday night, the AAC teams (Browns, Colts and Forty Niners) were agreeable to Detroit keeping its bonus selection, Leon Hart, Notre Dame great end. The Lions were permitted to keep Hart by unanimous consent after Coach Bo McMillin ghave a "pep" talk...ONE-TWO PUNCH: One observer, however, said that the Browns may have had Chadnois in mind when they okayed Hart. The motion to permit Detroit to deal with Hart was made by Washington's George Marshall and seconded by Abe Watner of Baltimore - rapidly gaining fame as the loop's top one two punch. This pair introduced and seconded the motion on expanding the loop Friday morning. In an effort to bend over for the three newcomers, Ted Collins, owner of the Bulldogs, suggested that the new trio gets a chance for a bonus pick this year. Tony Morabito, Frisco owner, turned the offer down, however. This observer is wondering if Morabito's action is a concession to retain Tonnemaker. Hart is the fourth bonus choice (picked out of a hat before the recent secret draft) in the history of the NFL. The first was one by the Bears in 1946 and they picked Bob Fennimore, Oklahoma's star who is not out of football. The Eagles won in '48 and took Chuck Bednarik, Penn's star center. Washington took Harry Gilmer for winning in '47...DELAY DRAFTING "PROS": Earlier last night the league decided to defer drafting of the pro players from the Los Angeles Dons and Chicago Hornets and Buffalo Bills, who were thrown into a common pool until June 3. That is to avoid the legal entanglements which may result from violating the reserve clauses of the disbanded teams, which do not expire until spring in spite of the disappearance of the clubs. The hot schedule problem and the alignment of the sectors was put off when the clubs decided to finish the draft and then send their assistant coaches home as a means of saving expenses. Each club has two or three coaching aides. Charley Brock and Tom Stidham are with the Packer delegation. The key to the league's 12-game schedule seems to be the makeup of the two divisions - National and American...ONE SWING TEAM: One sector would have seven clubs with one of the teams designated as a "floater" or swing team. The other division would be composed of the normal six. A logical alignment and one that could be passes would go like this: Division 1 (probably the National) - Chicago Bears, Green Bay, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Detroit, New York Bulldogs, and the Baltimore Colts playing as a swing team. Division 2 - Chicago Cardinals, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, New York Giants and Washington. Each club with the exception of Baltimore would play a home and home series with every club within its division accounting for 10 of the 12 games. In addition, each club would play the swing team for the 11th game and each club would play a "traditional" opponent in the opposite division for the 12th game. Baltimore would play every club once to make up its 12 game...BEAR-CARD FEUD BIG BUG: From the Packer viewpoint, the above setup would mean continuation of the famous two-game series with the Bears. It would also provide two-game sets for such rivals as the Giants and Redskins, Rams and Forty Niners (both on the coast), and Steelers and Eagles. The big bug, of course, is the traditional two-game Bear-Cardinal series, which would be lost. The two Chicago clubs would meet only once since they would be in opposite divisions. The same goes for the two New York clubs, although their rivalry is just beginning by comparison. It was learned that Ray Bennigsen, president of the Cardinals, fought like blazes in the meeting room to retain the two-game rivalry. Bear Owner George Halas also wants to keep it...LAMBEAU WINS "SWING" ISSUE: Incidentally, the word is out that some of the clubs wanted Green Bay to play the role of a swing team. Lambeau battled the issue vigorously on the meeting floor. His argument was that it would kill the Packer-Bear series, which he called "one of the only real rivalries in the league". The other is the Bear-Cardinal game. The Bears and Packers have tangled 63 times since 1921 and the Bears and Cardinals met each other 57 times. The two-game Packer-Bear series nets $200,000 annually, Lambeau said. Baltimore, it was learned, finally was regarded as the only logical team as a "swinger, with Detroit as a second choice." The Colts have no natural rivalry built up, although they are close to Washington. The other two newcomers, Cleveland and San Francisco, have quite a rivalry going since they ran one-two in three of the four AAC seasons...FIRST NEWS: The first big break occurred shortly after noon Friday when Commissioner Bert Bell revealed that the NAFL voted down a motion to increase the membership from 13 to 14 clubs, automatically killing hopes of Buffalo, the only seriously considered candidate. After George Marshall of the Redskins introduced the motion, Bell said that all members then spoke simultaneously and added, "There were quite a few no's". A unanimous vote is required to pass. Most of the club representatives refused to admit how they voted except Dan Reeves, Los Angeles Ram owner, who said flatly he voted "no". A poll of the clubs showed that Tim Mara of the Giants, Art Rooney, Pittsburgh. and Marshall led the fight to up the membership and thus admit Buffalo. Other club representatives who said they voted "yes" were Curly Lambeau, Green Bay, Arthur McBride, Cleveland, Abe Watner, Baltimore, and Tony Morabito, San Francisco. Philadelphia's Eagles declined to comment and it was assumed they went against the motion. The N.Y. Bulldogs, Chicago Bears and Cardinals were believed to have joined Reeves in the opposition, while Detroit said it abstained from voting...FORGOTTEN MEN: The two presidents of the National and American divisions, Emil R. Fischer of the Green Bay Packers and Dan Sherby of the Cleveland Browns, respectively, are virtually forgotten men since the two sectors have yet to be organized. Fischer, president of the Packers, took a quick trip into New York Thursday night and returned in time to sit in on session Friday afternoon. He will attend the rest of the sessions, then go to Miami after the meetings here before returning to Green Bay early in February...MEETING BRIEFS: The Buffalo delegation was deeply disappointed at the league's decision to stay at 13 teams. Albert O'Neill, Buffalo club president, made a brief statement to the press and then hurried back home to start refunding approximately $177,000 in cash collected in the city's season ticket and stock drives. O'Neill summed it up this way: "We feel Buffalo has suffered a great loss in not being able to keep the sport in Buffalo, but we also feel that the NAFL has suffered a great loss because Buffalo is not represented."..The 1950 schedule may start Sept. 17 - a week earlier than the traditional Bear-Packer "opening"...Eddie Kotal, former Packer back, backfield coach and scout, is starting his fifth season as chief scout of the Rams. Kotal has a new assignment for six weeks this year, visiting LA industrial executives in a bid for good will. "And I sold a lot of tickets, too," Eddie says...The rumor now has Bill Dudley, Detroit's great back whose $20,000 contract expired this season, going to the Cardinals instead of the Steelers as believed earlier. Can you imagine Dudley and Charley Trippi in the same backfield? One thing's pretty certain - Dudley won't be drawing any 20 grand next fall...The Packer delegates were pleased that former Packer George Sauer got the Baylor head coaching job but surprised that Cecil Isbell didn't get the job because he was supposed to have had the inside track. Isbell's home is down near Baylor in Texas. Isbell, the job-hunting former coach of the Baltimore Colts and ex-Packer, left for his home early Friday without a connection. The rumor that Isbell would move into Green Bay as backfield coach is strictly false and without foundation. What's more, Coach Bob Snyder's contract has another year to run. Bob Conrad, formerly of the Packer staff, keenly felt the Buffalo dismissal. He had had a job lined up with the Bills for '50.
Larry Burris
NAFL OWNERS VOTE DOWN BUFFALO AND HOUSTON BIDS
JAN 20 (Green Bay) - Owners of the NAFL today voted down a motion to increase the organization's members to fourteen, thus turning down the applications of Buffalo, Houston and Oakland, Press-Gazette Sports Editor Art Daley reported via long distance telephone this noon. Commissioner Bert Bell came out of the meeting room after little less than two hours of the league's second day at the conference table to tell reporters that the organization would operate in 1950 with 13 members, Daley said. That was all Bell had to say. He immediately went back into the conference to resume deliberation on the multitude of problems still to be threshed out. He declined to give the vote, merely asserting, "Some voted for and some against," Daley reported. Unanimous approval was required to admit the Bills. The announcement came as a surprise. Yesterday, after eight hours of deliberation, the owners - through the commissioner - indicated a strong desire to include Buffalo in the new league. Bell said that "nobody was opposed to Buffalo, providing a satisfactory schedule could be worked out." Apparently that wasn't possible and, as a result,
PACKERS DRAFT TONNEMAKER, GENE EVANS, ROTE, COUTRE, 25 OTHERS FOR '50 CAMPAIGN
JAN 23 (Philadelphia) - The Green Bay Packers drew the nation's leading center, a chance of an Army field general and three boys from their own neighborhood in the first draft of the new NAFL here Saturday and Sunday. The best in centers is Clayton Tonnemaker, the 245-pound defensive giant from the University of Minnesota; the Army man is quarterback Arnold Galiffa, and the neighborhoods are (1) Gene Evans, the former Green Bay West Wildcat and University of Wisconsin scat back; (2) Appleton's Claude Radtke, an excellent pass receiver from Lawrence college; and (3) Harold Otterback, a Badger tackle-guard who hails from Menominee, Mich. In all, the Packers gathered up 29 players in the regular draft. They were permitted three additional boys from their 1949 reserve list and the trio will be eligible for 1950 pro warfare. Together with the 29 veterans from the 1949 season, the Packers now have 61 athletes for the purpose of representing Green Bay in the NAFL. The Packers will have an opportunity to grab an additional 10 or 15 when the players of the defunct Los Angeles Dons, Chicago Hornets and Buffalo Bills, plus leftover reserve players, are put up in the pro draft on June 3 at a place to be designated later...LOST ONE CHOICE: The Packers lost one player in the current draft. He was their fifth choice who belonged to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the deal that brought Bob Cifers to Green Bay. Pittsburgh selected Tom Howe, Dartmouth end. The weekend draft saw the Packers fatten up on a weak spot, end, taking six. In addition, they bagged three guards, six halfbacks, five fullbacks, three quarterbacks, three centers and three tackles. The three reserves included also two ends - Rebel Steiner of Alabama and
Bob Folsom of Southern Methodist - and a center, Bob Williams of Texas Tech. New ends are Gordon Soltau of Minnesota, Roger Wilson of South Carolina, Gene Lorenda of Virginia, Ben Zaranka of Kentucky and Radtke. Zaranka, an outstanding pass receiver, was drafted for future duty. He's a junior recommended by Coach Bear Bryant, Don Hutson's old teammate at Alabama. The new halfbacks, besides the speedy Evans, are Larry Coutre of Notre Dame, Harry Szulborski of Purdue, Jim Howe of Kentucky, Don Delph of Dayton university and Herman Herring of Rutgers. Three of them, Herring, Delph and Howe, carry over 190 pounds...CLOUD LEADS FULLBACKS: The new fullbacks are led by Jack Cloud of William and Mary, offensive and defensive ace who was selected in the sixth round. Other FBs are Andy Pavich of Denver U., Frank Kuzma of Minnesota, Bill Osborn of Nevada and Frank Waters of Michigan State. The FB quintette averages 209 pounds. The quarterback trio includes a surprise - a Mr. Ray Mallouf, the former Chicago Cardinal and New York Giant star, who was placed on the draft in a special ruling designed to reduce the roster of the Giants and N.Y. Bulldogs who benefited in the distribution of N.Y. Yankees players. Mallouf was chosen on the 30th and final round in front of the Cardinals, who has intended to get him back to understudy Jim Hardy. The other quarterback, besides Galiffa, was the talented Tobin Rote of Rice, who was the Bays' second choice. Rote rates high as a ball handler and passer. Galiffa, of course, was drafted as a future possibility though he has finished his grid career in the Army. Galiffa made all of the major All-American teams, including Grantland Rice's. Galiffa quarterbacked Army through three unbeaten seasons...THREE TACKLES SELECTED: The Packers selected three tackles - the one strong spot in 1949. They are Bob Mealey, all-Big Nine ace from Minnesota, Earl (Strawberry) Rowan of Hardin-Simmons and Fred Leon of Nevada. The new guards are Leon Manley of Oklahoma, George Mattey of Ohio State and Otterback. Fighting with Tonnemaker for a center job are these two eligibles: Gene Huebner of Baylor, a 230-pounder who specializes in offense, and 214-pound Charles Eatty of Penn State. The Packers’ first two draft choices were already signed by clubs in the old All-America conference – Tonnemaker by San Francisco and Rote by Baltimore. Under a ruling handed down by Commissioner Bert Bell late Saturday after club representatives failed to reach an agreement on player disposition, previously-signed 1949 college stars were thrown into a giant pool. The teams drafting them must assume the contracts agreed upon originally…TWO UNDER CONTRACT: In other words, the Packers already have two players, Tonnemaker and Rote, signed and sealed for 1950 duty. Green Bay’s own Gene Evans was drafted on the 21st round. One of the leading punt and kickoff returners in the country, Evans is the first Green Bay native ever drafted by the Packers, although a number of other Bay boys played on the team, including Arnie Herber and Wayland Becker. The first draft was held in 1936. The Packer coaching delegation, Curly Lambeau, Tom Stidham and Charley Brock, expressed satisfaction with the players selected. Their purpose was to strengthen the weak spots – particularly at end, in the middle of the line and in the backfield. The league resumed sessions at 10 o’clock (Green Bay time) this morning in an effort to iron out the tough division alignment and schedule problems. The general belief is that, if the clubs fail to reach an agreement, Commissioner Bell will exercise his authority and decide the issue in his own way. The big stumbling block is the two-game Bear-Cardinal series. The Bears and Cards refuse to give in…INFO ON DRAFTEES: Here are some bits of information on several of the Packers’ draft selections: GENE EVANS, Wisconsin back – Badger Coach Ivy Williamson calls him the greatest back – “pound for pound” – in the country. Lambeau was convinced that Gene would go in pro ball when he dashed 60 yards with a punt for a TD against “that big Minnesota team”. Lambeau admits that Gene is small but “if he was two inches taller but he’d be too thin (he weighs 165 and stands 5-7) but as he is now he’s stocky and tough enough for this league”. Evans got his start under West High’s T-formation expert, Frosty Ferzacca, made all-Fox Valley conference three straight years and was a regular at Wisconsin for four seasons. RAY MALLOUF, SMU quarterback – Considered the best clutch quarterback in pro football. Has biggest pair of hands in the game. Joined Cardinals in 1941, entered Army in 1943, returned to the Cardinals in ’46, and joined Giants in ’49. Saved Western title for Cardinals in 1948 when Paul Christman fractured wrist in first game. Led Cards in 7-0 loss in snowbound championship game that year. Rated a good teacher of quarterbacks. Handled Chuck Conerly last fall. Rugged, Sammy Baugh type. Expected to play two or three more years. HAROLD OTTERBACK, Wisconsin tackle – Will play guard for Packers. Coach Brock says he has makings of a leader. Developed most of spirit in fighting Badger team of ’49. Plays well on both offense or defense. GEORGE MATTEY, Ohio State guard – Plays mostly defense in slot on five-man line or guard in six or seven-man lines. Stocky at 225, 5-10. Sparked defense against California in Rose Bowl game. CLAUDE RADTKE, Lawrence college end – Wanted by both the Bears and Rams. Midwest all-conference and Little All-American choices last fall. Runs the 100 in 10.5 seconds. Exceptionally shifty for size – 6-3 and 196. Has good pair of hands for pass receiving. CLAYTON TONNEMAKER, Minnesota center – Made every All-American team in 1949. George Svendsen, assistant Gopher coach and former Packer, rates Tonny the best center center and the best pro prospect he’s ever seen. Exceptionally fast for size, 6-4, 245. Known for making tackles on wide sweeps and on between-the-tackles runs. Excellent pass defender. Specializes in defense. TOBIN ROTE, Rice quarterback – Threw 73 passes in stretch last fall without interception, completing 41. Finished with 61 completions in 129 attempts, three interceptions. Runs quarter-mile in 50 seconds flat. Coach Brock calls him an excellent ball handler and a long or short passer. GORDON SOLTAU, Minnesota end – Gopher Bernie Bierman calls him one of the Minnesota’s best all-around ends in years. Brock impressed with him in spring drills and in Minnesota-Wisconsin game. Did all of Minnesota’s placekicking and kicking off, giving Packers help in this department. LARRY COUTRE, Notre Dame halfback – Averaged a shade over six yards per try in ’49. Long-run specialist per try in ’49. Called another Elmer Angsman by Midwest and pro grid observers. Ran for three TDs of 81, 14 and 41 yards against Tulane and two against Southern Cal. JACK CLOUD, William and Mary fullback – Drafted three times by NFL club but lost by ineligibility. Doubles on defense. Rated B-plus (second from top) in nationwide all-opponent selection. Was on Giant Steve Owen’s list. Owen coaches him in Senior Bowl game. Packs 210 pounds. HARRY SZULBORSKI, Purdue halfback – The Canadeo of the Boilermakers, guts plus. Ran from left half in T-formation and played right half some. Considered strictly a hard runner. Packs 175 pounds, stands 5-10. LEON MANLEY, Oklahoma guard – Second Okie guard drafted in two seasons. Buddy Burris picked year ago. On the rangy side, at 220 and 602, Manley is swift and sees a lot of action on offense. Specializes in downfield blocking. Coach Stidham impressed with him in bowl game. ROGER WILSON, South Carolina end – Recommended by SC Coach Rex Enright, a former Packer who developed Larry Craig. Enright rates him another Craig. Expect that Wilson can catch passes as well. Wilson also played defensive tackle.
PACKER ALUMNI WILL BE BEHIND COACHES, KLAUS DECLARES
JAN 23 (Green Bay) – “Whoever is the coach – or whoever composes the coaching staff – for the Packers next fall – we’ll be behind them,” President Fee Klaus declared during a brief, informal business meeting at the Packer Alumni association’s first annual party in the Beaumont hotel Saturday night. In addition to Klaus’ talk, Jerry Atkinson, president of the Packer Backers’ association, Manager John Borgenson of the Association of Commerce, Earl Gillespie of WJPG, Don Arthur of WDUZ and Lee Remmel of the Press-Gazette talked briefly.
ONE VOTE ROBBED PACKERS OF SPECIAL DRAFT CONSIDERATION
JAN 23 (Philadelphia) - One of the sidelights: a stray pigeon cluttering up Broad street told us a story today about how the Green Bay Packers and three or four other “low” clubs in 1949 just missed – by one vote – a chance to get special consideration in the college draft. In the Saturday morning sessions, it was proposed that the five low clubs – the Packers, Detroit, Bulldogs, Baltimore and Washington – be the only teams drawing in three of the first five rounds. Thus, they would get five choices to the other eight clubs’ two in the first five rounds. This proposal was defeated by a 10-3 vote and one of the clubs dissenting was the Philadelphia Eagles, who built their present championship club by a similar system used until 1945. Before the night sessions, Packer Coach Curly Lambeau did a bit of campaigning and managed to see two of the three dissenters. This certain pigeon then told about the night meeting – shortly before the big college draft. The proposal, with slight alterations, was submitted by Lambeau and when Commissioner Bert Bell, who had decided it should be decided by unanimous vote, called for the no’s all was quiet for a couple of long seconds. For those couple of seconds, it became apparent that such powerhouses as the Eagles, Bears and Rams were willing to give the “lowsters” an assist for future operation. Then, the pigeon reported, a certain Mr. Paul Brown of Cleveland leaped to his feet and belched forth a flat “no”. Brown, the shrewd head coach and general manager of the Browns, thus killed the Packers’ extra hope chances by 12-1. Brown’s vote, incidentally, could be an insight into the future of the Clevelanders, who won all four championships in the defunct All-America conference. The general opinion is that the Browns are pretty “old” and most of the stars are well over the hill…Packer Coaches Charley Brock and Tom Stidham arrived at the draft meeting room an hour before the picking actually started Saturday night. Coach Lambeau advised them to select a table (there are 13 – one for each club) in the corner of the room to prevent “snooping”. The room was empty when they arrived. The snoopers are men like Washington’s George Marshall and other club representatives who have a habit of looking at the various clubs’ lists over the shoulders of the coaches. Stidham and Brock got themselves plunked squarely in the corner with only the walls as onlookers…CHANCES: Before the draft meet, the Packers were willing to take a chance on Froggie Williams, Rice’s great receiver and catching mate of Tobin Rote, late in the picking since Williams had stated he had no intention of playing pro ball. The Forty Niners, however, decided to give Froggie the Golden Gate bridge, and picked him in the 23rd round…DRAFT SECRETS: Ohs, ahs, table-pounding, finger snapping and cussing sidelight the college draft session. The Packer table started to grow jumpy as the second round started Saturday night because it looked as if the Bays might land Art Weiner, North Carolina’s great pass receiving end. On the train out, Bear Coach George Halas swore, “You aren’t going to get BOTH Weiner and Tonnemaker”. The Packers had landed Tonnenmaker on the first round while Halas, in a surprise move, picked Chuck Hunsigner, Florida back, who, they say, didn’t scintillate in later games last fall. After Baltimore led off by picking QB Paul Campbell of Texas, the Bays crossed their fingers as the New York Bulldog delegate prepared to speak. The Packer coaches were fingering two information cards – one for Weiner and the other for Tobin Rote, ace Rice QB. The Packers pounded the table, kicked the legs and uttered a few cusswords, ‘twas heard, as the Bulldogs blurted out “Weiner”. Later, Lambeau said, “We would have selected Weiner over Rote, because Weiner is one of those once-in-a-lifetime guys you can’t afford to pass up. But we feel that Rote will do us more good, overall, than Weiner would.” Redskin Marshall was unhappy when the Bays picked Jack Cloud, William and Mary fullback. Said he: “Why don’t you guys stay in your own territory.” William and Mary is in Virginia, Marshall’s season ticket territory. Dick McKissick, the SMU fullback who was selected by the Packers in the three-man NFL draft last November, was chosen by the Los Angeles Rams. The other two earlier Bay picks were Tonnemaker and Weiner.
CURLY DENIES NEW RUMOR OF STAFF SHAKEUP
JAN 24 (Philadelphia) - Head Coach E.L. (Curly) Lambeau denied rumors here today that a major shakeup in the Green Bay Packer coaching staff. A Milwaukee newspaper says that top changes in the NAFL team’s coaching staff are indicated. Lambeau says there is no foundation for the report. The Milwaukee story, published Monday night, was credited to “those who claim to be in the know”. It stated that, according to those persons: Lambeau will give up coaching and devote his time to the front office. (Lambeau dropped the coaching reins during the 1949 season, but has indicated that he expects to pick them up again in 1950.) Tom Stidham, Packer line coach, will become head coach. Cecil Isbell, ex-Packer star, will join the staff, probably as backfield coach. Isbell recently was dismissed as coach of the Baltimore team. The story said that the one-time Packer passing star has been conferred with Green Bay officials at the NAFL's draft meeting here this weekend. Lambeau, advised of the report, said it has no foundation. He said no change is planned in the Green Bay coaching setup and that Isbell is not seeking a Packer job. He said that Isbell joined Packer officials here to help them draft players from the now-defunct All-American Football conference. That draft, however, was not held.
COLORFUL PACKER-BEAR FEUD IS SAFE AGAIN
JAN 24 (Philadelphia) - The mighty Bear-Packer series - oldest and bitterest in professional football - is safe. The famed double-barreled classic - in Green Bay and Chicago annually since 1921 - remained intact when the two rivals were placed in the same division of the NAFL here late Monday afternoon. Backbone of the Packers' home schedule, the gridiron belligerents will meet for the 64th and 65th times next fall...RAMS, FORTY-NINERS TOO: Fighting in the same division with the Packers and Bears will be the New York Bulldogs, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco Forty-Niners, Detroit Lions and Baltimore Colts. The Colts will play every club in the league as a "swing" team. The other division is composed of the New York Giants, Chicago Cardinals, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington and Cleveland. Names of the two circuits have not been selected yet but it is believed that they will be known as the National and American conferences. And, if you please, future exhibition games will go down as non-conference affairs. All that remains to ready the league for business is a schedule, the drafting of which the owners have left to Commissioner Bert Bell. He has promised one in about a month. The clubs agreed on the schedule key in the closing sessions Monday night, thus revealing five of the Packers' six home opponents for 1950. The schedule calls for home and home games with teams in the same division, making 10 contests; one with a traditional opponent in the opposite division; and one game with the swing club. This will make a total of 12 games with one club idle each of the 13 week season. Tentatively, the lop will start play Sept. 17. Under the new setup, the Packers will play home and home games with the Bears, Bulldogs, Rams, Lions and Forty-Niners. The Bays' traditional foes would be Philadelphia, Washington or Pittsburgh, which means that one of these three teams or Baltimore will be the Packers' sixth home opponent. Three of the six "traditional" games (in opposite divisions) are practically set, although Bell has yet to make the official designation. The Bears and Cardinals form one traditional rivalry; the two New York clubs another; and the Browns and Forty-Niners the other because of their rivalry in the old All-America...LAMBEAU IS HAPPY: This leaves Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington in one division and the Packers, Los Angeles and Detroit without traditional opponent in the other. A guess would be that the Packers tangle with Washington; the Eagles with Pittsburgh; and Los Angeles with Philadelphia. Packer Coach Curly Lambeau was extremely happy with the new alignment and expressed his thoughts this way: "We kept what we wanted most of all, the two-game series with the Bears. Although we lost the Cardinals, we gained the Forty-Niners, who are easily one of the strongest teams in pro football." During the course of the five-day meet, there had been considerable talk of making Green Bay or Detroit a "swing" team. In fact, it was suggested several times in the meeting rooms although it never actually came to a vote. Under the terms of the original merger, Baltimore was designated as a "swing" team and the campaigning here was aimed at amending the merger terms...MARSHALL ONLY OPPONENT: George P. Marshall, owner of the Washington Redskins, was the only real opponent to Baltimore as the "swinger" because it removed a two-game series from the closely-knit cities. Along this line, the biggest "loss" was suffered by the Bears and Cardinals, who saw their lucrative two-games series - the second oldest in the pro game - to go up in smoke. It was Bear Owner-Coach George Halas who introduced the motion establishing the current alignment after a bit of meeting room drama. Almost up until the decision was announced late Monday afternoon, practically everyone, including Commissioner Bell, thought that the stalemate of conflicting interests could not be broken and that the commissioner would be charged with the task of deciding it. At least two motions were made to have Bell decide the issue, but he would not entertain them because they did not provide that his verdict be binding. Finally, he said, in effect, that he was through listening to the varied propositions and would have to settle the matter himself. Under the merger pact, he was empowered to do this...GAVE BELL PROXY: One of the club representatives grabbed Bell as he started to leave the room and asked him to wait a minute. Five minutes later, the motion, seconded by Jack Mara of the Giants, was passed by a 12-1 vote. The lone dissenter was Washington's George Marshall, whose vote was cast by Bell after Marshall retired from the meeting, giving Bell his proxy. In other business, the owners decided to keep the free substitution rule. The 13 owners voted unanimously to make the unlimited sub rule permanent. It was used in the old NFL as a one-year experiment in 1949. Two suggested rule changes were voted down, They would have barred: 1. The "tackle eligible" play. 2. Megaphone coaching from the bench. Under the "tackle eligible" rule, any player at the end of the line becomes eligible to receive a pass whether or not he is an end. The Los Angeles Rams used this play effectively last season with tackles as pass receivers. Generally speaking, the meeting, which started away last Wednesday night with a rules meeting, closed on a happy note. Most downheated, natch, was Marshall, who claimed he lost $150,000 though the Baltimore swing setup..."IT WAS ONLY WAY": The Chicago gents, Halas and Cardinal president Ray Bennigsen, naturally were disappointed at losing their home and home rivalry, but both admitted something like this: "It was the only way (playing one game) the matter could be settled." Commissioner Bell, in his first fireside chat with the press last Friday, commented in answer to questions on division setups: "We certainly can't break up a 30-year traditional rivalry". He was referring to the Bear-Packer series. Halas certainly endorses the Packer-Bear rivalry by introducing the motion that finally settled the league's divisional (conference) structure...Packer Coach Curly Lambeau and George Strickler, publicity director, left here this afternoon and will arrive in Green Bay Wednesday evening. A number of the coaches went into "trade" huddles after the meetings closed officially at 12:30 a.m. today. Assistant Coaches Tom Stidham and Charley Brock left Monday morning...Clark Shaughnessy, coach of the Los Angeles Rams, said that the Packers' Clayton Tonnemaker was the greatest player drafted at the meeting. The Minnesota center, Shaughnessy said, "did things on defense that I never saw before. He can brush two or three blockers away on end sweeps and then make the tackle. In the East-West game, he intercepted a pass and kept looking for somebody to lateral it to. Finally, he lit out and ran 68 yards for a touchdown. That's how fast he is."...Closing action Monday night included keeping the player limit at 32 and a ruling in non-conference games. As in the past, teams in the same division cannot play other clubs in that sector. A tentative traveling plan calls for double games on the West coast. Since the Packers play the Forty-Niners and Rams there, they would get both games in one swing.
