The 1951 Green Bay Packers - 3-9 (5TH - National Conference)
Head Coach: Gene Ronzani
1951 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (2-3)
OFF DEF
AUGUST (1-0) RESULT RECORD ATT RSH PSS RSH PSS STARTING QB LEADING RUSHER LEADING PASSER LEADING RECEIVER
25 G-CHICAGO CARDINALS W 17-14 1- 0-0 16,168 129 190 144 130 Jack Cloud (70) Tobin Rote (101) Carl Elliott (5-45)
SEPTEMBER (2-2)
9 M-PHILADELPHIA EAGLES L 10-14 1- 1-0 19,282 104 146 96 74 Bob Petruska Jack Cloud (65) Bobby Thomason (123) Jug Girard (4-26)
12 San Francisco 49ers @ Minneapolis L 0-20 1- 2-0 19,021 162 - 2 202 117
16 Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo L 6-35 1- 3-0 13,458 174 78 265 95
23 Washington @ Alexandria, VA W 14- 7 2- 3-0 6,000 180 81 190 192 Bobby Thomason
1951 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS (3-9)
SEPTEMBER (0-1)
30 G-CHICAGO BEARS (0-0) L 20-31 0- 1-0 24,666 68 214 177 152 Tobin Rote Ray Pelfrey (24) Bobby Thomason (177) Tony Canadeo (6-58)
OCTOBER (3-1)
7 M-PITTSBURGH STEELERS (0-0-1) W 35-33 1- 1-0 8,324 141 152 151 96 Tobin Rote Billy Grimes (43) Tobin Rote (229) Bob Mann (3-67)
14 G-PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-0) W 37-24 2- 1-0 18,489 111 197 66 184 Tobin Rote Billy Grimes (53) Tobin Rote (136) Bob Mann (5-93)
21 M-LOS ANGELES RAMS (2-1) L 0-28 2- 2-0 21,393 77 230 323 173 Tobin Rote Jug Girard (32) Bobby Thomason (207) Two tied with 6 each
28 at New York Yanks (0-3-1) W 29-27 3- 2-0 7,351 64 276 99 319 Tobin Rote Fred Cone (43) Bobby Thomason (214) Ray Pelfrey (5-56)
NOVEMBER (0-4)
4 G-DETROIT LIONS (2-2-1) L 17-24 3- 3-0 18,800 42 213 196 151 Tobin Rote Fred Cone (19) Bobby Thomason (212) Two tied with 6 each
11 at Pittsburgh Steelers (1-4-1) L 7-28 3- 4-0 20,080 59 159 176 148 Bobby Thomason Ray Pelfrey (19) Tobin Rote (92) Fred Cone (5-41)
18 at Chicago Bears (5-2) L 13-24 3- 5-0 36,771 173 67 256 167 Tobin Rote Tobin Rote (150) Tobin Rote (88) Ray Pelfrey (4-31)
22 at Detroit Lions (5-2-1) L 35-52 3- 6-0 32,247 179 279 172 306 Tobin Rote Tobin Rote (131) Tobin Rote (201) Carl Elliott (6-74)
DECEMBER (0-3)
2 G-NEW YORK YANKS (0-7-2) L 28-31 3- 7-0 14,297 195 242 83 288 Tobin Rote Tobin Rote (92) Bobby Thomason (164) Ray Pelfrey (7-90)
9 at San Francisco 49ers (5-4-1) L 19-31 3- 8-0 15,121 42 145 302 105 Tobin Rote Tobin Rote (48) Tobin Rote (150) Carl Elliott (7-55)
16 at Los Angeles Rams (7-4) L 14-42 3- 9-0 23,698 45 358 151 245 Tobin Rote Tobin Rote (24) Tobin Rote (335) Bob Mann (11-123)
G - Green Bay M - Milwaukee
1951 IN REVIEW
Green Bay lost their last seven games to finish a limp fifth in the National Conference. Even the hapless New York Yanks downed the Packers 31-28 for their only win of the season. Coach Gene Ronzani looked high and low for running backs, and the best he could find were Fred Cone, whose kicking far surpassed his ball carrying, and Tony Canadeo, a veteran of the Lambeau era who had long ago left his best days behind. That left the burden of the running as well as the throwing to quarterback Tobin Rote. Ends Bob Mann and Ray Pelfrey caught many of Rote's passes, but, so, unfortunately, did enemy defensive backs, as Green Bay tossed an league-worst 29 interceptions.
BOB GAIN: THE TOP PICKS WHO NEVER PLAYED FOR THE PACKERS
The 1951 Packers were a team looking to rebuild, and they thought the key to improving their defense rested on Bob Gain. At Kentucky, Gain won the 1950 Outland award as the nation's Outstanding College Interior Football Lineman of the Year. The Packers drafted him with the fifth pick overall, but Gain, unable to come to contract terms, starred one year with the Ottawa, where the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup with the help of Gain's field goals, rouges, and line play. Gain joined Cleveland in a 1952 trade, which netted Green Bay few usable parts, and helped the Browns win the American Conference championship. He served a year in the Air Force and then rejoined the Browns in 1954. He was a key player in several of their title runs. He also became one of the few Packer top choices to never play for the team:
Johnny Strzykalski (1946) - The Packers could not compete with the deep pockets of the AAFC, and lost the Marquette standout to the 49ers, where he ran for 19 touchdowns in seven years.
Ernie Case (1947) - For the second straight year, Green Bay saw their top choice head to the rival AAFC, this time Baltimore. Case served as an Army pilot for 42 months during World War II and was shot down over Italy. He escaped from prison camp and returned to UCLA after the War, where he led the Bruins to the 1947 Rose Bowl where they lost to Illinois. With the Colts, the 5’10” Case played little except as a defensive back because Colt Coach Cecil Isbell, and former Packer star, did not like left-handed quarterbacks. He quit after throwing just 11 passes as a rookie.
Randy Duncan (1959) - Duncan was the top overall pick, but headed north when the CFL British Columbia Lions offered him more money. The Iowa standout QB played two season in the CFL, then one year with the AFL Dallas Texans.
Bruce Clark (1981) - Clark chose to play in the Canadian Football League and spent two years with the the Toronto Argonauts. When he returned to the NFL, Green Bay traded his rights to the Saints, where he played seven years, before wrapping up his NFL career with Kansas City (1989). He later played one year for the World League of American Football's Barcelona Dragons, after he was drafted in the first round of the supplemental draft in 1991. Clark's experience and leadership were key to the Dragons successful first season. Clark started all ten games and was co-leader in sacks with seven that season.
NAME NO POS HGT WGT COLLEGE YR PR A G HOW ACQUIRED
Dick Afflis 15 G 6- 0 252 Nevada 1 1 22 12 1951 Draft-16th
Paul Burris 33 G 5-11 215 Oklahoma 3 3 28 7 1947 Draft-5th
Tony Canadeo 3 B 6- 0 190 Gonzaga 10 10 32 12 1941 Draft-7th
Jack Cloud 82 FB 5-10 220 William & Mary 2 2 26 4 1950 Draft-8th
Albin Collins 65 HB 5-11 190 LSU 1 1 24 7 1951 Draft-2nd
Fred Cone 66 FB 5-11 197 Clemson 1 1 25 12 1951 Draft-3rd
Harper Davis 25 HB 5-11 172 Mississippi St 1 2 25 12 1951 FA-Bears (50)
Ray DiPierro 21 G 5-11 210 Ohio State 2 2 25 6 1950 FA
Ed Ecker 55 T 6- 7 270 John Carroll 2 4 28 7 1950 FA-Chi-A (48)
Carlton Elliott 40 E 6- 4 215 Virginia 1 1 23 12 1950 Draft-13th
Jug Girard 36 B 5-11 175 Wisconsin 4 4 24 12 1948 Draft-1st
Billy Grimes 22 HB 6- 1 197 Oklahoma A&M 2 3 24 12 1950 FA-LA-A
Val Jasante 23 E 6- 1 190 Duquesne 1 6 30 3 1951 FA-Pitt (51)
Ace Loomis 7 HB 6- 1 190 UW-La Crosse 1 1 23 12 1951 Trade-Cleve
Leon Manley 90 G-T 6- 2 225 Oklahoma 2 2 25 12 1950 Draft-7th
Bob Mann 31 E 5-11 175 Michigan 2 4 27 11 1950 FA-Detroit
John Martinkovic 39 DE 6- 3 235 Xavier 1 1 24 12 1951 Trade- Wash
Walt Michaels 35 G 6- 0 225 Wash. & Lee 1 1 21 12 1951 Trade-Cleve
Dick Moje 79 E 6- 3 210 Loyola (Cal) 1 1 24 2 1951 FA
Dom Moselle 93 HB 6- 0 192 UW-Superior 1 2 25 12 1951 Trade-Cleve
Ed Neal 58 T 6- 4 275 Tulane 7 7 32 1 1945 FA
Hamilton Nichols 46 G 5-11 215 Rice 1 4 26 9 1951 FA-Cards (49)
Bob Nussbaumer 23 HB 5-11 175 Michigan 2 6 27 4 1951 FA-Cards (50)
Dan Orlich 49 E 6- 5 215 Nevada 3 3 26 12 1951 Trade-Cleve
Ray Pelfrey 8 E 6- 0 190 E. Kentucky 1 1 23 12 1951 Draft-17th
Floyd Reid 80 HB 5-10 187 Georgia 2 2 24 12 1950 FA-Bears
Jay Rhodemyre 85 C 6- 1 210 Kentucky 3 3 28 12 1951 FA-GB (1949)
Charley Robinson 18 G 5-11 240 Morgan State 1 1 24 2 1951 FA
Tobin Rote 38 QB 6- 3 200 Rice 2 2 23 12 1950 Draft-2nd
Howard Ruetz 75 T 6- 3 265 Loras 1 1 24 12 1951 FA
Charles Schroll 86 G 6- 0 218 LSU 1 2 25 12 1951 Trade-Cleve
Carl Schuette 17 C 6- 1 210 Marquette 2 4 29 12 1950 FA-Buff-AAFC
Joe Spencer 34 T 6- 3 240 Oklahoma A&M 2 4 28 12 1950 FA-Cleveland
Don Stansauk 63 T 6- 2 255 Denver 2 2 25 4 FA-1950
Rebel Steiner 74 DB 6- 0 185 Alabama 2 2 24 12 1949 Draft-12th
Dave Stephenson 44 G 6- 2 255 West Virginia 1 2 25 12 1951 FA-LA (50)
Bob Summerhays 77 B 6- 1 215 Utah 3 3 24 12 1949 Draft-4th
NAME NO POS HGT WGT COLLEGE YR PR A G HOW ACQUIRED
Bobby Thomason 28 QB 6- 1 197 Virginia Milit 1 2 23 11 1951 Trade-LA
Dick Wildung 45 T 6- 0 220 Minnesota 6 6 30 12 1943 Draft-1st
Abner Wimberly 16 E 6- 1 210 Louisiana State 2 3 25 12 1950 FA-LA (AAFC)
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
1951 PACKERS DRAFT (January 18-19, 1951)
RND-PICK NAME POS COLLEGE
1 - 5 Bob Gain T Kentucky
2 - 16 Albin Collins HB Louisiana State
3 - 27 Fred Cone FB Clemson
4 - 41 to Cleveland Browns
5 - 52 Wade Stinson HB Kansas
6 - 63 Sidmund Holowenko T John Carroll
7 - 77 Bill Sutherland E St. Vincent
8 - 88 to Cleveland Browns
9 - 99 Dick McWilliams T Michigan
10 - 114 Bob Noppinger E Georgetown
11 - 125 George Rooks FB Morgan State
12 - 136 Carl Kreager C Michigan
13 - 150 Ed Stephens HB Missouri
14 - 161 Ray Bauer E Montana
15 - 172 Joe Ernst QB Tulane
16 - 186 Dick Afflis T Nevada
17 - 197 Ray Pelfrey HB E. Kentucky
18 - 208 Ed Petela FB Boston College
19 - 222 Jim Liber HB Xavier
20 - 233 Dick Johnson T Virginia
21 - 244 Art Edling E Minnesota
22 - 258 Art Felker E Marquette
23 - 269 Tubba Chamberlain T UW-Eau Claire
24 - 280 Dick Christie FB Nebraska-Omaha
25 - 294 Charles Monte HB Hillsdale
26 - 305 Bill Miller T Ohio State
27 - 316 Bob Bossons C Georgia Tech
28 - 330 Bill Ayre HB Abilene Christ.
29 - 341 Ralph Fieler E Miami (Fla.)
30 - 352 Ed Withers HB Wisconsin
BOLD - Played for the Packers
1951 PACKER TRANSACTIONS
JUNE 23 - Signed T Howard Ruetz.
JULY 23 - Acquired QB Bobby Thomason from LOS ANGELES for 1952 1st round and 2nd round draft choices.
JULY 20 - Traded Ted Cook to WASHINGTON for DE John Martinkovic
AUG 21 - Traded E Dan Orlich to CLEVELAND for OG/LB Walt Michaels. Acquired C Jerry Grenier from LOS ANGELES for undisclosed terms.
SEPT 20 - Traded rights to Bob Gain (1951 1st-round draft choice) and 1952 4th round to CLEVELAND for HB Dom Moselle, HB Ace Loomis, G Charlie Schroll and E Dan Orlich.
SEPT 28 - Acquired G Dave Stephenson and E Dick Moje from LOS ANGELES for undisclosed terms. Acquired HB Harper Davis off waivers from CHICAGO BEARS.
OCT 8 - Traded T Ed Neal to CHICAGO BEARS for 1952 10th round draft choice. Aquired HB Bob Nussbaumer off waivers from CHICAGO CARDINALS.
OCT 26 - Placed HB Bob Nussbaumer on waivers.
NOV 28 - Placed G Hamilton Nichols (broken hand) on injured reserve. Waived G Charley Robinson. Acquired E Val Jasante off waivers from PITTSBURGH. Signed E Dick Moje.
DEC 27 - Returned QB Bobby Thomason to LOS ANGELES for 1952 1st round and 2nd round draft choices.
PACKER PENALTIES SNOWBALL IN SUN; MELT IN STADIUM BLIZZARD
JAN 3 (Green Bay) - One Sunday last fall, the Packers drew 25 yards in penalties. The very next Sabbath they absorbed 146 – six times as many. How come? Did the Packers grow that much naughtier in the short space of seven days? The 25-yard assessment was drawn in a blizzard against the San Francisco Forty Niners in City stadium Nov. 26. The 146-yarder was fabricated on the sun -soaked gridiron of the Los Angeles Rams Dec. 3. The officials covering the Forty Niner event were pelted at one time by snowballs – a first in professional football. The officials calling the Ram game, who are residents of the west coast, got no snowball taunts but apparently they received a lot of lip from the Packers…OFFICIALS GO INTO HUDDLE: In fact, a little lip from Head Coach Gene Ronzani knocked five points off the Rams’ total. The officials ruled a touchdown when tackle Bob Reinhard blocked Jug Girard’s punt and the ball hit the goal post. Gene rushed onto the field and presented his argument. The officials went into a huddle and ruled a safety. The incident cost the Packers 15 yards on the next kickoff but, as the saying goes, they pay off on points. After the point-shaving incident, which took place just before the half, the Packers were penalized 96 of their 146 yards. The “return” of five points apparently keyed the officials. Before Gene’s run, the Bays received two 15-yarders for holding, one for roughing the passer and a five-yarder for crawling on the part of Tobin Rote.