ROCKWOOD LODGE, PACKERS' QUARTERS, BURNS TO GROUND
JAN 25 (Green Bay) - Possible faulty attic wiring was blamed today by Caretaker Melvin Flagstead for the spectacular fire which Tuesday afternoon leveled the Green Bay Packers' training home, Rockwood lodge, about 15 miles northeast of Green Bay on the bay shore. Frank Jonet, Packer secretary-treasurer, estimated the loss at $50,000, all of it insured. Today, only two twisted and cracked walls and a chimney remain to tell the story of the howling inferno which destroyed everything in the lodge, except a green davenport. The five cottages on the grounds were not damaged. Helped by a 25 mile per hour wing, the fire shot out through the roof of the sumptuous building at 2:15. At 3:15, the roof of the two story, rock and wooden structure had caved in and at 3:30 two of the walls buckled crazily and then tumbled down...JUMPED FROM SECOND FLOOR: Caretaker Flagstead escaped with his life, but suffering a three inch slash on his left hand when he broke a window on the second floor. He leaped two stories into the snow when he was trapped after unsuccessful effort to put it out with a single fire extinguisher. His wife and two children, Sandra, 9, and Danny, 12, fled the flames with only what they had on their backs when little Danny found smoke at about 2 o'clock. Mrs. Flagstead left the house only in a house dress. Her two children fled into the snowwithout shoes. The only organized fire fighting group who was present was the four-man crew from the Duqaine Lumber company, New Franken. They arrived between 2:15 and 2:30 with a pumping unit on a trailer attached to a jeep with 600 feet of hose, which they didn't use. "It was no use. Our job was to save the five adjacent cottages. But we didn't have to because the wind was in the other direction. As for the lodge itself, nothing could have been done to keep that fire down." he said...PREBLE TRUCK BROKE DOWN: A fire truck from Preble started for the fire but broke down about four miles from the scene when it burned out a bearing. Smoke billowed 100 feet high and flames leaped 50 feet into the sky as about 40 persons stood grim faced unable to halt their spread. In the house when the fire started were the Flagsteads, their two children and Sandra, 12, and Donald Agamite, 9, children of the lodge's nearest neighbors. According to Sandra Agamite, the four were playing blind man's bluff in a second floor bedroom. She said they needed a scarf for a blindfold and the young Flagstead was dispatched to get one. As he stepped out into the hall he smelled smoke apparently coming from the attic. He screamed for his father who raced upstairs and into the attic where he discovered flames. Flagstead then ordered the children out of the house and yelled to his wife to call firemen. After she had done so she ran about 200 yards to Highway 57, where she began to flag down the passing cars. Flagstead, meanwhile, returned to the attic with a fire extinguisher. When he found himself trapped, he broke a window and leaped to the snow below...ROESER CAME TO HELP: One of the first persons on the scene was Joseph Roeser, 36, Green Bay laundry owner of 215 South Webster avenue, who
had been flagged down by Mrs. Flagstead. He said he reached the lodge just after Mr. Flagstead had leaped to safety. Both then pulled a filled 100 pound gas tank away from the house to keep it from exploding and showering the nearby cottages with flame; then went into the interior of the burning building. The only thing carried out was the green davenport. Packer uniforms and other equipment, however, were safe in City stadium. The New Franken telephone switchboard operator had, in the meantime, put in calls for help to farm homes in the area. This brought about two dozen potential firefighters to the scene, some of them hopelessly inadequately ready for the inferno that they saw. One farmer said he wrenched his home fire extinguisher from the wall and immediately drove out. When he arrived, he said, he did nothing because he couldn't...LIGHTS HAD FLICKERED: Ellen Flagstead, 19, working in Green Bay, heard preliminary reports of the fire on WJPG. She drove out immediately. On arrival, she could not obtain details as to where her parents were, and believing them dead, burst into tears. Her parents had left the scene in search of medical attention for Flagstead's badly cut hand. On his return, Flagstead was numb with what he saw. He stood frozen as onlookers yelled his name. He didn't acknowledge the calls for several minutes, apparently because of the shock. Later he told reporters that he recently noticed that the lights at the lodge flickered. He blamed this on faulty wiring and said that such faulty wiring was the cause of the fire as far as he could determine. "I always feared fire and especially in the lodge because of its isolation. I was terribly afraid that in case of fire there we would be in dreadful circumstances," he said. All the Flagstead belongings were destroyed in the fire. Harvey Lhost, member of the Packer executive committee, offered the Flagsteads quarters in one of the five furnished cottages until a new home for them could be found...BACK TO THE ASTOR: Destruction of the lodge topped a controversy which revolved around the lodge. Opponents of the lodge plan have complained that the lodge has kept players from townspeople and has been too costly. Halfback Tony Canadeo, who visited the fire along with fullback Ted Fritsch, remarked, "Well, I guess it's back to the Astor hotel." The Packers used to live there and practice in City stadium with hundreds of watching. The lodge was built in 1937 by the Norbertine fathers under the supervision of the Rev. F.X.J. Exler, O. Praem, as a summer recreational center for the Columbus Community club. Construction on Rockwood started May 13, 1937, according to Press-Gazette filed, and it was opened to the public on Columbus day of the same year. Three months before this, on July 2, its barn had been destroyed by fire with a loss of $16,000...PACKERS BOUGHT IT IN 1946: Known then as the Bay Shore lodge, it was officially launched with a "Landing Day" party for the Knights of Columbus and their wives. Originally, it had been planned to open the lodge Aug. 1. The Green Bay Packers purchased Rockwood lodge from Frank De Meuse and Harry Daul, co-owners, in May of 1946. The lodge and 53 acres of land were improved into a permanent home for the Packer players and coaches during the football season. The main reason for its purchase for players when accommodations couldn't be had in Green Bay because of the housing shortage. Five cottages were erected for housing married players, and a practice field was built between the lodge and the highway. Packer Secretary-Treasurer Frank Jonet said that the loss in building and contents would run about $50,000, and that it was fully covered by insurance.
PACKERS MAY TAKE 60 TO TRAINING CAMP IN 1950
JAN 25 (Green Bay) - Believe me, Tuesday was a day of irony. Stranded for three hours in an airliner over Detroit on the way home from the NAFL meetings in Philadelphia, we cooked up several story and headline ideas for Wednesday evening Packer reading as follows: Packers Plan Largest Camp - Rockwood Lodge to Be Crowded - Packers Take Limit of 60 Players to Camp. Early evening in Chicago (the air buggy never did chance a scheduled brief stopover in Detroit and sailed into Chicago instead), we called the homestead and received the following shocks: Rockwood Lodge Burned To Ground - Packers' Training Home Destroyed by Fire. The headline opposites provided for a lot of jumbled thoughts, but this much is certain: The Packers are preparing for the biggest mass excursion of players into Green Bay in history. Approximately 60 will be screened in an effort to produce the best Packer team for what promises to be the toughest of professional football seasons...61 PLAYERS ELIGIBLE: Early in the war years, the Packers trained as many as 55 boys as protection against Uncle Sam's fast-sweeping draft. In fact, it was during the war years that a need for a place like Rockwood lodge was really noticed because of the housing shortage in town. It was purchased in May, 1946. The Packers now have 61 players eligible to wear Green Bay colors next fall. They include 29 holdovers from the 1949 season, three boys retained from the previous reserve list, and the 29 selected in the Philadelphia draft. An additional 10 players, thus boosting the roster to 71, will be selected by the Packers in the pro draft of players of the defunct Chicago Hornets, Los Angeles Dons and Buffalo Bills. This draft will be held June 3 - probably in Philadelphia. The training camp limit is 60 under league rules. Out in Philly, Packer Coach Curly Lambeau expressioned the opinion that "it will be hard to reduce the roster to 60". He indicated, however, without mentioning games, that trades could be made to strengthen weak spots and thus reduce the roster...BEN ZARANKA OUT: It's possible, too, that some of the veterans may not return. The brilliant Larry Craig, who already put in 11 seasons, has confessed that 1949 was his last. Several others are undecided. All but two of the 32 new boys are definitely interested in playing pro ball next fall, barring unforeseen circumstances. They are Army quarterback Arnold Galiffa and Kentucky end Ben Zaranka, both of whom were selected for possible future operations. Zaranka is a junior and highly rated as a pass receiver by KU Coach Bear Bryant. Galiffa, the All-American who led Army to three straight undefeated seasons, has finished his gridiron career. The trio, held out in the new league ruling abolishing old reserve lists, completed collegiate action in 1949. Drafted a year ago for duty in 1950, they are ends Rebel Steiner of Alabama and Bob Folsom of SMU and center Bob Williams of Texas Tech. By position, the 61 Packer players are divided this way: 13 ends; 11 halfbacks; 8 tackles; 8 guards; 8 fullbacks; 7 centers; and 6 quarterbacks...SKY STEW: Riding in the aforementioned plane were two Detroit Lion, Coach Bo McMillin and Publicity Nick Kewbawy, and sportswriter Bob Latshaw of the Detroit News. En route, McMillen and Kerbawy made plans for a meeting of the Lion stockholders Monday night. They never did get in Detroit for the session as the low ceiling stopped air travel for the night. Packer Coach Curly Lambeau and Publicity Director George Strickler left Philadelphia on the Broadway Limited at 5 o'clock Monday afternoon (4, Green Bay time) and are due in Green Bay tonight...Records set in the old All-America conference are likely to become just noteworthy performances in the newly organized league. Commissioner Bert Bell said he hasn't decided definitely what he'll do regarding records. But he indicated the NAFL will adopt in full the records established by the NFL. The owners of the 13-team league adjourned their five-day session without discussing records.
CARDS TO PICK NEW COACH WITHIN A WEEK
JAN 26 (Chicago) - A new coach of the Chicago Cardinals of the NAFL will be selected within a week, says Ray Benningsen, club president. Bennigsen said he has five candidates under consideration and one will be named after each is interviewed. Originally, he said there had been 12 candidates for the job as a successor to Buddy Parker who resigned at the end of last season. Bennigsen declined to identify the five candidates. He said, however, that Sid Luckman, veteran Chicago Bear quarterback, was not one. He also said that Jim Conzelman, former Cardinal coach, told him he had no desire to return to coaching and will remain at his advertising job in St. Louis. Among the applicants for the Cardinal job are Clarke Hinkle, former Green Bay Packer fullback, and Cecil Isbell, the ex-Packer halfback. Isbell, former head coach of the Baltimore Colts in the old AAC, conferred with Bennigsen at the NAFL meetings in Philadelphia last week.
EVANS FACES GRID-DIAMOND DECISION
JAN 27 (Green Bay) - First it was Cliff Aberson. Then Jug Girard. And no Gene Evans. These three are especially gifted. They can perform in the two major sports – baseball and football – in such a manner that either effort might provide what us chair lizards call a living. Aberson has already made his decision - baseball. Jug selected football, but he’s young enough to change his mind. Rookie Evans, who will turn 22 next August 9, has until late next spring to make his decision. Let’s look into the three cases: (1) Aberson, the former Janesville Cub outfielder who knocked more than one slat out of the fence surrounding Joannes park before the war, displayed so much ability as a footballer in the Army that Herman Rohrig, then a Packer serving Uncle Sam, wrote Packer Coach Curly Lambeau a letter of recommendation. Mr. Cliff was wearing a Packer uniform in 1946 – the Bays’ first Hutson-less season. Abe threw the football around like a baseball and slammed into an
Tobin Rote
opposing line like it was second base. Great things were planned for Aberson in '47. The Packers were switching to the T-formation and Cliff was to play quarterback – his position on the Army grid. The Chicago Cubs, who operated Janesville when Cliff hit 22 home runs, two triples and 18 doubles, saw the makings of another Wrigley field fence buster (that is, since Hack Wilson) and promptly gave him the glad eye shortly after the Packers’ 1946 season. They dispatched him to Los Angeles, then to Tulsa and finally to Des Moines where he added up 20 home runs in six weeks. In mid-July, Aberson made up his mind to stay in baseball after the Cubs promised him a few weeks at Wrigley field at the tailend of the season. Aberson started the next two seasons with the Cubs, but always bounced back to the Pacific Coast league. (2) Girard, former University of Wisconsin star, broke into the prints dramatically in January of 1948 when the New York Yankees of the All-America conference bid for his services, with the Bays winning out after the hectic train-contract sessions from Marinette, Jug’s hometown, to California and back again – just after he turned 21. Two months later, Girard displayed his interest in baseball by signing with the Green Bay Bluejays. The agreement was that Jug would leave the Bluejays when the Packers started training. Out for 10 days after getting hit in the eye for a fly ball, Girard finished the season with a .310 batting average – good enough for a promotion. He plays in the outfield or infield. Next spring, Girard invaded the Cleveland Indians farm camp (the Bluejays have a working agreement with the Tribe) and the report was that he would join the Class A Dayton team. During practice, Girard married his sweetheart from Kaukauna and decided to return to the Bluejays. Though he hadn’t signed a Packer contract at the time it was his intention to return to the Packers. In camp, we recall a southern scribe quoting Jug something like this: “Minor league baseball is all right but you can’t earn major league money playing it.” Anyhow, Girard played with the Bluejays through an important series with Oshkosh early in August and then joined the Packers. His .367 average was enough to win the league batting championship. With the Packers last fall, Girard blossomed out as a quarterback and most observers claim he did a terrific job in view of the fact that it was his first crack at playing under the center. Girard still is confronted with something of a problem for 1950 – baseball or football. We have a hunch (and it’s strictly a hunch) Jug will take the grid. The guy loves those bumps, it seems. (3) Evans wants to give his athletic future plenty of thought before making a decision. “First, I want to see how I go in baseball this spring and then, maybe, I will have a better idea,” the Badger second sacker remarked. Evans, an infielder, swatted .376 last spring, which is enough to attract any major league baseball scout. Another plate averages like that next spring will no doubt bring forth a baseball talent hunter. The former West High star also has another year to go at the university, although his athletic career is finished. He’s majoring in recreation after stabs at journalism and speech. If Evans goes after a pro football career, he would resume studies in February for half the term and then finish with the last half starting the following February. He reminded that a number of athletes, including the Bears’ Don Kindt, are finishing up their studies in this manner…One other Wisconsin athlete will have to decide between baseball and football. He is Red Wilson, the Badgers’ great linebacker, who was drafted by the Browns. Wilson also is the Badgers’ first-string catcher and a number of major league baseball scouts are interested in signing him after the spring. At the NAFL meetings last week, Brown officials expressed confidence that they could convince him to play football. In the earlier secret NFL draft, Wilson was drafted by Pittsburgh and then traded to Philadelphia in the Charlie Justice deal. Justice since has been sent to Washington. Most pro football officials are willing to let the athletes decide for themselves on a baseball career. In Aberson's case, Lambeau, at the time, said he wanted Cliff back but “if he likes baseball better, then he should play it”. Regarding Evans, Lambeau practically said the same thing and added: “We all know that an athlete has a longer “life” in baseball, and if a boy has a good chance to succeed in baseball it would be wiser for him to play that sport.”
SHAUGHENESSY OUT; CARDINALS CONTINUE HUNT
JAN 28 (Chicago) - The Chicago Cardinals, with one prospective coach interviewed, turned toward conferences with four others today before settling upon a man to coach the 1947 league champion in 1950. It appeared that Clark Shaughnessy, coach of the Los Angeles Rams, who won the Western division title in the NFL last year, definitely was out of the picture despite repeated rumors that he was angling to take over the Big Red. Shaughnessy said he was “not considering” taking over the Cardinal job, and his announcement followed closely one by Cardinal President Ray C. Benningsen that he had no appointment to see Shaughnessy and that he had had no conferences with the Los Angeles coach. Then, too, the Cardinals could not contact Shaughnessy without violating the league rule against tampering, and Shaughnessy could not take over the Cardinal post without a release from the Rams. Benningsen, at some mysterious time and place yesterday, met the first of the possible Cardinal tutors.
He planned to see the other four, one at a time, by Monday and said “positively” there will be a new coach named next week. Dr. Eddie Anderson of Iowa, who had been rumored as one of the possible choices, eliminated himself quickly. “I’m not interested,” he said. Anderson added that there had been no negotiations with the Cardinals.
COFFEE CONFAB: LAMBEAU TO COACH CARDS, SCRIBES SAY
JAN 30 (Green Bay) - Two lines on the tailend of a story in a Chicago newspaper Sunday led to more coffee conversation today. The last paragraph of the three-inch story, headlined by “Cards Still On Shopping Tour For New Coach”, read: “Ray Bennigsen, Cardinal president, is continuing interviews with candidates, but the club refused to identify the candidates. Among those under consideration are believed to be Earl (Dutch) Clark, former coach of the Cleveland Rams; Ray Flaherty, coach of the former Chicago Hornets; Jim Phelan, coach of the former Los Angeles Dons; and Earl (Curly) Lambeau of the Green Bay Packers”. Clark was far from successful with the Rams and it is doubtful that Bennigsen would take a chance on him. Flaherty and Phelan both know the former All-America conference teams now in the new NAFL, but both are single wing
Tony Canadeo
coaches. The Cards are strictly T-formation. That leaves Lambeau. If our memory is correct, the Packer board of directors voted to rename Lambeau for two more years at their meeting here last December. Though Curly has yet to sign a contract, that vote is binding on the Packer corporation. His name probably was added by the process of elimination. Because of the time element, it’s conceivable that the Cardinal prexy does not want to chance a newcomer to pro football – such as an outstanding college coach. That leaves veteran pro coaches on the inside track. Besides, Mrs. Charlie Bidwill, Cardinal owner, said earlier that the new coach should be an experienced pro coach. The Chicago writers, who can add two and two with extraordinary rapidity, no doubt took note of the fact that Mr. Lambeau is without a contract. They did the same with Clark Shaughnessy, coach of the Los Angeles Rams. It was Shaughnessy’s misfortune to be in Chicago on his way home from the NAFL meetings in Philadelphia last week when a writer spotted him. Shaughnessy’s name was immediately placed at the head of the Cardinal prospect list – by the writers. It can be inserted here that the Cardinals would be violating the league rule on “tampering” if they cast ogling eyes at Shaughnessy or Lambeau. The two guys who would know about the latest rumor, Bennigsen and Lambeau, both considered the report too ridiculous for comments. Bennigsen has repeatedly refused to identify the four or five under consideration. He admitted recently, however, that former Packer players Cecil Isbell and Clarke Hinkle had applied for the job. Lambeau, incidentally, was in Milwaukee over the weekend…On the official side, it can be reported today that plans are underway for a meeting of Packer stockholders in the assembly room at the courthouse next Monday night. Secretary-Treasurer Frank Jonet said the stockholders will consider the issuance of new Packer stock, the sale of which was recommended by the board of directors last December. The directors recommended that $200,000 worth of Packer stock be sold at $10 a share to bolster the club’s shaky financial situation. Since that time, there has been some discussion as to what type of stock should be issued. Some backers want it to be non-voting and non-profit sharing. Others believe holders of the new stock should have voting privileges and share in profits. Lambeau, in an interview before the league meetings, said he favored profit sharing stock.
CARDS TO SELECT PILOT TOMORROW
JAN 31 (Chicago) - One of the best kept sports secrets of the year has been the name of the new Chicago Cardinals football coach. He is to be announced by President Ray Benningsen at a Cardinals press conference tomorrow. It could be Clark Shauhnessy, the old T-formation master who presently is coach of the Los Angeles Rams; Curly Lambeau, pro football pioneer who organized the Green Bay Packers as a sandlot team in 1919 - or any one of a dozen whose names have been buzzed. Benningsen has completed interviewing five or so applicants and has indicated the selection has been boiled down to two. "I haven't yet made up my mind," he said last night, "but on Wednesday I'll have the Cardinals' new coach with me at the press conference. I am weighing one of my finalists against the other. I can go either way and be all right, but I want all day Tuesday to think about it." Lambeau does not have a formal contract with the Packers and has been embroiled with a faction seeking to oust him in Green Bay.
LAMBEAU TO COACH CHICAGO CARDINALS
FEB 1 (Green Bay) - Earl L. (Curly) Lambeau, coach of the Green Bay Packers for 31 years, today was named coach of the Chicago Cardinals of the NAFL. Lambeau signed a two-year contract. Ray C. Bennigsen, Cardinal president, said he would also serve as a vice president of the club and would be in complete charge of player personnel. His appointment is effective immediately. No salary was announced for the 30-year veteran of pro football wars, but there was speculation that it probably called for a base pay of around $25,000 a year and possibly provided for a bonus depending on the gridiron success of the team and attendance. Mrs. Violet Bidwill, owner of the club, said she was “extremely happy over the acquisition of the fiery ex-Packer coach.” She was in Miami Beach, Fla., vacationing…MAILED RESIGNATION: Lambeau mailed his resignation as Packer coach and general manager to President Emil R. Fischer of the Packer corporation yesterday. He and his wide left for Chicago Tuesday afternoon and he met with Bennigsen in Chicago this morning, from which meeting the announcement merged. Lambeau, in leaving Green Bay, ended the longest tenure of any coach with one football team in the history of professional football. In recent years, with his teams on the losing side of the ledger, he had withstood several battles with the board of directors for renewal of his contract, the latest coming last Nov. 30. In his resignation he said that these “differences of opinion have brought about a dangerous disunity of purpose within the corporation, one which in my opinion threatens the existence of the club”. He said he hopes his action “will restore the harmony so necessary if the Packers are to keep their place in major league football”. He also said he felt his action “is in the best interests of the Packers and the fans of Wisconsin.” Last season, Lambeau, in effect, retired from active coaching of the Packers, when he turned the field duties over to his three assistant coaches. He had told the directors, however, that he intended to return to active coaching this season, and the directors had voted to extend his contact for another two years. That contract was awaiting his signature when today’s announcement broke…WILL NAME ASSISTANT: The new Cardinal coach, who will be given the right to select his three assistants, succeeds Raymond “Buddy” Parker, who led the club in its last eight games after a co-coaching partnership with Phil Handler, 20-year veteran of the Cardinals, was dissolved. Parker quit the day after the 1949 season ended after a 52-21 defeat by the Chicago Bears. Parker has since signed as backfield coach under Bo McMillin of the Detroit Lions. The Cardinals would not say how they were able to negotiate with Lambeau despite his connection with another league team. “I’d prefer that you ask Lambeau about that,” a club spokesman said. The remark indicated that Lambeau had obtained from the Packer officials to negotiate for another offer. President Fischer had no comment on this point today, but he did say that “this was not entirely unexpected.” Lambeau will stick to the “T” formation which he adopted at Green Bay some years ago and which the Cardinals found so successful three seasons ago when they won the National league championship under Coach Jimmy Conzelman. Lambeau was picked by Bennigsen from five coaching prospects that he interviewed over the weekend.
PACKERS READY TO CARRY ON, FISCHER SAYS
FEB 1 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers corporation will begin immediately the selection of a head football coach to replace E.L. (Curly) Lambeau, Packer president Emil R. Fischer said today in Miami Beach, Fla. “The fans can expect immediate action on this matter,” he said, adding that “this was not entirely unexpected”. “The Packer executive committee expects to sign an outstanding football coach for the position, and will begin immediately to survey the field of candidates for the best man we can possibly get,” Fischer went on to say. “And you can add that right now the field is wide open.”…WISH HIM SUCCESS: “The Packer corporation also wishes Curly all the success in the world in his new position, and feels, like Curly, that it is in the best interests of both Curly and the Packers.” Fischer will return to Green Bay Friday evening in preparation for the meeting of stockholders of the corporation Monday evening. A meeting of the executive committee undoubtedly will be held shortly after his return. Other Packer officials in Green Bay today had no lengthy comment to make on Lambeau’s resignation, but all of them voiced the opinion that the move would considerably step up work on plans for the reorganization of the club for the coming season…DOESN’T MEAN THE END: “The one thing I would like to say,” commented Frank Jonet, secretary-treasurer, “is that this does not mean the end of the Packers. The Packers will definitely continue in Green Bay.” Several other directors of the corporation said that they felt the way was now cleared for everybody to “get in and pitch and put the Packers back on the top of the pro football heap.” There was no comment immediately from Packer officials on the status of Lambeau’s three assistant coaches, Tom Stidham, Bob Snyder and Charley Brock. Stidham and Snyder have contracts running for another season and Brock for two more years.
LAMBEAU ANNOUNCEMENT ENDS LONG, COLORFUL CAREER HERE
FEB 1 (Green Bay) - Curly Lambeau, 51, moved out of Green Bay today, leaving behind one of the most impressive records in major league football. The founder, head coach, vice president and general manager master-minded Green Bay Packer football machines to 217 professional league victories and six world championships in 31 years. Before 1948, when Packer fortunes slumped, Lambeau never really had a “bad” season. The closest was 1933, when the Packers won five, lost seven and tied one – the only year the team finished below .500 until 1948…FIRST AND LAST A COACH: Though he wanted complete power in Packer matters, Lambeau was – first and last – a coach. Out in Philadelphia at the league meetings, we asked him this: “If you had your choice, would you rather coach or be in the front office?” His emphatic reply was: “Sure, I’d rather coach; it’s in my blood.” Lambeau gained his reputation as a coach. His overall record places Green Bay as one of the top two teams in professional football. The other club is the Chicago Bears - the only team holding a victory-edge on Green Bay. Lambeau coached the Packers through 344 NFL games. Counting the 1919 and 1920 seasons before the loop was formed and numerous exhibition contests, Lambeau stood on the Packer sidelines for approximately 500 games....688 WINNING PERCENTAGE: The new Cardinal coach composed a won-lost percentage of .674 in NFL play. Including the first two seasons when the Packers won a total of 19, lost only two and tied one, Lambeau posted a percentage of .688. Outside of a few months in the Acme Packing company, Lambeau's working life has been football. A native of Green Bay, Lambeau was born on April 9, 1898, and first came into football prominence as a halfback on the East High school team. He later attended Notre Dame where in his freshman year he became varsity fullback on Knute Rockne's first team in 1918, playing with the immortal George Gipp. Returning to Green Bay after one year at ND, Lambeau organized the Packers and persuaded the now defunct Acme Packing company to donate $500 for jerseys. In return for the aid of the company, which was employing him as a shipping clerk, Lambeau agreed to emblazon "Packers" on the team's uniform. The name remained after the Packing company quit...SCORED 109 POINTS: Lambeau played with and coached the club through 1928, scoring 109 points. He was a forward pass specialist and in later years was to become known as the foremost authority on the forward pass offense and defense in football. The Packers' first big success - the one that started Green Bay on the road to national recognition - occurred in 1929, when they won the first of three consecutive championships. That season, the Bays, led by quarterback Red Dunn, Cal Hubbard, Jug Earp, Verne Lewellen, Johnny Blood and a host of others, swept through without a defeat, finishing with 12-0-1. The 1930 Packers won 11 and lost three and a year later they finished with 12-2. They still rank as the only team in the National league to win three consecutive championships. The Packers almost took a fourth straight title in 1932, with a 10-3-1 record, but the Bears edged in with only seven wins, one loss and six ties. Lambeau liked to recall the two or three years following 1932, because "they were a lot like now; we lost a few games and everybody wanted my scalp." In the three years starting with '33, Lambeau's teams won 20 and lost 17, but there were rumblings...BRIGHTENED I 1936: The picture brightened in 1936 with the presence of the brilliant Alabama pass receiver - Don Hutson. With the most skillful receiver in the business on the team, Lambeau literally moved the game into the air. As a passer, Lambeau had the power-armed Arnie Herber, the Green Bay flash. As a ground threat he had Joe Laws and Clarke Hinkle, the great fullback. In 1936, the Packer power started to explode and Green Bay had its fourth world title after defeating Boston, 21-6, in the playoff. The '36 team won 10, lost one and tied one. The Packers played second fiddle to the Bears in 1937, but a year later the Packers charged into the championship playoff with an 8-3 record. New York, however, whipped Green Bay in the title game, 23-17. Lambeau got his revenge a year later when the Packers downed the same Giants, 27-0, in the 1939 playoff in Milwaukee. The team won nine and lost two during the season...PRIZED 16-14 VICTORY: The pressure was starting to come from Chicago where the Bears were building a powerhouse in 1940. That year, Lambeau settled for second and in 1941 one of the most thrilling divisional races in league history had to be settled by a special playoff after the Bears and Packers finished with 10-1 records, each club giving the other a defeat. The extra playoff went to the Bears, 33-14. One of Lambeau's most prized victories was the 16-14 game with the Bears midway in 1941. The Bears, at the time, were rated invincible but something known as "Green Bay Spirit" turned out to be the factor in the Packers' favor. Incidentally, one of Lambeau's demands - and there were many - was spirit. He always believed it was 80 percent of winning football. The first two war years saw the Packers stick close to the top and in 1944 they came up with their sixth world's title. That year, the Packers turned in an 8-2 record and defeated the Giants, 14-7, in the playoff. In 1945 - Hutson's last year - the Packers finished third with a 6-4 mark. Packer fortunes started to decline in 1946 as the club finished with 6-5 and the far-below-par seasons followed. Many factors were advanced for the Packers' slip. The war depleted the squad to some extent. As a penalty for riding high for many years, the Packers suffered considerably in the draft since the high clubs drew last. As a comparison, the doormats of the old days - the LA Rams, Chicago Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers - are all front doors today because of the draft. Lambeau fought at the league meetings in Philadelphia recently to give the lower clubs double choices. His plan was killed by one vote, reportedly voiced by the Cleveland Browns. The 1949 season was a hectic one for both Lambeau and the Packers. Disagreement between Lambeau and Packer officials broke into the open. After the first Bear game last fall, Lambeau turned to coaching duties over to Assistants Tom Stidham, Charley Brock and Bob Snyder, thus becoming an advisory coach. Near the end of the season, Lambeau returned to his status as head coach after the board of directors voted to renew his contract for two years, starting Jan. 1, 1950.
LETTER RESIGNING POSITION HERE WAS MAILED YESTERDAY
FEB 1 (Green Bay) - Curly Lambeau said in his letter of resignation today that he felt “my decision is in the best interests of the Packer and the fans of Wisconsin, to whom the Packers really belong.” He mailed his letter of resignation to President Emil R. Fischer of the Packer corporation yesterday afternoon. Lambeau and his wife had left Green Bay rather mysteriously yesterday afternoon, and this fact was connected this morning by many people with the fact that the Cardinals would announce their choice today. Cardinal President Ray Bennigsen’s statement disclosed that Lambeau practically was hired last Sunday when the two men conferred at the president’s suburban home. His letter of resignation reads as follows: “Dear Mr. Fischer: It is apparent that there is a growing reluctance to alter the policies under which the corporation has operated the past several years. Unfortunately, I have not and cannot now subscribe to those policies. This difference of opinion, honest though it be, has brought about a dangerous disunity of purpose within the corporation, one which in my opinion threatens the existence of the club. No organization can survive divided against itself. Therefore, I am resigning as vice president of the corporation and relinquishing the positions of head coach and general manager, effective as of this date (Jan. 31). I hope this action will restore the harmony so necessary if the Packers are to keep their place in major league football. I take it with the deepest regrets and only after long and careful deliberation. One does not easily break away from something to which he has devoted 31 years. But I feel my decision is in the best interests of the Packers and the fans of Wisconsin, to whom the Packers really belong. With every good with for their future success, Sincerely, Curly Lambeau.”
ISBELL ANNOUNCES HE WILL BE CANDIDATE FOR LAMBEAU'S POST
FEB 1 (Baltimore) - Cecil Isbell, one-time Purdue great whose part in the Isbell-to-Hutson passing combination carried the Packers to some of their highest crests, said today he'll seek the head coaching post at Green Bay. His comment came immediately after he learned that Coach Curly Lambeau has resigned to take over the Chicago Cardinals. Isbell coached the Baltimore Colts in the All America football conference but was ousted last season.
PACKERS START HUNT FOR NEW COACH - FIRST TIME IN 31 YEARS
FEB 2 (Green Bay) - The Packers started hunting for a new head coach today - for the first time in 31 years. The field was declared "wide open" by Packer President Emil R. Fischer immediately after Earl L. (Curly) Lambeau signed a two-year contract Wednesday to head coach the Chicago Cardinals. Unofficially, it was reported that the Packers' executive committee will meet sometime this weekend to survey the field. Fischer is due in Green Bay Friday night from Miami Beach, Fla. Packer officials pointed out that the selection of Lambeau's successor will be made "in a business-like manner", indicating that a thorough survey of prospects will be made. It's possible that some "feelers" have already been put out in by the Packers in view of Fischer's statement yesterday that "this was not unexpected entirely". Meanwhile, Green Bay and Wisconsin Packer fans were buzzing with names of prospective Packer head coaches. Everybody had their own idea on the matter and the field included college and high school coaches as well as former and present professional mentor...ISBELL CANDIDATE: The first name to enter the picture was Cecil Isbell, who stated, not fifteen minutes after Lambeau's resignation was announced, in Baltimore that he would be a candidate for the Packer head coaching job. Later in the
Walt Schlinkman
day, however, Lambeau stated in Chicago that "I think Isbell would make a good backfield coach for us (the Cardinals)." Since Lambeau was given complete authority to hire his own staff, Isbell's name automatically left the prospect lists of many Packer fans. Isbell is the former Packer passing great. Among the other prospects are the present three Packer assistants - Backfield Coach Bob Snyder, Line Coach Tom Stidham and Defense Coach Charley Brock. All three are newcomers to coaching here, although Brock served 10 years as a Packer center - the last five as team captain. Snyder served a season and a quarter as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams and Stidham was head coach at Oklahoma and Marquette before taking jobs as line coach at Buffalo and Baltimore in the old All-America conference. Three of the prospects are well known Bears - Sid Luckman, Gene Ronzani and Luke Johnsos. Luckman, the Bears' great field general for so many years, isn't expected to return as a player next fall and reportedly is in the market. Johnsos, vice-president and George Halas' chief assistant, isn't likely to be interested in a change. Ronzani, the Bears' backfield coach, was quoted earlier this winter as being interested in a Packer coaching job if it should open up. That was before Lambeau was offered a two-year contract. Other names bandies about by the Packer faithful are Jimmy Conzelman, former Cardinal head coach; Ray Flaherty, former Washington Redskin, New York Yankee and Chicago Hornet head coach; Red Smith, former Packer player and line coach now serving as NY Giant line coach; Bud Wilkinson, successful head coach at the University of Oklahoma; Ivy Williamson, head coach at the University of Wisconsin...HEARDEN TO APPLY: Tom Hearden, former East High and present St. Norbert college coach; Rex Enright, the former Packer player now coaching South Carolina; Buff Donelli, former Cleveland Ram mentor; Mike Michalske, the former Packer and later head coach at Iowa State and line coach at Baltimore; Hugh Devore, former Notre Dame head coach who resigned today as head coach at St. Bonaventure; Don Hutson, the Packers' immortal pass receiver and assistant coach; and Frosty Ferzacca, West High's T-expert; and Wally Butts of Georgia. To be on the safe side, it can be added that these are just a "few" of the names making the rounds. A number of the prospects are in business and may not be interested in making a move. Johnsos has a lucrative business in Chicago. Conzelman is in the advertising business in St. Louis. Flaherty, too, reportedly has moved to the west coast where he may open a business. Packer officials are expecting a flood of applications within the next few days. Hearden, now in his fifth season at St. Norbert, said last night that he intended to apply for the Packer post. Hearden played at Notre Dame in the mid-1920s and then saw service with the Packers. While the Packers set out for a new coach, Lambeau stated in Chicago that Phil Handler, associated with the Cards for 20 years as player and coach, will remain with the organization as talent scout...14TH CARDINAL COACH: Lambeau, incidentally, is the 14th Cardinal coach since the club was organized in 1921. He succeeds Raymond (Buddy) Parker, who resigned last December. Lambeau has only one coaching peer in professional football - George Halas of the Bears. They were bitter rivals for years when the Bear-Packer feud reverberates throughout the league. Halas, however, last night welcomed his new crosstown rival. "Lambeau is a great coach and he'll do a grand job for the Cardinals," Halas said. Under the new NAFL setup, the Cardinals and Bears will meet only once during the regular season instead of twice as in previous years. The Packer-Bear game (two-game) rivalry will be carried on as in the past next fall. In fact, Lambeau fought for its existence at the league meetings in Philadelphia.
PACKERS ALWAYS HAVE PLACE IN NAFL: BELL
FEB 2 (Green Bay) - Bert Bell, the czar of professional football, said Wednesday night that Curly Lambeau's switch to the Chicago Cardinals will have "no bearing on Green Bay staying in the NAFL". In a long distance telephone conversation from Philadelphia, Bell reiterated his statements of the last three years when he said: "Green Bay will always have a place in the NAFL. I know I speak for the entire league when I say that." The NAFL Commissioner, a onetime club owner and coach, stated that the Packers have contributed "too much in the past and will contribute too much in the future to be permitted to fall by the wayside. They were once the greatest drawing card in the league and I am certain they can regain the high position of old before long." Bell always thought a lot of the Packers and the city of Green Bay. During the recent league meetings, one of the divisional proposals placed the Bears and Packers in opposite sectors, thus eliminating the two-game Bear-Packer rivalry. Bell stated at a press conference: "We just can't break up a 30-year rivalry like that."...VASTLY IMPROVED TEAM: Bell predicted that the Packers will have a "vastly improved team and regain their old prestige." He added that "Green Bay always has been a great drawing power on the road and has done very well at Green Bay." The commissioner, asked about the Packer financial condition, recalled his days as coach and owner of the Philadelphia Eagles. "We had tough sledding but we kept going," he laughed. In fact, it was recalled here that Bell trained his team. then headed by Little Davey O'Brien, a week in Green Bay one season to save traveling expenses. Regarding Lambeau, Bell said he regretted the Packers' loss of Lambeau, but congratulated the Cardinals for getting the dean of professional football coaches. Bell stated that "Curly is a great sportsman and the Cards are lucky to get him, but there are also some outstanding men among the Packer officials. It boils down to not being able to see eye to eye with various problems, but we can't detract from Lambeau or the Packers for this. Basically, both sides must be happy before any harmony can be attained."
'HOME TOWN PRIDE' SENT CURLY LAMBEAU PACKING OFF TO CARDINALS, FRALEY
FEB 2 (New York) - The "hometown pride", which made Earl L. (Curly) Lambeau and the Green Bay Packers, sent him packing off today to become coach of the Chicago Cardinals. After 31 years as coach of the club which he founded and made a pro gridiron institution, Curly was checking out - and with very few regrets either way. Never one to spare the sharp word, he had committed the unpardonable to Green Bay's civic honor by becoming a Californian in the offseason. There were a lot of reasons for the split: Dissension in the ranks and a losing football club being among them. But Green Bay loves its football team and you don't give that town three, six or even 11 months of your time. It's all or nothing. So Curly's taking off, yet it leaves a lot of mellow memories. Back in 1918, when Lambeau was a freshman varsity fullback on the late Knute Rockne's first Notre Dame team, Green Bay was just a place in Wisconsin where they packed corned beef and cheese for the soldiers. Lambeau transformed it into a legendary citadel of the sports world, a city short on population but long on football fervor as it boasted six world championships in the tough pro grid racket. He dropped out of Notre Dame, returned to Green Bay to work as a shipping clerk and organized a sandlot football team. Curly persuaded the firm to put up $500 for uniforms, agreeing to emblazon the word "Packers" on the jerseys. The name long since has outlasted the patron. The first year, the players split up the jackpot at the end of the season. It amounted to $16.75 each. But they continued playing and, when the NFL was formed in 1921, Curly decided that his team should be a member. the difficulty was that he didn't have the $50 for a franchise nor the train fare to the meeting at Akron. He confided his troubles to Don Murphy, son of a wealthy lumberman. Young Murphy sold his $5,000 Marmon roadster to a butcher for $1,500 and the club was in business, and in the National league. Soon the townspeople got behind the team and, by 1923, the club moved from a wire-enclosed lot to a new stadium. It was a civic project through and through. Stock was peddled to all comers and the players were provided with local jobs during the offseason. As the years went by, old Green Bay "alumni" were scouting the bushes for Curly's club and the talent rolled in. Lambeau, an old passing ace, threw the game wide open. Such passing combines as Arnie Herber to Don Hutson and Cecil Isbell to Hutson were the talk of pro football, and they wrote some nifty pages into the record book. Curly, himself, played through 1928. And the bellicose Belgian had his troubles against the Chicago Bears, Curly exploded and told the team: "I'll show you guys how to do this". He went into the backfield and Cal Hubbard whispered to the line to "open the gates". The ball was snapped, the seven Packer linemen stepped graciously aside - and the seven Bear linemen joyously swooped in on Curly. When they picked him up, Lambeau gave his linemen one reproachful look - and headed for the bench for good.
LAMBEAU LEAVES THE PACKERS
FEB 2 (Green Bay) - The decision of E.L. Lambeau to resign as coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers and cast his lot with the Chicago Cardinals has at least the great virtue of finality. For months, the atmosphere surrounding Lambeau and the Packers has been torn by rumors and denials, blasts and charges. A condition had been built up in which it was practically impossible for the corporation to carry on its ordinary business affairs. Lambeau's decision has ended all of this and his comment that he is leaving reluctantly but with the feeling that his action is in the best interest of all concerned is not difficult to accept. It is hazardous to pull up stakes and move into a new locality after 31 years devoted to a single undertaking. The action means that new, heavy responsibilities have been saddled onto the officers and directors of the corporation, including those of finding coaching and management services for the team. The record of the Packers under Lambeau's direction is well known. It is a good record, better than the winning of six national championships, although that is a proud achievement in itself. In fact it is the long record of consistent play that has made the past two years seem so shabby. While there have been sharp differences of opinion over Lambeau's policies and upon his indispensability, we feel sure that the people of Green Bay and Wisconsin and including the Packer board of directors have been of one mind on this - they wanted to keep the Packers in Green Bay. The long argument over this point and the continuing indecision have now been ended by Lambeau's action. There is only one side to the question now, and that is how best to proceed from here. The emotional conflicts, the petty hates and jealousies generated over the years have been waxing strong during recent months. They should not be put aside in the interest of the difficult work ahead. Those chosen for the team in the future will require full community support. The Press-Gazette feels that Mr. Lambeau's career with the Packers had been a thing of great value to the people of Green Bay and Wisconsin and it wishes him well in his new post. It feels also that the officers and directors of the Packer corporation have made an equal contribution over the years. They are entitled to the confidence and support of the public in carrying on, in fact they must have public support to succeed.
ISBELL PONDERS MOVE TO CARDINALS; FANS DISCUSS ' COACH' PROSPECTS
FEB 3 (Green Bay) - As the old saying goes, "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush". This could be applied today to Cecil Isbell, the one-time Packer passing great who has designs on the job vacated by Curly Lambeau - now the coaching wheel of the Chicago Cardinals. At this very moment, Isbell reportedly is somewhere between Baltimore and Lafayette, Ind. - closer to the scene of action. It was at Lafayette (Isbell's wife's home) where Cec got his start - as head coach at Purdue, his alma mater. Having disposed of his possessions in Baltimore, Isbell is moving his family and furniture to Lafayette. Shortly before leaving, Isbell pondered two problems - a definite offer to serve as Cardinal backfield coach and a "hope" to head coach the Green Bay Packers. Earlier Thursday, Isbell received a telephone call from Lambeau who offered Isbell the Cardinal position. Since Isbell had the Green Bay job on his mind, he didn't say yes or now. Lambeau, the pipeline says, gave him until this morning to decide. Since this morning is already history and no reports are forthcoming from Baltimore, Chicago, Lafayette or Green Bay, it is believed that Isbell might still be deciding...SEEKS ISBELL'S STATUS: Thursday afternoon, a spokesman for Isbell called here with this information plus a request as to Cecil's status with the Packers - if any. The Packers, of course, can say nothing more than the fact that Isbell is one of the candidates. It is not known whether Isbell has formally applied for the job although he stated in Baltimore 15 minutes after Lambeau's resignation that he would seek the Packer post. Members of the Packer executive committee are expected to gather in a special meeting this weekend - possibly Saturday - to discuss the coaching situation. The session no doubt will precede a stockholders' meeting scheduled for Monday night. Packer President Emil R. Fischer, who stated Thursday that "the fans can expect immediate action in the matter", is due back from Miami Beach, Fla., today. At the moment, Packer affairs are in charge of Secretary-Treasurer Frank Jonet. Lambeau was the former vice-president of the Packers. Meanwhile, Green Bay buzzed over a successor for Lambeau. The Packers are hunting for a coach for the first time in 31 years and every fan, it seems, is ready with a suggestion...NEWCOMERS ON LIST: Approximately 25 names of coaches - high school, college, professional and semi-pro - are being discussed. Among the newcomers (to yesterday's list, that is) are George Trafton, former Packer line coach and present Ram assistant; Don Faurot, University of Missouri; Red Dawson, former head coach of the Buffalo Bills, now unattached; Ward Cuff, former NY Giant, Chicago Cardinal and Packer player and how head coach at Central Catholic High; Clarke Hinkle, former Packer fullback who coached a semi-pro team in Wierton, W.V.; and Jimmy Phelan, former Los Angeles Don coach. Here are the names previously mentioned: Bob Snyder, Tom Stidham and Charley Brock, present Packer assistants; Sid Luckman, Bear quarterback; Gene Ronzani, Bear backfield coach; Luke Johnsos, Bear assistant; Jimmy Conzelman, former Cardinal coach; Ray Flaherty, former Washington, NY Yank and Chicago Hornet coach; Red Smith, former Packer player, line coach and presently line coach of the NY Giants; Bud Wilkinson, head coach at Oklahoma. Tom Hearden, St. Norbert college coach; Rex Enright, South Carolina coach; Buff Donelli, former Cleveland Ram coach; Mike Michalske, ex-Baltimore line coach; Don Hutson, former Packer player and assistant coach; Frosty Ferzacca, West High; Wally Butts, Georgia; Matty Bell, Southern Methodist...COACHES: The aforementioned Smith, former Bluejay manager, has resigned his position as ambassador at large for the Chicago Cubs and has been added to the scouting staff of the Dallas club in the Texas league where he'll work with Charlie Grimm, new Dallas pilot. Smith will address the Fox River Traffic league at Neenah Tuesday night and then attend the Bluejay Fan shinding at the Columbus club Wednesday night. The Bears' coach on the field, Luckman, is gaining a lot of favor among the downtown selectors. Appointment of Luckman would give the Packers an added feud with the Bears - Halas vs. Luckman - to replace the Lambeau-Halas issue, they say. Wilkinson, incidentally, signed a three-year contract at Oklahoma a year ago but it's generally understood that pro coaches are in a higher pay bracket than the college mentors. Wilkinson was interviewed for the Wisconsin job. In Chicago, Lambeau was quoted as saying, "If I find a line coach who, I think, can help make the Cards a winner, I'll sign him whether I like him personally or not". This led observers to think of Walt Kiesling and George Trafton, both former Packer line coaches.
PACKERS GO TO WORK AS LAMBEAU RELAXES
FEB 4 (Green Bay) - The Packers went to work today and Curly Lambeau relaxed. This rather strange set of circumstances - first created Wednesday when Lambeau signed as head coach of the Chicago Cardinals after 31 years of Packer service - developed on the home front as Packer directors gathered to look over the field for Lambeau's successor. Meanwhile, Lambeau went to the Packer office at 349 S. Washington and carefully emptied drawers - full of memories and took time out to voice good byes to a number of friends. Curly came back to Green Bay late Friday afternoon to spend the weekend here and close out his personal business. Last night, Packer President Emil R. Fischer returned from Miami Beach, Fla., to organize the coach hunting campaign. The first of several applications were to be looked over today. In addition, plans for the stockholders' meeting Monday night were to be outlined. Recognizing the task facing the Packer corporation (hiring a head coach and organizing a stock drive), Lambeau said, "I hope the Packers are successful in every move they make." The former Packer coach, general manager and vice president said that he would always fight "to keep the Packers in the league". He expressed confidence that the Packers "can survive" but cautioned that "they must operate in a big league manner". Lambeau seemed to be in a jovial mood as he thumbed through his desk drawers. Spotting the first Packer franchise that was granted him by the league on June 24, 1922, Lambeau joked: "Say, I never did get my fifty dollars for that." (The franchise was later turned over to the corporation when the Packers were reorganized.) Lambeau emphasized that he had "no animosities" toward anyone in Green Bay, adding that "everybody's wonderful". He expressed enthusiasm over his new work in Chicago and declined any comment as to reasons for leaving, etc. He explained that "that's all water over the dam now". Recalling the 1949 Packer team, Lambeau said, "There were a lot of grand boys on that club. I'll miss guys like Tony (Canadeo) and Forte (Bob). They were great
competitors." He'll have a former Packer on the Cardinal roster - Bob Nussbaumer, the halfback who was traded to Washington for Jack Jacobs three years ago. Nussbaumer was traded to the Cardinals a year ago. Lambeau said he hopes to get Paul Christman, the Cardinals' ace quarterback, back into the fold for 1950. Lambeau said he told Christman he must be using, "Hutson's old script". Don "retired" for four straight seasons. Lambeau also took time to select an all-time Packer team. After making his selections, Lambeau laughed: "And put me down as coach!" He picked Hutson and Lavvie Dilweg at the ends; Cub Buck and Jug Earp at the tackles; Mike Michalske and Buckets Goldenberg at guards; Charley Brock at center; Clarke Hinkle at fullback; Verne Lewellen and Johnny Blood at halfbacks; and Cecil Isbell and Arnie Herber as the passers. Lambeau said, "It's a tossup between Herber and Isbell. That's why I've got to name 'em both." He said he favored Earp over Cal Hubbard even though Jug played quite a bit of center. "I just can't leave Earp off. He was a great inspirational leader," he added. Asked about a non-league game between the Packers and Cardinals, Lambeau said, "I'd certainly be very much in favor of it. Maybe it can be arranged." Since the two clubs are in opposition divisions, they will not meet in the regular league season. Each club, however, will play a "traditional" opponent in the opposite division and the Cardinals have already selected the Bears. The only possible way the Packers and Cards could meet, other than in a non-looper, is in a championship game.
SNYDER TO TOLEDO? RONZANI CANDIDATE?
FEB 4 (Green Bay) - Two of the many rumored candidates for the Packer coaching post were in the news elsewhere today. One of them, Bob Snyder, current Packer backfield coach, was reported a strong possibility to succeed Neil (Skip) Stahley, at the University of Toledo, by the Associated Press. Snyder is a Toledo native. Stahley resigned Friday. The other, Gene Ronzani, declared himself a candidate for the position, a Milwaukee newspaper claimed, and added that he would "formally apply for the job in a day or two". Ronzani is now a member of the Chicago Bears coaching staff. The former Marquette star is a native of Iron Mountain, Mich.
STRICKLER TO RESIGN PACKER PUBLICITY POST
FEB 4 (Green Bay) - George A. Strickler, Packer publicity director, announced today he has requested the corporation not to consider renewal of his contract, which expires April 1. Stickler began a three-year contract here April 1, 1947. Prior to that time, he had been public relations director of the NFL and, before that, a member of the Chicago Tribune sports staff and publicity director for the Chicago stadium and Notre Dame university. In the latter position, he was responsible for publicizing the fabled "Four Horsemen". Strickler said he had no plans for the future and emphasized that he is not in line for the post as publicity director of the Chicago Cardinals. He indicated that he might not seek work in the public relations field, but rather would "probably go into some line of endeavor." He said he has mailed a copy of his request to President Emil R. Fischer of the Packer corporation. The text of the letter follows: "Dear Mr. Fischer: I hereby respectfully request the corporation not to consider renewal of my contract upon its expiration on April 1 of this year. With best wishes for this continued success of the Packers and Packer fans for whom I will always have profound respect, I remain, Sincerely yours, George A. Strickler."
GENE RONZANI SIGNS TO COACH PACKERS
FEB 6 (Green Bay) - They called him “Tuffy” in his playing days – this Mr. Gene Ronzani who today became the second head coach in the 31-year history of the Green Bay Packers. And everybody will admit, 40-year old Gene is faced with a “tuff” job – bringing the Packers out of the mud of the second division. Until today, Ronzani has been a Packer enemy – in short, a Chicago Bear. The native of Iron Mountain, Mich., has been an integral part of the Bear organization for 16 years. Ronzani, who succeeds Curly Lambeau, now head coach of the Chicago Cardinals, comes highly recommended by influential people in professional football ranks, including his former boss – Owner-Coach George Halas of the Bears. Besides serving as backfield and quarterback coach of the Bears, Ronzani has done considerable public relations work for the Bears, such as speaking at colleges, service groups and high schools as well as contacting players. From the outset – months ago when the Lambeau-leaving rumors caught fire – Ronzani has been one of the first to voice his interest in
someday head coaching the Packers. He was quoted at Iron Mountain a month or so ago that “I’d be interested in such a chance if the job was ever open”…INVESTIGATE ALL ANGLES: In making their selection, they investigated all angles concerning Ronzani. His appointment will mean the return of the vast Northeastern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan following. In addition, Ronzani has a following in Milwaukee where he cavorted as one of Marquette’s all-time backs. Appointment of Ronzani will heighten the Bear-Packer feud to a certain extent since it will have the Pupil vs. Teacher angle. Since Ronzani has been with the Bears through the 1949 season, the Chicago strategy likely will have to undergo a bit of overhauling. Ronzani still rules as the greatest athlete ever turned out at Iron Mountain. A teammate of Frosty Ferzacca there, present West High school athletic director and head football coach, Ronzani led Iron Mountain to its only Michigan state basketball championship. He won eight letters in football, basketball and track at IMHS. Ronzani entered Marquette in 1929 and earned nine letters for football, basketball and track. He captained the MU grid team in 1932 and received his law degree the same year. Joining the Bears in 1933, halfback Ronzani was a member of three championship teams, teaming with Bronko Nagurski, Beattie Feathers and Carl Brumbaugh to form one of football’s greatest backfields. Ronzani switched from halfback to quarterback in 1937 and developed into an able field general. In 1939, Ronzani was appointed head coach of the Newark Bears, a Chicago farm club, and won the league title in 1940. In 1943, Ronzani returned to the Bears as an active player and directed the team while Sid Luckman was on coast guard duty. Ronzani was named head coach of another Bear “farm” in 1946, this time in Akron, where he developed George Gulyanics, the Bears’ leading ground gainer. Ronzani started his coaching career with the Bears in 1947, taking over as backfield assistant and quarterback coach. One of his star pupils was Johnny Lujack. Others included Nick Sacrinty, Bobby Layne and George Blanda. The Bears call him one of the most promising young coaches in the game. With the Packers, Ronzani will get every opportunity to prove himself. And his first NAFL opponent will likely be the Bears – and Halas.
RONZANI BECOMES HEAD PACKER FOOTBALL COACH TODAY
FEB 6 (Milwaukee) - Gene Ronzani is the new head coach of the Green Bay Packers, the Sentinel learned Sunday. No formal announcement has been made, but Packer President Emil Fischer is expected to take care of that detail at a press conference in Green Bay Monday noon. Details were ironed out and the deal set in a series of executive meetings, starting with Fischer's return from Florida Friday and continuing through Sunday. Thus, the Packers, moving with surprising and unexpected speed, had the second head man in their history only four days after Curly Lambeau, their founder and coach for 31 years, resigned to take over the top spot with the rival Chicago Cardinals. Although candidates for the Packer post - real and imaginary - were numerous, Ronzani was the choice of the executive committee from the start of the short search for Lambeau's successor, it was also learned. Then it was simply a matter of agreeing terms. Which President Fischer and Rozani did Sunday. The committee, the majority of which already had given its o.k. will approve the arrangements formally at a meeting preceding the announcement session Monday. The salary for the new coach is expected to be between $12,000 and $15,000. Rozani, a native of Iron Mountain, MI, starred for three years at halfback for Marquette University, where he was graduated in 1933 after a brilliant football-track-basketball career. He captained the Hilltop eleven in 1932. After graduation, Gene played in the first Chicago All-Star game and then joined the Chicago Bears. He has served George Halas' club ever since - as outstanding player, farm club coach and finally backfield coach for the parent team. The new boss is expected to be free to select his own backfield and line coaches. Which means Bob Snyder and Tom Stidham will likely be replaced. The only assistant likely to stay is Charlie Brock, ex-Packer star who returned to his old haunts in a coaching capacity last fall. The Packers' refinancing program is also well underway. At a special meeting of the Board of Directors, called for Monday night for that specific purpose, these proposals are due for the green light: 1-Continue as a non-profit organization; 2-Authorize a new stock issue of $200,000, each no-par value share to be sold at $25. The non-profit and comparatively small cost per share features, it hoped, will result in more widespread interest and a greater community spirit than before. As in the past, profits will be shared with the American Legion under that plan. Although it is planned to authorize a new stock issue of $200,000, it is unlikely that it will be necessary to sell more than half that amount. Add the insurance money from the recent fire at Rockwood Lodge and the corporation will have a "working cushion" of about $150,000 before the season ticket selling campaign gets underway. That, it is believed, will be ample.
ISBELL TAKES CARDINAL JOB
FEB 6 (Chicago) - Cecil Isbell has gone back to work for Curly Lambeau. The former Green Bay Packer passing star signed a two-year contract Saturday as backfield coach of the Chicago Cardinals. The noted redhead originally from Purdue university thus joins his old Packer boss, Earl L. (Curly) Lambeau, who will coach the Cardinals in the new NAFL next season. Lambeau resigned last week as coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers. Isbell, one of Lambeau’s most productive players at Green Bay for five years, had been mentioned as the successor to Lambeau as coach of the Packers. Isbell returned to Purdue as backfield coach in 1943 and advanced to head coach in ’44, remaining through 1946. He became coach of the Baltimore Colts of the All-America conference in 1947, but left his post before the finish of the 1949 season.
LAMBEAU ACCEPTED JOB WITH LA DON ELEVEN TWO YEARS AGO
FEB 6 (Green Bay) - Earl “Curly” Lambeau, coach of the Green Bay Packers for 31 years, signed as head coach of the Chicago Cardinals the other day and some people expressed surprise that this man should sever connections with the pro football team he founded way back in 1919. The truth, however, is that Lambeau has been aching to do just that for quite some time. Unknown is the fact that Lambeau accepted a job with the Los Angeles Dons more than two years ago. He had repeated conferences with Benjamin F. Lindheimer, chief owner of the Dons. He agreed to terms and sought one stipulation, which was granted. He wanted to break the news gently to the people back in Green Bay. So Lambeau, having agreed to replace Dudley DeGroot as the Dons’ head coach, left Los Angeles and returned to Green Bay, where he met with the club’s board of directors. He told them he was leaving and that parting was such sweet sorrow and so forth, and, in a long distance phone call to Lindheimer in Los Angeles, even repeated his assurances that everything was all set for his switch to the Coast. However, the Green Bay board of directors got together, gave Lambeau a boost in salary and the whole picture was changed right there. Lambeau stayed on at Green Bay, forgetting all about his verbal agreement with Lindheimer – proving once again that football coaches are worse than women when it comes to changing their minds…DOUBTS ABOUT BAY FUTURE: Lambeau, in his meetings with Lindheimer, expressed grave doubts about Green Bay’s pro football future. He was convinced the game had outgrown the little Wisconsin town with its population of 46,000 fans. He would have moved the franchise to Milwaukee. But the Green Bay club is a community owned proposition and any suggestions about shifting the team were dimly looked upon as treason. The miracle of Green Bay, however, is the fact that Lambeau lasted 31 years as head coach. That trick required some extraordinary maneuvering, and Lambeau had to be a top politician, a first-rate glad-handler and baby kisser as well as a winning football coach. But when the football war came along, Green Bay couldn’t keep pace. It couldn’t afford to go out and buy high priced talent and the team took took a nosedive. Hence, open season was declared on Lambeau, who has had more than his share of hometown critics for many years. Green Bay, which has sometimes been called Babbittville on the Bay, came alive with second guessers and grandstand coaches. The board of directors started shooting at Curly’s graying head. Factions started fighting factions and there were resignations and threats of resignations. Curly was in the middle of it all. The old grads are the bane of any college football coach’s existence and whenever a bunch of addle-brained alumni begin to howl, it means a football coach’s head. Wesley Fraser has been getting it for some time at Ohio State, just as a hundred other prominent football coaches have been getting it – or have had it. But anything that might have gone on in college football would have to be classified as tame and amateurish compared with what Lambeau had to contend with. Every Green Bay stockholder in town exerted his rights ‘neath a corner lamppost at night, telling other fellow stockholders what should be done. Every time Lambeau walked out of the house he ran into stockholders, all of whom had questions to ask and suggestions to offer. The only thing that kept Curly’s mind in one coordinated mass was his frequent sojourns to his home out here in Malibu. It was his only escape. Lambeau had been the strong man of the Green Bay franchise up through the years. He was the guy who held it together. Now that he is gone you can lay odds that it’ll fold or, at best, be shifted to a large city – probably Milwaukee, which Lambeau wanted to do in the first place. Lambeau wants to live in Los Angeles permanently. He wanted to coach here – and will coach here if he gets another chance. Not even Lindheimer knows what happened when Lambeau left Los Angeles a couple of years ago. He never heard from him again. How do I know Lambeau wanted to coach the Dons? I contacted him for Lindheimer when Lambeau said he was “very much interested”. I drove him to Lindheimer’s home in Beverly Hills where the two of them hit it off great from the start. What happened when he got back to Green Bay is something only Curly and the Green Bay board of directors can answer.