After the play, the Packers really got kicked – two 15-yarders for personal fouls, one for roughing the passer and a five-yarder for crawling on the part of Tobin Rote. After the play, the Packers really got kicked – two 15-yarders for personal fouls, one for unsportsmanlike conduct (that was for notifying the officials of their error on the blocked punt), 44 yards on two interference penalties, and a 15-yarder on the delicate roughing-the-passer penalty. Year after year, a discussion of penalties generally brings up the west coast. Pro coaches rarely, if ever, rib the officials publicly – for obvious reasons. The only flagrant public blasting of the officials were aimed at, you guessed it, the west coast bunch a year ago when Bear Coach George Halas lashed out on an interference ruling…PACK OUT-PENALIZED BEARS: The new Packers weren’t the naughtiest team in the league last fall. They were penalized 85 times for 757 yards – an average of seven and 66 per game. In fact, the Packers out-penalized the usual leader, the Bears, 757 to 738. Maybe it pays to be “bad”. The two conference champions, Rams and Cleveland’s Browns, ran one-two in penalties. The Rams came out with the most, 110 infractions for 1,038 yards, while the Browns had 104 for 968 yards. The Ram figure is still short of the league record – 122 penalties for 1,100 yards by Washington in 1948. The Bears drew the same number of penalties in ’48 but they totaled up to only 1,066 yards. The cleanest livers in the league were the Pittsburgh Steelers with only 57 penalties for 477 yards. The other phase of today’s two-way discussion concerns punting and the highlight on said subject is that the Packers sent their punter, Jug Girard, against the bone-crushing Bears without shoulder pads. Girard injured his wrist against the Washington Redskins on the previous Sunday and was forced to wear a cast. Hoping that the Bears might “unharm” a shoulder pad-less player, Coach Ronzani ordered the pads removed and sent the Jugger against the Bears. The Packers gave him great protections and the Bears never got near enough to block Jug or a punt. Jug finished the season with a 38.2 average on 71 punts, below the first 10 punters in the league. The 10th punter, Jim Hardy of the Cardinals, had a 39.4 average on 56 kicks. The Packers booted 74 times – the odd three being kicked by Bob Forte after Jug went out of the Washington game. Forte averaged 35.7.
PACKERS PREPARE FOR 'NEW' DRAFT
JAN 4 (Green Bay) - The next 15 days will be a crucial period for the Green Bay Packers. During that time, Head Coach Gene Ronzani will: (1) Evaluate reports on hundreds of college football players through person-to-person conversations with the athletes or their coaches and (2) select 30-odd college stars in the NFL’s draft in Chicago. Ronzani’s current task – his first as Packer coach (the selection and draft last January was made by the old regime) – is further complicated by Uncle Sam’s draft. A number of college graduates are ripe for war service although a certain percentage are married and have children. Still others have had previous war service. The Packers have sent letters out to hundreds of pro prospects, asking them their draft status and college eligibility and other information. Ronzani will be on the road for most of the two-week period. He left today for Mobile, Ala., where he’ll take in the annual Senior bowl game Saturday and then move down to Dallas to attend the annual national NCAA convention of college coaches…WATCH PRACTICE SESSIONS: Some 50 of the nation’s leading college players, all seniors and eligible for pro competition next fall, will battle in the Senior bowl. New York Giant Coach Steve Owen will mentor one squad and Bo McMillin, recently of the Detroit Lions, will handle the other. The game is promoted by Red Grange. Ronzani expects to sit on one of the team’s practice sessions Friday and Assistant Coach Dick Plasman may come up from Florida to watch the other. In Dallas, Ronzani will talk with coaches regarding other prospects not competing in Mobile. Well known in the coaching field after 18 years with the Chicago Bears, Ronzani will be out to build up a new goodwill for the Packers. Almost every day for the last couple of months, Ronzani sent out 10 to 15 letters to coaches all over the country – just a small part of his rebuilding program. From first-hand information obtained himself, plus reports from scouts at the various bowl games and college games last fall, Ronzani will make the Packers’ first “new” picks. The selections will be made in conjunction with the league’s annual winter meeting in Chicago’s Blackstone hotel starting Jan. 17. The Packers, if they’re lucky, can get the No. 2 draft choice. Baltimore, because of its last place percentage (.083) will draw first. The second choice will be made by the Packers, Washington Redskins or San Francisco Forty Niners who finished with identical percentages of .250. The order of draw for these three teams will be decided by coin flipping by Commissioner Bert Bell. All of the major bowl games were scouted last weekend. Coach Plasman kept his eyes on several boys in the Wyoming-Washington and Lee game, while Line Coach Tarz Taylor observed the East-West and Rose bowl battles. Quarterback Tobin Rote and end Abner Wimberly looked over the Cotton bowl. Don Hutson, the Packers’ immortal end, viewed the Kentucky-Oklahoma contest for the Packers. Don is a personal friend of Kentucky Head Coach Bear Bryant. A number of Kentucky and Oklahoma players are considered pro prospects, although the ace of them all, Kentucky’s quarterback Babe Parilli, is a junior and won’t be eligible for the draft. Ronzani, incidentally, has been informed that Ben Zaranka, drafted by the Packers a year ago, no longer belongs to the Packers because he was selected before his class was to graduate. A defensive and offensive end, Zaranka was the Bays’ 29th choice in the meetings in Philadelphia last January. Zaranka’s class won’t graduate until 1951. Under league rules, a club drafting a player before the commencement of the league’s approaching season loses right to the player for that year and to that selection for the draft.
COLTS' WATNER GETS HELP FROM MARSHALL; GP DEFERS PAYMENT
JAN 4 (Green Bay) - Baltimore’s Abe Watner got a little help Wednesday from Washington’s George Preston Marshall in his efforts to keep the Baltimore Colts alive in the NFL. Another $50,000 installment is due Jan. 10 on the $150,000 Marshall exacted a year ago for letting the Colts into the fold. The owner of the Washington Redskins said Wednesday the Colts can have at least a week longer to make the payment. Watner, Baltimore financier, still hasn’t decided whether he wants to take this $50,000 first step into 1951. The Colts’ board of directors hasn’t decided whether to let him. There is some question whether they can stop him if he elects to take the plunge. It cost Watner $83,078.71 to get into this fix. He took over as president of the Colts about a year ago and agreed to meet the 1950 loss. If the directors made up the losses, Watner stipulated, he would be glad to step out. If he’s to pay the bill for 1951, he wants full control. “The board has no intention of reimbursing Mr. Watner,” Chairman William F. Hilgenberg declared Wednesday. The new “payment due” date set by Marshall is keyed to the opening of the league meeting in Chicago. But there may be a further stumbling block. League Commissioner Bert Bell told reporters by telephone Wednesday that the new deadline will have to be approved by 11 of the league’s 13 clubs. “If they disapprove,” he declared, “everything would be over.”…Quarterback Stan Heath, once of the Green Bay Packers, has teamed up with the professional football champion Cleveland Browns, the team said in Cleveland today. Heath, only 23, played last season with Hamilton in Canada with ex-Brown Edgar (Special Delivery) Jones. The former Milwaukee boy – first to sign a 1951 Brown contract – will supply some young blood to the Browns’ rather slim quarterback staff, headed by the sensational Otto Graham.
PACKER STOCKHOLDERS SET MEETING JAN. 22
JAN 9 (Green Bay) - The annual meeting of stockholders of the Green Bay Packers, Inc., is scheduled for Monday night, Jan. 22, in the assembly room of the Brown country courthouse, E.R. Fischer, Packer president, announced today. Date of the annual stockholders’ meeting, previously held in July, was changed at the last stockholders’ session because of the January date coincides more closely with end-of-the-year business. A feature of the meeting, in addition to reports on the 1950 season by Secretary-Treasurer Frank Jonet and Head Coach Gene Ronzani, will be the election of directors. Ten of the 30 directors’ teams will expire this month. They are William Servotte, Russ Bogda, Frank J. Jonet, August Reimer, Ed Schuster, Walter Scherf, H.J. Bero, Dominic Olejniczak, C.J. Renard and Henry Washburn- all eligible for reelection. The names of these 10 directors in addition to 10 new ones have been listed in the election-nomination ballot sent out to stockholders today. The names were nominated by a committee composed of Fred Leicht, chairman, H.J. Bero, Jerry Atkinson, Charles Mathys and Maurice Maloney. Stockholders can write in the name of any other candidate they wish to vote for. All ballots must be mailed to the committee not later than Jan. 15. The 10 new nominees are Morgan Wheeler, Menasha; Jim Manci, Iron Mountain; and John Borgenson, Robert Brebner, Dr. H.S. Atkinson, Joe Crevcoure, John Paeps, Haydn Evans and William Sullivan of Green Bay. The 10 stockholders receiving votes representing the greatest amount of stock will be recommended to the stockholders at the meeting for election to the board.
DEFENSE AGAINST AIR BOMBS CHIEF PACKER WOE; 25 TDDS VIA THROWING
JAN 10 (Green Bay) - The new Green Bay Packers scored only four less touchdowns than the world champion Cleveland Browns posted in 1950. Yet, the Browns finished with 10 wins and two losses while the Packer had 3-9. The difference? Defense! The Browns permitted 144 points and the Packers gave up 406 – the highest pointage ever allowed by a Packer club. Naturally, a comparison of the Packers and Browns would seem unfair because – down the line – Cleveland’s personnel is superior to that of the Bays. However, the figures are presented merely to “point” up one fact: That the Packers’ trouble afield was chiefly defense – or lack of it – against passing! In the process of rebuilding, for the future, Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani had to sacrifice defense for offense right from the start as he installed the straight T-formation – a system that was new to everybody, including the Packer veterans and one that required considerable drill time…DEFENSE SECONDARY CONCERN: Until the Bays worked deep into the non-league season, the matter of defense was almost of secondary concern. The Packers were occupied with boosting their output from the five or six basic plays used against the Browns in the non-championship opener to the complete, normal set needed to confuse an enemy. Offense, or scoring, was of primary concern. Although the Packers’ air defense was “behind schedule” at the start, it helped produce five victories in the first seven games, including three non-loop wins. However, it was apparent that a new defenseman here and there might have solved a number of defense-against-pass problems as enemy clubs scouted personnel weaknesses in the Packers. As the season progressed, the Packers shifted in a number of defenses, including the six-one-four which the New York Giants used in beating the Browns twice, but enemy passers were able to deploy their receivers rather successfully. The ideal defense against passes goes like this: Three ball-hawking outfielders and four big, fast tackles – two of whom play defensive (crashing) end. The two units must be perfectly coordinated, the idea being that the passer gets no more than the standard time to throw. If he gets too much time, few defensemen can properly cover a receiver because a receiver has that much more time to get away or maneuver his mates into position…CONVERTED FROM AN END: The Packer outfield was composed, until the last few games, of Rebel Steiner, Wally Dreyer and Alex Wizbicki. Both Dreyer and Wizbicki were defense experienced – Wally with the Bears and Alex with the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland. Wizbicki and Dreyer both played a “smart” game in that they were able to figure an enemy with a reasonable amount of success. Steiner, a rookie, was converted into a defender from end because he was a vicious tackler and a good ball hawk. Rebel had no trouble with some clubs – including the Bears – but the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams, particularly Cloyce Boz and Tom Fears, terrified him, so to speak. Later, end Al Baldwin was moved back to Steiner’s spot. Despite trouble with several clubs, Steiner led the Packers in pass interceptions with seven. Baldwin and Dreyer each snagged five, while Wizbicki got two. In all, the four outfielders grabbed 19 enemy aerials. Defense in the line? The Packers didn’t have the crashers at end the likes of Larry Craig, Larry Brink, Len Ford, etc. Steve Pritko, the defensive left end, had his best season and often nailed enemy quarterbacks but Dan Orlich was hot and cold at right end. Enemy touchdown figures point up the Packers’ defensive unhappiness. In 12 league games, the opponents scored 56 touchdowns and 25 of them came directly on passes and six others were set up by passes. The Rams, pro football’s passingest team, created the most havoc. They scored nine touchdowns against the Packers on passing and two others were set up by throwing. In fact, the Rams scored nearly one-fourth of the Packers’ opponents’ points – 96 in two games. In Detroit’s nine TDs against the Pack, five came directly on passes. The New York Yanks scored five of their 11 TDs against the Packers on passes. While guys like Fears, Box, Doak Walker and Elroy Hirch were able to get away for touchdowns on passes against the Packers, the Bears went through two games against the Packers without completing a TD throw. In fact, the Bays intercepted four John Lujack passes and returned two of ‘em for TDs in the opener Oct. 1. Defense against rushing? That’s where the Packers flashed, with giant Clayton Tonnemaker covering the entire line from his middle backerup position. The Packers ranked among the first four in yards permitted by rushing but they were last in yard allowed by passing.
PACKERS FACE PROBLEM IN ’51 COLLEGE DRAFT
JAN 12 (Green Bay) – What would you do? Go for the big name star headed for military service or settle for a few lesser-knowns – with children? You won’t have to make the decision but Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani will when the NFL gathers for its annual meeting and college draft in Chicago next week. The Packers, in the process of rebuilding, will be drafting for next fall. Many of the other clubs, already loaded with material, can afford to draft for the future – delivery after the present emergency. For example, the Bears, Browns, Rams, Detroit and several others can select a quarterback the likes of Bob Williams of Notre Dame because they are already set with QBs – elderly and married (with children) ones. They can snag Bucky Curtis, great pass catcher from Vanderbilt, without batting an eye because they’re all loaded at end. Both Williams and Curtis are reported sure bets to go into service. The Packers, who undoubtedly would get a crack at Williams and Curtis before the aforementioned clubs, can build for ’52 or ’53 next week, but Ronzani is fixin’ to get the Packer back on a par with the big guns as quickly as possible – in 1951. Most of Ronzani’s efforts have been concentrated on the war eligibility of the boys he’d like to draft next week. His needs are many – off the 3-9 record of last fall and an early request by Uncle Same for two 1950 stalwarts, linebackers Clayton Tonnemaker and Bob Forte. In addition, halfback Larry Coutre and guard Len Szafaryn have taken their Army physical examinations. Not all of the headline aces are due for a quick call into the service. One example is Southern Methodist’s versatile Kyle Rote, who is married and the father of a son. Rote probably will be the No. 1 choice. A halfback in SMU’s single wing, Rote played fullback in the “T” in the East-West game and burned up the joint. Which makes him an immediate candidate for the Packer backfield. The disposition of Williams may be interesting. Williams hails from Baltimore and the Colts are preparing to trade the Orioles for the rights to Bullet Bob. Normally, Williams would be a cinch for the Colts because they finished last in ’50 and get the No. 1 choice. However, that George Halas of the Chicago Bears talked the Colts out of their No. 1 draft choice last fall for fullback Jim Spavital and tackle Urban Odson. Spavital had one good game all season, while Odson, the ex-Packer, closed out in the Canadian league. The story out in Baltimore is that the Colts, due to their “unusual” interest in Williams, survival in the league, etc., are trying to prevail on Halas to “return” the No. 1 draft choice (Williams) in exchange for the Colts’ third choice for the next two years. What happens on that will undoubtedly provide some lively discussion in the meeting rooms next week. Halas may want a quarterback himself, and, come to think of it, that’s probably why he made the deal with Baltimore. What’s more, Williams is practically Bear-trained for delivery to – you guessed it – the Bears. Do you think the Packers need a quarterback like Williams? Most sideliners are pretty well divided on that question. Incumbent Tobin Rote, married and father of a youngster, should be an ace next year. And maybe Pitchin’ Paul Christman will consent to another season. Who knows? The Packers, incidentally, can get the No. 1 choice – if they’re lucky or, as Ronzani puts it, “if we get the right bounce.” The No. 1 choice will be the “bonus” pick of the league and four teams, the Bears, Detroit, Philadelphia and Washington, are ineligible because they previously have had “bonus” awards. The team gaining the bonus will be pulled out of a hat in which the names of all eligible clubs will be placed. After the bonus choice and Baltimore’s first selection in the regular draft, the Packers could conceivably draw second – if they are lucky. They’ll join with Washington and San Francisco in a coin flipping ceremony to decide the second picker because they finished last season with the same percentage in the won-lost column. Next to Kyle Rote, who is a first cousin to the Packers’ Tobin, Michigan’s Chuck Ortmann seems to be the most logical contender for the No. 1 snag. Ortmann, a Milwaukee boy, is a passing, punting and running back in the single wing, but, ‘tis said, he could be converted to the “T” without much trouble. Chuck is to be married soon. The country is loaded with top-flight backs. Try these for size: Duke’s Billy Cox, who beat Ace Parkers’ age-old total offense record for the Blue Devils last fall with 1,995 yards – 1,486 by passing on 108 completions in 206 attempts; Fred Cone of Clemson, with a 4.9 rushing average; Everett Grandilius of Michigan State, who gained 1,023 yards in 163 rides for a 6.73 average against tough competition; Eber Van Buren of LSU, brother of the Eagles’ Steve; Eddie Salem of Alabama, defensive star; and Leon Heath, Oklahoma’s powerhouse fullback. From the small schools, Whizzer White of Arizona and Brad Rowland of McMurry proved themselves against the big schoolers in the East-West game. White led the nation in rushing with 1,502 yards for an average of 7.55. Most of the clubs, including the Packers, will be looking for big, fast tackles who can switch to end on defense. Kentucky’s Bob Gain ranks among the best. So does Holland Donan of Princeton. Notre Dame’s Jerry Groom seems to be tops among the country’s linebackers and offensive centers – a fine replacement for Tonnemaker by the way.