BULLETIN
FEB 6 (Green Bay) – The case against Bernard L. Darling will be tried at the next term of the circuit court in April, Circuit Court Judge Edward M. Duquaine ruled this afternoon. He denied a motion by District Attorney Robert L. Parins that it be tried at this term. Duquaine ruled that the municipal court law which says that criminal cases transferred from municipal court at the next term of circuit court is controlling in this case. Darling faces three charges growing out of the death of Shirley Mae Trout, 15-year old Allouez girl, in a traffic accident Oct. 31.
ORDERS NEW TRIAL IN SALARY SUIT
FEB 7 (Green Bay) - Charles Tollefson, former Packer guard, today was granted a new trial by the Supreme Court in his suit against Green Bay Packers, Inc., asking $2,700 which he claimed due him in back pay for the 1946 season. The high court reversed Circuit Judge E.M. Duquaine, who had dismissed Tollefson’s claim on the ground that he had been paid for service given. Tollefson appealed to the Supreme Court, on his contention that he had been promised a minimum of $3,600 for the season, and only had received $900…MUST PROVE CAUSE: The Supreme Court said that Tollefson was not given formal notice of his discharge, and was entitled to the full $3,600, unless it was proved that he was discharged for cause. Judge Edward Gehl, new member of the court, wrote the decision.
PACKERS START NEW 'GROWTH' AT MEET; VOTE STOCK ISSUE
FEB 7 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers started a new “growth” at 8:25 Monday night. At that time, stockholders of Green Bay Packers, Inc. – meeting at the courthouse – authored the board of directors to increase capital stock in the organization to 10,000 shares. Thus, approximately 9,500 additional shares of stock – at $25 per share – will be up for sale throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. There are 486 shares of stock represented in the present Packer corporation. The motion to increase the stock, introduced by Lee H. Joannes, former Packer president, was passed unanimously and followed a brief discussion on various types of stock. The new stock will be non-profit sharing and will carry voting rights. In another move, it was recommended to the board of directors that a suitable plan be set up to safeguard the sale of stock against any small group gaining control of the Packers. The sale of stock has two purchases: (1) To increase the working cash of the Packers and (2) to broaden the base of operations. President Emil R. Fischer told the stockholders meeting that “our present cash position is roughly between $40,000 and $50,000”. The figures include an insurance settlement on Rockwood lodge, which burned recently. The sale of stock conceivably – if all 9,500 shares are sold – can increase the cash position of the Packers by approximately $237,500. It is possible that all 9,500 shares will not be sold. The stockholders were agreed that the final amount sold will depend on two variable factors, how much money officials of the corporation fell they need to raise and how much actually can be sold. A goal of about $100,000 in new money seems likely. A committee of nine will be selected to chart and promote the sale of stock. The committee will be a representative group of Packer stockholders, directors and civic-minded citizens. Under the stock program, the Packers will become “property” of stockholders in every city in Wisconsin and the Michigan peninsula, thus making the Packers a statewide institution. In the first action, the stockholders voted to amend Article 4 of the Packer articles of incorporation, increasing the board of directors from 15 to 25 members. Vic McCormick, a member of the board of directors, reviewed the articles and by-laws prior to the motion and passage. Jerry Clifford, a member of the Packer executive committee, said that the Packers could not be legally moved out of Green Bay if the stock issue was made non-profit and voting. He also pointed out that by keeping the Packers’ stock non-profit – with surplus money going to the American Legion – the club will remain tax free…MERITS OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT: Clifford pointed out that “nobody can share in the profits of the corporation except professionals hired to carry on the operation, such as players and coaches, etc.” President Fischer, Secretary-Treasurer Frank J. Jonet and stockholders took special note of the “merits of community spirit” in decided on the non-profit issue…MEETING BRIEF: The Packer Alumni club, the Quarterback club and the Packer Backers were mentioned as a good nucleus for the stock drive. The Packer Backers conducted the campaign for $50,000 to save the Packers last fall. Lee H. Joannes, mentioned frequently as the “best man for general manager”, commented during the meeting: “I will do everything I can to assist in the Packer business and I will receive the same salary as I did when I served as president”. Joannes led the Packers in those critical early 1930s and received the presidential honor for 16 consecutive years before he retired. Lloyd Larson, sports editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel, addressed the meeting with some lively remarks. Seriously, he pointed out that “Milwaukee is definitely interested in the welfare of the Packers. We down there want the Packers to remain in Green Bay.” Gene Ronzani, who was selected head coach of the Packers shortly after noon Monday, addressed the meeting briefly and answered questions.
STRICKLER DENIES HE HAD CONTRACT NOTICE
FEB 7 (Green Bay) - George Strickler, publicity director of the Green Bay Packers until Monday, stated today that he had never been notified until Monday that his contract with the organization would not be renewed April 1. In fact, he stated, he had been told he would be retained with the organization if he wished to stay. The Press-Gazette stated Monday that Strickler had been notified last fall that his contract would not be renewed. A member of the executive committee of the Packer corporation said this morning that the executive committee acted to end Strickler’s contract last fall and that Packer General Manager E.L. Lambeau has assured the committee that he would so notify Strickler.
RONZANI 'PEOPLE'S CHOICE', SURVEY INDICATES
FEB 7 (Green Bay) - Although there were those who struck a “wait and see” attitude, a cursory survey Monday night indicated that Gene Ronzani, erstwhile Chicago Bear and Iron Mountain native, is the peoples choice to succeed the departed City stadium fixture, E.L. (Curly) Lambeau, as head coach of our fabulous Packers. Obviously, Ronzani had succeeded in favorably impressing veteran members of this notoriously football-minded community in the short space of 12 hours and the fact that he carried the personal endorsement of one George Halas, whom they all respect (and castigate on two fall Sunday afternoons each year) had more than a little to do with the universal Good Housekeeping seal of
approval. Probably the most general impression received by Green Bay’s sporting gentry was that here was a sincere, down-to-earth fellow who would “work and work” and “do a job”. And that fact that he had associated with the Bears, and thus with a perennial winter, for 16 years loomed large in the conversation whenever people gathered – and wherever they gathered there was, of course, but one topic of conversation for everything else was relegated to the limbo of the unimportant on the sixth day of February in the year of Our Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifty…”SEE A NEW PLAY”: Appropriately enough, the first to voice his opinion for our record was hulking Andy Muldoon, who operated at tackle for the very first Packer team in 1919. “Good,” boomed the genial Irishman, “at least we’ll see a new play.” This was said with a smile and he asserted, seriously, “I think he’s a darned good choice.” Charles Mathys, a member of the potent Packer elevens of the 1920s, was another who was so convinced. “The only name that stuck in my mind – during the days that everyone was mentioning candidates for the job – as the right man for the job was Ronzani,” Mathys declared. “He’s the logical choice,” Mathys continued, adding, “He’s been with a winning ball club all his life and that’s what we want.” Another strong Ronzani supporter was Emmett Platten, long an outspoken foe of Gene’s predecessor. “I don’t think you can get a better choice,” Platten beamed. “He’s a clean, truthful fellow and not a booze fellow – you can quote me on that.” The only current Packer player – and one of the greatest to ever don Green Bay livery – also was high on the new Packer head man. He was Tony Canadeo, who gained over 1,000 yards for the Packers in 1949. “A very nice choice,” was Tony’s comment. “He knows his football,” Tony supplemented, and added, “I’m glad everything’s settled. Now we can go to work. And the team will be behind him 100 percent.”…ABSORB PROGRESSIVE FOOTBALL: Business’ opinion was pretty well embodied in the words of Earl Sedlmeyer, industrial machinery company executive, who gave out with, “I think he’s all right. He’s been around the Bears long enough to have absorbed a lot of football – what I mean, progressive football, and that’s what is important.” Emil H. Pire, manager of the Beaumont barber shop, one of the favorite talking spots of Packer fans, said that opinion he had heard yesterday and today was almost unanimous in back of Ronzani. “Out of all the comments I heard there was only one person who was not entirely satisfied,” Pire said. Jim Coffeen, an old-time Packer player who has handled the sideline announcing at Packer games for more years than he would like to remember, said he was particularly impressed with the speed and dispatch with which the Packer executives had secured their new coach, and that he was well satisfied with the choice. The fan sentiment so necessary to making the Packers a smashing success in 1950 was summed up by Bernard E. (Boob) Darling, one-time Packer center, who declared, “In view of the fact that Ronzani’s contract has been signed, it is now up to us as a community to back our new head coach 100 percent.” “This should also be true of our many supporters throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan,” Darling continued. “The Packers must remain in Green Bay because nationwide financial value would amount to far more money than we are attempting to raise. The eyes of the sports world are on Green Bay, consequently we must succeed financially and in the win column.”
RONZANI TO MAKE GREEN BAY HIS HOME - THE YEAR-AROUND
FEB 7 (Green Bay) - It's full steam ahead for the Green Bay Packers. In less than nine hours Monday, the Packer executive committee selected a head coach to replace Curly Lambeau, who resigned just five days ago, and the Packer stockholders okayed the sale of an additional 9,514 shares of non-profit stock. The stage is set for the Packers' new era. There's "nothing" but work left - and lots of it - but, most important, everybody's happy and ready to go to work. The stockholders, among them members of the board of directors and the executive committee, went about their meeting last night with a real will. Ronzani, while making no rash promises, is ready to shoulder the task of bringing the Packers out of the doldrums. Asked to address the stockholders by President Emil R. Fischer, Ronzani stated that "I'm happy here and I'm here for only one reason - to produce winning football. I will make every effort to put Green Bay back on the football map." And for a touch of humor, Ronzani added: "I hope I can stay as long as the other coach." That, incidentally, is about the closest reference Ronzani made to his predecessor. Referring to the future play of the Packers, Ronzani said that "we'll play on Sundays as we practice during the week." Ronzani intends to make Green Bay his home - the year-around. "The only business I've got left in Chicago is filing my income tax, and I can take care of that in a hurry," he beamed. Incidentally, Ronzani said he'll expect his assistants to make their homes in Green Bay. Still up front as assistants are Joe Stydahar, as line coach, and Ray Nolting, backfield coach. Stydahar presently is line coach of the Los Angeles Rams and Nolting was backfield coach as the New York Bulldogs. The status of Charley Brock, present Packer, defense coach, is unchanged. There were rumors Monday that Lambeau might want him to line coach the Cardinals but there were also reports denying that report - if you'll pardon the repetition. The Packers still hold the interest of the nation's press. Late Sunday the Associated Press and Chicago newspapers swamped Green Bay with calls as to the new coach. Packer Executive Committee member John Torinus quickly informed the press that there would be a press conference at noon Monday. In fact, the Chicago Tribune's Ed Prell was told of the conference at 10 p.m. Sunday and he was on a Green Bay train less than two hours later. Incidentally, Ed was keeping his fingers crossed. Harry Warren, another Tribune writer, came to Green Bay to cover the Lambeau developments last week and arrived back in Chicago with a broken shoulder. He was a passenger on the train that went off the track near Saukville. Lloyd Larson, sports editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel and a long-time friend of Ronzani, came out strong today in his column for the new Packer coach. Here are some quotes: "Ronzani comes well equipped to take on his first big coaching job. After three big years in football, basketball and track at Marquette, he joined the Bears and quickly became a favorite of both fans and George Halas. After six successful season as a rock-and-sock halfback with the Bears, Gene was given his first coaching test at Newark, N.J., where he handled Papa Bear's farm club for three years. A year at Wichita (another Bear affiliate) followed. Then Gene returned to the Bears as combination assistant coach and player - if needed - for two years during the war. By that time he had become so wise in the ways of the "T" that he was in charge of the quarterback department. Proof of the fact was his temporary shift to Notre Dame's staff under Hugh Devore in 1945. Gene had intended to make the switch permanent as Notre Dame wanted it, but by the time September rolled around Halas induced him to rejoin the Bear family. Which is the tipoff on what the Bears' boss thought and thinks of his protege. Gene put in his final foreign service stretch as boss of the Bears' Akron farm outfit. In 1947, he went back to the big club as backfield coach, which was his job when the Packers called him. With the know-how goes drive, personality, knowledge of human nature, capacity for work and all the other qualities of a successful coach's makeup, Ronazni, who will be 41 on March 28, is in the ideal age bracket - young enough to meet a big challenge with enthusiasm, yet mature enough to render sound judgment and command respect. Above all, Gene is a realist. He isn't kidding himself about the job at hand."
DARLING TRIAL ON APRIL TERM
FEB 7 (Green Bay) - Bernard (Boob) Darling will not be tried on charges of manslaughter and negligent homicide until the April term of circuit court, under a ruling of Circuit Judge E.M. Duquaine Monday afternoon. District Attorney R.J. Parins had moved for an immediate trial at the current term of the court, arguing that general practice is to give criminal trials precedence over civil matters. The information had been filed Dec. 16, and the case had been set for trial in municipal court Jan. 31, he pointed out, giving the defense six weeks of preparation. "The people and district attorney's office are entitled to an immediate trial of this case," he declared...IMPOSSIBLE TO PREPARE: Cletus Chadek, defense counsel, replied that, although the preliminary hearing had been held Nov. 28, the defense had not received a copy of the transcript until Jan. 5, and it has been "utterly impossible" to prepare for the case for trial up to now. One witness is in Texas and will not return for a month, Chadek said; other out-of-state witnesses must be interviewed, technical and medical experts consulted and maps of the accident scene prepared. Judge Duquaine pointed out that the statute setting up the Brown county municipal court provides that, when a criminal case is transferred from a municipal to circuit court, it shall go to the head of the calendar of the "next term" - which, in this case, would be the April term. The court agreed with the district attorney that the customary practice is to schedule criminal trials as early as possible; however, in this case, the special statute controls, he declared...LAW IS EXPLICIT: "Whether the law makes sense is not for us to judge," he commented. "It is very explicit, and I cannot disregard it. I feel that I am without jurisdiction to hear the case at this term, unless the defendant requests an earlier trial." Darling, former Packer player and Big Ten football officials, is charged with manslaughter and negligent homicide in the death of Shirley Mae Trout, 15-year old Allouez girl last Halloween night. She was run down and fatally injured by a hit-and-run driver while walking to her home from a bus. Darling, driving a station wagon, is alleged to have been the motorist.
CHARLEY BROCK WILL REMAIN IN PACKER FAMILY AS COACH
FEB 8 (Green Bay) - Charley Brock will continue in the Packer organization as a coach. Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani, given full authority to select his staff, stated Tuesday night that he wants "Charley to stay with us." Brock, who spent 10 of his last 11 years in Green Bay picture as player and coach, relaxed today and resumed his work. The big guy had had a big decision to make in the last couple of days. Brock had been highly considered for the position of Packer business manager, but, with two years of coaching experience under his belt (the first as line coach at the University of Omaha in 1948), he decided to remain in the coaching field. There has been no word on the status of Bob Snyder, backfield coach, and Tom Stidham, line coach, both of whom have one more year to go on their contracts. Snyder was reported by the Associated Press today as an applicant for the football coaching at job at the University of Pittsburgh. School officials there made no statement on the report although Snyder went to Pittsburgh from Toledo Monday. There have also been reports that Toledo university is interested in Snyder as a coach...RONZANI TO CHICAGO: Ronzani left Green Bay this morning for Milwaukee where he'll address a spots dinner there tonight. On the same program will be Curly Lambeau, who resigned a week ago as Packer coach to take over the head coaching post of the Chicago Cardinals. After Milwaukee, Ronzani will go to Chicago to close out his personal affairs which will include filing "those Illinois state taxes," he said. Gene will return to Green Bay and establish residence here over the weekend. Incidentally, Ronzani gave with his own versions of "assistant coaches" Tuesday. Said Gene: "We won't have any assistant coaches - they'll all be coaches. Sure, each will have specific duties such as the line, the backfield, etc., but we'll all be part of one big team. The Packers have designated me as head coach and it will mean that I will take the grief or praise. The other boys won't be assistants." Ronzani, who said his first job would be to line up a staff, is interested in Joe Stydahar as line coach and possibly Ray Nolting as backfield coach. Stydahar already has signed a contract with the Los Angeles Rams, but Joe reportedly wants to leave to join Ronzani. Gene and Joe were buddies when they played with the Chicago Bears. Nolting, former NY Bulldog backfield coach, played with the Bears at the same time. In Chicago over the weekend, Ronzani no doubt will get his last "good wishes" from Chicago Bear Owner-Coach George Halas. Ronzani was in the Bear organization for 16 years, the last four as quarterback coach...REVITALIZE GREEN BAY SCENE: Halas was quoted in a Chicago newspaper Tuesday as follows: "I think Ronzani will revitalize the entire Green Bay scene. When Lambeau quit, I figured we'd win both games next fall. But Gene'll have those Packers right back at the old stand, and I'm saying I'll settle for a split with the Packers right now." On the executive front, Packer President Emil R. Fischer and members of the executive committee are busy looking for a new business manager and a publicity director. Harry McNamara, veteran Chicago sportswriter, was interviewed by the committee here Tuesday afternoon for a publicity job. He left for Chicago on the 4:15 North Western.
CURLY'S PERSUASIVE POWERS DIM? PAUL SAYS NO
FEB 8 (Chicago) - Earl (Curly) Lambeau, new coach of the Chicago Cardinals, is finding his persuasive powers dimming since he left the Green Bay Packers. Lambeau, who regularly used to talk famed Packer end Don Hutson out of "retirement", yesterday was unable to coax Cardinal quarterback Paul Christman to shelve his plans to quit pro football. The 31-year old Christman told Lambeau he intends to make his retirement stick so he can devote full time to his sporting goods sales job. Jim Hardy is the only seasoned signal caller left on the Card roster. Lambeau will leave for the West coast tomorrow to contact several players on the Cardinals' 1950 draft list. At the same time, club Vice President Phil Handler will leave to size up the Card prospects in the southwest.
CAUSE OF DISCHARGE QUESTION FOR JURY IN TOLLEFSON CASE
FEB 8 (Green Bay) - Whether Charley Tollefson was dismissed by the Green Bay Packers for cause is the question which a jury will have to decide in a new trial of the case ordered Tuesday by the Supreme Court. The high tribunal reversed the action of Circuit Judge E.M. Duquaine in granting the Packer corporation's request for a non-suit last July 5. Tollefson's contract provided for payment of $300 a game, with the written-in addition: "Minimum of $3,600 for season". He claims he was entitled to this minimum, regardless of the number of games played. Justice Edward Gehl, writing the Supreme Court decision, cites the rule that written portions of a contract take precedence over printed portions, and comments: "Before the contract was executed, the plaintiff and defendant's coach discussed the fact that the former had an offer to play with another professional football team. No doubt that fact prompted the plaintiff to insist on some form of relative security, and induced defendant to agree that he should have it." However, the high court continues, he still could be discharged for cause without further liability on the part of the corporation. The question is whether he was so discharged.
GENE RONZANI, A FRIEND IN NEED -
FEB 8 (Green Bay) - For more than thirty years the football warriors of Chicago and Green Bay have carried on perpetual strife. The implacable rivalry has gone around the clock and around the calendar, an unremitting struggle of the he-man type. Occasionally a player released in one city found a berth with a rival and then was suspected of coaching his new friends on the strategy of his former employer, but there has never been a hint of a fifth column operating in any camp. Over the years the Green Bay football fans have built up a professional respect for the football prowess of Chicago, and no Chicago team has ever hoped for an easy victory in Green Bay. Thus, when Gene Ronzani, a life-long Bear and an expert in Bear tactics, was chosen to lead the Green Bay Packers as head coach, the Green Bay fans were shocked for a minute. But it was only a minute. This big man, the living picture of vigor and drive with a thorough knowledge of Bear football and Packer football, won the support of the Green Bay fans within a few hours. Ronzani has made a good impression on the people of Green Bay and in turn he has been given a warm, friendly reception. The decisive action of the Packer executive committee in naming the head coach, and the choice of this man, who seems to fit in so well, have given the people a renewed confidence in the future of the Packers. There are indications that the Chicago Cardinals may be coached next year by a staff heavily loaded with once loyal Packers, and the Packers may have a complete coaching staff of former Bears. Strangely, Green Bay doesn't even arch an eyebrow at the suggestion of the Packer team being coached by Ronzani, Stydahar and Nolting. Likewise, the Chicago Cardinal fans have no fear of entrusting their team's future to Lambeau, Isbell and Brock, if that should come about. That is the measure of respect the football fans of these cities have for the teams of the other. We predict that the Green Bay-Chicago rivalry will be keener next fall than ever before. To Coach Ronzani, Green Bay says, "Welcome, we are glad you are on our side!"
PACKER BOARD MEETS TONIGHT ON STOCK PLANS
FEB 9 (Green Bay) - Further plans for the sale of additional capital stock in the Green Bay Packers, Inc., will be worked out a meeting of the club’s board of directors tonight at Hotel Northland. Main item of business on the agenda is the adoption of by-laws intended to safeguard the sale of stock so that no individual or small group of individuals could possibly gain control of the Packers through purchases of stock. A number of legal and technical details like this have to be settled before the actual sale of stock can begin. Also plans have to be laid for a coordinated selling effort throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan which will take advantage of the new enthusiasm in the future of the Packers and guaranteeing the success of the issue. But the Packer officials are moving post-haste to get these details cleared out of the way. In line with a recommendation adopted by the stockholders Monday night when they authorized issuance of up to 10,000 shares of stock, a nine-man committee will be set up to handle the sale. This committee is expected to be made up of a representative group from outside as well from within the Packer organization. The Packers corporation has already received a number of inquiries and expressions of interest in the stock sale. It is indefinite yet just how many shares will be eventually sold. Authorization of 10,000 shares total does not necessarily mean that all of them will be sold. That will depend probably on two factors, how much working capital the corporation feels it needs, and how much actually be sold. One thing is certain, however. The sale will be handled in such a manner as to insure that the Packers will remain in Green Bay and that they will remain a community enterprise as they have been for 31 years. The stockholders, directors and member of the executive committee have been emphatic about that point.
10 SHARES SOLD
FEB 9 (Green Bay) - While the actual sale of Packer stock has not started yet, Oscar Bielefeldt is not losing any time nor opportunity to peddle a few shares. He called in from a business trip to Milwaukee Wednesday evening to say that he was sending a check for $250 for 10 shares he had sold to friends in that city.
PACKERS, BROWNS SET NON-LOOP TILT; SELECT TO HANDLE STOCK SALE
FEB 10 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers today drew an ace – the Cleveland Browns – in their hunt for non-league games before the NAFL campaign next fall. The two clubs will collide in Toledo Saturday night, Aug. 12 – the day after the College All Star-Philadelphia Eagle game in Chicago. The Packer-Brown game might be the first collision between a team from the old NFL and one of the three holdovers of the All-American conference, although no other non-league contests have been announced yet. Announcement of the Cleveland-Green Bay game was made by Emil R. Fischer, president of Green Bay Packers, Inc., at a meeting of the board of directors last night. Head Coach Gene Ronzani is in Chicago at present closing out personal affairs. He’ll return to Green Bay to launch plans for 1950 Sunday or Monday. The powerhouse Browns, coached by Paul Brown, won the AAC championship in every season of its four-year existence. The club lost only three loop contests in four seasons and won 49…SET NINE-MAN COMMITTEE: There were indications today – judging by the early date of the Packer-Brown game – that the NAFL’s training season will be started earlier than usual. Normally, the NFL started practice Aug. 1, but such a starting date would hardly give the Browns and Packers enough practice time. The Packers generally hold their first scrimmage around Aug. 10 or 12. Several more non-league games are being lined up. Details of the sale of Packer stock throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan will be handled by a nine-man committee appointed at the meeting by President Fischer. The committee is headed by L.H. Joanne as chairman, and includes Mayor Dominic Olejniczak, Jack Paeps, Savior Canadeo, Emmett Platten, Walter Schlerf, William Servotee, Frederick J. Lenfesty and Verne Lewellen. The group includes representation from the Packers themselves, city government, the Quarterback club, the Alumni club, the American Legion, the Association of Commerce and the public at large. The committee will get together immediately and organize a coordinated, large-scale drive for the sale of 10,000 available shares of Packer stock…”GOING TO GO OVER BIG”: Two restrictions on that sale were approved by the board of directors at their meeting last night. They came in the form of amendments to the by-laws of the corporation, and were in line with a recommendation of the stockholders Monday night that the directors set up restrictions to safeguard the interests of the corporation in the sale of stock. The first sets a limit of 200 shares of stock to any one purchaser, and the second sets up a committee consisting of the officers of the corporation to scrutinize each sale to insure that it meets league requirements and safeguards the best interest of the corporation. League requirements are that no stock may be sold to gambling interests or to any persons interested in another club in the league. Asked whether there would be any particular goal in the stock drive, Chairman Joannes said, “We’re going to sell every possible share we can, and the way things look now it’s going to go over big.” The stock will be of no par value having voting rights but being non-profit sharing in nature. The stockholders set a price of $25 on each share, the same as for stock already outstanding. As with the present stock, the new issue will be non-transferrable, that is it must be offered back to the corporation for sale.
TOM STIDHAM RESIGNS AS LINE COACH
FEB 10 (Green Bay) - Big Tom Stidham today resigned a line coach of the Green Bay Packers. Stidham, the former University of Oklahoma and Marquette university head coach, joined the Packer staff in 1949, replacing Walt Kiesling, who line-coached the Bays from 1945 through 1948. Stidham, who had been signed for two seasons, made the following statement this noon: “I resigned effective today after a satisfactory settlement for an undisclosed amount on my 1950 contract. I would also like to state that my last year in Green Bay was pleasant despite the fact that we did not win many games. I am grateful for the many new contacts and friendships made last fall among your fine citizens. In making my decision I feel that it is only fair and customary that a new head coach should be given the privilege to select his new assistants. I sincerely wish the Packers success in the future.” Stidham, former line coach of the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Colts in the old All-America conference, said he had no plans as to his football future. Tom is owner of the Wauwautosa Locker company, 6931 W. North avenue, in Wauwautosa. There is a rumor in Milwaukee that Stidham may be the new line coach of the Chicago Cardinals.
TEAMS NOT CHOSEN FOR TOLEDO GAME?
FEB 11 (Toledo) - The Toledo Times, sponsors of an annual professional football charity game here, said Friday night that neither team has been selected, but negotiations are underway. A report from Green Bay, Wis., said the Green Bay Packers would meet the Cleveland Browns in Toledo Saturday night, Aug. 12 in an exhibition game. But Frosty Froberg, business manager of the Browns, told the Times that no arrangements had been made for any exhibition games.
PACKERS CLOSE BUSIEST RECONSTRUCTION WEEK
FEB 11 (Green Bay) - With the resignation of Backfield Coach Bob Snyder tucked away, the Green Bay Packers today closed out their busiest “reconstruction” week in history. Snyder, prominently mentioned as the next head coach at Toledo university, submitted his quitting papers Friday afternoon – four hours after Big Tom Stidham resigned as line coach. Snyder came to Green Bay a year ago after serving as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams for a season and a quarter. In resigning, Snyder made the following statement: “As I feel each head coach should have complete authority on the selection of his staff and for the best interests of the Green Bay Packer football club, I hereby resign my position as backfield coach. I can wish Mr. Ronzani and the entire Packer organization only the best of luck so they can give the loyal fans of Green Bay and the football world the high grade of football that they deserve.” Satisfactory settlements were made on the 1950 contracts of both Snyder and Stidham. Stidham said Friday that “I feel that it is only fair and customary that a new head coach should be given the privilege to select his new assistants.” The resignations cleared the way for Head Coach Gene Ronzani to intensify his search for two more coaches. Ronzani was given full authority to select his own assistants when he was appointed head coach last Monday. Ronzani put his official “OK” on Charley Brock, the Packers’ year-around assistant, Wednesday. In Chicago the last few days to close out personal business, Ronzani is also keeping an eye out for two of his former Chicago Bear buddies – Joe Stydahar and Ray Nolting. Stydahar already has signed as line coach of the Rams but Joe has indicated that he’d like to join Ronzani in Green Bay. Nolting was backfield coach of the New York Bulldogs last fall. The Packers started renovating Monday with the appointment of Ronzani, for 16 years an integral part of the Bear machine, as head mentor…LAUNCH NEW “GROWTH”: The next day the Packers launched a new “growth” with announcement of a campaign to sell approximately 9,500 shares of non-profit stock at $25 per share. The sale will be conducted throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan – an area known as Packerland, and will, if all shares are sold, boost the cash position of the Packers to approximately $250,000. President Emil R. Fischer started this week that the present cash position of the club is between $40,000 and $50,000 and the figure includes a settlement on Rockwood lodge, which was destroyed by fire in January. Announcements that Brock would remain in the Packer family, that the Packers will play the Cleveland Browns in a non-league game in Toledo, Aug. 12, and that Lee H. Joannes, former Packer president, will head the stock drive, were also made. The non-loop test, probably the first between a team from the old NFL one of the three holdovers of the All-America conference, will be played in Toledo’s Glass Bowl. No earlier exhibition games have been announced by any of the other NAFL teams except the College All Star game which is scheduled in Chicago Aug. 11. Though no announcement has been made by the league office, it appears that official league practice will be started a week or two earlier than usual. Normally, the NFL opened practice Aug. 1. If the same starting time is used in ’50, the Packers and Browns would get only 10 or 11 days of practice. In other years, the Packers don’t hold their first scrimmage until Aug. 11 or 12…FOUR LOOP GAMES HERE: The Packers will play four NAFL league games in City stadium next fall and two in Milwaukee. Previously, three were played in Green Bay and three in Milwaukee. Under the new league’s rules, established at the recent NAFL meetings in Philadelphia, the Packers will play home and home games in their own division, one game with a traditional opponent in the opposite division, and one game with the “swing” team – Baltimore. Five of the Packers’ six “home” games will be played against the Chicago Bears, New York Bulldogs, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco Forty Niners and Detroit Lions. The sixth will be Baltimore or one of the “traditional” foes in the other sector. Four of the “traditional” rivals already have been spoke for – the Bears vs. Cardinals, Bulldogs vs. N.Y. Giants, Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns vs. Forty Niners. This leaves Green Bay and the Lions in one division and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins in the other. The Packers likely will draw Washington since Pittsburgh and Detroit have built up something of a feud of their own.