NOLTING QUITS PACKER POST
JAN 15 (Green Bay) - The resignation of Ray Nolting as backfield coach of the Green Bay Packers was announced today by Head Coach Gene Ronzani. Effective today, Nolting’s resignation was received from Nolting this morning from his home in Cincinnati. Ronzani said he was “surprised” at Nolting’s decision and was counting on his return for the 1951 season. Ronzani said he understood Nolting was entering business in Cincinnati. Nolting, a former Chicago Bear back, had been extremely popular with fans here through his many talks and narration of films at the men’s quarterback club. Ronzani likely will start looking for a successor to Nolting at the NFL meetings in Chicago this week. Other assistants are Dick Plasman, end coach, and Tarz Taylor, line coach.
PLAYERS PACK'S PRIMARY CONCERN
JAN 16 (Green Bay) - Players occupied the thick thatch of Pacher Head Coach Gene Ronzani today - not coaches. The rugged Italian, already minus one coach due to Ray Nolting's sudden resignation Monday, moved into Chicago this afternoon to set the stage for Green Bay's participation in the crucial "wartime" college player draft. Accompanying the coach were Assistant Mentors Dick Plasman and Tarz Taylor, Publicity Chief Jug Earp and Office Aide Jack Vainisi. They'll be joined by President Emil R. Fischer and Chairman of the Board Lee H. Joannes, thus giving the Packers seven representatives at the NFL's annual parley...NOT NAMING ANY NAMES: Ronzani wasn't naming names last night or today as to a successor to Nolting, who backfield coached the new 1950 Packers. Gene pointed out that "Ray's resignation was such a complete surprise that we haven't had time to look around yet." Ronzani added: "Besides, we're so bury with our player lists that we'll have to put off signing someone to take Ray's place until later." The three coaches were closeted in the Green room (under the Packer office at 349 S. Washington street) most of the time since Sunday when Ronzani returned from the NCAA convention in Dallas. While Ronzani was mum on the coaching subject, the sideliners were having a field day. One rumor has Bernie Masterson, a former teammate of Ronzani's with the Bears, coming here. Another points to Paul Christman, who shared the quarterback duties with Tobin Rote last year. Somebody even mentioned Bo McMillin, who recently resigned as Detroit's head coach, and, of course, there were the usual Clark Shaughnessy votes. Masterson resigned recently as backfield coach at the University of Iowa - which makes him a job hunter. He was at the Dallas meet. Christman, in a recent letter to this department commending the fans, said "it was a real pleasure to play my last games as a Packer in Green Bay." All of which indicated that Paul was planning to retire. Some fans are wondering "what's wrong with Christman playing and coaching!"...RECALLS YEAR AGO: The hope hereabouts was that Ronzani's coach-hunting problem won't be as difficult as a year ago. Everybody Gene tried to land either got a better job or a raise in pay, it seemed. Jumbo Joe Stydahar was Ronzani's choice for line coach, and the big boy was pretty well set when the Los Angeles Rams up and named him head head coach to replace Shaughnessy. Bob Margarita, the ex-Bear, figured in Packer plans, but he got an advance in pay. Buddy Parker was on Ronzani's want list, and the Packers were on Buddy's "would" list, but the ex-Cardinal was moved up to the top when McMillin resigned at Detroit. Regardless, the coaching vacancy provides a sparkling sidelight to the pro meeting which, among other things, is a gaterhing place for young (and old) men interested in seeking employment as assistant coaches. This year's meeting is unique in that the draft is the first order of business - at 10 o'clock Thursday morning. Generally, the player draft is not held until club and league business is disposed of...BALTIMORE PICTURE FUZZY: Opening the convo with the draft doesn't fit in with reports that the Baltimore Colts might fade out of the picture. Obviously, the Colts wouldn't draft if they did not operate in 1951. The picture at Baltimore is still fuzzy despite the fact that Colt President Abe Watner advanced the league $50,000 to be paid Washington for territorial rights for next fall. Commissioner Bert Bell recognizes Watber as the Baltimore owner, but there is a possibility that the ownership might change hands - if Watner and the Colt board of directors can get together. With a 1-11 record behind them, Baltimore likely will need player help next fall and Watner undoubtedly will ask for it. However, it isn't likely that other clubs will be willing to assist because of the expected heavy loss of players in the armed services. One thing is certain; Baltimore will get the No. 1 choice in the regular draft, because of its last place finish in '50. Preceding this draft will be the selection of the bonus pick, with nine clubs, including the Packers, participating in the selection. It's a draw out of the hat with the winning ticket getting the choice of any graduating college football player in the nation...LUCK IN THE DRAW: The Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles are not in the drawing, having won bonus picks in previous years. Once you win, you're out until every other team has had a chance. The Packers are hoping for a "little luck" in the bonus selection - what Ronzani calls "the right bounce". From all indications, Kyle Rote, the devastating back from Southern Methodist, is the prize awarding the lucky team. Rote plays halfback in the single wing or fullback in the T-formation.
PACKERS KEEP SHARP EYE ON COLTS
JAN 17 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers kept a sharp eye on the Baltimore Colts on this eve of the NFL's annual meeting and college draft. What happens to Baltimore means much to the Packers and a few wishful questions might be permissible - like: (1) What happens to the 30-odd veterans on the Colt roster? (2) Would the Packers get a shot at the first choice in the regular draft? (3) Would the Packers, and the rest of the league, be relieved of that expensive open date in the schedule? and (4) --oh well, keep your fingers crossed. There's no denying that the Baltimore situation is shaky despite the fact that Abe Watner, nickel-watching cemetery owner, has deposited fifty grand with Commissioner Bert Bell for the Washington Redskins' waiver of territorial rights in 1951. Club representatives, including the Packers, will want to hear Watner's plans for next fall. If they appear unworkable, it's likely that the Hobby Horses will be led to the fox farm...SEEKS PLAYER HELP: Watner, who ownes most of a Wisconsin railroad and has his finger in a lot of lucrative pies out east, plans to poll the other 12 clubs for player help to bolster his entry which lost $85,000 last season. From the Green Bay standpoint, he might as well ask for a game with Notre Dame. Ted Collins, the thrifty owner of the New York Yanks, could inform Abe, for instance, that the Yanks (formerly the Bulldogs) lost an average of 100 Gs in the last four years and still didn't get any player help. In fact, the Bears' George Halas managed to squeeze unfortunate Collins for two first draft choices - via trades - the second of which will be swiped here Thursday or Friday. Halas also owns Baltimore's first choice. Watner is the gent who, several weeks ago, wanted the Colts for '51, didn't want 'em, and finally wanted 'em. His changeable attitude undoubtedly is making club chiefs jittery. They tell some odd stories about Abe. John Steadman, a Baltimore News-Post writer, told us a couple of weeks ago about the time Watner reprimanded the Colts' fleet end, Jim Owens, for wearing out a pair of cleats in a single game. Abe couldn't understand it because the cleats on his golf shoes lasted a lifetime. Abe apparently never stepped on that hard Baltimore field. Then there's the chewing gum incident. After losing to the Yanks in the 1950 final, Abe suggested that the boys break the sticks of chewing gum in two pieces to make 'em last longer...MAY WANT NEW LOOK: With stuff like that making the rounds, it's possible that the other 12 clubs may want a new look in Baltimore - if any at all. Regardless, Commissioner Bert Bell must recognize Watner as the Colt jockey because of a previous legal deal and the $50,000 deposit. A decision on Baltimore probably will have to be made before the draft although the dratt is listed No. 1 on the agenda at 10 o'clock Thursday morning. The decision possibly could be made at private sessions tonight. Most of the club owners have pretty well made up their minds on Baltimore, although they're anxious to hear Watner's story. Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani and Coaching Aides Dick Plasman and Tarz Taylor sat down today to put the finishing touches on long lists of college players. Naturally, they'll be looking for family men, ex-servicemen and likely 4-F's, what with the wartime calls. Ronzani isn't saying but a good guess as to the Packers' No. 1 objective would be Kyle Rote, SMU's great back. Rote, a fullback in the "T", is married and a father of a son. Going with Rote is a bid to a giant August exhibition game in Dallas featuring the Detroit Lions' Doak Walker and Rote. If a National conference team draws Rote, the rule against teams of the game conference playing exhibitions would be waived for this one battle...SHOULD GET WILLIAMS: The Packers, with some luck, would get a good crack at Rote. The Colts will draw first but the Bears own their first pick and they are expected to snag Bob Williams, the Notre Dame quarterback. The next choice will be between the Packers, Washington and San Francisco, who finished in a three-way percentage tie last fall. A coin flip will decide. Then, there's the bonus pick which precedes the regular draft. Nine of the 13 clubs will pick and the lucky one can pick anybody in the world. The odd four teams, Bears, Lions, Redskins and Eagles, are not eligible because they were previous bonus winners. Others players high on the want list include Michigan's Chuck Ortmann and Don Dufek, Kentucky's Bob Cain, Oklahoma's Leon Heath, Notre Dame's Jerry Groom and Bob Williams, Texas' Bud McFadin, Vanderbilt's Bucky Curtis, Alabama's Ed Salem and Michigan State's Sonny Grandelius. The meeing, which might last into Sunday if the Colt problem develops, opens tonight with a rules meeting, meaning a long discourse by Hugh (Shorty) Ray, league statistician, who may recommend a change or two in the rules. Commissioner Bell is expected to delay the starting date until Sept. 30, and thus extend the playoffs until the night before Christman. He may get a lot of opposition from George Marshall of the Redskins. Halas will reportedly ask for a 33-man player limit, which Ronzani will vote against. Live television of National league game likely will be killed.
NOLTING CALLS COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOO COMMERCIAL; EYES LITTLE SCHOOL JOB
JAN 17 (Cincinnati) - Ray Nolting, resigned Packers backfield coach, said Tuesday he decided to quit what he calls a "cut-throat business". Nolting submitted his resignation to the club Monday. He says he has a small ulcer now and blame it on football, adding that he is tired of worrying about "kids' love life and their health". His plans for the future are uncertain, Nolting told a reporter. He will not coach again, he said, unless there is a change of policy in college football - and he doesn't look for that. Nolting coached at Cincinnati in 1948 before going into the pro field. "College football is too commercialized now," said Nolting. "There's too much pressure put on the coaches by alumni, adopted or otherwise, demanding winners. With competition as it is, coaches must put in a 16-hour day the year round to keep pace. When the season's over they have to scout around lining up players, bidding against other schools in a cut-throat business."
BALTIMORE COLTS DROP OUT OF PRO LEAGUE; WILL OPERATE WITH 12 TEAMS FOR '51
JAN 18 (Chicago) - The Baltimore Colts have withdrawn from the NFL, thus reducing the league to 12 teams, Commissioner Bert Bell announced at 12:30 today after a 2 1/2-hour unscheduled executive meeting of the club owners. At the session, which began at 10 o'clock this morning, Abe Watner, Baltimore president, asked for help in the form of veteran players from the other clubs. They told Watner that it would be impossible for them to do so because of the present emergency - not knowing what inroads the selective service draft would make on personnel of member teams. Watner then informed the other owners that it would be necessary for the Colts to withdraw because they didn't have enough veteran personnel of high caliber to compete in 1951. He asked the league to suspend Baltimore's franchise for the duration of the emergency, but the owners refused. The Baltimore president requested that the league return the $50,000 he had paid for rights to the Baltimore franchise and to cancel all agreements between himself and George P. Marshall, owner of the Washington Redskins. Bell announced that the money will be returned and that Marshall had consented to canceling his agreements with Watner...LOST $106,000 IN 1950: Watner told the owners that he had lost $106,000 personally during the 1950 season and asked that to be permitted to recoup at least a portion of his losses by sale of players on the club's active list, numbering between 50 and 60. The league agreed to purchase these players for $50,000. The owners also agreed that, if any franchise is granted within the next three years, it will be awarded to Baltimore. Bell also announced that all of the ex-Baltimore players would go into the college draft. He added that a neutral person would select for the Colts in the draft to fulfill previous commitments with the Chicago Bears and Washington. This arrangement includes the bonus pick. This means that should Baltimore win the latter, the player selected would go to the Bears. If not, the Bears would get Baltimore's first choice in the regular draft, and the Redskins would get the Colts' tenth choice. Baltimore will not be represented, however, at the draft, which was scheduled to start at 2:30 this afternoon...The Packers may have "lost" their best pass receiving tackles in many a year last night when the coaches recommended to club chiefs that the tackle-eligible rule be withdrawn. The recommendation also eliminated centers and guards as catchers. The Bays used Leon Manley as a receiver five times last fall and he came up with four catches for 68 yards - most of them at crucial moments. The Bears frequently used tackle George Connor as a catcher. The coaches suggested the ban on tackle-to-tackle linemen be put in the books for one year - as a trial. The coaches also recommended that all teams be numbered the same, according to positions; that in case of inclement weather during the playing of a game the ball shall be changed at intervals of every five minutes; and that any punted ball downed by the punting team is not a foul. The rule changes will be acted on by club officials at their business meeting - probably Friday afternoon. Commissioner Bert Bell was pleased with the coaches vote on the numbering system. "I've been trying to get that thing through for years; it's a break for the spectators," he said...PRO CHATTER: Compared to the merger sessions in Philadelphia last January, this is a funeral. However, the Colt mess provided some excitement. Most of the writers Wednesday night spent their hours chasing the coaches, trying to dig up stories. Quarterback George Blanda's bounce from the Bears to Baltimore, almost to Green Bay, and back to the Bears may be unearthed. We revealed the Bearishness of the incident last September - when it happened...George Trafton has definitely left the Los Angeles Rams organization and is reportedly hunting for a football job...Red Smith, the Milwaukee Brewers general manager, has joined the gabfest...Washington thinks Herman Ball, termed by Owner Marshall as the Redskins' athletic director, will be back as head coach - not Bo McMillin, ex-Detroit mentor...Fred Miller, the Packers' $5,000 stockholder, has his favorite liquid product for the asking in the press room - for free...Because of the furniture mart here, a lot of the club representatives were moved from league headquarters in the Blackstone hotel across the street to the Stevens. Chicago is jammed with visitors...The Pittsburgh Steelers want the player limit cut to 28 per club, the idea being that 65 players will be cut loose to help make up the losses to the armed services. The Packers might settle for 32; the Bears, with everybody and his brother's draft choice in their back pocket, want 34; and the Redskins like 35. Thirty-two is the likely figure.