PACKER GRIEVANCE NOT CARRIED ONTO FIELD, TONY TELLS SOCIETY
FEB 13 (Green Bay) - While there were grievances on the Packer football squad during the last two years, they were not carried on the field, and reports to that effect are spread by rumor mongers, Tony Canadeo, veteran halfback, told members of St. Patrick’s Holy Name society in the church hall Sunday. The breakfast followed reception of communion by the society, which had as its guests members of the church Boy Scout troop and the school’s basketball squad. About 300 attended. Citing rumors that the Packer line “laid down” on Jack Jacobs in the exhibition game with the Philadelphia Eagles, Canadeo said that such stories are ridiculous. “You can’t afford to lay down,” he said. “You’re out there to keep your job, and you don’t do that laying down. I know personally from playing with the team that nobody let anybody down, and that every man was giving the best he had.”…URGES SUPPORT OF DRIVE: Pointing out that the Packers are starting with a clean slate, he urged support of the stock drive planned by the corporation and expressed confidence that the goal would be achieved. The national pro league’s second high ground gainer delighted his audience during the question and answer period that consumed the larger share of his time with such quips as: “There are some pretty big salaries being paid players – they tell me.” “I didn’t set the Rockwood lodge fire, but I was sure fanning it. It’s a shame the beautiful building had to be destroyed; personally, I think it was an act of God – even if the White Fathers did build it.” “Ronzani should make an excellent coach; you Belgians needn’t worry, the Italians aren’t going to run you all out of town.”…GREAT BELIEVER IN LUCK: Tony is a great believer in luck; it was lucky breaks that gave him the ground gaining record, and it’s largely luck that determines whether outstanding players are secured in the annual draft, he said. “You can pick All-Americans, who have been outstanding college players,” he said. “They are good football players, but when they get in the pro league they’re competing with All-Americans all the way through. Some of them fit in, some of them wash out. It’s just a matter of luck.” His top ground gaining record is the biggest thrill that has come to him in football, he said, and attributed it to the fact that “the boys were all with me,” and that he came through the season uninjured and was able to play in every game.
PACKERS SELECT PUBLICITY CHIEF
FEB 14 (Green Bay) - Francis L. (Jug) Earp is the new director of public relations for the Green Bay Packers. The Packer corporation announced today that they had completed arrangements with one of the all-time Packer greats who made Green Bay his home and has been a successful businessman here since. Earp will have charge of all Packer public relations, including publicity, and will play a prominent role in the forthcoming sale of Packer stock and season tickets. At the same time, the Packers announced that Frank J. Jonet, secretary-treasurer of the corporation, has agreed to continue to handle the business end of the Packer front office. Earp will assume his new duties with the Packer management as soon as he can clear up his affairs with Don Hutson Motors, where he has been retail sales manager for the last three years…GRADUATE OF MONMOUTH: The Jugger graduated from Monmouth college in 1921, and played one year of professional ball with the old Rock Island Independents before coming to the Packers in 1922. He was one of the anchor men of the famous Packer front wall from 1922 through 1932, and was with the team that won three championships in a row in 1929, 1930 and 1931. He operated at both center and tackle and filled in at guard occasionally. After retiring from the pro game, Earp went into the automobile business here with Brown County Motors. He went into government service with the OPA in 1942, and was director of the Green Bay regional OPA office for two years and for the state OPA office in Milwaukee for one year. He has been with the Hutson organization since 1947. In his position as director of public relations, Earp will work closely with the new Packer coach, Gene Ronzani, and with the management. He is expected to plan extensive travel through Packerland to organize the stock and ticket drives.
RONZANI DESTINED TO BE 'GREAT'
FEB 15 (Los Angeles) - There is something heart-warming and gratifying about watching an ol’ friend ride to the top of a chosen field. A few days ago Gene Ronzani was signed as the new head coach of the Green Bay Packers...and I experienced a kind of inner glow about it because I knew Gene and his football beginning. It runs back quite a few years to the days when I played freshman football with Ronzani at Marquette University in Milwaukee and the memory of our first meeting was vivid. Those connected with athletics got the incoming freshmen together in the school’s gymnasium, and there was the general round of hand-shaking and of kids asking one another where they come from…Oh, the usual thing…Total strangers sizing one another up, striving to melt the ice of a first meeting. Gene came from a little town in Northern Michigan called Iron Mountain. As far as I know, Milwaukee was the first big city he had ever seen. He was a big muscular kid – even then, a solidly fastened together 200-pounder – who splatted an opposing line when he hugged the ball through the middle and ducked his head. There was something refreshingly countrified, and he seemed enthralled about being away from home and on his own for the first time. You knew he found the change in his life an exciting adventure, and there was a becoming bashfulness in the way he stood on the edge of groups and listened rather than talking. He was an outstanding football player from the instant he pulled on his green jersey for the first time – and while he was unpolished, he picked up things quickly, devouring every word that spilled from the lips of coaches…RONZANI DEADLY SERIOUS: While some of us clowned around, Ronzani was strictly business. He was deadly serious about this game of football, throwing all of his natural talents, marvelous physique and intellect into everything he did. He all but wrecked the varsity when the freshmen were trotted onto the field like so many sacrificial lambs – and Marquette had pretty good varsity teams in those days. It was in the midst of an era when Marquette was knocking off a lot of supposedly great teams in the country. I came to know Gene well because the two of us were given coveted jobs as assistants to Kay Iverson, the trainer. The two of us got in the skilled manner of taping ankles. It was a good touch in those days. I think we got $20 a week. Principally because of Ronzani, Marquette had a good freshman team. He did the kicking and passing and most of the running and managed to get into the middle over every tackle while he was backing up the line. It's funny how the human mind retains small items over a long period of years – but when I think of Ronzani I always think of a touchdown I didn’t make against the Bradley Tech freshmen. I caught a kickoff and Gene got in front of me, hollering: “Follow me!”…BECAME GREAT GRID PLAYER: Gene was doing an elegant job getting opposing players out of the way, but then he started looking back at me exhorting me to keep following him. It slowed up the pace so much I took off on my own and got tackled after making 50 yards or so. The next thing I knew Ronzani was standing over me asking: “Why didn’t you follow me?” There was a day during a scrimmage when I got loose for a pass. Ronzani was throwing. “Hey, wop!” I shouted, "throw it to me!” I don’t know why I said it. I really didn’t mean anything by it, because I like Gene immensely and I knew he liked me. Nevertheless, he became infuriated and came charging after me when the play was over. I think we were enemies for five minutes. The next day the incident was forgotten and we were friends again. I was sorry about it and said so. Ever since I have been careful about doing things that are unthinking and in bad taste. I always think of Ronzani and something I blurted out for no reason whatsoever. Gene became a truly great football player. He went on from Marquette to join the Chicago Bears in the same backfield with Johnny Sisk, another Marquette star. Like Sisk, he won all-pro recognition with the Bears’ championship teams. Sisk, by the way, is one of America’s leading insurance men…CALLED “CHIEF STARTEGIST: ”After his playing days were ended, Ronzani became an important member of the Bears coaching staff, and he was, by the admission of George Halas, the Bears’ owner-coach, the team’s chief strategist. For a while, Ronzani coached the Bears
farm club at Newark and in Akron. For the past several years he has been with Halas constantly. Ronzani isn’t well known as a football coach. But the fellow has a tremendous reputation among coaches who, after all, are the supreme evaluators of coaching ability. During the past couple of years, I’ve heard Ronzani called the best football coach in the country. I’m not astonished. Ever since I first met him I’ve recognized the fact that the fellow was loaded with that insatiable hunger for learning. When he became interested in something, he wouldn’t skip around the edges. He found out everything there was to know about it. Perhaps that’s why Frank Leahy brought him to Notre Dame to install the “T” formation. I remember when I took long walks with Gene in Boston and New York many years ago. We walked endless miles as Gene stopped at every point of historical interest and saturated his mind with the legend of bronze tablets and statues. Football was, and is, the great passion of his life. It is only natural, then, that Gene should know just about all there is to know about the game. The Packers knew what they were doing when they signed him to a three-year contract. The kid from Iron Mountain is destined to become one of the really great coaches of pro football. You’ll see!
RONZANI TO PHILLY FOR CHAT WITH BELL
FEB 15 (Green Bay) - At the request of Commissioner Bert Bell, Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani will spend a day or two in Philadelphia next week. He’ll return to Green Bay a week from today to plunge into the business of rebuilding Packer fortunes. Ronzani is presently closing out personal affairs in Chicago and conferring with several Packer draftees.
PACKER OFFENSE WAS 'ONE LUNGER' IN 1949
FEB 18 (Green Bay) - The 1949 Packer offense – on the ground, that is – was really a “one-lunger”. The lung, of course, was Tony Canadeo, the brilliant left halfback who gained more than half of the Packers’ yards accumulated on the ground. Tony reeled off 1,052 yards alone; the Bays made 2,061 in all. Canadeo, finishing second behind Steve Van Buren of the Philadelphia Eagles, gained just about twice as much yardage as the three Packer fullbacks put together – Ted Fritsch, who finished second with 227 yards; Walt Schlinkman, fourth with 196; and Bob Summerhays, sixth with 101 for a total of 524. The Packer right halfbacks went practically yardless
– as in 1948. Bob Forte, the peerless defensive star, worked on offense enough to rank fifth among the Bays with 135 yards. Ralph Earhart, who played both right and left half, gained 54 yards, and Bob Cifers, a right half, picked up 52. The Packers’ No. 3 carrier was switch-hitting Jug Girard, who played quarterback and left half – not to mention defense late in the season. Jug carried the ball 45 times and picked up 158 yards. As a team, the Packers finished fourth in the ground gaining race – one of four clubs to roll up more than 2,000 yards. Philadelphia’s powerful rushing attack led the field with 2,607 yards, of which Van Buren accounted for 1,146, while Pittsburgh’s single-wingers placed second with 2,209. The Chi-Cardinals were third with 2,130 yards…OUTGAINED CHICAGO BEARS: The Packers outgained their noted foes from Chicago, the Bears, 2.061 yards to 1,785, although the Packers carried the pigskin 20 more times. Behind the Bears were Los Angeles, Washington, New York Giants, Detroit and New York Bulldogs. Canadeo’s achievements were nothing short of spectacular, though Van Buren beat him out for the loop individual title. Tony led the circuit the first nine weeks when Van Buren battered Pittsburgh with 205 yards. Canadeo was the only player in the league to gain 100 yards on five occasions. Van Buren did it four times and Gene Roberts of the N.Y. Giants, Jerry Nuzum of Pittsburgh and Charley Trippi of the Cardinals twice each. Tony had two “best” days – 122 yards each against the Cardinals Nov. 28, and the Los Angeles Rams Oct. 23. Other 100-yard performances: N.Y. Bulldogs, 100; Detroit 117; and Pittsburgh 116. Canadeo finished the season with a 5.1 average while Van Buren had 4.4. Van Buren carried 263 times and Canadeo 208. At the moment, Canadeo is just 228 yards short of Clarke Hinkle’s all-time Packer record of 3,616 yards. Tony presently has 3,632 yards and should beat out Hinkle early next season.
PACKERS WITHOUT NO. 1 LINE COACH PROSPECT - STYDAHAR
FEB 20 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers found themselves today without their No. 1 line coaching prospect. Joe Stydahar, the man Packer Coach Gene Ronzani wanted as line coach for 1950, is starting his first full week today as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams. Stydahar was handed the LA reins Saturday afternoon when Ram owner Dan Reeves “removed” Clark Shaughnessy as head coach and George Trafton, former Packer line coach, as assistant. The shakeup revealed just how close the Packers were to getting the services of Stydahar, a personal friend of Ronzani since their playing days with the Chicago Bears. Stydahar, himself, admitted that he requested his release 10 days ago to accept a line coaching job with the Packers because “Mr. Shaughnessy ran the Rams like a one man show. He wouldn’t let anybody do anything. I didn’t learn a thing, and I wanted to move. But I never dreamed it would end like this.” Shaughnessy’s removal and the appointment of Stydahar no doubt were hurried by Joe’s decision to move to Green Bay. Ronzani announced his intention of getting Stydahar shortly after he was appointed Packer head coach Feb. 6…WILL RESUME SEARCH: Ronzani, who was to confer with Commissioner Bert Bell in Philadelphia today or Tuesday, is expected to resume his search for a line coach shortly after he returns here Wednesday or Thursday. Reeves’ move came as no surprise in pro grid circles. The LA owner earlier offered a tremendous sum to Frank Leahy, Notre Dame’s great coach, to handle the Rams for 10 years. Shaughnessy also was mentioned for the Chicago Cardinal job, eventually landed by Curly Lambeau. These two “events” plus the fact that Shaughnessy was rarely seen in the company of Reeves at the league meetings in Philadelphia recently led observers to expect the shakeup…KOTAL BACKFIELD AIDE: Most of the club details at Philadelphia were handled by Stydahar and Eddie Kotal, the former Packer. The new Ram setup will include Hampton Pool, backfield coach; Mel Hein, centers; Red Hickey, ends; and Kotal, backfield assistant. Stydahar will handle the guards and tackles personally. In passing out of the picture, Shaughnessy hurt his chances of returning to pro football with this remark: “When Stydahar gets through coaching the Rams, I can take any high school team in the country and beat him.” In the opinion of Shaughnessy, the Rams will finish somewhere in the division cellar or environs. Shaughnessy’s remark was likened to Bill Terry’s famous baseball crack: “Are they (the Dodgers) still in the league.” The Dodgers promptly knocked the N.Y. Giants out of the pennant. The Rams no doubt would be furious at any future team coached by Shaughnessy – high school or pro. The statements of Reeves and Shaughnessy pretty well sum up the weekend. Here’s what Dan said: “We regret very much that a situation has developed in our organization which makes it necessary to replace our head coach. We have taken this drastic step after deliberation and a thorough search for another solution to the problem. Our decision was dictated by the realization that our first duty is to give Los Angeles football fans the finest team within out power to field. Last year, internal friction between Coach Clark Shaughnessy on the one hand, and his assistants, players and others affiliated with the Rams, on the other hand, developed to such an extent that the fine team which we had brought together faltered so badly that we could win only two of our last seven games. We felt it necessary to terminate his contract for the best interests of the Rams in order to prevent intact the personnel of the organization which had been built up over a long period of time at great expense.” Shaughnessy himself, though, offered a different slant. His statement follows: “After our team had won the western division championship of the NFL last fall, and the merger with the All-America conference had presaged a new and greater era for professional football, my sole ambition was to give Los Angeles rans an even better team than we had in 1949. To this end, following the draft meeting in Philadelphia in late January, I returned to Los Angeles to start work on plans for the 1950 season. My first meeting with Mr. Reeves occurred Friday. I was greatly surprised to discover that he was dissatisfied with my coaching and wished to terminate my contract. Inasmuch as this was the first time during my two years as head coach that any dissatisfaction relative to my services was made to me by an official of the Ram organization, it leaves me at a loss for words.”
EX-PACKERS TOP PASS STEALER
FEB 21 (Green Bay) - Bob Nussbamuer and Ted Cook, a couple of ex-Packers, led the NFL and the Packers, respectively, in pass interceptions last fall. Nussbaumer, who got his professional football baptism with the Packers in 1946, won the league crown by snatching 12 enemy aerials and returning them 157 yards as a member of the Chicago Cardinals. Cook, the former Alabama and Detroit Lion string bean who was released by the Packers after the first 11 games last fall, had accumulated enough interceptions, five, to pace the Green Bays. Ted returned the thefts 52 yards – one for 30. The Packers weren’t the best pass-intercepting team in the league but they managed to finish sixth behind Detroit, tops with 32 interceptions and a yardage return
of 656, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Cards and Chicago Bears. Behind Green Bay were Pittsburgh, New York Giants, Washington and New York Bulldogs. The Packers copped 20 enemy throws out of 293 chances and returned them for 187 yards. Eight other Packer players intercepted passes besides Cook. Center Jay Rhodemyre grabbed off four and returned ‘em 12 yards. Irv Comp, though he missed the last five games, intercepted two while Bob Forte also got a pair. Jug Girard, Damon Tassos, Roger Harding and Paul Burris each intercepted one…NO INTERCEPTIONS IN 1948: Oddly enough, Nussbaumer, who was traded to Washington for Jack Jacobs before the 1947 season, did not intercept a single pass in 1948 – his last year with the Redskins. The former Michigan halfback’s longest return was for 68 yards. He succeeds Dan Sandifer of Washington, ’48 champ.
PACKERS' NEXT LINE COACH ONLY 5TH FULL-TIME IN LONG HISTORY
FEB 21 (Green Bay) - The Packers’ current search for a line coach brings to mind what the old timers religiously refer to as the “good old days” – when a line coach was a player or some such article. Since the so-called good-old-days are history and since – in our modern days – the need for a line coach has been demonstrated, Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani is continuing his microscopic hunt for an individual to “break” those big horses upfront into the thoroughbred class. Anyhow, it is interesting to note today that the Packers’ next line coach will be the club’s fifth such animal despite the fact that the Bays have been in operation for 31 years. Jug Earp, the Packers’ new publicist and former tackle and center, was asked who coached the Packer lines before 1936, when Red Smith became the club’s first full-time line coach. “In 1933 and before, we did our own coaching under the supervision of Curly (Lambeau). In 1934, a guy by the name of Earp coached the line part time and did scouting on the weekends. In 1935, Cal Hubbard and Mike Michalske, both active players, watched over the line,” he said. Smith, a former Packer lineman, served from 1936 through 1943. George Trafton handled the Bay wall in 1944 – a championship year – and then left for the Cleveland Rams, who won the title in 1945. Walt Kiesling, one-time Packer, handled the horses in 1945-46-47-48. Big Tom Stidham coached the line last fall and recently resigned after Lambeau took over the Chicago Cardinal head coaching job.
THE OUTLOOK FOR THE PACKERS
FEB 21 (Green Bay) – As far as mortal eyes can search the horizon, which isn’t too far, the future of professional football looks quite rosy. In the first place, professional football had to sell itself to the country, and actually the country is rather slow in taking up new things. It was so with professional baseball 70 years ago. The advent four years ago of “that other league” served as a chastening purpose although those who supported it had to take a very heavy financial loss before they were convinced. When the payroll is higher than the gate, somebody is going to go shirtless. The Packers never had a great big Sugar Daddy. Probably they are better off without one. We expect that the determination of the Packer Corporation not to sell more than $5,000 in stock to any buyer and when sales of stock are made to give the corporation the first chance to repurchase will strike a responsive chord. It should. The Packers started as the city’s team. As their reputation and prowess grew, the good folks in the rest of the state and the upper peninsula enfolded them in their arms. There is a certain amount of justifiable pride in maintaining this scattered ownership. It will, we think, help maintain the high spirit that preserved the Packers during all these 31 years against mighty contenders and in spite of the fact that cities ranging from half a million people up were not only ready and willing, but anxious to take over. The inability of Glenn McCarthy, Texas oil tycoon, to push in the NAFL while the Packers maintain their position speaks volumes. And every one of those volumes is replete with goodness and the cleanliness and the manliness of our great sport of football and helps paint the horizon in bright and attractive colors. The Packers belong to this great and extensive community.
EX-PACKER TED COOK SET PASS RECEIVING PACE FOR 1949 BAYS
FEB 22 (Green Bay) - It’s odd but true – and official. A former Packer led the 1949 Packers in pass receiving. The official statistics released today by the NFL showed that Ted Cook, left end, paced the Green Bays in pass snatching despite the fact that he missed the last contest at Detroit. Cook was released the previous Monday in Washington. Cook came up with 25 receptions for 442 yards – an average gain of 17.7. His longest gain was 50 yards against the New York Bulldogs. He caught one for a touchdown – against Detroit in Milwaukee. Bill Kelley, the rookie right end from Texas Tech, ranked second among the Bays with 17 catches for 222 yards, an average gain of 13.1 and one touchdown pass. Veteran Nolan Luhn was third with 15 catches for 169 yards. Steve Pritko, who joined the club midway in the season, caught two touchdown passes in the Chicago Cardinal game to lead the club in that department. Finishing fourth among the Bays, Steve caught seven passes for 98 yards…HUTSON’S MARK FALLS: Following Pritko were Bob Forte with seven catches for 85 yards; Ted Fritsch, 6 for 81; Ralph Earhart, 5 for 109; Dan Orlich, 4 for 39; Tony Canadeo, 3 for minus 2; Bob Summerhays, 1 for 34; Jug Girard, 1 for 13; and Bob Cifers, 1 for 5. The league’s pass receiving champion, Tom Fears, sophomore star of the Los Angeles Rams, for the second straight season. Fears, the former UCLA star, and Don Hutson, of Green Bay, eight-time champion, are the only players in the league’s history to win the receiving title two seasons in a row. Not only did Fears win the championship in his specialty but he established a new record for one season with 77 receptions, three more than the previous mark made in 1942 by Hutson. Fears, with 11 successful catches in one game, also joins the select group of players who have caught ten or more passes in a single game. Fears gained 1,013 yards for an average per catch of 13.2 yards. He scored nine touchdowns. Bob Mann, of Detroit, former Michigan star, tenth in 1948, finished second to Fears with 66 receptions for 1,014 yards, one more yard than the champion. He averaged 15.4 yards per catch and scored four touchdowns. Bill Chipley, of the New York Bulldogs, in 42nd position a year ago, followed Mann with 57 successful catches for 631 yards. Jim Keane, of the Chicago Bears, moved from 13th place in 1948 to fourth last season with 47 receptions for 696 yards. Bill Swiacki, of the Giants, retained fifth position with 47 for 652 yards, followed by Hugh Taylor, Washington, 22nd a year ago; John Green, Detroit, 18th in 1948; and Ralph Heywood, 35th the previous season.
PACKERS WILL ORGANIZE SALE OF STOCK NEXT WEEK
FEB 23 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packer front office made three announcements today on progress toward the reorganization of the club for the 1950 NAFL season: 1. Committees will meet Monday night to organize the sale of Packer stock throughout Packerland. 2. Coach Gene Ronzani is staying over several more days in Chicago to interview several new applicants for assistant coaching jobs with the team, and will return to Green Bay to begin full-time work this week. 3. Publicity Chief Jug Earp and Executive Committeeman L.H. Joannes will go to Philadelphia to attend a business manager’s clinic of the league March 3…A meeting of the executive committee is scheduled for Friday noon to approve final details of the stock sale, and Monday night Chairman Joannes will call a meeting of the special committee appointed by President Emil R. Fischer, which will have charge of the actual stock sale. The latter committee at that time is expected to review all of the various promotional ideas which have been put forward to further the sale and to work them all into an integrated plan. Subcommittees will be organized and put to work, including stock sale committees in all the communities of Packerland. The Packers will have some 9,500 shares of non-profit, voting stock to sell at $25 each, and the board of directors has decided to “sell all we can” rather than setting any monetary goal for the drive. The campaign to sell season tickets will come later, after the league schedule has been announced…Ronzani is back in Chicago after spending several days closeted with League Commissioner Bert Bell in Philadelphia. Gene’s visit there served as something of a refresher course for the new Packer coach, with Bell acquainting him with all the intricate details of operating a club in the new league. He intended to return to Green Bay yesterday, but in the meantime several hot prospects turned up for the two assistant coaching vacancies on his staff and it was agreed with Packer officials that it would be better for Ronzani to stay in Chicago several more days to interview these applicants and attempt to have his staff nailed down before returning here…Joannes is attending the Philadelphia meeting March 3 at the request of President Fischer, who is still in Florida. Commissioner
Bell called the session with the end in view of trying to increase the operating efficiency of all clubs in the league through mutual exchange of information about front office methods of operation. Six topics will be under discussion: ticket sales, park operations, travel, promotion and publicity, general club policies and players. Each team representative was asked to bring detailed information with him on these subjects for discussion with the other clubs.
GIRARD BEATS OUT HEATH FOR PACKER PASS CHAMPIONSHIP
FEB 25 (Green Bay) - That individual passing duel between quarterbacks Earl (Jug) Girard and Stan (The Man) Heath is hereby settled. The Green Bay Packer “champeen” is Girard, a sophomore in professional football but a rookie in the quarterback slot, according to the official figures distributed by the NFL for 1949. Jug played left half in 1948. Everybody was pretty much in the dark as to the ranking of Girard and Heath during the season because neither was able to crash the NFL’s top ten. At the end, Girard finished 12th among league pitchers and Heath was 20th. The Jugger, presently contemplating an advancement in the Cleveland Indian baseball chain (he played with the Green Bay Bluejays the last two years), hurled the football 175 times last fall and completed 62 for a total gain of 881 yards. Four of his pitches went for touchdowns. Twelve were intercepted. Girard completed 35.4 percent of his throws and 6.9 percent were intercepted. Now for Heath – for comparison. The nation’s 1948 collegiate passing champion at the University of Nevada delivered 106 throws in his first season as a pro. He completed 26 for a total of 355 yards and one touchdown. Fourteen were intercepted. Stan’s percentage of completions was 24.5 and for interceptions it was 13.2. Jack Jacobs, the Packers’ passing champion in 1947 and 1948, threw only 16 passes from the quarterback position since he was used mostly on defense. Besides, Jack was confined to the bench with a knee injury most of the last half of the campaign. He completed three for 55 yards, and three were intercepted. Jacobs, by the way, ranked fourth among league passers in 1947, when the Packers were in the championship running until the last three games. That’s the season Green Bay lost four games by nine points. In 1948, Jacobs finished 15th in the league – high enough to pace the team. The Packers, as a team, finished a solid 10th – last. A total of 299 passes were attempted and only 91 were completed for a percentage of 30.4. The yardage gain was 1,291. As a comparison, the Bears piled up 3,055 yards in the air. Most damaging to the Packers’ point cause was the low number of touchdown throws – five. Four of the league clubs bettered 20 touchdown passes – Bears 24, Los Angeles 23, Washington 22 and Chicago Cardinals 21. The world champion Philadelphia Eagles scored 18 times by passing. The league hurling championship went to Sammy Baugh, Washington’s immortal, who completed 145 out of his 255 attempts for a completion percentage of 56.9. His throws gained 1,903 yards. The Bears’ Johnny Lujack ranked second with 162 completions in 312 attempts for 51.9 percent and 2,658 yards.
PACKERS CONSIDERING SHAUGHNESSY AS AIDE
FEB 27 (Green Bay) - Clark Shaughnessy, former head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, is being considered for an assistant coaching job with the Green Bay Packers. Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani has been in Chicago the last few days interviewing candidates for the vacancies on the Packers staff, but none of the prospects has been hired yet. Ronzani is expected to interview Shaughnessy in Chicago this week. Shaughnessy is in Los Angeles attempting to strive to arrive at a settlement on his Ram contract, which has three years to run. He was dismissed 10 days ago. Ronzani has considered Shaughnessy as a “good prospect” ever since he was relieved of his duties at Los Angeles. Shaughnessy, it was believed, would come here as backfield coach. The Packer coach declined to mention the names of other prospects. Names being bounced around include George Wilson, presently with the Detroit Lions; Bernie Crimmins, backfield assistant at Notre Dame; and George Trafton, assistant under Shaughnessy at Los Angeles. Oddly enough, Ronzani’s No. 1 choice as line coach was Joe Stydahar, the Rams’ line coach who was elevated to head coach when Shaughnessy left.
PACKERS' STOCK PLANS ORGANIZED AT MEETING
FEB 28 (Green Bay) - Organizational plans for the sale of stock in the Green Bay Packers throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan were set up Monday night at the initial meeting of the committee appointed to handle the stock sale by Packer President Emil R. Fischer. L.H. Joannes is the committee chairman. General details of the organization which will run the stock sale in Green Bay and vicinity were set up, and plans were made to set up supporting committees in every community of Packerland. This organization is to be set up over the next week to ten days with the idea of getting the stock sale started as soon as possible. The Packer football corporation is offering approximately 9,500 shares of stock to the public at $25 per share. It will be voting stock and non-profit sharing…On the coaching front, Coach Gene Ronzani remained in Chicago today for the purpose of interviewing candidates for the assistant coaching job. Clark Shaughnessy, former Los Angeles Ram head coach, is being considered for one of the Packer posts – possibly backfield coach. Ronzani said he expected to interview Clark in the near future – as soon as he straightens out his contract with the Rams. Shaughnessy was dismissed as the Rams’ head coach 11 days ago. Several candidates have been mentioned as “possible” Packer assistants. Besides Shaughnessy, they include Ray Nolting, former New York Bulldog backfield coach; George Trafton, ex-Los Angeles and Packer assistant; Bernie Crimmins, the Notre Dame backfield assistant and former Packer; and George Wilson, Detroit aide. At Santa Monica, Calif., Shaughnessy admitted he is interested in going to the Packers. But the T-formation wizard added he won’t discuss any deals until he settles his Ram contract. Shaughnessy claims there is a clause in his contract specifying that he gets $30,000 if his contract is terminated by the club. Ram Owner Dan Reeves says there also is a clause which stipulates that in the event of any dispute over the contract, League Commissioner Bert Bell will make the final decision…Official league statistics on punting, released today, showed that the Packers’ Jug Girard finished in a fifth place tie with George Gulyanics of the Bears in standings computed on an inverse grading system based on number of punts and average distance. Girard delivered the most punts, 69, and averaged 39.0 yards. His longest was 72 yards. Gulyanics punted 29 times and averaged 47.2 – best in the league. The Packers’ Jack Jacobs punted 17 times and averaged 44.5 yards. The only other Packer punt was made by Bob Cifers and went for 49 yards. Michael B. Boyda of the New York Bulldogs won the league punting championship, with 56 boots for an average distance of 44.2.
RONZANI ON NO PICNIC HUNTING PACKER COACHING ASSISTANTS
MAR 1 (Green Bay) - Twenty-three days have elapsed since Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani set out from Green Bay to close his personal business in Chicago, confer with Commissioner Bert Bell in Philadelphia, and hire a staff of coaching assistants. The selection of aides has been on Ronzani’s mind since he walked out of the Northland hotel conference room Monday, Feb. 6, with a two-year contract as the Packers’ first new head coach. “The first thing on the docket is getting a staff lined up,” he announced. In Chicago and Philadelphia, Ronzani kept the long-distance telephone wires buzzing and they’re still hot. The manhunt has a California twist. The No. 1 objective was jovial Joe Stydahar, who let his employee, Los Angeles Ram Owner Dan Reeves, know that he’d like to come to Green Bay to serve under his old buddy of Chicago Bear playing days. Stydahar also let it be known that he didn’t care much for Clark Shaughnessy, then head coach of the Rams. Uncle Dan, one of the finest guys in the business of losing or making money in professional football, wanted Joe to stay in California so he dismissed Clark and made said Joe head coach. Reeves thus upset the Packer applecart and gave Ronzani his first setback as Packer head coach. Actually, Reeves’ decision to discharge a coach who led his team to the Western division championship last fall put a crimp in Ronzani’s plans. Stydahar was to have been the Packer line coach. If Joe had decided on Green Bay, or rather, had Shaughnessy been retained, it would have been an easy chore for Ronzani to pick up a backfield coach. Now, with Stydahar out of the picture, Gene must start from scratch again. He has indicated an interest in Shaughnessy who, privately, has expressed an interest in getting back into major league football again in just about any capacity, including line coach. It’s easy to see that Mr. Shaughnessy is a bit unhappy. He wants a crack at the Rams. As a Packer assistant, Shaughnessy would get two slugs at LA since the two clubs will be playing in the same division. Ronzani and Shaughnessy aren’t strangers. They worked together several years on the Bears’ board of strategy. When Clark went to Maryland as head coach several years ago, he tried unsuccessfully to get Ronzani from the Bears. George Halas, the Bear boss, wouldn’t consent. A master strategist, Shaughnessy probably wouldn’t work as line coach in Green Bay but would handle the backs – or as Ronzani put is, “a working coach”. It may be well to recall Ronzani’s statement that “we’ll have no assistant coaches on the Packers – we’ll all be coaches, period”. Ronzani has interviewed a large number of prospects in Chicago but Shaughnessy has yet to make an appearance because he is busy on the west coast straightening out his LA contract which still has three years to run. Ronzani isn’t having a picnic finding coaches. One prospect, a college assistant, received a $2,500 raise from his school employers when they learned he was thinking of switching to the pros. Ronzani isn’t naming names. “Everybody covers up when they know that so-and-so is in line for another job,” is the way Ronzani explains his position. Among the rumored possibilities, however, are George Wilson, Detroit assistant; George Trafton, former Packer and Los Angeles aide; Bernie Masterson, the former Bear; Ray Nolting, Ronzani’s running mate with the Bears and late New York Bulldog assistant; Tarz Taylor, former Marquette line coach; and Bernie Crimmins, Notre Dame assistant. At the moment, Ronzani has one handyman – Charley Brock, the all-time Packer center who broke into the pro coaching field with the Packers last fall. Brock, it was revealed earlier, will be retained although his exact duties haven’t been outlined as yet. As Ronzani said at the time, “Charley will be a coach.” And if things get much tougher, Ronzani and Brock will have themselves plenty of coaching to do next fall.
BOB SNYDER NAMED HEAD GRID COACH AT U. OF TOLEDO
MAR 1 (Toledo) - Bob Snyder, backfield coach of the Green Bay Packers last season, today was named head football coach at the University of Toledo by the board of trustees. Snyder succeeded Skip Stahley, who resigned recently to take a job as assistant coach at Washington university under Howie O’Dell. Formerly head coach of the Los Angeles Rams after his playing days with the Chicago Bears and Cleveland, Snyder joined the Packer coaching staff as backfield coach Jan. 29, 1949, and resigned last Feb. 11. Snyder, who is 37, played college football at Ohio university.
IT'LL BE PACKERS OF NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF NATIONAL LEAGUE
MAR 4 (Green Bay) - From now on, it will be the Green Bay Packers of the National conference of the NAFL. Commissioner Bert Bell, professional football czar, revealed late Friday that the nation's major football league - known as the National-American Football league - has adopted the name NFL. The decision to drop the name was made upon the advice of his counsel and had the unanimous consent of the 13 club owners. The two sections of the league - formerly known as divisions - hereafter will be called "conferences", Bell said. The Packers will play in the National conference, which is composed of seven clubs...CREATED FOLLOWING MERGER: Thus, the NAFL lived for nearly three months without playing a game. The name was created following the merger of the old NFL and the All-America conference last December. The makeup of the divisions is the same as agreed upon at the NAFL meetings in Philadelphia last Jan. 17. Bell's announcement cleared the air, so to speak, as far as the Packers' home and away opponents are concerned. The Green Bays will play in a circuit composed of the Baltimore Colts, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions, New York Bulldogs and San Francisco 49ers. The other conference, the American, will have the
Clayton Tonnemaker
Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Cardinals, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins and Chicago Cardinals. Bell says that each club in each division (with the exception of Baltimore, which will play the role of a swing team) will play each other club in its division a home and home series, accounting for 10 games. In addition, each club will play one game with a traditional rival in the opposite conference for its 11th game. For the 12th game, each team will play the swing club. Green Bay fans now are assured home games (Green Bay or Milwaukee) with the Bears, Lions, Rams, Bulldogs and Forty Niners. The other home game will be either Baltimore or the "traditional" rival, which, in Green Bay's case, probably will be Washington...FOUR HOME GAMES: Four of the Packers' "home" games will be played in Green Bay - per the recent announcement of the Packer corporation. The other two loop tests will be played in Milwaukee. One of the four games at City stadium will be with the hated Bears - probably the opener as in the past. The big change, of course, in Green Bay's home schedule is San Francisco, which replaces the Chicago Cardinals, now coached by Curly Lambeau, ex-Packer coach. Speaking of the Cards, there's a plan afoot to match the Cardinals and Packers in a non-league clash - probably in Milwaukee. Non-loop games are not permitted within the conference. In other words, Packer non-loop opponents will have to be selected from American conference teams. A non-conference game already set for the Packers is with the Browns in Toledo Aug. 12. Bell's announced from Philadelphia also said that Emil R. Fischer, president of Green Bay Packers, Inc., is president of the National conference and that Daniel Sherby of the Cleveland Browns heads the American conference. Fischer and Sherby were appointed at the time of the merger.
SHAUGHNESSY MAY TALK WITH RONZANI IN CHICAGO SUNDAY
MAR 4 (Green Bay) - Clark Shaughnessy, recently disposed head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, may talk to Green Bay Packer officials in Chicago this weekend, it was reported by the Associated Press from Los Angeles today. Packer officials have already announced that they are considering the 57-year-old veteran for the position of backfield coach. However, Shaughnessy would not commit himself before he left LA by air Friday: "I have made no engagement to meet any Packer officials on the trip, but it is likely that I will get together with Head Coach Gene Ronzani while I'm in Chicago."
SHAUGHNESSY TO RETIRE FROM GRID COACHING
MAR 6 (Green Bay) - Packer Coach Gene Ronzani started out on a new track today in his search for two assistant coaches for the 1950 Packer team, after Clark Shaughnessy told him at a conference Sunday in Chicago he was retiring at least temporarily from the coaching business. Shaughnessy told Ronzani he was going to devote full time to his private shoe business, at least for the time being, and that he was considering retiring altogether from coaching. In Chicago today, Ronzani was starting to contact some of the other prospects on his list for the two vacant assistant spots. At the present, Charley Brock, last year's defense coach, is his staff. Ronzani had been holding up on contacting other prospects until he could get the Shaughnessy affair nailed down one way or the other. At the same time, Ronzani was packing up his belongings in Chicago and planning to drive to Green Bay tonight or Tuesday morning to establish full-time headquarters here. He had been staying in Chicago awaiting the Shaughnessy conference and making other contacts with other coaching prospects, ball players and discussing possible exhibition games...Packer Publicity Chief Jug Earp and L.H. Joannes, pinch hitting for President Emil R. Fischer, returned to the city Sunday night after attending a league business clinic in Philadelphia Friday and conferring with Commissioner Bert Bell Saturday. "The meeting proved to be invaluable to us," Earp said today. "We exchanged information on a hundred and one different details of business management and publicity with representatives of the other 12 clubs in the new league," Jug said, "and we came home with a whole briefcase full of ideas and figures." "I"m certain that what we learned out there is going to save the Packers thousands of dollars in the business office next season." "There is a definite trend toward a return to normalcy throughout the league," Earp continued. "All the owners are optimistic about the chance of operating in the black this season."
PACKER ALUMNI BACK CLUB'S STOCK DRIVE
MAR 7 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packer Alumni association launched its second year of operation today with two big objectives: (1) Assist the Packer corporation in its forthcoming sale of stock and (2) Reorganize the Green Bay Packer Quarterback club with approximately 1,500 members next fall. At its first anniversary meeting at the Silver Rail Monday night, the association - only professional football organization of its kind in the nation - reelected its charter officers, President Fee Klaus, Vice-President Carl Zoll and Secretary-Treasurer Dave Zuidmulder. Every member present was asked if he could assist in the corporation's gigantic campaign for an additional 9,500 shares of stock at $25 per share. All voiced enthusiasm and all agreed to "pitch in" in any way possible. They then unanimously passed a motion to "put our strength behind the drive."..."DRIVE IS TOO VITAL": Verne Lewellen, the chairman of the Alumni program committee, sounded the keynote with this: "We must work; the drive is too vital to do otherwise." Wueert Englemann added: "We're organized for the purpose of promoting and helping the Packers; so, let's go." The manner in which the Alumni will assist in the campaign,
is expected to start in the near future and drive officials at the moment are outlining the proper promotional steps in pushing the sale throughout Packerland. Members of the association are ready to work on teams or in any other capacity advised by the campaign. Jug Earp, the Packers' new publicity chief, spoke briefly on the campaign and then told of his trip to Philadelphia with L.H. Joannes, pinch hitting for Packer Prexy Emil R. Fischer, for a meeting of the club representatives with Commissioner Bert Bell. Considerable discussion was held on the 1950 Quarterback club season. Lewellen was appointed chairman of a committee to look into the possibility of obtaining a larger meeting place for the meetings...MEMBERSHIP OVER 900: A larger hall would mean that the club could expand to approximately 1,500 members. The membership last year was slightly over 900, but the average attendance at the meetings was approximately 700. The number of cards sold at the start of the 1949 season was based on the seating capacity of the Vocational school hall. Alumni members reported that "any number" of persons wanted to join but couldn't even after the limit had been exceeded. In a financial report read by Zuidmulder, the Quarterback club - sponsored by the Alumni group - collected approximately $1,246 for the 12 meetings. Expenses were listed at $1,054 and the balance was $192. A more detailed report will be presented later this month, Zuidmulder announced. The association revealed that it has 37 active members at the close of the first year. The association is going ahead with plans for an extensive membership drive. All but three of the members are living in Green Bay. The three are Red Smith, Buckets Goldenberg and Joe Carey.
PACKER HEAD COACH RETURNS
MAR 10 (Green Bay) - Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani returned to Green Bay today and immediately went into a huddle with L.H. Joannes, former president pinch hitting for President Emil R. Fischer. Though no announcements were forthcoming, Ronzani had two items to discuss and iron out: (1) Assistant coaches and (2) Non-league games. Away for a month, Ronzani has been busy in Chicago closing out his personal affairs which included an off-season job, interviewing prospects for two or three assistant coaching jobs, contracting for non-league games and contacting players. Ronzani also spent some time in Philadelphia conferring with NFL Commissioner Bert Bell. The Philly visit was something of a "refresher" course for Ronzani, who is making his first start as a major league head coach. With no official news, speculation continued today as to prospective assistant coaches and non-league opponents. The two top choices for aides - Joe Stydahar and Clark Shaughnessy, in that order - are out. Stydahar, Ronzani's No. 1 choice for line coach, was named head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, and Shaughnessy, former Ram head coach, has decided to remain out of pro football - at least temporarily...GAME WITH BROWNS SET: Other names mentioned include Bob Maragarita, the former Bear now head coaching at Georgetown university; George Wilson, Detroit Lions assistant; Buddy Parker, who signed as a Detroit backfield during the recent league meetings; and Bernie Crimmins, Notre Dame backfield coach. Parker, it was reported in Chicago this morning, might be interested in the Packer job. Parker, former head coach of the Chicago Cardinals, was said to have been "hasty" in taking the Detroit job. Considerable time is being spent by Ronzani in arranging non-league game. Thus far, one game has been set for Saturday, Aug. 12, with the Cleveland Browns in Toledo's Glass Bowl. Reportedly, arrangements are being discussed for a preseason game with the Chicago Cardinals, now coached by Curly Lambeau, former Packer head coach. The game, if it is arranged, probably will be played in Milwaukee. The Cards already have set a non-looper with the Bears...TED COOK IN PRO DRAFT: Non-league games can only be played with teams in the opposite conference. In other words, the Packers must select their opponents from the following: Cleveland, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Cardinals, Washington Redskins, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers. An exhibition can also be played with Baltimore, the swing team, but it cannot be played in the city that the regularly-scheduled games is to be played. Another rumor making the rounds today concerned the signing of Ted Cook, the former Packer end, by the Cardinals. Cook, the Packers' leading receiver last fall, was released by Lambeau with one game left on the 1949 schedule. The report was that Lambeau grabbed him back for the Cardinals. However, Cook, by his released from the NFL, remained on the reserve list of the New York Yankees, who drafted him in 1946 as a member of the old All-America conference. He was drafted by Detroit in the NFL and later traded to Green Bay. Technically, Cook became the property of the Yankees when the two league merged last January. Cook will be up for selection in the pro draft scheduled for next June 3. The draft list will include reserve players of all 13 clubs plus the players of the disbanded Chicago Hornets, Los Angeles Dons and Buffalo Bills. At the moment, Cook can't be signed by any of the 13 teams. Shortly after his release from the Packers, Cook reportedly sought employment with the Bears for 1950.
PACKERS NEAR READY TO START STOCK DRIVE, ROTARIANS TOLD
MAR 10 (Green Bay) - Jug Earp exploded a few thousand well-chosen bombs (words to you fans who never heard the Jugger speak) at the Rotary club luncheon at the Beaumont Thursday noon. Nobody was hit by shrapnel, but the 60-odd members left the place pretty well dented with the Earp philosophy - spirit, Packer spirit. The new director of public relations for the Packers, attending the meeting with Assistant Coach Charley Brock, bellowed over the club's three current downtown talking points - the stock drive, the season ticket drive and coaches-players. "Sure, I'm questioned just like you folks about what's holding up the Packers in preparation for the 1950 season," Earp declared, "but let's look over the picture. First, what about the stock drive. You can't decide to hold a drive one day and start selling it the next. The drive is just about ready to be started after quite a spell of preparation. Certificates had to be printed; brochures for workers are being prepared; and teams of workers are being organized. Members of the stock committee are meeting almost every day and the first announcements will be made very soon. The drive will cover every city, town and hamlet in Packerland. We want to bring the Packers back into the laps of their fans. The drive is simply a campaign to operate the Packers." Regarding season tickets, Earp said that "they're ready to be mailed out now - the applications, that is. We can't do much on preparing the tickets because we don't have the dates of our four home games. We have many applications for ticket reservations at the office. And speaking of the schedule, Commissioner Bert Bell is having a tough time trying to arrange it. The big trouble is arranging two-game visits to California on successive weekends. The Packers, for instance, will play at both Los Angeles and San Francisco. The schedule problem is so tough that Bell took his schedule to the University of Pennsylvania which has a special course in schedule making. The schedule professor threw it back at Bell and said he couldn't solve it. Bell is a graduate of Penn, too." What about Head Coach Gene Ronzani and prospective players? "Gene (the coach arrived here today) is just as anxious to get here as you are to have him here," Earp said, noting that Ronzani has been away for nearly a month. The publicity chief reviewed some of the obstacles confronted by Ronzani in his search for assistant coaches. "First, he wanted Joe Stydahar. Then Joe was named head coach by the Los Angeles Rams. Gene then went for Clark Shaughnessy, former Ram head coach, and a number of other candidates. In addition, Gene has contacted all of the players drafted by the Packers by mail and all of them have sent in their 'answers'." Earp expressed confident in Ronzani, saying that "he's coming here with a good background and I know he can do the job." The Jugger pointed out that "we don't expect a championship, I don't think anybody does, but we'll have a good, hard fighting club." Touching on Rockwood lodge, Earp said, "The loss of Rockwood (by fire), as some people say, might be a blessing - I don't know and I'm not the one to comment on that. But I do know that back in 1922, when I arrived here to play with the Packers, I felt that I was a part of Green Bay only after a few days because of my association with the fans on the street. But the night I arrived at the depot it was raining and the bridge was out - I felt like getting back on the train."
HALAS PREDICTS BROWNS WILL WIN '50 NFL TITLE
MAR 10 (Phoenix) - The Cleveland Browns will win the NFL championship in 1950, the owner and coach of the Chicago Bears predicted here today. George Halas, vacationing in Phoenix, said he ranks the Philadelphia Eagles next and the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, New York Yankees, Chicago Cardinals, Detroit Lions and then his Bears in the order named. The veteran player and professional coach praised the abilities of Paul Brown, who will guide the Cleveland club this year and said he was looking forward to watching his team. He also spoke highly of Buck Shaw and his 49ers. Both were All-America conference teams last year, while the Bears were in the National league. Halas predicted the winner in each division during the coming season will lose three games.
PACKERS TO LAUNCH TWO-WEEK STOCK CAMPAIGN APRIL 12
MAR 11 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers will stage a two-week campaign to sell capital stock in the football corporation starting right after Easter. Announcement that the big drive will get underway on Wednesday, April 12 came today from L.H. Joannes, chairman of the committee set up to handle the sale. A sales organization that will reach into every hamlet of Packerland - Wisconsin and Upper Michigan - is now being formed. Joannes said that Max Murphy, Green Bay insurance man, will head up the campaign in Green Bay. Francis L. (Jug) Earp, Packer director of public relations, will be in charge of coordinating the work of committees being set up in other communities. He already has contacted Packer boosters in a number of cities and villages. "This campaign is designed for two purposes," Joannes said. "It will put new financial blood into a Packer organization which is reorganizing for the competition in the new NFL, and it will give every Packer booster in Packerland an opportunity to own a part of this great football corporation." The present stockholders of the corporation, organized back in 1933, authorized issuing 10,000 share of common stock at a special meeting early in February. There are a little less than 500 shares now outstanding, making over 9,500 available during the drive. The stock will carry full voting right, but will be non-profit sharing, the same as the stock now outstanding. Each share will sell for $25. A decorative stock certificate suitable for framing is now being printed by the corporation. Also in the mill is a descriptive brochure pointing out the purpose of the stock sale, and including a stock subscription blank. An organization of some 400 campaign workers is being set
up in Green Bay under Murphy. They will be organized into teams representing each year that the Packers have been in existence, starting with 1919, and possibly even extending into the future depending upon how many teams the job eventually calls for. Murphy will be "head coach" and will have three or four "assistant coaches". Each team will be headed by a "captain" and will consist of 11 "players". Competition is planned among the various teams. These workers will call on every business concern in Green Bay, business and professional men, and will organize teams of workers within the plants of the larger employers in the city. Murphy is planning a kickoff breakfast for Wednesday morning, April 12, with the first report meeting the following Monday and the final report on Thursday, April 20. Similar organizations will be set up in all of the communities in Packerland. The Packers hope to utilize "hometown" talent to organize these committees and, through Earp, will coordinate their efforts with the Green Bay drive to make it one organized campaign throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.
PACKERS MAY SCHEDULE FIVE NON-LEAGUE GAMES IN '50
MAR 13 (Green Bay) - Gene Ronzani, the Packers head coach of 37 days, distributed about 37 items of miscellaneous news at his first press-radio conference here this morning since returning from Chicago. There were no sensational announcements - no new coaches, no player signing, etc. - but the former Chicago Bear let off quite a bit of hot stove material. For instance: The Packers may play as many as five non-league games next fall - or late next summer - and "we'd like to play the Chicago Cardinals in one of them." Negotiations are going on for a game with the Cards - now coached by Curly Lambeau, the ex-Packer mentor. One non-looper is already set - the Aug. 12 date with the Cleveland Browns in Toledo. Gene says that "it might be the first of the five non-league contests." Though no announcements have been made by the NFL office, the Packer coach said that the training season might start as early as July 17. Normally, the campaign starts Aug. 1. "But," he explained, "scheduling has been tough because of the fact that there are three more teams in the league and it looks as if the regular league season may be started earlier."...MEETINGS EVERY NIGHT: The conversation continued on the preseason training and the coach was asked about his team plans: "We'll have two workouts every day until the first league game and maybe more after that, depending on how the team shapes up. There'll be meetings every night throughout the entire season. Some will be short but we'll be here to study football and play it and we can't waste any time in our efforts to produce a winning team," he said. Ronzani said he didn't plan to have a "particularly large" group out for practice. "There are 28 holdovers on the list from 1949 and I'm spending plenty of time going over them now. I don't imagine that Larry Craig will return. Sixteen or 17 of the 30 college drafted players probably will decide on pro football and then there will be nine or 10 more boys in the pro draft coming up in June." Ronzani has answers to 15 of the 30 introductory letters sent out by the Packers to the newly-drafted players. "Most of them plan to compete in pro ball," the coach said, adding that "one thing about the new season, we don't have to worry with about other clubs tampering with your boys. When the old All-America was operating, you had to live with your draft choices to get' em to sign."...NOT ALARMED ON COACHES: As to the coaches, Ronzani said that "a staff could have been hired two weeks ago but we're still in the market for top-flight men." He reviewed the negotiations with Joe Stydahar, new head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, and Clark Shaughnessy, former Ram head coach. Gene said that there is still a possibility that Shaughnessy may come to Green Bay. Ronzani pointed out that "it is difficult to get assistant coaches to remain in Green Bay the year-round." Earlier, Gene had hoped to have his entire staff live here all year. "That is still the best setup but assistants spotted in different parts of the country could help us contact players, etc., too," he explained. The Packer coach said he wasn't particularly alarmed at not having his staff lined up. "There are still at least half of the clubs in the league which are not (completely) set on their assistants - Baltimore, the Cardinals, Washington, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh and Green Bay." The new coach said that "we'll definitely use the T-formation next fall." Asked about the man in motion, Gene added: "There'll be variations."...LITTLE GUY GETS BREAK: And speaking about the "T", Ronzani pointed out that the system gives "the little man a big break." He explained: "Can you imagine little guys like Earhart and Boone running in the single wing? The "T" gives the little guy a chance to break into the clear without having to power himself through the line first." Ronzani said he couldn't comment about the present Packer quarterbacks - Jug Girard and Stan Heath. "I've got to see the pictures and then watch them in action before making a decision. I know pretty well what Ray Mallouf can do." (Ray formerly played with the Cardinals and Giants). As to the quarterbacks in the college draft, "they still may be a year or two away from their peaks."
RONZANI WANTS POWER 'UP THE MIDDLE'; QB IS NO. 1 OPERATOR
MAR 14 (Green Bay) - Gene Ronzani wants power up the middle - like baseball. The new Packer head coach, who will apply the straight T-formation here next fall, calls the quarterback, center and fullback the "up the middle" of football. "Sure, we got to have those big tackles and guards, sure ends and fast halfbacks but give us strength up the middle and we'll cause trouble" is how he explains one phase of his plans for the 1950 Packers. Look at some of the powerhouses of 1949 for up-the-middle strength. The Philadelphia Eagles have quarterback Tommy Thompson, centers Chuck Bednarik and Alex Wojciechowicz and Joe Muha, fullback; the Los Angeles Rams have quarterback Bob Waterfield, center Fred Naumetz and fullback Dick Hoerner; and the Cleveland Browns have quarterback Otto Graham, center Lou Saban and fullback Marion Motley. Ronzani's alma mater, the always powerful Chicago Bears, had one weak spot up the middle - fullback - and missed the Western division title by a couple of hairs. The Bears had a quarterback and center, Johnny Lujack and Bulldog Turner (but there was no fullback the likes of Muha, Motley or Hoerner). Needless to say, the key gent in Ronzani's search is a quarterback - the balance of power in the T formation. "He's the No. 1 guy" is the way Gene puts it. The 1949 Packers finished with two quarterbacks - Jug Girard and Stan Heath. Both were rookies, though Jug was in his second season of pro ball (he played left half in 1948). "Both should be well versed in quarterbacking in the "T" because Snyder (Bob, former backfield coach) is a good coach," the Packer mentor said. He added that "I know what Mallouf (Ray) can do since he's been with the Cards and Giants for some time, and he may be able to help us." Mallouf was drafted together with collegians Tobin Rote of Rice and Arnold Galiffa of Army at a recent meeting in Philadelphia by Curly Lambeau, now coach of the Chicago Cardinals. Naturally, Ronzani isn't counting on Galiffa because Uncle Sam has a pretty good grip on him. He was drafted for future purposes, so to speak. Rote comes highly recommended and his dimensions (6-2 and 195) and highly conducive to proper action under the center. On a college basis, Rote was rated one of the best passers in the nation last fall. Ronzani likes to hear and read such stuff but the new coach is withholding comment until the "see-for-myself" period sets in some months hence. Gene isn't one to go overboard on any player and he'll say little about the 1949 Packer crop until "I get a look at the pictures and see 'em in action in practice". The new coach will tell you this: "Our quarterback must be a passer; not a thrower." He added: "The quarterback should be able to pass the ball at the receiver and not throw it in the general vicinity of the receiver." Like every T-formation coach, Ronzani feels that the success of the team depends to a great degree on the quarterback, which is the main reason he's particularly anxious now about his 1950 QB. "There are some pretty good country quarterbacks in the league. Look 'em over - Conerly of the Giants, Baugh at Washington, Lujack of the Bears, Christman of the Cardinals, Graham of the Browns, Albert of the Forty-Niners, Ratterman of the Bulldogs, Thompson of the Eagles, Waterfield of the Rams, etc." Nuff said, Gene!
VAGABOND JOHNNY BLOOD NEW HEAD GRID COACH AT ST. JOHN'S
MAR 14 (Collegeville, MN) - Coach Joe Banda of St. John's university will take a one-year's leave of absence from his post as head football mentor, it was announced here Saturday by Rt. Rev. Alcuin Deutsch, OSB, president of St. John's. Filling in as head coach in Benda's absence is John V. (Johnny Blood) McNally, Johnny freshman coach and former professional star player and coach. Benda is at home in Collegeville, recovering from a serious illness which hampered him during the past season and confined him to the hospital for several weeks this winter. His leave of absence extends to March 1, 1951. A 1928 graduate of Notre Dame, where he played end as one of the famed "Seven Mules" under Knute Rockne, Benda came to St. John's in the fall of 1930, after one year as head coach at Duluth Cathedral High school. He coached both football and basketball until 1937, when he left St. John's to return to return to Notre Dame as an assistant to Elmer Layden. Resuming his post at St. John’s in 1941, he left again in 1943 to accept a coaching post with the professional Cleveland Rams. He has been at St. John’s continuously since 1945. McNally attended St. John’s from 1920 to 1923, earning letters in every sport. He studied briefly at Notre Dame before entering his long, colorful career in pro football. Starting in the semipro ranks, McNally played with a former Minneapolis team called The East 26th Street Liberties, later moving to Ironwood, Mich., Duluth and Pottsville, Pa. From 1939 until 1936, he was a star halfback for the Green bay Packers of the NFL, leaving them to take up the head coaching reins of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He remained with the Steelers through the 1937, 1938 and 1939 seasons and then took a similar position with the Kenosha Cardinals of the American league, with whom he played his last professional game on Dec. 7, 1941. He was at one time the highest paid players in America, and he is fourth in scoring in the all-time professional records, with 37 touchdowns and a total of 224 points. During World War II, McNally was a cryptographer in the Army Air corps, and served 30 months in the China-Burma-India theater. He returned to St. John’s in the spring of 1949 to complete requirements for his degree, and was graduated last June at the age of 46. Last fall, he took over as freshmen grid coach at St. John’s and brought the frosh through four straight victories.