RONZANI DISMISSES FAR-FETCHED RUMOR ABOUT ILLINOIS JOB
JAN 18 (Green Bay) - Some pretty far-fetched rumors about switches in college football coaching positions involved Coach Gene Ronzani's name today, but Ronzani dismissed the subject with a wave of the hand as he awaited the start of the college draft in Chicago this morning. A news service calling itself the West Coast News Service wired the Press-Gazette that it had picked up a story that Ray Eliot, head coach at Illinois, was "apparently set to take over at Southern California." And it added that it had information "from a prominent Illinois alumnus who has just returned from Champaign, Ill, that Gene Ronzani is in line for the Illini head coaching job." That made it about a fourth-hand rumor. Ronzani said in Chicago that he had talked to Illinois officials at the college football meeting in Dallas recently about players and other matters, and that that was probably how his name had been connected with the story.
PACKERS KEEP EYE ON ARMY DRAFT IN PLAYER PICKS
JAN 19 (Chicago) - The Green Bay Packers today continued their hunt for football players who aren't on Uncle Sam's right-away list. In an 11-hour draft session that was adjourned for sleep at 2 a.m. this morning, the Packers snagged dealing rights to 18 athletes and all but one of them are in some military draft classification that will permit their presence in Green Bay next fall - unless, of course, the world situation worsens. Each club drafted 20 players, including the Bays, but the Packers had to draw for the Cleveland Browns in the fourth and eighth rounds to repay obligations for the services of halfback Bill Boedeker and quarterback Tom O'Malley last fall...DRAFT RESUMES TODAY: The clubs resumed drafting from the 21st through the 30th round at 11 o'clock this morning. The lone choice eligible for pretty-quick induction was Ronzani's Number 1 choice - big Bob Gain, 235-pound tackle from Coach Bear Bryant's University of Kentucky Sugar bowl champs. Gain, rated the best lineman in the country, plays both on offense and defense - plus defensive end..."MAY BE AROUND": Though Gain, 21, is preparing for service, Ronzani feels that "he might be around for a game or two next fall before going." Gain is one of only three really top All-Americans selected among the first 48 players, which indicates how closely military classifications were being watched. Among the 18 players, on whom dealing rights belong to Green Bay, are five tackles, five halfbacks, three fullback, three ends, one center and one quarterback. The halfbacks include Kansas' Wade Stinson, the nation's fifth highest ground gainer in the nation last fall and one of five players to better 1,100 yards who was drafted in the fifth round. Stinson, who carries 180 pounds on a 5-11 frame, joins halfbacks Rip Collins, the second choice from the Baltimore Colts, Ed Stephens of Missouri, Ray Pelfrey of Eastern Kentucky State and Jim Liber of Xavier. Bolstering the Packers at a spot where they need assistance, fullback, are Clemson's Fred Cone, the third choice, who stands 5-11 and packs 198; George Rooks, a pile-driving Negro from Morgan State - the nation's leading colored battering
ram, who packs 214 pounds on a six-foot frame; and Ed Patella of Boston college, a 200-pounder...ROTE HAS TEXAS MATE: Tobin Rote, the youngster futured for the No. 1 quarterbacking job next fall, has a Texas QB mate - Joe Ernst, of Tulane, a six-footer who packs 185 pounds. Ernst hurled 128 passes last fall and completed 60 for a fancy 54 percentage, 990 yards and eight touchdowns. Ronzani incidentally said he planned to draft Frank Volm, the Green Bay West star who QB'ed Marquette, but the Bears grabbed him in front of the Bays. The Bears undoubtedly will try to trade Frank back to the Packers come next fall. Ronzani said he expected to grab Volm before the 20th round was over. The center selected last night was Carl Kreager of Michigan, a 215-pound offensive sparkler, who stood out in Michigan's zero-weather and snow-bound victory over Ohio State last fall. Kreager played the entire game without gloves and never made a bad pass all afternoon. The three availables at end include two defensive wings and a pass receiver. Counted on for crashing are Bill Sutherland of St. Vincent, who packs 210 around 6-2, and Bob Noppinger, a hot shot from Georgetown, who stands 6-3 and weighs 215 pounds. The catcher is Ray Bauer of Montana, a lithe 190 pounds on a 6-1 frame...WEIGHT AND SPEED AT TACKLE: Ronzani went in for a combination of weight and speed in the tackle department. Joining Gain are Sigmund Holowenko, a highly-rated prospect from John Carroll who packs 240 pounds; Dick McWilliams of Michigan, a 242-pounder who was "supposed" to wind up as a Bear; Dick Afliss of Nevada, who stacks 250 pounds; and Dick Johnson of Virginia, a 225-pound number who can play defensive end. Afliss has another year of college competition, though his class has graduated. Ronzani said "the kid is terrific - big and rough; he was just too good to pass up - for the future and maybe even next fall." Afliss was ready to be plucked by a couple of other clubs. Most of the Packer draftees are married and have children, while several are 4-F, and already disqualified for military service. Gain has a 1D classification, meaning that he's a member of some reserve unit. It's possible, for instance, that Bob's unit may not be called up until late next fall. This is probably the most unusually draft in the history of the league. It saw the rich-in-material clubs like the Browns, Bears and Rams to stock up on boys who are 1A - ready to go. The Browns, as an example, selected an athlete who is already in the Army - Art Spinney, the Baltimore end, who was chosen by the Packers at the "request" of the Browns in the eighth round in payment for O'Malley. The Browns' fourth round Packer selection, in payment for Boedeker, was Bob Smith, a back from Texas A and M, who has another year of eligibility left...DUFEK GOES TO BEARS: Big name stars are well down the list. Michigan's fullback, Don Dufek, a certain military threat, was picked by the Bears on the 17th round. Chuck Ortmann, Michigan's excellent tailback who was figured at the No. 1, 2 or 3 slots, didn't go until the second round when Pittsburgh grabbed him. Bucky Curis, Vanderbilt's great received, was chanced by the Browns in the third heat, though he already has passed his physical. The country's name lads weren't all cleaned up until around the 10th round because most of 'em are service bound. The hoped-for-luck of the Packers didn't hold a bit as the draft opened Thursday afternoon. The Giants won the bonus choice and nabbed Kyle Rote. The Bears, getting Baltimore's first choice, next took Notre Dame's Bob Williams as expected. Then, in the three-way tie for the next pick, Green Bay ranked third in the flip-of-the-coin, with Washington winning and taking Leon Heath, the Oklahoma fullback, and San Francisco snapping up Baltimore quarterback Y.A. Tittle. Ronzani said he definitely wanted a fullback as first choice and was virtually certain he could get Heath, but even the coin was against him. Ronzani also wanted a top-flight tackle - "even if we have to wait for him" - and then decided on Gain after Heath and Rote were lost. For experience, Gene selected Collins, who, incidentally, is a 40-yard plus punter, and then knocked off Cone, the Clemson fullback, who averaged 4.99 yards in 153 attempts last fall...PAIR SCORED 170 POINTS: Cone and Stinson each scored 14 touchdowns in their senior seasons, with Cone adding two extra points. Thus, the pair registered 170 points, indicating that they are quite accustomed to crossing the goal line. Gain, incidentally, ranked third in the country last fall as an extra point kicker. He booted 37 out of 42 attempts. What's more the big guy kicks off and handles the field goal assignments. In George Blanda's senior year at Kentucky, Gain, then a sophomore, outkicked-off the present Bear foot artist. Pat Flanagan, the Kaukauna boy who starred at tackle for Marquette last fall, was chosen by the Giants on the 14th round. Flanagan is due to go into service quick-like. The University of Wisconsin has a number of likely pro prospects, but just about all of them are scheduled for Army duty in a hurry. The first Badger wasn't selected until the 16th round when the Cardinals took guard John Simcic.
PACKERS MIGHT GET TWO GAMES WITH CARDINALS NEXT FALL
JAN 19 (Chicago) - The Yanks and Giants are aching for a two-game league series next fall - like the Bears and Cardinals had in ' 50, despite the fact that they are members of opposite conferences. Providing such relief for Ted (Yank) Collins and Tim (Giant) Mara would require a slight change in the makeup of the two conferences. One suggested switch is particularly tasty to the Packers. This plan would move the Chicago Cardinals, coached by Curly Lambeau, to the National conference with the Packers, Bears, Lions, Rams and Forty-Niners and, in turn, move the Yanks into the American conference with the Browns, Steelers, Eagles, Redskins and Giants. Thus, under the normal program of playing home and home sets among members of the same conference, the Bears and Cardinals would protest their two-blow city go and the Yanks and Giants would get two cracks at each other. From our standpoint, the Packers would meet Lambeau twice and, of course, retain their traditional double twister with the Bears. To round out the 12-game card for each member, what with Baltimore out of the picture, the league probably will call for two games with "natural rivals" of the opposite conference instead of one as played last fall in the 13-team setup. The other 10 games would be home-and-homers with each team in the same conference. It's likely pressure will be brought forth for a possible change in conference team personnel. The Packers, incidentally, are working out a non-league program. Charley Johnson, sports editor of the Minneapolis Star-Journal, would like to have the Packers play in his city's new stadium next August. The Packers and Giants jammed rickety Nicollet park three years ago. The Packers may exhibit in Houston - Tobin Rote's hometown. A couple of teams, including the Eagles, are interested in playing the Packers in Milwaukee in the second annual Shrine game. They liked the fat check the Baltimores took home in the first Shrine affair last fall. How about the Browns for the benefit of Shrine kids! Pittsburgh's Art Rooney is getting fed up with all the fuss and worry about non-league games. He wants to book 'em on a home-and-home basis to cut out some of the annual dickering and bickering. Art, incidentally, would like such a program with the Packers. On the individual side, it would not seem out of place to report that Mr. Joel Hunt, backfield coach of the defunct Colts, is job hunting and would like very much to land on Coach Gene Ronzani's staff in Green Bay. Hunt said, "I like professional football and I'm going to stay in it." Joel, 46 and former head coach at the Universities of Georgia and Wyoming and backfield coach at LSU for six years, broke into pro football with Clem Crowe under Red Dawson at Buffalo in '49. At midseason with the record at 1-5, Crowe took over as head coach and Hunt remained as backfield coach and they finished the season with 5-1. With Wayne Milner, Crowe and Hunt moved into the Baltimore cemetery. Now all three are looking for work. Crowe, who has 13 mouths to feed (including 12 children) on his farm in New York, hasn't the slightest idea about '51; neither does Milner. During the course of the meeting, Ronzani plans to talk with all three. Bernie Masterson, reportedly seeking a job with the Packers, stepped into the press room during the draft for a brief period Thursday afternoon. Paul Christman, the Packer quarterback, seems pretty determined on retiring. Paul has left Wilson Sporting Goods and is working out plans to enter the automotive business. Christman admits that he "loves football, but...". Ronzani got quite a jar out of the report that he was headed for Illinois. "Nothing to it," he said. Incidentally, this isn't the first Big Ten school to covet Gene in the last four or five years. Old Papa Bear George Halas would never let him go. But Gene definitely interested in leaving professional football, believe me. After hearing that Baltimore was out, Ronzani laughed. "Now we can start a campaign for double picks for the Packers, Redskins, and Forty-Niners; all three of us need help." But the don't help one another in this business. One of the job seekers here is Charley Brock, former Packer center and line coach. Charley hopes to land an assistant coaching post with one of the NFL clubs and revealed that he will contact "all of them".
PRO GRID OWNERS TANGLE OVER ALIGNMENT OF TWO DIVISION
JAN 20 (Chicago) - Who's going to be in which conference and why! That was the sizzling subject of conversation around the Blackstone hotel today as the NFL's annual meeting snail-paced to the finish line. With the draft out of the way, a couple of new playing rules in the books and a player limit proposal about to be passed, the league prepared for a realignment fight that could last into Sunday - a slugfest that may to be settled by the master referee, Mr. Bert Bell. Technically, the league doesn't have a conference setup at the moment - simply because the 1950 division of teams was agreed upon at the merger session in Philadelphia a year ago for the duration of 1950 only...MAY LAST INTO NIGHT: Now it's up to the owners to (1) install the same alignment as last year and at the same time officially drop defunct Baltimore or (2) change it. The touchy problem is expected to come up this afternoon and the discussions may last far into the night. Normally, the settlement would have been made earlier, possibly Friday, but fireworks were postponed to permit oratory by silver-tongued Ted Collins, owner of the New York Yanks. Collins couldn't be present earlier because of his TV show, which is idle on Saturdays. Just about all of the clubs have some particular desire as to which conference they'd like to call "home". (The 1950 setup had the Packers, Bears, Lions, Forty Niners, Rams, Yanks and Colts in the National conference, and the Browns, Giants, Eagles, Steelers, Redskins and Cardinals in the American.) All of the special hopes carry advantages to the clubs expressing same. The Packers, for instance, naturally would like to move the Cardinals into the National and the New York Yanks into the American. That would give Green Bay a doubleheader with Sire Lambeau, match the Bears and Cardinals twice, permit the Yanks and Giants to launch an intra-city rivalry and preserve the famous Bear-Packer double bleeder..."CAN'T" PLAY TWO GAMES: Lest you get your hopes up, leave us present a few kinks. The Giants and Yanks and the New York Yanks into the American. That would give Green Bay a doubleheader with Sire Lambeau, match the Bears and Cardinals twice, permit the Yanks and Giants to launch an intra-city rivalry and preserve the famous Bear-Packer double bleeder..."CAN'T" PLAY TWO GAMES: Lest you get your hopes up, leave us present a few kinks. The Giants and Yanks "can't" play two games in NY for three years. Nobody seems to know why, but a bird or two around here says something about pride and a three-year merger agreement involving Giant owner Tim Mara and Mr. Collins. Officially, of course, it is reported that the Giants aren't wanting the Yanks in their conference because it would mean the same clubs playing twice in New York. Naturally, the same goes for Chicago with the Cards and Bears in the same loop/ The Packers, for instance, would be in Chicago twice. Well, what's wrong with that? Until 1950, the Packers have been making double rides to Chicago for 25 years or so. Unofficially, it's reported that the Bears want in the American (or eastern) conference, 'cause they don't want to make the expensive western trip. Nobody has quoted George Halas directly on his love for the east....PACKERS ARE SATISFIED: So let's not get excited. Besides, Halas picked up $48,000 in his first trip to LA last fall, added around $35,000 from San Francisco the next Sunday, and then returned to LA for the playoff and approximately $65,000. Money like that isn't available in the east often. The Packers are willing to stick with the same setup as in 1950 - if the aforementioned switch involving the Cards and Yanks can't be worked out. The Bay's main objective, of course, is to retain the traditional two-game series with the Bears. This is a must and everybody in the league realizes it. In Philly a year ago, Bell said that "we can't break up a 30-year rivalry like that." Dan Reeves, owner of the Rams, isn't too keen on switching the Yanks and Cards. "It would remove some of the metropolitan flavor," he said. Dan was talking about New York vs. Los Angeles games. However, he admitted that "it might be all right if we could pick up the New York clubs as our traditional rivals." He indicated that he'd also like to include the Cleveland Browns on his "rival" list. It's the hope of a lot of observers that the league doesn't plan from year to year - on the basis of the previous year's strong clubs. The objective would seem to be the establishment of a workable plan and keep it in force regardless of present strength of the clubs. In two or three years, clubs like the Packers, Redskins and Forty Niners may be in the spotlight...In rapid action Friday afternoon, the owners (1) made the tackle eligible play illegal; (2) ruled that in case of rain or a muddy field a new ball will be introduced at the start of the second, third and fourth quarters; (3) modified the rule pertaining to a punted ball downed by the punting team; and (4) defeated a recommendation that all teams be numbered according to position. Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani was definitely against removing the tackle-eligible play. It took away one of the many surprise elements of the game and, what's more, it was quite a success for the Packers last year. Five of the six tackle eligible plays worked for over 60 yards and the sixth missed because of a bad pass. More phases of a new player limit were to be discussed at this morning's meeting. For the moment, most of the clubs want the limit at 32, but pressure for a 28-player limit by the Steelers and one for 35 by the Redskins will be felt...MEETING BRIEFS: Bob Perina, the former Bear back who did some scouting for the Packers last fall, showed up at the meeting looking for Ronzani. Perina, a Marine veteran, said he might be interested in the Packer backfield. Bob is well-versed in the Packer "T". Thus, Perina joins Joel Hunt, the former Baltimore backfield coach, in the race for the Bay job...In announcing that Commissioner Bert Bell's salary had been raised from $30,000 to $40,000, Washington owner George Marshall explained, "We like our commissioner." All of the writers seconded Marshall's statement.
PLAYER DRAFT TO AID PACK IN 1951
JAN 20 (Chicago) - Barring any serious complications in the world situation, the Green Bay Packers' 1951 draft of college players will bolster the club considerably next fall. As Head Coach Gene Ronzani put, "We called our draft selections to help us chiefly in 1951 - not in two or three years from now." Twenty five of the 28 players made available to Green Bay via the choices during the annual draft here Thursday and Friday are comparatively "safe" from military chores. Of the 25, a total of 22 had previous military service, two are non-veteran married boys with children, and one is a 4-F. Two of the remaining three have "D" classifications, meaning that they are presently members of reserve components. The "odd" man, tackle Bill Miller of Ohio State, was grabbed as one of those too-good-to-take-a-chance-on selections on the 26th round - after the Packers had pretty well stocked up on available-for-play tackles. Little was known of Miller's draft status, although Ohio writers here report that he is "only 23" and probably subject to service soon. Miller, by the way, is the Big Ten's heavyweight wrestling champion, plays mostly defense, and stacks 228 pounds on a 6-3 frame. He's also a weightman in track. Among the 25 "available" are two juniors who have another year of eligibility left. Because their classes already have graduated, the Packers were able to draft them. One is 4-F, highly-touted Dick Afliss, a tackle from Nevada, and the other is Ed Withers, expert colored defensive back from Wisconsin, who has had previous military service. The two non-veteran married boys with youngsters are both centers - Carl Kreager of Michigan, the 12th choice, and Bob Bossons of Georgia Tech, 27th...MAINLY OFFENSIVE EMPLOYEE: Bossons comes highly recommended as a linebacker while Kreager is mainly an offensive employee. Kreager, a 215-pounder, is
something of a self-made gridder. He labored as a not-so-safe fourth stringer as a sophomore, and finally spearheaded the big Michigan line in his senior season. He was given a big assist toward winning the Ohio State game, played in zero weather and a snow storm. He went the entire game without making a bad pass and played without games. The "D" boys are big dealers for their respective races - Bob Gain, the All-American tackle from Kentucky who was the Bays' No. 1 choice, and George Rooks, giant Negro halfback from Morgan State. After drafting Rooks, Ronzani winked, "Now we got a roommate for Bob Mann." Mann is the Packers' Negro pass receiving end. Packer scouts, after hearing of Rooks for weeks, got a look at him against Wilburforce college the night before the Colt-Packer game in Baltimore last fall. The 215-pound pile-driver ripped off 150 yards. Ronzani thinks Rooks can become another Marion Motley. Joining Rooks in the set-for-Army-duty category, Gain could become the first tackle to kick. As to selecting no guards, Ronzani said he intends to switch two or three of the tackles into "big, fast moving guards." In addition, some of the crashing ends may perform as tackles under Ronzani's defensive plans - the equivalent of four tackles in a five-man line. Gene is bent on fielding a powerful line, offensively and defensively. Ronzani might have something up his sleeve on a quarterback, although he figures Joe Ernst, the quarterback from Tulane, may make Tobin Rote a good understudy. Ernst had a 54 percent pitching average last fall and eight of his tosses went for TDs. He stands six feet and weighs 185. Ray Pelfrey, the back from Eastern Kentucky State, can also play quarterback, Ronzani said, indicating that he'll be in line for QB work. Pelfrey is a good-sized kid, 6-1 and 195. He played both quarterback and halfback, oddly enough, in college. Probably the top defensive - chiefly against passes - standout is Bill Sutherland, an end from St. Vincent college (Pa.). Sutherland has been catching passes on offense and playing the outfield on defense. He's the Rebel Steiner type, a tough mixer with speed enough to handle a defensive assignment. Speaking about ends, Art Felker, captain of Marquette last fall, is considered one of the better defensive wings in the country. A 205 pounder, Art is a brother of Wisconsin's Gene, also an end, who is a junior. A total of 362 players were drafted by the 12 clubs and the figure includes 18 players nabbed off a list of 55 or 60 members (active and reservists) of the defunct Baltimore Colts tossed into the college pool. The Packers picked up one Colt, halfback or fullback Rip Collins, the third best punter in the old All-America conference in 1949. A combination of military requirements and the additional Colt players left a goodly number of college stars as free agents. As a result, a number of college boys who never "made" the draft will find their way into pro grid camps next year. The Packers will officially "greet" their new draftees with telegrams to be sent out early next week.
PACKERS 'SITTING PRETTY' AS HOT REALIGNMENT FIGHT CONTINUES
JAN 22 (Chicago) - The Green Bay Packers were "sitting pretty" today as the NFL continued throwing blocks into the game's great halfback - divisional B. realignment. The "B" stands for Bears, who though their master, George Halas, have organized a definite campaign to: (1) Get into the American, or Eastern, conference and thus restore some of their old rivalries with the New York Giants and Washington Redskins, and (2) maintain a "fluid" alignment in future years. The Packers representatives, President Emil R. Fischer, Chairman of the Board Lee H. Joannes and Head Coach Gene Ronzani, have one objective in this fight: to keep the traditional two-game Bear-Packer chiller intact! Halas, himself, respects the series and wants it continued. The Bear owner-coach told us last night that "I definitely want to continue playing the Packers two league games every season." Asked how he thought the series could continue if the Bears were admitted to the American conference, Halas stated, "I would recommend that the Packers are shifted with us to the American loop. Then you (the Packers) would also have a fine two-game series with the Cleveland Browns."..."SERIES MUST CONTINUE": Halas, as the reporters gathered around, said, "Why, we've played 60-odd games already - more than Harvard and Yale, I believe. No, our series must continue." The Bears and Packers played their 64th and 65th games last fall and the nightcap in Chicago drew over 51,000 fans - a record for Wrigley field, the Bears' home acres. The Bear battle in Green Bay always draws capacity, close to 26,000, which, in money, is equivalent to a crowd of 35,000 or 40,000 in most other parks. Thus, with both principals solidly behind the famed Bear-Packer series, longest in pro football and one of the longest in all football (the Cards and Bears have played 58 games), it's for certain that Packer delegates aren't losing a lot of sleep. Fischer and Joannes agree that the Packers aren't fretting about the long trip to the west coast. Halas reportedly didn't like the expense item but observers in the press room laughed that off with: "If the Bears can't afford to go west, then they might as well not have any clubs in California."...ALL HAVE PET IDEAS: All of the clubs have their pet ideas on how the divisions should be arranged and each particular club, of course, has its own interests at heart. A thousand and one have been jotted down on everything but the walls. Generally, the representatives seem to favor a basic division arrangement - one that can be carried out each year. However, Halas wants to keep it "fluid" - unlike baseball where the teams of the two leagues never meet except in the World Series. Which means, if Halas is successful with his idea, the league would have a "realignment" fight on it hands every year. Club representatives, now in their fifth day of deliberation - a day and a half overtime - must settle the alignment issue themselves despite earlier reports that Commissioner Bert Bell would step in and decided himself. In fact, Sunday night, Bell told reporters that "I am not going to decide, period." A reporter wondered what he'd do if the clubs deliberated until next July. Winked Bell, "I've got short sleeves on my shirt so I won't be uncomfortable next July." Regardless, some of the delegates figure the issue may be settled by tonight. Joannes said that, "We've got to do it now, because, with possibilities of conference team changes, exhibition plans could be damaged considerably."...ON "SWING SHIFT": The Packers are set to go on a "swing shift" here. Fischer went up to Green Bay over the weekend to make arrangements to clear the way for tonight's meeting of the Packer stockholders and he's prepared to return to relieve Joannes in case the meeting goes into Tuesday. Ronzani has been attending all of the business meetings - one of a few coaches in the sacred rooms. Oddly enough, the league didn't officially discuss the alignment problem Sunday. Instead, after hours of discussion, they approved a motion allowing teams to televise their home games if the visiting team will be permitted to pipe the game back home, provided another league game isn't being played there. It also will be permissible for both teams to TV or broadcast games into any and all open territory not controlled by another club. The action will increase pro grid TV by 75 percent. The San Francisco Forty Niners presented two motions, both defeated. The league defeated a motion made by the Forty Niners prohibiting clubs from trading their first choice in the draft or their bonus pick. Another Forty Niner motion, calling for double picks in the draft by teams finishing below .500 in the previous season, was also defeated. The league passed a motion permitting the use of white or silver pants at night games. Previously, white pants were barred so everybody wore both. Now clubs can use either and smart backs can continue to hide the ball, generally white, against their white or silver pants. Another motion passed called for a $15,000 guarantee for each team in exhibition games not sponsored by one of the clubs involved - unless there has been a previous commitment. Normally, a league club "sponsoring" a non-loop game makes its own deal with the visiting team - such as when the Packers played the Cardinals and Colts last fall.
ED BELL WANTS TO PLAY AGAIN; STRADER 'SOLVES' REALIGNMENT
JAN 22 (Chicago) - Ed Bell, the former Packer guard-tackle, stopped in to chat with Coach Gene Ronzani. The ex-Indiana star, idle in 1950 while establishing his baby-clothes business here, would like to play next fall. He’s still on the Packer reserve list…Nobody drafted Bob Petruska, the Wisconsin quarterback, halfback and defensive back. One of many well-known collegians excluded, Petruska is an example of versatility. He started 1950 as the Badgers’ No. 1 quarterback, lost the job to Johnny Coatta, a junior, and then set his heart on halfback and defensive toil. In the finale against Minnesota, Petruska practically won the game along on his great running…Club representatives were so middle up in their alignment discussion Saturday that they couldn’t even agree on adjourning for lunch, the vote finishing in a 6-6 tie. Commissioner Bert Bell cast the deciding vote to eat. Sunday, there was such a lack of news, especially for the big city writers who have hourly “leads” to write, that Bell, a thoughtful soul, came out and gave his own impressions of the TV situation. What the writers wanted, of course, was his view on the alignment, but he wouldn’t give…A copy of the pro bowl game film, a 30-minute thriller, will be sent to each club in the league. The coaches and writers previewed the movie Saturday…Ray Bauer, the Packers’ 4-A draftee from Montana, was recommended by ex-Packer Ed Frutig. Bauer, a six-foot, one-inch 190 pound end, was one of the top pass receivers in the country last year, catching 32 for 563 yards and three TDs…The Redskins and Forty Niners, like the Packers (they finished in a three-way bottom tie above Baltimore), devised their draft to help them next fall. Washington reported that 25 of their 30 selections will be available next fall, barring a tougher military draft, while San Francisco expects to have 24 available, including Y.A. Tittle, the former Colt quarterback. The Packers, of course, have only three “doubtfuls” in their list of 28…Cardinal Coach Curly Lambeau didn’t draft a quarterback but he has Bob Gamboldi of Washington State coming up as the result of the draft made a year ago by the old Cardinal regime. Both Jim Hardy and Frank Tripucka are married and reportedly coming back to the Cards. There’s a report around her that a lot of the “old” Cardinals will be on the trading block…Oddly enough, two of the clubs drafted a college coach and two Army officers. The Redskins snagged Adrian Burk, the ex-Colt QB who has already signed as backfield coach at Florida. The Army gents due to three years of military duty are Al Pollard and Dan Foldberg…After hearing of the bickering over the expense of traveling to the west coast, Yank Coach Red Strader thinks that the collective expense for all games should be pooled each week, with each club being charged one-twelfth of the total. This would mean that it would cost the Packers as much to play the Bears in Green Bay as it would the Yanks to meet the Rams in Los Angeles. Sounds sensible but Strader’s plan won’t come before the meeting because his club’s desires are being handled by Ted Collins. Ted, by the way, left Sunday afternoon for his TV show in NY this morning and left the Yank arguments in the hands of General Manager Frank Fitzgerald.