SLOGAN CONTEST FOR PACKER STOCK DRIVE
MAR 15 (Green Bay) - Calling everybody! The Green Bay Packers will conduct a slogan contest to promote the coming stock drive. It’s open to everybody in Packerland, which takes in all of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. The rules are simple. Write your slogan on a piece of paper and send it to Green Bay Packers, Inc., 349 S. Washington street, Green Bay, Wis. The slogan must be 10 words or less – the shorter the better. The slogan should be short and snappy because it will be used for radio spot announcements, newspaper advertising and posters. Men and women and boys and
girls are eligible – in short, everybody. As an incentive, the Packer corporation will give the writer of the winning slogan a season ticket to all four of the Packers’ NFL games at City stadium next fall. The publicity committee of the corporation’s stock campaign will judge the entries. Deadline for entries is midnight Saturday, March 25. All entries postmarked after that time will be discarded. Officials urged that all entries be mailed in. Do not telephone the Packer office with slogans!
HAPPY TO GET BACK, SAYS GENE
MAR 15 (Denmark, WI) - Gene Ronzani, new head coach of the Green Bay Packers, told the annual high school lettermen’s banquet here Tuesday night that “I’m happy to get back home.” The native of Iron Mountain, Mich., said that “Wisconsin and Upper Michigan are just like home to me.” Ronzani declared that the spirit toward the Packers in “our home territory is the greatest in the world.” Recalling his years with the Chicago Bears, the Packers’ greatest rival, Ronzani said that “as a Bear I was happy to see the Packers win the championship if the Bears couldn’t. Now the situation is somewhat reversed.” Ronzani paid tribute to George Halas, Bear coach, but “we want to develop the Packers to overshadow the Bears and Papa Halas.” Jug Earp, Packer publicity director, told of the Packer stock drive, which will open Apr. 12. The banquet was sponsored by the Denmark Community club. Ronzani and Earp had to leave here early to address a meeting of the Elmore school PTA in Green Bay later in the evening. They will speak at Two Rivers tonight.
PACKERS LEAN TO MINNESOTA FOR PRO GRID MATERIAL
MAR 16 (Green Bay) - Don’t surprise it would be a bad idea to admit the University of Minnesota to the NFL. Minnesota happens to be the No. 1 “farm” club for major league football and one of the Gophers’ closest friends down through the years has been the Green Bay Packers. Since the NFL started drafting fourteen years ago last month, something like 210 players have been drafted from Gopherville. The Packers snapped up nearly 30, including four at the recent player selection meeting in Philadelphia. In all, seven of the 13 members of the new NFL picked 13 Gophers for possible duty next fall. Three of the selections were first choices – center Clayton Tonnemaker by the Packers; tackle Leo Nomellini by the San Francisco Forty Niners; and end Harry Grant by the Philadelphia Eagles. In the last 10 or 15 years, it would seem unusual for the Packers to carry less than three or four ex-Gophers. Yet, the Packers finished 1949 with just one Minnesotan – tackle Dick Wildung, one of the top linemen in the league. Falling along the way last fall were tackle Urban Odson and guard Larry Olsonoski. With Wildung due back next fall, the Packers could go into action with five Gophers in the lineup. Besides Tonnemaker, the Bays drafted fullback Frank Kuzma, end Gordon Soltau and tackle-end Bob Mealey. Soltau was a fourth choice, Mealy 10th and Kuzma 16th…NOTRE DAME BEATEN OUT: Notre Dame, fast becoming a lucrative pro “farm”, was beaten out by Minnesota in the number of players chosen for pro duty. An even dozen Irish stars received the call compared to 13 from Minnesota. Notre Dame, because of the anti-pro influence of Knute Rockne carrying over in the early years of the draft, ranks well behind Minnesota in the total number of pro prospects since 1936. Since they grow ‘em big and strong, Minnesota linemen have captured the fancy of pro scouts. Of the 13 Gophers drafted this year, nine are “dogs”, including five tackles. And to change the subject briefly, Coach Bernie Bierman will have a bit of rebuilding to do next fall for the Big Ten race. Three of the pro clubs each grabbed two Gophers – the Chicago Bears, New York Giants and Detroit Lions. The Bears took back Billy Bye, 19th choice, and tackle Allan Markert, 30th. The Lions selected tackle Floyd Jaskowski, sixth, and back Ralph McAllister, eighth. The Giants also snared a tackle – Gene Fritz, 14th – and back Ken Beirsdorf, 25th. The other Gopher selected was guard John Lundin, Washington’s 29th choice…FIRST GOPHER-PACK DRAFTEE: All but one of the 13 Gophers measures over six feet tall. The “shorty” is 22-year-old Bye, who stands a mere 5-9, but packs 182 pounds. The three giants are Nomellini, 255 pounds, 6-2; Tonnemaker, 254. 6-4; Markert, 240, 6-3; and Fritz, 230, 6-2. The first Minnesota player ever drafted by the Packers is well known in the coaching field, though he never played pro ball. He is Charles (Bud) Wilkinson, successful head coach at the University of Oklahoma. Wilkinson, a back, was drafted in 1936. Here are the other Gophers drafted by Green Bay: 1937 – Andy Uram, back; 1938 – Larry Buhler, back, Dan Elmer, center, Charles Schultz, tackle, Francis Twedell, guard; 1939 – Hal Van Every, back; 1940 – Bill Kuusisto, guard, Bob Parfath, back, Hedge Pukeman, guard; 1941 – Gene Flick, center, Urban Odson, tackle, Bruce Smith, back; 1942 – Gene Bierhaus, end, Mike Welch, back, Dick Wildung, tackle; 1943 – Cliff Anderson, end; 1944 – Bob Kula, back; 1947 – Larry Olsonoski, guard; 1948 – Everette Fraunce, back; 1949 – Tonnemaker, Soltau, Mealey and Kuzma. Many other undrafted Gophers played for the Packers. Most famous was George Svendsen, the giant center, who came here before the draft. His brother, Bud, never was drafted but followed George here after the draft. Among the “undrafts” were Vic Spadaccini, Cletus Kilbourn, Larry Ohlgren, Bob Tanner and Bill Johnson…MANY BADGERS DRAFTED: Green Bay’s home state school, the University of Wisconsin, ranks second in the Packers’ draft book. A total of 16 Badgers were called up for duty, including Stan Heath, the Nevada quarterback. Heath is listed under Wisconsin because he attended there when his pro eligibility started. Here’s the Packers’ Wisconsin list: 1936 – Eddie Jankowski, back; 1938 – Roy Bellin, back, Vince Gavre, back, Lynn Hovland, guard; 1940 – George Paskvan, back; 1941 – Tommy Farris, back; 1942 – Marty Hoskins, back, George Makris, guard, Bob Ray, back, Dick Thornally, tackle, Lloyd Wasserbach, tackle; 1947 – Bob Rennebohm, end, Jug Girard, back, Heath; 1949 – Hal Otterbach, tackle, Gene Evans, back.
TWO RIVERS GIVEN PACKER STOCK PICTURE
MAR 16 (Two Rivers) - The Green Bay Packers kicked off here Wednesday night in a drive to sell non-profit sharing stock in the NFL club. Publicity Director Francis L. (Jug) Earp said the certificates, suitable for framing, can be bought for $25 a share. They are non-profit and non-assessable, he said. Earp added that the Packer corporation will be in charge of the stock at all times and will control transfer so that the stock cannot be pooled by any single group. The stock carries voting power. Head Coach Gene Ronzani told the Lions club gathering that the Packer club is giving Wisconsin more free advertising throughout the nation than any single corporation. He declared that all communities in the state are as much a part of the Packer setup as the city of Green Bay. A Two Rivers Packer stock committee was set up with Atty. Don Bero as chairman.
RALLY TO START PACKER STOCK DRIVE
MAR 17 (Green Bay) - A huge public rally of Packer fans in Green Bay the night of Tuesday, April 11, will kick off the Packers’ stock drive, it was announced today. The rally will be held at the Central Catholic High school auditorium, and it will be staged by the Packer Alumni club. Every fan in this area will be cordially invited to attend, with no strings attached, subject to the seating capacity of the auditorium. No stock will be sold at the rally, but the meeting will be designed instead to answering any fan’s question about the stock sale. It will also be the first opportunity the general public will have to see, hear and meet the new Packer head man, Gene Ronzani. He will be among a number of speakers who will make brief appearances on the stage during the program. Other members of the coaching staff, possibly some players, and representatives of civic groups in Green Bay will be on the program to tell their reaction to the reorganization plans of the Green Bay club, particularly the stock drive…BAND OFFERS SERVICE: Verne Lewellen has been named master of ceremonies for the event by the American Legion club. Lewellen, the Packers’ and the league’s all-time punter, is active in the alumni group. The Packer band, under Director Wilner Burke, has offered its services and will play and entertain during the rally. The next morning, the drive to sell some 9,500 new shares of Packer stock will get underway in Green Bay and throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Green Bay Chairman Max Murphy will hold a breakfast meeting with his some 400 workers at that time to launch the drive here.
RONZANI MARKING TIME ON SELECTION OF GRID AIDES
MAR 21 (Green Bay) - Packer Coach Gene Ronzani and several prospective coaching assistants are going through a "cooling off" period. That's how Ronzani answered the question, "When will the coaches be announced?" at a luncheon meeting of the Lions club Monday. Ronzani said, "There are two men in particular who I hope to get but I can't possibly reveal their names now because of their present positions." One coach's name - Ray Nolting - entered the question-answer period which followed Ronzani's talk. Nolting, former New York Bulldog backfield aide, was a teammate of Ronzani's during their playing days with the Chicago Bears. Gene said, "I talked with Ray at his home in Cincinnati on my way back from Philadelphia."...JOB "TERRIFIC ONE": The only other reference to coaches came when Ronzani spoke of some of his plans for 1950. He pointed out: "There must be a close relationship between the coaches and players. I'm sure the players will like and respect the coaching staff that I am lining up. All contract grievances will be forgotten when the Packers put on the cleated shoes." The new Packer mentor, flanked by Assistant Coach Charley Brock and Publicity Chief Jug Earp, said he realized that his job here is a "terrific one". He added: "I will make every effort to maintain the great reputation Packer teams have built up over the past years. I know, with God's help, a few good football players and a little luck, we'll better the record of the past two years. We may be outmanned next fall, but we certainly won't be outfought." Ronzani explained that "it's a tough job signing players - especially when several of them are from the same school. They get together in their demands. Several boys are already in line, but we can't announce them yet since they are competing in spring sports."...BRING TEAM BACK: Earp told of the Packers' stock drive, which will open April 12. The publicity director, who will be in charge of the campaign in the out-of-town areas, said that "any number of traveling salesmen have volunteered their assistance in selling stock in the travels throughout Packerland." Earp, all-time Packer center, said that "one of our big jobs is rebuild Packer spirit of old."
FIVE COACHES PICK 60 WORKERS FOR PACKERS' GIANT STOCK CAMPAIGN
MAR 22 (Green Bay) - Names of 69 workers who make up the first five teams for the Packer stock drive starting April 12 were announced today by Drive Chairman Max Murphy. They are the first of a group of about 400 who will make some 2,500 calls on business places and individuals in Greater Green Bay and during the local phase of the big campaign. Murphy said today that anyone who wants to work on the drive and who hasn't been contacted yet can sign up by calling his officer. "We're working as fast and as hard as we can in organizing this campaign," he said, "but it's a tremendous job and we may not contact everyone. If there are any volunteers, they certainly will be welcomed." Most of the teams are composed of 11 men and will be assigned titles corresponding to the years the Packers have been in professional football, starting with 1919. But one of the team coaches has gone out and signed up 24 players besides himself, and will probably head up two teams. He is Ben Rosenberg. The other coaches who have their teams organized as Russ Bogda, Emmett Platten, Al Rose and Gene Leicht. Rose's tam is composed of Packer alumni.
VERNE LEWELLEN NEW "CHIEF QUARTERBACK"
MAR 22 (Green Bay) - One of the greatest halfbacks in Packer history will be the next chief quarterback of the Green Bay Quarterback club. He is Verne Lewellen, who was one of the guiding lights in the organization in its baptismal year last fall. The announcement that Lewellen would replace Francis L. (Jug) Earp, who will be unable to return because of the press of his new duties as director of publicity for the Packers, as the club's chief was made today by Fee Klaus, president of the Green Bay Packer Alumni association, QB club sponsor. Lewellen, whose booming punts aided the Packers to three consecutive world championships in 1929-30-31, has been prominent in the activities of both the Alumni association and the QB club and also assisted in bringing them into existence. It is expected that by the time the 1950 NFL season arrives, Lewellen will be heading up an organization at least twice as strong, at least in numbers, as a year ago. This stems from the last Alumni meeting when it was announced that plans were underway to reorganize the club and increase its membership to approximately 1,500. Such a growth would mean, of course, that a larger meeting place be obtained. The membership last year was slightly over 900 but the average attendance at the meetings was roughly 700. The number of cards sold at the start of
1949 was based on the seating capacity of the Vocational school hall. At that time, Alumni members reported that "any number" of persons wanted to join but couldn't after the limit was exceeded. Lewellen has been appointed chairman of the committee to look into the possibility of securing a larger hall and as soon as arrangements are completed, a limit - dependent on the hall capacity - will be fixed and memberships will be taken.
PACKERS' NEED FOR WORKING CAPITAL CITED AT MEETING
MAR 23 (Green Bay) - How a $4,000 acorn planted back in 1935 has grown into a $600,000-a-year business was explained to a group of Green Bay businessmen at an organizational meeting for the Packer stock drive Wednesday evening at the Beaumont hotel. The discussion leaders were Frank J. Jonet, who was appointed court receiver for the Packer corporation in the really dark days of 1933, and who has been with the club ever since as its secretary-treasurer; and L.H. Joannes, who headed the drive to raise funds then and who is now doing the same job again. The meeting was one of a series to organize various sections of the stock selling organization prior to the campaign kickoff on April 12. About 120 attended. "When Judge Henry Graass walked into my office on Aug. 13, 1933, and told me he had appointed me receiver for the Packer corporation, he handed me $76.18 in cash and judgments and unpaid bills amounting to over $15,000," Jonet said...STRUGGLED THROUGH 1933: He related how he and a group of old-time Packer backers like Joannes, A.B. Turnbull, Dr. W.W. Kelly, Jerry Clifford and Fred Leicht got together and tried to figure out a way of keeping the club going. They struggled through the 1933 seasons, and by mid-1934 began to see their way out of the woods. But then rainy weather for the last three games of the '34 season again wiped out all the funds they had accumulated. In November of 1934, the court ordered Jonet either to pay up or close up. The fate of the Packers balanced on a straw for several weeks while the same group tried to figure out how they could stave off final dissolution. And then Joannes got up a committee, which went out and sold $12,000 worth of stock in a new corporation. They were able to settle the Packer indebtedness for about $8,000, leaving $4,000 with which to start the 1935 season, Jonet said. At this point, Joannes took over the story, and presented a large chart showing the major expenditures of the Packers in the 15 seasons since that time. The same chart, incidentally, will be used at subsequent meetings and at the big public rally on April 11 to answer the question, "Where did the money go?" He showed how the cost of operating a team rose in the war period up to 1945, and how they skyrocketed during the four years of rivalry between the National and All-America conference from 1946 to 1949...MONEY IN THE BANK: The figures showed that, during the 15-year period from 1935 to date, over five million dollars passed through the books of the corporation, and that the Packers today do an annual business of over $600,000. Commenting on the situation as of today, Jonet and Joannes said that the Packers are a going concern. All bills are paid and there is money in the bank. Their great need, however, is for working capital in the form of capital reserves with which to operate a business of this size. "Any businessman knows that you need a sound capital structure under a business of this size, and that $12,000 in capital stock just isn't enough. We want to broaden the base of stock ownership and we want to raise working capital." Joannes said that after attending a clinic for business managers in Philadelphia, and doing a lot of pencil work back here at home, used they could conservatively save $35,000 in the cost of next year's operations. "We're going to put this corporation on a basis like any other business, and we believe sincerely that with your help now we can keep the Packers in Green Bay for many years to come. Max Murphy, F.L. (Jug) Earp and Bernard Darling then explained to the group how the stock drive is being organized. Murphy head a committee of about 600 workers who will make some 3,000 contacts in Green Bay and De Pere. Darling heads the section which will call on employees of the larger industries and commercial establishments. Earp is organizing committees in as many cities and village of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan as he can reach. He told of the hundreds of letters that have come into the Packer office from people wanting to organize outlying committees...RONZANI, BROCK TALK: Coach Gene Ronzani and his assistant, Charley Brock, also made brief remarks, Ronzani promising the fans a team "they can be proud of" but not going on any championship limbs. And Mayor Dominic Olejniczak declared that he had asked for a spot on the team as a worker, "not as the Mayor but as a citizen of Green Bay who knows and appreciates the value of the Packers to the community." Packer President Emil R. Fischer, just back from Florida, and former Packer great Lavvie Dilweg were others who were presented. Servotte concluded the meeting by appealing to all present and not present to get behind the drive and make it a success. "It's just got to be a success, and it will," he declared.
PACKERS LOST SCOUT REPORTS IN ROCKWOOD LODGE BLAZE
MAR 25 (Green Bay) - Gene Ronzani, the Packers' new head coach, is really starting from scratch. All of the scout reports for "several" years were lost in the Rockwood lodge fire Jan. 24, Ronzani has discovered. The reports, prepared by Packer scouts each Sunday during the season, were filed in a desk in the coaches' room at the lodge. The building and contents were burned to the ground. Though he has seen the defenses and offenses of other NFL teams during his 17 years with the Chicago Bears, Ronzani has no written record of the other clubs' strategy. The Packer reports contained mostly offensive plays used by the various clubs. Each had considerable notations as to the different types of defense. In addition, reports, most of them prepared by Scout Wally Cruice, generally describe any unusual movements of key defensive or offensive players. Motion pictures of former Packer games are the only "real" records Ronzani has. The films are kept in the Packer office at 349 S. Washington street. Ronzani hopes to open a picture room which will contain files for the films as well as all future reports on other league clubs. The room will be used exclusively by the coaches in analyzing game films. Ronzani plans to spend many hours looking over Packer films of the last two years, with a special eye on the 28 veterans presently on the roster. Other than memories of the Packer players against the Bears, Ronzani is unfamiliar with squad. Since Ronzani plans to install his own version of the T formation, the offensive plays used by the Packers in previous years are obsolete...Jimmy Crowley, former Notre Dame and Packer back, Fordham head coach, commissioner of the All-America conference and Chicago Hornet head coach, was in Green Bay Thursday and Friday for the funeral of his cousin, Tom Heney, who dies Tuesday. Crowley, a native of Green Bay, now associated with Better Brands of Illinois, working out of Chicago, said he's "quite happy" to be out of football. He left for Chicago Friday afternoon...Coach Ronzani closes out a busy week of spreading the Packer gospel at a huge Sports Night program in Kenosha Sunday. He'll go into Chicago for a few days from there. Friday night, Ronzani officially opened the Heart of Wisconsin sports show at Wisconsin Rapids. The outdoor event is the second largest sports show in the state. Ronzani, Assistant Coach Charley Brock and Publicity Director Jug Earp were on the program. Including more than 2,000 persons last night, Ronzani has addressed more than 4,000 fans in the last 10 days. His brief tour included stops at Two Rivers and Appleton as well as talks before groups in Green Bay. Ronzani is attempting to answer every speaking request he possibly can. Due to the press of player and assistant coaching business, Ronzani may have to "beg off" on some of the talks. However, he said Friday that "we'll be happy to go to those places when time permits."
COLLINS' PLAN TO SHIFT HIS BULLDOGS TO BUFFALO REJECTED
MAR 27 (Buffalo) - Owner Ted Collins said he had tried unsuccessfully to transfer his New York Bulldogs' NFL franchise to Buffalo. "I tried to bring the Bulldogs here within the last week, but I was refused," said Collins. "The commissioner (Bert Bell) told me to forget about it, that he had polled five owners and my applications to move was rejected." "Does it make any sense to keep a team like Green Bay, where they are conducting a house-to-house canvass for funds to keep the team solvent, and yet turn down a city like Buffalo, or say no to Houston's Glenn McCarthy, who has $70,000,000?" he asked.
'BACK THE DRIVE WITH TWENTY-FIVE' - PACKER STOCK SLOGAN
MAR 28 (Green Bay) - "Back The Drive With Twenty Five!" That's the official slogan for the Packers' $200,000 stock drive, opening Wednesday, April 12. It was written by Donald D. Krawcazyk, 1034 Cherry street, and selected by the drive's slogan committee from more than 300 entries in a special contest open to fans throughout Packerland. Entries closed at midnight last Saturday night. Krawczyk's slogan will be used in newspaper and radio publicity and advertising throughout the two-week campaign. Krawczyk, former East High football player, and a veteran of World War II, entered 15 slogans in the contest. The winning one was No. 12 on his typewritten list. Krawczyk will receive a season ticket for the Packers' four home league games as a prize for writing the winning slogan. The presentation will be made at the public stock drive rally April 11. His slogan was just what the committee had been looking for. "It is short and tells the Packer story, including the price of each share of stock," members of the committee agreed. Krawczyk, 27, has been a Packer fan "as long as I can remember." His home is only three blocks from City stadium "and I couldn't miss being that close," he commented. He can't remember missing a Packer home game. Krawwczyk, married and father of a three and a half year old son, works in the finishing room at Northern Paper Mills. He served three years in the Army, putting in more than a year in Germany and France. He was attached to the 55th Heavy Pontoon Battalion. At East High, Krawczyk played tackled on the 1938 and 1939 Red Devil teams under Coach Tom Hearden. He graduated in 1940.
GOPHER TACKLE, FULLBACK SIGN PACKER PACTS
MAR 29 (Green Bay) - Gene Ronzani's first stroke of player business as head coach of the Green Bay Packers today brought forth the following Minnesota specimens for 1950 professional football inspection: (1) Frank Kuzma, an All-America blocking back who carries the title of fullback, and (2) Robert W. (Buster) Mealey, the most underrated tackle in the Big Nine conference. Signing of the 425 pounds of football flesh gives Ronzani a .500 batting average in his search for the signatures of the four Minnesotans selected by the Bays in the draft last January. Still outstanding are center Clayton Tonnemaker, No. 1 draft choice, and end Gordon Soltau, No. 3. Gopherland also is the home of a noted Packer veteran, tackle Dick Wildung, but Richard Knute just isn't an early signer and probably won't get around to ink-slinging until a dull period in his insurance brokerage business...SEVEN IN SPRING SPORTS: Signing of Kuzma and Mealey gives Ronzani a double start on the current draft list which numbers 29 players. Now in Chicago, Ronzani is expected to produce more contracts in the near future. It can be added, however, that seven of the draft choices are participating in spring sports and must put off signing to preserve their amateur standing. The spring sportsters are Rice quarterback Tobin Rote, track; Wisconsin halfback Gene Evans, baseball; Dayton back Don Delph, track; Virginia Carlton Elliott, baseball; Rutgers back Herman Herring, baseball; Lawrence end Claude Radtke, track; South Carolina end Roger Wilson,
baseball and track. Kuzma and Mealey are the first of 13 Minnesota players drafted by National league clubs to sign pro grid contracts. All of the remaining 11 players are expected to go into pro ball...FIRST OF THREE TACKLES: Mealey was the Packers' 10th draft choice and the first of three tackles selected. He stands six feet, three inches tall and weighs 230 pounds. Possessing pretty good speed for a big guy, Mealey often plays end on defense. Minnesota Coach Bernie Bierman recommended Tonnemaker as the Gophers' No. 1 prospect for pro ball and ranked Mealey No. 2. Bierman calls Mealey the most underrated tackle in the Big Nine and the unsung workhorse of the powerful Minnesota line. He made all-Big Nine in 1947. Mealey, who will be 24 years of age May 14, lives in Minneapolis...KUZMA 16TH IN DRAFT: Kuzma was 16th in the Packers' draft list. He stands an even six feet tall and weighs 200 pounds. Purdue picked him on its all-opponent team and Big Nine coaches gave him honorable mention. He received a berth on the All-America blocking team, composed of players selected for their blocking and tackling ability. Considered a powerful runner, Kuzma runs the 100-yard dash in 11.2 seconds. He spent most of his time in the Minnesota backfield blocking for the halfbacks. A native of Ely, Minn., Kuzma has three brothers and five sisters. His mother and father were born in Yugoslavia. Kuzma will be 22 next April 11.
BALTIMORE EXPLAINS 'SWING POSITIONS' TO FANS
MAR 30 (Green Bay) - Officials of the Baltimore Colts Football Club, Inc., are making every effort to explain to Maryland fans the Colts’ playing position in the NFL. The reason, of course, is that the Colts will be the first “swing" team in the history of professional football. The drawing above was prepared by the Colts for distribution to their fans and is reproduced above to show Green Bay Packer fans the makeup of the two conferences and the standard schedule procedure to be used next fall. To fill out a 12-game program for each club, the following explanations are presented: (1) Each team, except Baltimore, will play a home-and-home series (two games) with each other team in its own conference for 10 games; (2) Each team, except Baltimore, will play one game with a traditional rival in the opposite conference; (3) Each team in the league will play the “swing” team – Grand total, 12 games for each team; (4) Baltimore will play each team in the league once for the Colts’ 12 games; (5) Baltimore will be in the National conference for the purpose of computing standings. Thus, the Packers will play home-and-home sets with the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, New York Bulldogs and San Francisco Forty Niners; one game with a traditional foe in the opposite loop – probably Washington; and one game with the Colts. The official schedule is expected out of NFL headquarters in Philadelphia soon.
STUMPF SAYS GIRARD BUSY ON FIELD; RUMOR OF INJURY FALSE
MAR 31 (Green Bay) – A report that Earl (Jug) Girard, Green Bay Packer quarterback and former Green Bay Bluejay baseball player, was seriously injured in a motor accident is false, Eddie Stumpf, business director of farm clubs for the Cleveland Indians, said today at Daytona Beach, Fla. Girard, in training with the Dayton club of the Central association at Daytona Beach, was “with me at breakfast today and he was in camp attending instructional movies last night,” Stumpf said, adding that Girard was on the field later this morning and this afternoon. Girard, who hit .367 with the Bluejays last summer, is playing the outfield for Dayton.
PACKER ANSWERS NO. 1: MONEY RAISED IN DRIVE TO PROVIDE CAPITAL FOR FUTURE
APR 3 (Green Bay) - The money raised by the Packer football corporation in the stock drive will be banked to provide the company with working capital for the future. It isn’t needed to pay old debts. The Packer corporation feels that is important. They want the people to
know that those who buy stock are guaranteeing the future of the Packers in Green Bay, not putting money into an old cause. It is impossible to give exact figures at any particular time as to how much the Packers are worth. This varies from day to day. But at the present time the financial picture can be stated simply as this: All bills are paid. The Packers are a going concern. The corporation has certain fixed assets, like the franchise or like equipment, but these are fixed assets and cannot be turned into cash. The corporation needs cash to expand its operations in the new era of professional football and to guarantee its continuance over a period of years…REVIEW PAST HISTORY: Perhaps the best way to describe the Packers’ need for money is by reviewing past history. The last time the corporation reorganized was back in 1933. That was in the depths of the depression. The corporation faced a crisis when a spectator won a large court settlement against the company after an accident in the bleachers at a game. And the firm the Packers carried their insurance with for such occasions went into bankruptcy. The Packers went to the people of Green Bay and raised $12,000 through the sale of stock. Before that time, stock had been issued with blocks of season tickets and no one even knew who most of the stockholders were. The old stock was wiped off the books and new stock issued to those who put up the $12,000. There are 468 shares, owned by 111 stockholders, which are outstanding today. With this capital stock the Packers have grown into one of the biggest businesses in Northeastern Wisconsin. It is a corporation which does a gross business of over $600,000 a year. It owns a franchise in the NFL. It owns thousands of dollars worth of equipment. Over five million dollars worth of business has gone through the books in the last 15 years. The big need of the corporation now is a much broader corporate base to support its activities. And that is the reason for the stock drive…EXPECT CUT IN COSTS: There is every indication that professional football will be on a much more efficient basis, now that the “war” between the two leagues is over. All operating expenses will be on a much saner level. The Packers saw the financial reserves they had built up over the years dwindle to nothing in the four years of the pro war. But through the great help of the fans in raising some $35,000 (after taxes) in the Thanksgiving Day booster game last fall, through a series of cuts in expenses the latter part of last season, and through the liquidation of the Rockwood lodge property, the Packers emerged from the “war” clear of debt and with their colors still flying. Now it is a question of financing a bigger organization with which to enter the post-war era. The fans who buy stock in this drive will be guaranteeing the future of the Packers for years to come. This last fall and now is the first time the Packers have had to go to the people for financial help since 1933, and they expect it to be the last time.
LAMBEAU WOULD PLAY CARD-PACK GAME HERE
APR 3 (Green Bay) – E.L. (Curly) Lambeau, the new head coach of the Chicago Cardinals, left Green Bay today after coming here Saturday to attend a birthday party for brother Ollie, which Curly termed a “family gathering”. Lambeau, who returned to the midwest only recently after contacting prospective Cardinal players on a tour of the east and far west, had little comment on the professional football situation in general, but said he “would like to play the Packers here in Green Bay,” and added, “I’ve got to get into that stadium again.” (Since the Packers and Cardinals were placed in separate conferences of the NFL at the Philadelphia meeting in January, the teams will not meet during the regular season and officials of both clubs have indicated they would like to arrange a non-league meeting in August or early September.)