BELL TO DECIDE NFL DIVISIONS
JAN 23 (Green Bay) - Commissioner Bert Bell (I won’t do it) Bell started doing it today – aligning the conferences of the NFL. The Packers, meanwhile, awaited Bell’s decision – with fingers crossed. The honorable Mr. Bell, who earns forty thousand bucks per years, was handed the task of making up the divisions at the National league’s annual meeting in Chicago late Monday night, thus ending a six-day parley – longest in the 32-year history of the loop. The motion to let Bell handle everything and thus end more than 50 hours of haggling was presented by Philadelphia’s Paul Lewis and seconded by Los Angeles Ram prexy Dan Reeves. Here’s what Bell will do: (1) Draw up a set of three divisions and appropriate schedules and (2) mail them out to the loop’s 12 clubs. If 11 agree on any one of his setups, it will become permanent. But if this majority is lacking, it will become mandatory for only one year. Bell expects to have proposals out in two weeks. A 48-hour limit on returns was agreed…ANOTHER ALIGNMENT FIGHT: Chance are, Bell’s proposal will not be permanent because at least half of the clubs are in favor of keeping the alignment fluid so it can be changed from time to time. Because of the different view offered at the meeting, it’s likely that the team's representatives will vote something like 6-6 or 7-5 “for” Bell’s proposal. Which means that there will probably be another alignment fight a year from now! The Packers, officially represented by President Emil R. Fischer, Board Chairman Lee H. Joannes and Head Coach Ronzani, were anxious to receive Bell’s setup so that action can be taken on a non-league schedule. Five games may be played. Under league rules, exhibition contests cannot be played between members of the same conference. The Packers, for instance, had designs on the Cleveland Browns or Eagles for the Shrine non-looper in Milwaukee, but if the Packers wind up in the American conference, which is possible, the Browns and Eagles, also due to play in the American, could not be signed as opponents…WAIVE ON AGREEMENT: However, it’s conceivable that Bell will waive on a league agreement barring exhibitions between teams of the same division. He did last year permit the Browns and Pittsburgh to play in Buffalo. What’s more, the Lions and Giants expect to stage a Doak Walker vs. Kyle Rote battle in Dallas regardless of the divisional setup. The Packers have an exhibition pending with Washington in Houston. In addition, there may games played in Kansas City and Minneapolis. Then there’s the battle with Curly Lambeau’s Cardinals. But there'd be no disappointment if an exhibition with the Cards was traded for one or two league battles with Lambeau. Fingers crossed? The Bays want the two-game series with the Bears and, when Bell's proposal arrives at the Bay office, you can bet team officials will look-see in a hurry at which conferences the Bears and Packers are in. However, Bell, himself, is definitely in favor of retaining traditional rivals - especially the league's oldest one, the Bear-Packer. During a coffee-and-sandwich session Monday noon, Bell told the writers that "the Bears and Packers have sold out in Green Bay for 20 consecutive yards and the Bear-Packer game in Chicago has been a sellout in 17 out of the last 20 years. We can't break up anything like that."..."BRINGS IN LOT OF MONEY": With a smile, Bell added: "And don't forget, boys, that Green Bay park brings in a lot of money." He explained that Green Bay has the highest average admission, around $3.15. It was added that a sellout in Green Bay is the equivalent of a 35 or 40,000 crowd in most other league parks. Oddly enough, it was during this timeout that Bell repeated his "I won't do it" statement of earlier in the meeting. The writer "bet" that Bell would have to settle it but he gulped and said: "Listen, that's their baby, my boy, and they'll have to settle it - I'm not going to do it." The other principal in the Bruin-Bay rivalry, Bruin Coach George Halas, stated flatly that "I want to continue playing the Packers two games every year."...KEEP TWO-GAME RIVALRIES: During the Sunday and Monday sessions, many different plans for realignment were presented. The Packers, through Joannes and Ronzani, suggested that the Packers and Bears switch divisions with the Cardinals and Browns. This would preserve the Bears two-game rivalries with the Cardinals and Packers. But this proposal wasn't agreeable to Mickey McBride, owner of the Browns. And so it went. With hotel officials breathing down their necks, the clubs were glad to hand the thing over to Bell, who apparently took the "hot potato"only as a last resort. Naturally, Bell's setup will not be agreeable to all of the clubs...BARKLEY COMING IN: The league had promised to be out of the hotel early Sunday and the extension forced cancellation of scores of rooms for convention guests, who arrived Sunday noon. What's more, Vice President Alben Barkley was due today and was assigned the four-room television-equipped suite held by George Marshall, owner of the Redskins. An issue was avoided when the meeting ended as it did but Marshall said he was determined to keep his quarters even if President Truman had been assigned to them. The Packers got out as quickly as possible Monday morning and, if the meeting had gone into today, they probably would have joined other delegates in the halls. At the start of the meeting, some of the representatives were sent to the Stevens hotel across the street.
PACKERS PROFIT $13,000 IN '50
JAN 23 (Green Bay) - Six months made a lot of difference in the atmosphere at the annual stockholders' meeting of the Green Bay Packers Monday night. This meeting was in considerable contrast to the one held last June when the Packers were just getting started on their reorganization. Principal items of interest at this year's meeting: (1) the announcement that the Packers showed a profit of almost $13,000 on 1950 operations, and (2) reelection of all present officers and directors of the corporation. Revenue and expense statements for the year is reproduced on this page. In the balance sheet read by William J. Servotte, finance committee chairman, the total assets of the corporation, as of Dec. 31, were given as $176,58, of which $149,512 are in cash in banks or its equivalent. This is compared with current liabilities of $10,901. The figure of $149,512 represents over $100,000 taken in on the stock sale last year in addition to other accumulate cash. Money taken in on sales of stock of course is not included in the yearly revenues, but goes immediately into the capital account of the corporation. The financial statement showed that not only did the Packers make money on their year's operations, but still have untouched the large sum of working capital raised last year...EXECUTIVE GROUP REELECTED: Fred Leicht, chairman of the nominating committee, announced that the 10 directors whose terms expired Jan. 1 each received the largest number of votes in the balloting by stockholders on a slate of 20 candidates for positions on the board. He moved their election, and the meeting approved this unanimously. They are Servotte, Russell Bogda, Frank J. Jonet, Walter Scherf, H.J. Bero, Dominic Olejnczak and C.J. Renard of Green Bay; August Reimer of De Pere; Ed Schuster of Denmark and Henry Washburn of Sturgeon Bay. Directors in their meeting following that of the stockholders reelected their present officers: Emil R. Fischer, president; L.H. Joannes,chairman of the board; Gene Ronzani, vice president; and Frank J. Jonet, secretary-treasurer. The executive committee was also reelected, including the four officers, Servotte, Bogda, Bero, Leicht, Verne Lewellen, Fred Trowbridge, John Torinus and Max Murphy. Coach Ronzani was unable to be present for the meeting since he was still attending the National league meeting in Chicago. President Fischer, in his remarks, paid tribute to "all the people who've helped the Packers so much in the last year and who have made my job so easy and so pleasant." He mentioned the fans, the stockholders, the directors, the executive committee and such other groups as the Packer Alumni association, the Quarterback club and the Minute men, specifically. "That had a lot to do with putting us back in the plus column," he said, "and I am sure now that we're going to stay there. One thing we can say for sure is that we are going to be in pro football in this community for a long time to come." Fischer also said that "if you examine Coach Ronzani's draft choice at Chicago carefully, and if you know the background of the players he selected, you will come to the conclusion that Gene is going to come up with a pretty fair football team next year. Gene drafted for this coming season. And every player he selected we know to be a player who will be here next fall ready and willing to play football." General plans for an all-out season ticket sale this season were also discussed, which will come shortly after the fall schedule is released. About 100 of the some 1,600 stockholders attended the session.
PACK SEND 'GREETING' TO COLLEGE DRAFT PICKS
JAN 24 (Green Bay) - The Packer draftee are due to get their "greetings" any day now. For 22 of 'em, it will be their second draft notice, the first being a message from Uncle Sam for service in World War II. The Packers won't be as formal as old Mr. Red, White and Blue who dispatched a concise form missive telling the recipient that he has been telling the recipient that he has been selected for military duty. The 28 boys, selected by the Packers in the college draft in Chicago last week, will
receive telegrams from Head Coach Gene Ronzani officially informing them that they've been chosen by the Packers for pro football duty next fall. Ronzani hasn't composed the message yet but chances are it won't begin with "greetings". The wires will go something like this: "Happy to have selected you in the college draft. Know you will enjoy playing with the Packers as much as we wish to have you on our team." A good share of the 22 boys who had serve in World War II are married and have children. Two of the athletes, centers Carl Kreager of Michigan and Bob Bossons of Georgia Tech, are married but have had no previous war service...TWO TO BE CALLED UP SOON: Dick Afliss, giant tackle from Nevada, is the only 4F in the crew. Afliss, however, is a junior and won't be available until the following season. One other junior was chosen - back Ed Withers, a colored defensive star from Wisconsin. Withers was in World War II. Two, and possibly three, are due to be called up soon. One is All-America tackle Bob Gain of Kentucky, Ronzani's first choice. The other is powerful fullback George Rooks of Morgan State. They are both 1D, members of reserve components in school. The third is tackle Bill Miller of Ohio State, a 23-year-old whose military status is unknown. Ronzani designed the Packer draft to provide playing talent for next fall. The Redskins and Forty Niners, who finished in a percentage tie with Green Bay, also stocked up with 4A's, etc...TWO PLAYERS ALREADY IN: The Packers already have felt the military draft. The day after the season ended center Clayton Tonnemaker stepped into fatigues and backer-up Bob Forte, a reserve officer, went into duty the first week in January. Halfback Larry Coutre and guard Len Szafaryn recently underwent physical examinations. In all the Packers drafted 30 players, but two of them went to the Cleveland Browns in payment on trades made last fall. The Browns "asked" Green Bay to pick Bob Smith, Texas back, and Art Spinney, former Baltimore end. Smith is 1D and Spinney already is in service. The Browns, like the Bears and Rams, drafted mostly for the future. Ronzani went in for big, powerful tackles and defensive ends. Actually, he didn't draft any guard, but he expects to switch a tackle or two in that position. The trend in defensive football is toward a four-tackle line, a strong center and fast-moving backers-up...TACKLES AVERAGE 243 POUNDS: The Bay coach, for instance, picked 13 tackles and end. The tackles average 243 pounds and the ends 208. Only one end goes under 200 - Ray Bauer of Montana, who is primarily a pass catcher at 6-1 and 190. He was recommended by Ed Frutig, the ex-Packer. The four fullbacks average 201 points. Largest of the group is Rooks, a pile-driving Negro at 214. The eight halfbacks average 187 pounds. Biggest of the group is Charles Monte of Hillsdale (Mich.), who carries 195 while the smallest is the talented Wade Stinson of Kansas, who packs 180. Stinson ranked fifth in the country last year in ground gaining, with 1,129 yards.
PACKERS ARE ON THE RIGHT FOOT
JAN 24 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers completed their 32nd year in professional football with a profit of $12,990.49 and with well over a million dollars worth of enthusiasm and good will. While the cash profit is not that large for a corporation with receipts of $661,200.58, it should be remembered that only a year ago the Packer management was selling stock to the public and fully expected to dip into $100,000 thus raised while rebuilding the new Packers. In fact, Green Bay had just closed a disastrous season and, in addition, had suffered heavy losses in the Rockwood Lodge fire. The stadium was in need of repairs, and the entire Packer organization was torn in strife. The firm leaders who took up the task of rebuilding the tottering structure have won a tremendous success. Whereas they had set the goal at holding the losses to possibly $30,000 they have actually rolled up to a profit of $13,000. This was accomplished by team spirit, good management, fine coaching and some great playing. The officers, directors and the coach who were all returned to office at the annual meeting surely deserved it. The Packers had a fine year, but they will need the same drive, the same cooperation and the same good fortune for several more seasons before they will be safely and firmly established as a going concern.
WHAT! ALL QUIET ON PRO COACHING FRONT?
JAN 25 (Green Bay) - Come to think of it, there wasn't one coach announced as hired or fired at the NFL draft and business parley in Chicago the other five days and nights. In fact, the only coachy transaction saw the Washington Redskins select a coach in their player draft - quarterback Adrian Burk, who several weeks ago had signed as the backfield coach at the University of Florida. Leave it to the Redskins, or rather Owner George Preston Marshall, to pull the dizzy. Not long ago he appointed his head coach, Herman Ball, athletic director of the Redskins and told him to go out and find a head coach. Ball, a pleasant fellow, took his new title good-naturedly under ribbing from the writers like: "Have you started your basketball program yet?" and "will receipts from the football team permit you to send your fencing team to Vassar?" However, word seems to have leaked out Ball will (1) lose his athletic directorship, (3) regain his head coachship, and (3) get a few new assistants. All of which makes the Packers and Redskins probably the only teams looking for assistant coaches, although a rumor in Chicago had the Cardinals in the same market. Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani needs a backfield coach. Two days before the meeting, Ray Nolting tendered his resignation. Joel Hunt, who became unemployed when the Baltimore Colts were interred, said he's like like work as the Packer' backfield coach. The former Colt and Buffalo Bill mentor, 47, who discussed the Bay position with Ronzani, held a number of college jobs before going into pro football. With Nolting's resignation being entirely unexpected, Ronzani
was more or less unprepared to do much coach hunting what with the press of the player draft and other business. Gene joked yesterday, "maybe we can wait until July." Ray McLean, head coach at Lewis college and a former teammate of Ronzani with the Bears, hashed with Ronzani and other coaches during the meeting. So did Paul Christman, the Packer quarterback. Paul, incidentally, says, "I'm fixin' to retire and go into the automobile business." As to the Cardinals, Backfield Coach Cecil Isbell may get the Texas university job vacated by Blair Cherry, thus putting Head Coach Curly Lambeau in the market for a backfield aide. Isbell, the former Packer passer, had college coaching experience as head mentor at Purdue..."SNICKER" AT BROWN MOVE: If Marshall (or rather Ball) adds new assistants at Washington, backfield mentor Wilbur Moore or Line Coach Max Reed will be looking for work. It's possible Ball will insist on keeping this pair. They were selected by Ball, himself. The writers were inclined to snicker at reports that Paul Brown was planning to quit the Cleveland Browns. Brown has been mentioned prominently as the next head coach at Southern California or Ohio State. Brown reportedly gets $30,000 for mentoring the Browns plus a cut on the profits which gives him a total of $50,000 for the season - $10,000 more than Commissioner Bert Bell. Besides, Brown, with no alumni nipping, has security with the Browns. The story goes that USC or OS could match his salary, with financial assistance from the alumni, but a bad season or two could easily restult in a tightening of the purse strings by said alumni. Would little Mickey McBride, owner of the Browns, ever let a "little" money stand between Brown and the Browns? Not as long as Mickey's cabs and other interests keep running in Cleveland. Slick Paul is an asset to the National league. The shrewd fellow has yet to lose his first pro gird title after six seasons!
STINSON BEATS 'ARMY' INJURY TO STAR ON GRID
JAN 26 (Green Bay) - Spirit, the viral quality that makes football teams and players great, is one of the outstanding attributes of a recent Packer draft choice. When Coach Gene Ronzani selected Wade Stinson for the Green Bay professional grid team during the college player draft, he picked a solid, top notch halfback, who radiates spirit, determination and talent. The University of Kansas backfield ace has had to overcome tremendous obstacles to rate as Kansas' greatest offensive ball carrier in history. One of the barriers for the hard charging back was his lack of knowledge about 11-man football. Coming from a small Kansas town, Wade had played only six-man ball in high school. When he first checked out a suit at Kansas, he was thrown into competition with such players as Ray Evans and Bud French. Another rival for the backfield post was Forrest Griffith, who had a fine year with the New York Giants until sidelined by a skull fracture in midseason. That 1947 Kansas team, coached by ex-Packer George Sauer, went to the Orange bowl...LIEUTENANT IN TANK CORPS: Stinson's biggest handicap was due to a physical deficiency. Although not big, the 180-pounder had enough heft and height, six feet, to make the team. But an Army injury had cost Wade three fingers on his right hand. He was a lieutenant in the Army tank corps and suffered the loss of three digits during training prior to being shipped overseas. For some time, service doctors debated whether or not to amputate his entire right hand. Only Stinson's courage and top-notch surgery prevented the amputation of the hand. It took Stinson two years to make his presence felt. The coaches were reluctant to use him due to the service injury, but when he finally cracked the lineup he was there to stay. As a junior, he made the starting backfield and rated as the best leather lugger in camp at the start of the past season. Most of the Kansas University publicity was directed toward a sophomore flash, Charlie Hoag, a resident of Oak Park, Ill., who chose Kansas over several Big Ten schools and some major independent universities. Hoag set the pace in the first two KU games, but from the third game on, it was all Stinson. The husky banker's son broke all Kansas ground gaining records. He finished fifth in the nation with over 1,100 yards. In one game (against Utah), he plunged and sped for 229 yards in 23 attempts, a neat 9.9 average. Speed and all-out effort gained Stinson all-conference honors on every Big Seven list last season. He polled as many votes as Oklahoma's more publicized Leon Heath in two tabulations. Only Bobby Reynolds, Nebraska's sophomore All-American, finished higher than Stinson in the conference ground gaining books and the Cornhusker sensation had to set an all-time Big Seven mark to keep ahead of the unheralded Stinson. Packer fans don't have to worry about Stinson fumbling frequently as a result of his physical handicap. In 10 games last season, the Randall, Kansas powerhouse bobbled the ball only eight times, twice on poor pitchouts from the quarterback. Wade wears a special glove to help him maintain control of the ball, but Jayhawk fans tell you it is by sheer determination that he hands onto the oval. The Stinson Story, and the movies could, and have, done worse in selecting plots, had many other angles. Wade was an accomplished pianist before losing his fingers. He had been offered a scholarship to a widely-known music conservatory before entering the Army. Displaying the same spirit he flashes on the grid grass, the youthful football star learned to play the piano all over again, using his left hand more frequently. He admits to being out of the concert class, but friends are amazed at his proficiency on the keyboard...GRADUATES IN FEBRUARY: A sure tackler and a crisp blocker, the small town powerhouse will make a valuable addition to the Packers, if he signs. He was a star basketball player in high school and still rates as a better-than-average shooter and a rugged rebounder on the hardwoods. Due to graduate in February with a business administration degree, Stinson had planned to work in Chicago as an insurance salesman. He is also planning to get married, according to the latest word from Lawrence, home of Kansas university. It will take a lot of convincing to make Big Seven fans believe that the Packers picked an unknown and untested lemon in Stinson, despite the lack of national publicity given his exploits. They point to his record in the North-South game recently. Stinson was the leading ball carrier for both sides as his Southern team whipped the favored North squad. If he signs with the local professional football entry, fans may be sure that Stinson's spirit in is the great Packer tradition - the best there is.
FOUR-YEAR SCHEDULE PROPOSED FOR NFL CLUBS BY BELL
JAN 31 (Green Bay) - Packer officials have been assured by NFL Commissioner Bert Bell that his four-year "fair and equitable" schedule will include four home-and-home sets with the Chicago Bears - Green Bay's traditional rival. However, if the four-year plan becomes permanent, the Packers and Bears would play one game every fifth year. In other words, the Packers and Bears would play two game set in 1951-52-53-54, one game in '55, and then start on the two-game series again in 1956. The plan, which has not been received by the Packers as year, does not change the divisional structure of the league and sends every club to the west coast an equal number of times. Thus, the Packers would remain in the National conference with the Bears, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Detroit and New York Yanks. In the American loop are Cleveland, New York Giants, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington and the Chicago Cardinals...HALAS WANTS SERIES: Under the Bell plan, each team would play home and home series with four clubs in its own conference and one game with the remaining member of its division. The other three games of a 12-game schedule would be with teams from the opposite conference. The three games would change every year. Packer officials, President Emil R. Fischer,
games would change every year. Packer officials, President Emil R. Fischer, Board Chairman Lee H. Joannes and Head Coach Gene Ronzani, were assured by Bell at the recent NFL meetings in Chicago that the Bear-Packer doubleheader would be retained. Bear Coach George Halas, himself, expressed the view that the two-game series should be kept intact. Packer officials were pleased with the idea of meeting clubs from the other conference on a league-game basis. For example, the Packers would be assured loop games with the Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles and Curly Lambeau's Chicago Cardinals - among others - under the four-year plan...DUE IN MAIL YESTERDAY: Packer officials agreed that Bell's proposal seemed "fair and equitable". However, they still have yet to look over Bell's official proposals, which were due in the mail yesterday. Bell emphasized in Philadelphia that, under his proposal, all teams would play each other at least once over the four-year period. The basis of the schedule is interchanging of "traditional" rivals. The portly commissioner, whose yearly salary was boosted from $30,000 to $40,000 at the annual meeting in Chicago 10 days ago, said only "traditional rivalries remaining stationary would be those between the Bears and Cardinals and the New York Giants and Yanks. The Cards and Bears and Yanks and Giants are the only two-team cities. Their rivalry is a natural." The entire problem of schedule making was tossed into Bell's lap when the owners were unable to agree on a proper alignment of teams and a schedule at their annual meeting. In desperation, the clubs told Bell to work out a plan and submit it for approval...NEW TEAMS NOT CONSIDERED: It takes 11 of the 12 club votes to pass the proposal and make it permanent. However, Bell can install his plan over owner dissent if he is convinced it is the fairest one possible. Asked if he had considered the possibility of new teams being admitted in working out the schedule, Bell said "No". The defunct Baltimore Colts are included in the four year plan worked out by Bell. Bell said the schedules he had submitted to the owners do not include dates and does not promise anything more than equalization of games. While the commissioner wouldn't comment on whether he thought the owners themselves would approve the proposal, a league source indicated prompt approval would be a surprise. This spokesman, who declined to be identified, said the commissioner probably will listen to any complaints, weigh them and then make the final verdict himself under the power granted him by the constitution.
PACKERS RECEIVE OFFICIAL COPY OF BELL'S 'FAIR' NFL SCHEDULE
FEB 1 (Green Bay) - The official copy of the "fair and equitable" schedule prepared by NFL Commissioner Bert Bell has been received by Packer officials here. Officials had no comment other than the four-year card called for two Packer-Bear games in each of the next four seasons - 1951-52-53-54 - and that the divisional structure remains the same as last year. The Packers will return it to the commissioner with their official vote. Bell also has invited club representatives to write in suggestions. If the plan is approved by 11 of the 12 clubs, it will become permanent. Otherwise, Bell can order it into force for at least one season. The Packers, as well as other clubs, are anxious to settle the league schedule so that arrangements can be completed for non-loop contests. The league had a rule against non-league games between teams of the same conference or between teams that will meet later in the season in regular league competition, although exceptions have been made in the past. Bell's plan includes home and home games with teams in the same loop, a single game with the fifth club in the same division, and three games with clubs of the opposite conference.
PACKER DRAFTEES HOT FOR '51 TEAM
FEB 2 (Green Bay) - How about these quotes for Packer enthusiasm: "Green Bay did not waste a choice in drafting me." "I'll put my nose to the grindstone and make your ball club." "I feel that making the Packers would be the top for me." "I will do all in my power to vindicate the confidence of those whom made it possible for me to have this opportunity to become a member of the Packers." Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani already has received written responses from 14 of the 28 boys chosen in the annual pro draft. And the comments, like those above, are most heartening to Ronzani, who has installed Pride-In-The-Packers as one of the planks in his rebuilding platform. Shortly after Ronzani and his staff made the selections, the following telegram was sent to each draftee: "We were fortunate in selecting you at our annual pro draft meeting, expecting you to become one of our 1951 Packers - the pro team in the town with the college spirit. Hope you are as happy to become a Packer as we are." It is interesting to note that none of the boys used the blunt statement, "How much?" All of which is a good indication of the caliber of players chosen. Most of them requested "further particulars", however, and practice dates, etc. All of them told of their military status. The 240-pound tackle from John Carroll, Sigmund Holowenko, who was the No. 6 selection, said in part: "Being selected by your Packers makes me both proud and happy. Later in the year, I will make a terrific attempt and prove that Green Bay did not waste a choice in selecting me."...ASKS ADVICE ON POSITION: For confidence, Ronzani said he couldn't ask for "anybody better". Fred Cone, the fullback from Clemson who was the No. 3 choice, wanted advice on whether he should concentrate on fullback or halfback. Here's what he said: "I am honored by the fact that I have a chance to play with your Packers. I would like to know if you think I could help myself by running from the "T" during Clemson's spring practice. I am not required to go out at all, but the graduating seniors had planned to run the "T" against Clemson's single wing for their benefit. I played fullback on the single wing. Do you think I should run from fullback or halfback?" Long Ralph Fieler of Miami university, a six-foot, six-incher who packs 230 pounds, was a sensation at Miami in 1949, but had a comparatively "mild" year in '50. He apparently has made up his mind on his future. He wrote: "I feel fortunate in getting a chance at pro football and will put my nose to the grindstone and make your ball club. Will do my best to be a member of the '51 Packers."...CHAMPIONSHIP IN GREEN BAY: Tackle Dick McWilliams of Michigan, the ninth choice, was highly optimistic over Green Bay's future: "I received your wire and I might say that I, too, was glad to be drafted by the Packers. Graduate at the end of this month. Here's hoping that the professional football championship for 1951 comes to Green Bay." McWillliam's teammate, center Carl Kreager, the Packers' 12th choice, wrote: "Very much interested and would be very happy to play for Green Bay. Married and feel quite certain that I will be available next fall." Art Felker, the crashing defensive and offensive end from Marquette, thanked the Packer organization for selecting him in the draft and added: "Naturally, every athlete has high hopes of reaching the top in their particular sport and I feel that playing with the Packers would be the top for me. I have confidence in my ability to play pro ball and would enjoy doing so with the Packers." Halfback Wade Stinson, the 1,100-yard back from Kansas, had a "local" touch: "It was truly an honor to be chosen by you at the pro draft meeting. That is something I though would never happen to me. Bill Meyer, a member of the Lawrence Journal World sports staff, and formerly of West De Pere, has told me something of your organization and it sounds real interesting."...BALL PACKERS NOTED FOR: Halfback Ray Pelfrey of Eastern Kentucky State wrote that "I am pleased to know that I am a potential member of the Packers for 1951. I will do all in my power to vindicate the confidence of those whom made it possible for me to have this opportunity to become a member of the Packers." Another halfback, Monte Charles of Hillsdale, wrote that he "hopes I have the type of ability necessary to play the type of ball that the Packers are noted for." Charles, only 21, has two children. "Pleased to be drafted" and "interest" in playing were end Bill Sutherland of St. Vincent, fullback Dick Christie of Omaha, taskle Dick Miller of Ohio State and tackle Warren (Tubba) Chamberlain of Eau Claire State Teachers. Christie said that he has had offers to coach but "feel that a professional football career offers many advantages that cannot gained elsewhere to one who is looking to coaching as a life work." Miller, whose draft status was unknown, reported that he is 1D (member of the reserve component). Chamberlain called his selection by the Packers as "one of those things that happens once in a lifetime." He added: "I am very seriously considering trying to prove myself on your Packer team."
LET'S GO! SHAUGHNESSY SETTLED AGAIN
FEB 12 (Green Bay) - Now that Clark Shaughnessy has found a home, the coaching situation in the NFL is pretty well in hand. Scattered assistantships are forthcoming from the Packers, Philadelphia Eagles and one or two other clubs but everybody can settle back now - Shaughnesy has landed not a only a job (technical adviser), but a position (vice-president), all with the Chicago Bears. Clark, who helped Head Coach Gene Ronzani with Packer backs last fall for two months, is the third or fourth "veep" with the Bears, Assistants Luke Johnsos, Hunk Anderson, and Paddy Driscoll being classified as such from time to time. With Shaughnessy around, the Bears now have three experts stirring the "T" pot - President George Halas and Vice-presidents Luke Johnsos and Shaughnessy. Most Packer fans around here are hoping that too many "good" cooks spoil the broth - at least for a season or two until the Packers get on their feet. In case you're new in this country, it can be explained that Shaughnessy is football's famed man in motion. Now 58, Clark has bounced from here to there in the college and pro field since 1916. He is recognized as one of the leading strategists in the game. Coaching changes are unusual in Bearland but they've had two in two seasons now. The first break came a year ago when Bear Backfield Coach Ronzani left to take over the Green Bay job. Gene had been connected with the Bears for 17 years and a number of pro clubs were interested in him as a head coach during the last 10 years. But Halas wouldn't part with him until the Packer job opened. It would seen that Shaughnessy is filling the shoes left empty by Ronzani, who was Shaughnessy's boss in Green Bay last fall. Odd but true! Sid Luckman worked as player and backfield aide last fall. Two head coaching changes have occurred thus far in the pro wheel and they are likely to be the last for 1951. Bo McMillin was fired at Detroit and Buddy Parker replaced him. At Philadelphia, Greasy Neale was given the heave-ho and McMillin replaced him. Green Bay is in the market for a backfield assistant to replace Ray Nolting, who resigned recently. Nolting plans to remain out of the game, though Ray likely would take a long-term
coaching job at a college. Nolting, former Bear back, had considerable success as a coach at the University of Cincinnati before returning to the pros. McMillin is looking for a new slate of assistants in Philadelphia. Neale's old crew included Line Coach John Kellison and End Coach Larry A. Cabrelli. The Eagles announced over the weekend that Vince McNally, one-time Notre Dame grid star, has been named general manager. He had been assistant GM. President James P. Clark previously had also held the title of GM.
MARINES CALL WALLY DREYER TO ACTIVE DUTY
FEB 14 (Green Bay) - Wally Dreyer, the Packers' centerfielder, has been ordered to report for active duty with the Marine corps at Camp Pendleton, Calif, March 9. The middleman (safety) in the Packers' defensive setup, Dreyer, a first lieutenant, served with the Marines three years during World War II. He was on the University of Wisconsin freshman team in 1942 and returned to play for the Badgers in 1946, 1947 and 1948. As a Marine, Dreyer played with Michigan's Big Ten championship team in 1943. Dreyer was acquired by the Packers from the Chicago Bears early last season and was instrumental in the Bays' upset victory over the Bears here Oct. 1. He intercepted a Johnny Lujack pass and ran for a touchdown. Dreyer and Alex Wizbicki, left defensive back, formed the backbone of the Packers' defense against passes. Wally played one season with the Bears before coming to Green Bay. Dreyer lives with his wife in Milwaukee. He starred in high school football at Milwaukee Washington. The defensive back is the third member of the 1950 Packer team now in service. The other two are center Clayton Tonnemaker, now with an infantry division at Fort Riley, Kan., and halfback Bob Forte, with a tank unit at Fort Riley. Halfback Larry Coutre and guard Len Szafaryn have taken their service physical examinations.