PACKER ANSWER NO. 2: STOCK PURCHASER GETS THREE THINGS FOR HIS MONEY
APR 4 (Green Bay) - Anyone investing money in Packer stock in the forthcoming drive will get three things for his money: A voice in corporation affairs; part ownership in this great community enterprise; and that satisfaction that comes from taking part in the effort to guarantee the Packers will never leave Green Bay. In addition to that, he’ll get a decorative stock certificate he can frame for hanging in his office or place of business or in his favorite corner at home. There are some restrictions on his ownership of the corporation which are inherent in any such community enterprise. After all, the purpose of the Packer organization has always been to bring the best in football entertainment to the people of this area; and not to make money for any individuals. The founders of the Packers felt that such an idea could succeed only as a community, non-profit enterprise. That has been the secret of their success over the years, the fact that they were owned and operated mainly by the fans themselves. That was their great reserve of strength in times of need like this. No large group of fans are going to go all out in their support of an institution from which only a few are profiting. That is why Packer stock is non-profit stock. The stock sale also was carefully set up a way that control of the corporation will always remain in the hands of the real Packer fans. No one person or individual can own more than 200 of the 10,000 shares, insuring that no individual or small group of individuals can control the voting at stockholders’ meetings. A committee consisting of the corporation officers is also charged with scrutinizing each sale of stock to make certain the interests of the corporation are protected. Each share purchased will entitle the owner to one vote at stockholders’ meetings. It will make him eligible for election to the board of directors, to the executive committee, even to the presidency of the corporation. But no owner will ever reap any financial reward from his stock. No dividends can ever be paid on it. And in fact, if the corporation was ever liquidated – a possibility which no officers of the present corporation have ever contemplated – any assets which remained would go to the Sullivan-Wallen post of the American Legion for the specific purpose of a community soldiers’ memorial. The Green Bay Legion post has been in the Packer picture from the beginning. For a number of years, fans benefitted greatly from this, since they did not have to pay admission tax on their tickets. Later, the tax laws were changed, and the Packers were no longer exempt from this tax. But the main reason the Legion was in the picture is this: In setting up any non-profit corporation, you have to designate to whom the funds would go if there ever was a profit or a liquidation. The Legion was selected because of the great help its members had always given the Packers, such as serving for nothing at games as ushers and gate tenders, etc. In years in which the Packers have made money, the Legion has received a share of the profits. Other profits went into capital reserves to meet losses in bad years. But the Legion has a vested interest in the assets of the present Packer corporation. The present stockholders, who kept the Packer organization going back in 1933, when it was in receivership, also have an interest in those assets, mostly sentimental. In decided to sell new stock, the Packer organization felt it could not throw out the interests of its old friends, the Legion and its present stockholders. That is why the new stock that has been issued is identical, with the stock sold back in 1933.
HOTELS BUZZ WITH MEETINGS AS PACKER STOCK DRIVE APPROACHES
APR 4 (Green Bay) - This is the last week for organization before the big Packer stock drive in Greater Green Bay, and meetings noons and evenings are keeping Green Bay’s hotels busy. The drive will kickoff next Wednesday morning, April 12. It will be one of the most intense public solicitation efforts in the history of the city. Max Baier’s committee from the North side met Monday night to pick out their cards. That group will hold their own kickoff meeting next Monday night and plans to make about 500 calls in their area. Another group of workers also met last night with Stock Chairman L.H. Joannes and selected some 115 cards among the larger employers of the city. Darrell Lemond and Rhode Stathas are in charge of a committee which will contact all the taverns in Brown county. This group will hold its final organizational meeting Thursday noon. And another special group has been set up among the truckers and warehousemen in the city, headed by Lyle Sturgeon and Fee Klaus, both Packer alumni. They are meeting Wednesday noon…RALLY AT AUDITORIUM: The publicity and promotion committee met Monday noon under John Torinus as chairman and discussed final plans for the big public rally next Tuesday night with Chief Quarterback Verne Lewellen of the Alumni club. The rally will be held at the Central Catholic High school auditorium, starting at 8 p.m. Wilner Burke and his Packer back will lead off the program with a half-hour pep show, and then there will be a parade of Packer personalities to tell the public just what’s what about the stock drive. Speakers will include Mayor Dominic Olejniczak, Packer Coach Gene Ronzani and his assistant, Charley Brock, halfback Tony Canadeo and Packer all-time great Don Hutson, President Emil Fischer, Drive Chairman Max Murphy and the chairman of the whole stock sale, L.H. Joannes. Joannes will present a chart depicting the financial operations of the Packers for the last 15 years and will outline the history of the corporation in that period. The whole rally will end up in a question-and-answer period when fans will be invited to ask any questions still in their minds. The battery of speakers will serve as a panel of experts to give the answers. Final arrangements were also made by the publicity committee for a large scoreboard for the drive to be erected on the courthouse lawn next Monday. It will be in the shape of a football field, with a halfback moving up the field to depict the progress of the drive. The Wisconsin Public Service corporation is arranging to provide floodlights.
SIDELINE ANTICS OF CURLY MAY BE ATTRACTION AT CITY STADIUM
APR 4 (Green Bay) - The sideline antics of one E.L. (Curly) Lambeau – sometimes worth the price of admission – may be presented at City stadium next fall. The setting would be slightly altered, since Lambeau would be on the other side of the fence – the field, that is. The former head coach of the Packers and presently doing same for the Chicago Cardinals said while visiting here over the weekend that “we’d like to play the Packers next fall”. Asked where he thought the non-league game should be played, Lambeau answered: “In City stadium, of course; that’s the natural place and besides I’d like to get back there again.” Since the Packers and Cardinals play in opposite conferences, the two clubs won’t meet on a league basis next fall. Seeing Lambeau on the visitor’s side would be an odd sight, indeed, since he’s never cavorted directly in front of the north stands. By the same token, it will be unusual, indeed, to see a newcomer – this time, Gene Ronzani, the Packers’ head coach – on the south side. Anyhow, Lambeau said: “Any game announcement would have to come from the Packer management”. Ronzani recently revealed that he’d be “very much interested” in playing the Cardinals. Asked about Pat Harder, the Cardinal fullback, Lambeau said “the operation on his knee will make him a new man; he was doing knee bends eight days after surgery”. It’s interesting to recall Curly wanted to get Harder in a trade last fall for the Packers. The Cardinal said no dice. The Cardinals, incidentally, will train again at Wayland academy in Beaver Dam. “It’s only 85 miles from Green Bay,” Lambeau laughed. The conversation got around to the schedule and Lambeau drooled that the Cardinals will play three tough league games in Comiskey park – the Bears, Eagles and Browns. We reminded him that that opposition sounds plenty tough. Said Curly: “So what, tough games mean big crowds; big crowds mean big money with which to buy good players; and good players bring championships.” Fortunately, it can be added, the NFL has a little item known as the draft in which teams without ready pocket cash can get a chance at the “good” players. Big money “talked” during the recent war, but not now as far as players are concerned. While Lambeau moved out of Green Bay, the new Packer mentor, Ronzani, continued his tour of eastern schools in search of player signatures. Among the eastern athletes drafted by Green Bay are back Jack Cloud of William and Mary; end Carlton Elliott of Virginia; quarterback Arnold Galiffa of Army; guard George Mattey of Ohio State; back Don Delph of Dayton; back Herman Hering of Rutgers; and center Chuck Beatty of Penn State. En route, Ronzani will probably stop at Notre Dame to confer with Larry Coutre, the quick-opening back. Ronzani may also swing into the south and Texas for chats with quarterback Tobin Rote of Rice; Leon Manley, guard from Oklahoma; end Roger Wilson of South Carolina; Gene Lorendo, end from Georgia; center Gene Huebner of Baylor; tackle Earl (Strawberry) Rowan of Hardin-Simmons; end Ben Zaranka of Kentucky; and Ray Mallouf, the veteran quarterback who lives in Texas. Thus far, two new Packers have been announced – fullback Frank Kuzma and tackle Robert Mealey, both of Minnesota. Seven of the draft choices are participating in spring sports and can’t be touched. Ronzani’s business out east also may include a conference or two with prospective Packer assistant coaches.
PACKER ANSWER NO. 3: NEW BLOOD ON BOARD TO RESULT FROM STOCK CAMPAIGN
APR 5 (Green Bay) - An infusion of new blood among the personages on the board of directors and executive committee of the Green Bay Packers will be one of the direct results of the Packer stock sale. The membership of the present board and committee reflects the present limited stock ownership of 468 shares. Naturally, with so many stockholders coming into the fold, the new board which will be elected at the annual stockholders’ meeting in June will reflect the new list of stockholders. There are 25 members of the board of directors. At the present time, they represent the principal businesses in Green Bay which have been long-time Packer supporters, plus individuals who have been active in the corporation since it was formed. There have naturally been changes in individuals over the years, but, as a class, they continued to represent these two main elements. It is probable that several members of the new board will represent stockholders outside of Green Bay, since there has been such wide interest in the stock sale in other communities in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan…ELECTED BY DIRECTORS: The Packer executive committee is a committee of 12 elected by the board of directors from its own membership, and is designed as a smaller, more compact group which can assemble on shorter notice to handle business matters as they arise. It is a policy making body, of which the club’s officers are members. Its policies are put into effect by the club’s officers and employees. Officers of the corporation are elected by the directors. They include a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer. It is expected that Coach Gene Ronzani will be elected a vice-president so that as an officer of the corporation he will be able to sit in at league meetings. The executive committee some time ago broke down into four sub-committees to supervise various activities of the club: stadium and grounds, finance, contracts and publicity, and representation in the league. These sub-committees, too, are policy-making bodies, subject to the confirmation of the entire committee. Directors and officers receive no salary or other compensation except for the secretary-treasurer, who receives a nominal fee because of the many extra hours he must devote to that job. The new coach, Ronzani, was hired by the executive committee. It is the committee’s job to provide him with the funds with which to operate. They may outline in general the limitations on contracts he may sign with players, such as the overall payroll, but Ronzani has a free hand in the selection, training and disciplining of those players. Ronzani also was given a free hand in his choice of assistant coaches…WORK OVERLAPS AT TIMES: Business details of running the Packers are handled by President Emil R. Fischer and Secretary-Treasurer Frank J. Jonet. F.L. (Jug) Earp is in charge of publicity and promotion and is a full-time employee of the corporation. Carl Mraz handles ticket sales, assisted by another full-time employee, Earl Falk. There is a full-time stenographer in the business office. Naturally, all of their work overlaps at times, but there is close coordination between all of them. The ball players sign contacts with the corporation, but through Coach Ronzani as its agent. These contracts are standard ones for the entire NFL. Trainers and equipment make up the balance of the employees of the corporation. Of course, there are also a number of part-time workers during the season, such as additional ticket sellers and the staff to handle the crowds at games. This then is the Packer family. Each has a specific job to do in the organization. Some work at it for fun or as a civic duty, others as a full-time employment, but all are dedicated to putting the Packers on top of the heap on the gridiron.
PUBLIC RALLY TO "KICK OFF" $200,000 PACKER STOCK DRIVE
APR 5 (Green Bay) - The big kickoff in the Packers’ $200,000 stock drive is scheduled for next Tuesday night in the Central Catholic High school auditorium. And it won’t cost you a dime! The big KO has been announced as a public rally for the purpose of generating steam for the Packers’ stock campaign, which will open on all fronts the next day – Wednesday April 12. The rally is open to the public – men, women, boys, girls and the little ones, if you wish. A football program lasting between an hour and a half and two hours is being arranged. Presiding at the meeting as toastmaster will be Chief Quarterback Verne Lewellen of the Packer Alumni club. If you’re on the youngish side, it can be reminded that Lewellen ranks as the Packers’ all-time punter and one of the all-time greats in the league. The rally will open at 8 o’clock. To provide the proper atmosphere, the Packer Lumberjack band, directed by Wilner Burke, will put on a half-hour show. After the musical program, Lewellen will call on a number of speakers who will give you the complete stock picture as well as some dope on the 1950 team from the man who knows best – Head Coach Gene Ronzani…CHART TO BE SHOWN: Joining with Ronzani will be Assistant Coach Charley Brock, halfback Tony Canadeo, who will give the players’ standpoint, and Don Hutson, the immortal pass receiver. Other speakers will include Mayor Dominic Olejniczak, President Emil R. Fischer, Drive Chairman Max Murphy and the chairman of the entire stock sale, L.H. Joannes. Joannes will present a chart showing the financial operations of the Packers for the last 15 years and will outline the history of the corporation in that period. As a climax of the program, fans will be invited to get everything off their chests in a special question-and-answer period. Fans will be invited to ask any question still on their minds and the battery of speakers will serve as a panel of experts to give the answers…Drive Chairman Max Murphy can still use more workers on the Packer stock drive next week. Since he and his committee had been unable to contact everyone, volunteers will be more than welcome. Anyone interested can call the Packer ticket office, Adams 6180, or Murphy’s office, Howard 1080…STOCK STUFF: Fans can watch the progress of the drive on the courthouse lawn starting next Wednesday. A large scoreboard, in the shape of a football field, with a halfback moving up and down the field to depict the progress of the drive, will be installed there Monday. The Public Service is providing floodlights…Jug Earp, the Packer publicity chief, is busy getting stock committees together in nearby communities. He was at Shawano, Clintonville and Seymour in the space of six hours Monday night. Scores of groups throughout the city are meeting almost every day this week to get ready for the big drive.
PACKER ANSWER NO. 4: FOUR LEAGUE GAMES IN GREEN BAY 1950 EXPERIMENT
APR 6 (Green Bay) - Season tickets will be sold this year for four league games in Green Bay and two league games in Milwaukee. Shifting of one league game to Green Bay is an experimental move in answer to a demand from the fans for more games in Green Bay. It is doubtful if the Packers will ever play all of their games in Green Bay. The idea of playing some of the home games in Milwaukee started back in 1933. Two or three games in Green Bay were drawing big gates, but the others were lagging. The idea of greater seating capacity at Milwaukee and of reaching a great number of fans in southern Wisconsin was an appealing one. The Packer executives know that they are at least somewhat to blame for poor crowds in Milwaukee last year. The Packers played poor ball there the last two years, and, after all, the corporation is in the business of selling football entertainment. The corporation believes it needs the support of all of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, including Milwaukee, to stay in the league, and it believes Milwaukee fans will support the Packers there if the Packers do their part in putting on some worthwhile shows. While season tickets for 1950 Packer league games have been on sale since the first of the year, an intensive drive to sell out City stadium and State Fair park will be launched as soon as the Packer stock sale is out of the way. Season ticket sales, of course, are the financial backbone of any football club's current operations, and the Packers have always done well at selling season tickets in comparison with other clubs in the league. In 1947, they practically sold out the park, selling 20,000 season tickets for three games. The financially strong clubs in the league have traditionally been those which have a heavy season ticket sale like the Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins and Packers. No reduction in prices is offered for buying season tickets in advance. This is generally the same throughout the league. But the buyer has a preference on seats and the definite knowledge that he will be able to get into the gate for games which always sell out like the Bear game in Green Bay. He can also get the same seats the next year if he acts promptly. Carl Mraz is in charge of ticket selling under the supervision of Secretary-Treasurer Frank J. Jonet. Earl Falk is in full-time charge of the Packer ticket office in their new quarters at 349 S. Washington street. The Packers also have a downtown ticket offices in Milwaukee. The office here is open five days a week and until noon on Saturday this time of year. Anyone wishing to order season tickets can do so at any time and pay whatever he likes down. Tickets for individual Packer games next fall will not be sold until two weeks before the opening game. Prices are $2.40, $3.60 and $4.80 for single games, and $9.60, $14.40 and $19.20 for season tickets to the four games here.
PACKERS, CARDS HERE AUG. 16
APR 6 (Green Bay) - Curly Lambeau's Chicago Cardinals and Gene Ronzani's Green Bay Packers will meet in a non-league football game at City stadium in Green Bay the night of Aug. 16, it was announced today by Packer President Emil R. Fischer. The game everyone has been talking about since Lambeau moved from the head coaching job with the Packers to the Cardinals last February is expected to fill City stadium. Reduced prices over those for regular league games will prevail, with the seats being priced at one, two and three dollars, plus tax. The Wednesday night encounter will be the second on the Packers' non-league schedule, which opens with the Cleveland Browns at Toledo Saturday Aug. 12...ONLY MEETING THIS YEAR: It will be the only meeting between the Packers and Cardinals in the 1950 season since the two clubs were put in opposite conferences in the new merged NFL. The game is a "natural" all the way through. It will be the first opportunity fans in the Green Bay area will have to see the first edition of Ronzani's Packers. It will see Lambeau pacing the north side bench after 31 years on the Packers' side of the field, and it will be the first test for the powerful Cardinal team with Lambeau at the helm. "We have been working on arrangements for this game for some time," Fischer said, "and from the beginning we wanted it for Green Bay as a present to our loyal Packer fans. We think it will be the beginning of a great football bill of fare ever offered fans in this area, and we believe we will pack the stadium."
NO. 18 ON PACKERS' DRAFT LIST, QB GALIFFA NO. 1 ON 'NEED' ROLE
APR 6 (Green Bay) - Today's opus might come under the heading of wishful thinking. It's about Arnold (Pope) Galiffa, the All-America quarterback from Army, who is No. 18 on the Packers' draft list but probably No. 1 in the need department. Galiffa is a talented youngster and it seems that the pro grid experts think just as much of him as the sportswriters who named him on just about every A-A eleven last winter. Which, of course, is quite a tribute to the scribes. Anyhow, there's a "catch" attached to Galiffa - namely, Uncle Sam. Arnold, who finished the football part of his Army career last fall, is expected to graduate in all the usual pomp and ceremony at West Point next June. If he graduates, Lieutenant Galiffa will take to an Army post somewhere for about three years - a la Glenn Davis. After such duty, he will be eligible to join the civilian ranks and, if he so desires, try out for the Packers. Galiffa, now 22 years of age, can't get out now unless he violates the West Point marriage-before-graduation rule. To put the record straight, it can be added that the Packers are not (repeat not) looking into Arnold's personal life. Actually, in the interests of our country's Army, Coach Gene Ronzani and Company are merely watching, waiting and hopeful. Galiffa was drafted last January for what the departed Curly Lambeau called "future possibilities". Which reminds of an elevator ride in the Philadelphia hotel where the drafting was held. Lambeau and Coach Paul Brown were among the occupants and Curly remarked to Paul that "we just drafted Galiffa". Brown smiled: "Yea, but you'll need a mint to get him." Unfortunately, the elevator lady opened the door before more could be said, but we often wondered whether Brown meant that (1) the Packers would have to liquidate the US Mint for Galiffa's services or (2) Galiffa would listen to the jingle of coins - lots of 'em. Anyway, Mr. Brown, the war (pro grid) is over. In fact, both wars are over. Now that we're all drooling about Galiffa, let's see what Collier's had to say about him in naming him on their All-America. Here are two sentences: "Galiffa was the outstanding ball handler, blocker and passer among the nation's T-formation quarterbacks. Offensively, Galiffa was fast enough to lead the blocking on sweeps when Army varied its attack" with split-T sequences, and big enough (190 pounds) to known down the ends and linebackers." Arnold stands six feet, two inches tall and hails from Donora, Pa. He won letters in baseball and basketball besides football, quarterbacking Army through three unbeaten seasons. Two other quarterbacks were drafted by the Packers - one a rookie and the other a grizzled veteran. The rook is Tobin Rote of Rice, No. 2 in the draft list, and the experienced Ray Mallouf, No. 30. Rote, of course, already has consented to play pro ball by virtue of singing a Baltimore Colt contract before the two loops merged. The Packers now possess said papers. Mallouf, who led the Cardinals to the 1948 Western division championship, is anxious to play another year or two. A hardy athlete who never gains or loses weight, Mallouf figures he never played much last season with the NY Giants because of the talented youngster, Charley Conerly. Given a chance to wheel consistently, Mallouf may regain his former pro form here.
PACKER ANSWER NO. 5: STOCK DRIVE GIVES GREEN BAY NEW STATURE IN LEAGUE
APR 7 (Green Bay) - Green Bay's position in major league football - already solid - will gain a new stature in the Packers' stock drive. The campaign for $200,000 in non-profit stock will serve as a weight-gaining transfusion, that will give the Packers added prestige in their perpetual quest for recognition among the population giants of the United States. Traditionally, the Packers are all set. They are known throughout sportsdom as "the sports wonder of the world." They have won six world's championships and rank second to only one team - the Chicago Bears, who captured seven. The Packers are one of the three teams which have been members of the NFL since it was started in 1921. The other two are the Bears and Cardinals..CAN'T BE TRANSFERRED: This franchise can never be transferred out of Green Bay. The Packer stockholders themselves would have to approve such a move. Also any such move would require the unanimous approval of all clubs in the league. The league constitution says that "these franchises shall remain the property of the members to whom they were issued forever". The only way they can be transferred is at the application of the club owning the franchise. In the case of the Packers, a majority of the stockholders would have to approve any such move. So for all practical purposes, there is absolutely no truth to the remark that the "franchise could be moved out of Green Bay". On the field, the Packers experienced just two "bad" seasons - 1948 and 1949. Those two years, plus the money-player war with the now-defunct All-America conference, forced the Packers to take up a defensive position. Events of the past three months, however, have put the Packers on the offensive again and the stock campaign will serve as the climax of the club's surge upward - the big push for a financial touchdown. The merger of the NFL and the All-America conference showed Green Bay's real status in professional football. The first announcement was made last December and the new 13-club organization was welded in Philadelphia last January...BELL IS OUTSPOKEN: At the historic conference, Commissioner Bert Bell, powerful czar of professional football, reiterated his statement of several years ago: "There will always be a Green Bay in professional football". During the course of the parley, there was considerable discussion - in the meeting rooms - about the alignment of the two conferences, American and National. One proposal would have placed the Bears and Packers, the pro game's greatest rivals, in opposite divisions, which would have meant that the belligerents would play only one league game each season. Again, Bell went to bat and the result, of course, was that the Bears and Packers will play in the same loop, thus assuring a two-game series. In fact, Bell went on to record in the presence of 50 writers, representing every section of the country, when one of them mentioned placing the Bears and Packers in the same conference. In his own inimitable style, Bell cracked: "Don't be silly, we can't go breaking up a 30-year rivalry."
400 WORKERS SET FOR PACKER STOCK DRIVE; RALLY TUESDAY
APR 8 (Green Bay) - The roster of workers for the Packer stock drive starting next Wednesday in the Greater Green Bay area was completed by Max Murphy today. There are a total of 26 teams comprising about 275 workers. There are a number of special groups, in addition to the teams, in the drive which brings the total force to around 400. These include an industrial group, a transportation group, an organization of salesmen working out of Green Bay, and a special women's team. The work of organizing this force into a hard-hitting sale teams is going on this weekend. Workers packets containing informational material, stock subscription blanks and about five cards apiece are now being made up...KICKOFF BREAKFAST SET: These will be distributed at the kickoff breakfast at the Beaumont hotel next Wednesday morning. Workers will be asked to make their calls immediately, that day if possible. They will turn in completed subscription blanks to the Packer office. These subscription blanks call for payment for the stock within 15 days. And as soon as the payment is received, the Packer office will send out the stock certificates. The drive will receive its public baptism Tuesday night in the big Pep Rally at the Central Catholic High school auditorium. At that time Packer officials will attempt to answer any questions in the fans' minds about the stock drive...SCOREBOARD ON LAWN: Monday, a big scoreboard for the drive will go up on the courthouse lawn. It will depict a halfback racing up the field toward the final goal of $200,000. Monday also, the Packer stock drive slogan "Back the Drive with Twenty-Five", will start blaring forth on the radio, on posters all over the
city and in the paper. Not all of the goal of $200,000 is expected to be raised in the Green Bay phase of the drive. After the drive gets started here, other communities in the state and Upper Michigan will get into the drive to help swell the total.
PACKERS LAUNCH $200,000 STOCK CAMPAIGN WEDNESDAY
APR 10 (Green Bay) - The Packers had the cooperation of the weatherman today in "preparing" Green Bay and Packerland for their $200,000 stock campaign, opening Wednesday morning. Perfect football temperatures prevailed - plus the stuff (rain) the Packers don't like to see on game days - as 400 workers collected their thoughts for the two-week drive for capital to insure the future operation of the football club. The first material sign of the drive - next to the newspaper headlines and radio blasts - appeared on the courthouse lawn today as workmen completed the installation of a large football-field scoreboard. It will depict a halfback racing up the field toward the final goal of $200,000. Today marked the first use of the official drive slogan - BACK THE DRIVE WITH TWENTY FIVE: It will be blared forth on the radio and in the newspaper and on posters all over the city...PUBLIC INVITED - FREE: The public gets its first chance to sit in on the gigantic drive - for free - at Central Catholic High school auditorium at 8 o'clock Tuesday night. A capacity crowd of more than 2,000 persons is expected for the football program, which will feature a giant question and answer windup with a battery of speakers providing the dope. Green Bay's chief quarterback, Verne Lewellen, will be toastmaster and the speakers will include Mayor Dominic Olejniczak, Packer President Emil Fischer, Head Coach Gene Ronzani, halfback Tony Canadeo, Assistant Coach Charley Brock, Drive Team Captain Don Hutson, Drive Chairman Max Murphy, Lee H. Joannes, former team president who heads the entire campaign, and Jug Earp, club publicity chief. Joannes will preside at the question and answer session and will present a huge chart which shows the financial progress of the club since 1933. The rally program will open with a half-hour show by the Packer Lumberjack band under the direction of Wilner Burke. A number of sparkling acts will be presented...DE PERE IS ORGANIZED: Nearly 30 teams comprising about 300 workers have been organized for the campaign. There are an additional 100 workers formed into special groups which brings the total force to around 400. These include an industrial section, a transportation section, an group of salesmen working out of Green Bay, and a special team of women. De Pere was "organized" for the Packer drive over the weekend. Four teams of workers were announced today by Max Murphy...BREAKFAST AT BEAUMONT: The work of organizing a hard-hitting sales team was finished over this weekend. Workers' packets containing stock subscription blanks, informational material, and about five cards apiece are now being made up. These will be distributed at the kickoff breakfast at the Beaumont hotel Wednesday morning. Workers will be asked to make their calls immediately, that day if possible. They will turn in the completed subscription blanks to the Packer office. Blanks call for payment of the stock ($25 per share) within fifteen days. And as soon as the payment is received, the Packer office will send out the stock certificates...Coach Ronzani, just back from the east where he conferred with a number of prospective Packer players, awaited player contracts today. Signings are expected in the near future.
DARLING TRIAL SET APRIL 25
APR 10 (Green Bay) - Trial of Bernard (Boob) Darling, the former Packer player and Big Ten football official, on charges of manslaughter and negligent homicide, was set for Tuesday, April 25, at the opening of the April term in circuit court this morning. The two counts of negligent homicide and one of first degree manslaughter against Darling grow out the hit-and-run death of Shirley Mae Trout, 15-year-old Allouez girl, as she walked from a bus toward her home last Halloween night. Darling is alleged to have been driver of the car which struck here. He is at liberty on bond.
PUBLIC RALLY OPENS $200,000 PACKER STOCK DRIVE TONIGHT
APR 11 (Green Bay) - Wisconsin and Upper Michigan - the territory known as Packerland - looked to Green Bay today as the Packers poised for their gigantic $200,000 stock campaign. The drive, designed to provide the six-time world's professional football champions with working capital for the future, will open in Greater Green Bay with a breakfast of 400 workers at the Beaumont hotel at 8 o'clock Wednesday morning. Approximately half of the final goal is expected to be raised in the Green Bay area, which includes De Pere and other surrounding communities. The remainder will be subscribed in cities throughout the state and Upper Michigan after the concentrated two-week drive is near completion. Actually, Green Bay will set the pace for the campaign. Max Murphy, chairman of the drive in the Greater Green Bay area, put it this way: "The entire state and Upper Michigan will be watching to see how we, here, back our great institution - the Packers. Though the Packers, because of the growth of professional football, need Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, thousands of out-of-city fans will base their stock purchase on how our home supporters back the drive." John Q. Public gets his first closeup of the drive tonight at Central Catholic High school auditorium where roughly 2,000 fans are expected for a football program. The show opens at 8 o'clock with a half-hour stage production by the Packer Lumberjack band directed by Wilner Burke. There will be no admission charge and no stock will be sold. A public address system is being put in for the convenience of the fans. A battery of speakers will give fans highlights of the drive plus a look at prospects for the 1950 season. A highlight will be a big question-and-answer period in which fans will be invited to get everything regarding Packer operations off their chest. In addition, Lee H. Joannes, former Packer president and chairman of the whole drive, will present a giant chart showing the financial progress of the club since 1933. Joannes will be assisted by Mayor Dominic Olejniczak, Packer President Emil Fischer, Head Coach Gene Ronzani, halfback Tony Canadeo, Assistant Coach Charley Brock, Drive Team Captain Don Hutson, Chairman Murphy and Publicity Chief Jug Earp. The entire program will be toastmastered by Verne Lewellen, the Packers’ all-time punter and chief quarterback of Green Bay’s Quarterback club. The Packer Alumni association is making arrangements for tonight’s program. Tonight’s event climaxes many weeks of preparation for the campaign. The corporation’s board of directors recommended the sale of stock to the stockholders last December and the stockholders later approved the program. The drive marks the second step in the new Packer era. The first was the signing of Head Coach Ronzani Feb. 6. Ronzani succeeds Curly Lambeau, who resigned Feb. 1 to