PACKER-REDSKIN NON-LOOPER IN ALEXANDRIA, VA., ON SEPT. 23
FEB 16 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers had one game on the books today - a non-league affair with the Washington Redskins in Alexandria, Va, on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 23. Still forthcoming are 12 NFL contests and three or four more non-loop affairs. The league schedule likely will be ready in a week or two; Commissioner Bert Bell is presently working it out in the privacy of his Philadelphia home. The Packer-Redskin affair was revealed yesterday when the Alexandria school board approved the contract permitting the two teams to use the George Washington High school gymnasium. Alexandria is across the Potomac river from Washington. Half of the profits of the game will be turned over to the Jack Tulloch Memorial fund for a city stadium. Tulloch, managing editor of the Alexandria Gazette, longtime civic booster and a faithful Redskin rooter, died Jan. 9. The date of the Redskin-Packer game indicates that the league schedule definitely will get underway on Sept. 30 - 13 days later than last year when the Packers opened against Detroit here on Sept. 17...PLAYOFF COULD BE JAN. 6: The later start means that the 12 week schedule will be finished on Dec. 16, with the playoff carded for Dec. 23. In case extra playoffs are needed to break conference ties, the championship game will have to be played Jan. 6. The Sept. 30 opening also means that practice may start later - possibly Aug. 1. Officials drills started last fall as early as July 22, although in previous years practice generally started between Aug. 1 and 7. The Packers are going ahead with plans for other non-league games. Opponents are being contracted for the second annual Shrine game in Milwaukee - possibly in September. Other non-loopers may be played in Green Bay, Minneapolis and Syracuse, although arrangements have been delayed pending announcement of the league schedule. Last year, the Packers played Curly Lambeau and his Chicago Cardinals in Green Bay, the New York Giants in Boston, Baltimore Colts in Milwaukee, and Cleveland Browns in Toledo in non-league games.
STEINER'S 94-YARD RUN LONGEST INTERCEPTION RETURN IN LEAGUE LAST FALL
FEB 20 (Green Bay) - Packer Rebel Steiner's 94-yard runback of an intercepted pass against the Chicago Bears here last Oct. 1 ranked as the longest return of an enemy aerial in the NFL last fall. Steiner grabbed the Johnny Lujack throw on the Packer four-yard line after the Bears had made a sustained drive down the field and went the distance behind terrific blocking. The second longest return was an 81-yarder by Joe Zalejski of Baltimore. The longest return on record in the league is a 102-yard dash by Bob Smith of Detroit against the Bears (Sid Luckman) in 1949. Vern Huffman of Detroit posted the second longest in history - an even 100 yards against Brooklyn in 1937. Steiner's scamper was one of 27 grabbed by the Packers in their 12-league games. Rebel led the club with seven interceptions while Wally Dreyer, who will report to the Marines, and Al Baldwin, each snatched five. Alex Wizbicki snared two, and Jug Girard, Bob Forte, Clay Tonnemaker, Dan Orlich, Carl Schuette, Joe Spencer, Bob Summerhays and Abner Wimberly each snagged one. Orban Sanders, New York Yanks' defensive star, is the league's champion pass interceptor. Sanders stole 13 aerial heaves in 1950 to tie the NFL record set by Washington's Dan Sandifer two years earlier. The New York ace returned the interceptions 199 yards, an average of 15.3 yards, The 1949 pass theft champ, Bob Nussbaumer of the Chicago Cardinals, was sidelined by injuries after playing the first two games. Twenty-four touchdowns, eight more than 1949, resulted from interceptions. A total of 117 NFL played made one or more interceptions. Philadelphia won the team interception title, according to final official figures, by the slimmest of margins: one-hundredth of a point. The Eagles snared 31 passes out of 277 chances for an 11.19 average. The Baltimore Colts stole 34 of 304 for 11.18.
MCGEHEE INKS PACKER CONTRACT
FEB 22 (Green Bay) - A year ago, Ralph McGehee thought he was too small to play professional football so he became a line coach at Dayton university. Today, the former four-letter winner at Notre Dame is proud possessor of a Green Bay Packer contract - signed and sealed. The first player inked by Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani for the 1951 team, 215-pound McGehee was Notre Dame's first string offensive right tackle in 1948 and 1949. His substitute was Gus Cifeli, a 250-pounder. Cifelli decided to play pro ball but McGehee figured his weight was against him. Gus became the Detroit Lions' top offensive tackle while McGehee taught his tricks to Dayton college boys. Naturally, McGehee thought that if Cifelli could cut the pro buck, so could Mr. McGehee - since Gus was Ralph's sub on the Irish team...WON BLOCKING AWARD: While McGehee's weight is still 15 or 20 pounds under the average pro tackle, Ronzani has righted that little situation by shifting the ND star to an offensive guard position where 215 pounds is just about right. Ronzani is high on McGehee as an offensive blocker from the guard slot. At Notre Dame, and this is important, Ralph was considered the leading offensive blocker in his last two years and in 1949 he received a special award for his blocking work. The new Packer will be 23 years of age on April 9. He has no military record but is married and has two children. McGehee, a combination of Irish, Dutch, Scotch and English, is a native of Chicago and played with the two-time city championship Tilden Tech eleven. McGehee stands 6-1...Packer end Dan Orlich and former Packer and New York Yank guard Larry Olsonoski stopped in for a chat with Coach Ronzani yesterday. Orlich and Olsonoski came down from Chisholm, Minn., to pick up Dan's car, which was damaged in an accident last fall...The NFL came out with official statistics today on pass receiving for the 1950 season and the figures showed that Billy Grimes' 96-yard pass reception was the longest of the campaign. Grimes performed the feat - only three yards than the league record - against the San Francisco Forty Niners in the last game of the season. Quarterback Tobin Rote threw the pass.The record of 99 yards was set by Andy Farkas of Washington against Pittsburgh in 1939. Green Bay also possessed the second-longest pass receiving run in 1950 - an 85-yard completion to Al Baldwin against the New York Yanks. Baldwin turned up as the Packers' leading receiver with 28 catches for 555 yards - an average of 19.8 per snatch. Baldwin ended 23rd in the league. Grimes and Larry Coutre were second and third, respectively, among Packer receivers. Each had 17 catches, with Grimes gaining 261 yards and Coutre 206. Steve Pritko was fourth with 17 catches for 125 yards. Tom Fears, the Los Angeles Rams' great end, won the pass receiving championship with 84 catches for 1,116 yards and seven touchdowns. Dan Edwards of the Yanks was second with 52 catches for 775 yards and six TDs.
CLOUD FINDS 'DARNED KNEE' LIKE NEW AGAIN
FEB 27 (Green Bay) - Out there in Boston last Aug. 29, Packer fullback Jack Cloud and New York Giant tackle Al DeRogatis had quite a collision. Jack was playing defense in the spot occupied by Alex Wizbicki during the league season, and DeRogatis was drifting out around the right flank to block for what started out like a screen pass but which ended up as a pass over the line from Chuck Conerly to Eddie Price for a 12-yard gain. DeRogatis drove low and smack into the stock Cloud. Al's jaw landed flush on Jack's knee and one Giant was sprawled limp in the vicinity of first base on the Boston Braves' field. They finally carried Al off the field after smelling salts failed to work and Cloud danced around a bit to warm up what he often called "that darned knee of mine." Later, he scored a touchdown to help the Pack to a 10-0 victory. Flying Cloud's right knee, something of a housemaiden, gave him trouble throughout the league season though he got in enough plunges to score three touchdowns and run 52 yards in 18 tries after a long recuperating sweat on the bench. To complicate matters early in the season, Cloud injured his shoulder and hip in an auto accident. Today, Cloud's "darned knee" is no more "darned". It's like new, in the words of Cloud, who is presently resting in Union Memorial hospital in Baltimore after undergoing surgery on the "darned knee". The operation removed all "friction" that led to severe pain when he used it for any length of time. The operation was performed by Dr. George E. Bennett, famous orthopedic surgeon at Johns Hopkins hospital, who numbers many famed athletes among his satisfied customers, including Joe DiMaggio. Arrangements for the operation were completed by Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani, Dr. Bennett and Cloud several weeks ago. Cloud, who turned 26 last Jan. 1, is anxious to try out his new knee. The former Williams and Mary star isn't expecting any calls from Uncle Sam, by the way. He flew 10 missions in the European theater as a staff sergeant in the Army Air forces...PACKER PACKINGS: Official NFL statistics on punting for 1950 showed that the Packers' Jug Girard finished in 13th place with an average of 38.2 on 71 kicks. Jug had two blocked, which brought down his average considerably. Fred Morrison of the Bears won the punting title by a hair over Horace Gillom of Cleveland. Morrison averaged 43.3 on 57 kicks, while Grisson averaged 43.2 on 66 boots.
PACKER SNARE LEAGUE PUNT RETURN HONORS
MAR 1 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers' punt return heroics last fall, with Billy Grimes playing the role of Hairbreath Harry, paid off today in the form of a
championship. The NFL, nearing the end of its annual statistical flood, revealed that the Packers caught 44 enemy punts and returned 'em for a grand total of 729 yards - an average of 16.1 per lugback. The league average was 11.1. In posting their title, the Packers edged out a noted member of the NFL, the Cleveland Browns, who averaged 15.6 yards on 30 returns. Defunct Baltimore finished third with an average of 14.5 while San Francisco, Pittsburgh, New York Yanks, Detroit, Chicago Bears, Chicago Cardinals, New York Giants, Washington, Los Angeles and Philadelphia followed in that order. Only six punts were returned for touchdowns in the entire league, and the Packers' Mr. Grimes accounted for two of them - an 85-yarder against Washington Sept. 24 and a 68-yard job against the Bears Oct. 1. The only other players returning punts for TDs were Baltimore's Herb Rich, 86 yards; Washington's Bill Dudley, 96 yards; Cleveland's Dopey Phelps, 54 yards; and the Cardinals' Don Paul, 82 yards...RICH RETURNS DOZEN: Ironically, Rich, drafted by the Los Angeles Rams after the Colts folded in January, beat out Grimes for the individual championship. Rich returned only a dozen punts for 276 yards for an average of 23. Grimes returned more than twice as many, 29, for 555 yards and an average of 19.1. The standing are computed on the basis of average return. Grimes' yards total and two touchdowns were high for the season. The Bears' George McAfee carried back the most punts, 33, but averaged only 8.6 yards. Jim Cason of San Francisco was third with a 15.7 average followed by Bill Dudley of Washington (15.4) and George Taliaferro, New York Yanks (14.3). Only four other Packers figured in the punt return column. Tony Canadeo, averaging 13.6, and Bill Boedeker, with an average of 9.8, each returned five while Wally Dreyer returned three and Al Cannava two. Boedeker departed shortly before the end of the season, and Cannava left after the first league game.
PETRUSKA, FLOWERS JOINS BAYS
MAR 2 (Green Bay) - Dick Flowers, the Northwestern quarterback who cracked Otto Graham's Big Ten passing records last fall, and Bob Petruska, University of Wisconsin quarterback and left halfback, sent in their signed contracts to the Green Bay Packer office today. The newcomers are the second and third inked by Head Coach Gene Ronzani for next fall. Tackle Ralph McGehee, former Notre Dame star who will play guard here, was announced earlier. None of the three players was selected in the NFL's annual draft last January. Quarterback Flowers, nicknamed "Posey", stands six feet and a half-inch tall, weighs 195 pounds and is 23 years of age. He is 1D in the service draft. A native of South Bend, Ind., where he gained all-Indiana honors at Central High, Flowers ranked 11th in the nation last fall in passing. Only Vic Janowicz, operating off Ohio State's single wing, beat him out for Big Ten passing honors. Flowers established a new Big Ten record by completing 61 passes in 121 attempts for 695 yards last fall. Graham, Cleveland's ace QB, held the old mark of 53 completions. In all games, he completed 91 out of 183 passes for 1,063 yards and 10 TDs. Graham's best effort was 89 completions. Petruska, 5-11 and 183 pounds, hails from Lake Mills, Wis. He is married and has a daughter. His draft classification is 3A. Petruska started as a sophomore at Wisconsin at left half. He shifted to quarterback as a junior and finished third among Big Ten passers and high among the conference's punters. Petruska started his senior year as the Number 1 quarterback but John Coatta beat him out after the fifth game. The Packer back was shifted to right half and, in the final game, his running was a big factor in Wisconsin's 14-0 victory over Minnesota. He averaged five yards per try and threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to Tilden Meyers.
OSUR SIGNS
MAR 5 (Green Bay) - Nate Osur, 250-pound tackle from Springfield (MA) College, was signed Saturday by the Packers. Osur is 26 years old and stands 6-feet 3 1/2 inches.
CHUNKY HALFBACK EYES BERTH WITH '51 PACKERS
MAR 9 (Green Bay) - There's a 200-pound halfback out in Portland, Ore., who wants to play with the Packers. He is chunky Reuben (Rube) Baisch, a star on the undefeated Lewis and Clark college eleven. Baisch has received a Packer questionnaire like a large number of other unheard-of pro prospects and the pile-driver has taken the query as an offer. His coach, Joe Huston, said his ace would "undoubtedly" accept. Baisch averaged eight yards per try last fall. Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani, of course, has sent out many questionaires with an eye toward bolstering his roster of players drafted at the NFL meeting in Chicago recently. Already four players not drafted have been signed - quarterbacks Bob Petruska of Wisconsin and Dick Flowers of Northwestern and tackles Ralph McGehee of Notre Dame and Nate Osur of Springfield (Mass.) college. Ronzani is hand-picking the players after weighing scout reports from all sections of the country. Special attention is being given to the military status of the athletes. Baisch, for instance, is a 26-year old Navy veteran; Osur was in the air corps in the last war; and Petruska and McGehee are married with children. Flowers is 1D. All but five or six of the drafted players will be available next fall unless the war situation worsens...Speaking about the military, Ronzani and the P-G sports staff are regular recipients of letter from the four Packers now in the service - Clayton Tonnemaker, Bob Forte, Larry Coutre and Wally Dreyer. Tonnemaker, completing his basic training at Fort Riley, Kan., wrote one letter in which he complimented the fans of Green Bay and Ronzani. Referring to Green Bay, big Clayton wrote: "I was in Green Bay a relatively short time, but I will always have a special place in my heart for Green Bay, or, more specifically, the people in Green Bay. I have never seen such a wonderful group of fans, or people, in my whole life. I hope this mess clears up so I can get back to Green Bay to play ball again and maybe to live there permanently. My wife speaks constantly about how wonderful everybody and everything was in Green Bay."...BLOW TO PACKERS: Tonnemaker, mentioning the rumor that Ronzani had the inside track for the University of Illinois head coaching job should Ray Eliot have left recently (Ray later turned down an offer on the west coast to remain) said: "I certainly hope for Green Bay's sake that you aren't contemplating leaving. For my money, you are the best coach that I have ever played for and it certainly would be a blow to the Packers if you did leave. I didn't realize that football playing could be so enjoyable." In a letter to this writer from Forte, the Packer halfback, also at Fort Riley, tells of reading about the Packer draft and "I think he (Ronzani) did pretty good. Surely hope he has a good club next year as he and Green Bay deserve a winner. With Gene there, I know he'll come through. Speaking from one who knows, you had better keep him there. He is a good man."
attempts for an average of 5.1 in 12 games. For weeks, he led Van Buren in the race for the new one-season mark, but Steve, leading his powerhouse Eagles to the title, beat him out in the end with 1,146...SERVED IN EUROPEAN THEATER: Canadeo, who will turn 31 next May 5, came back strong in 1946 after a year of inactivity, gaining 476 yards in 122 attempts. He spent 1945 in the European theater with a tank company. A Green Bay resident, Tony is in the exterminating business with brother Savvy during the offseason. Canadeo came to the Packers in '41 after a brilliant career at Gonzaga, where he was known as the "Grey Ghost of Gonzaga."
SHEBOYGAN DEFEATS PACKER TEAM
MAR 16 (Sheboygan) - Sheboygan ended its National Professional Basketball season Thursday night by defeating the Green Bay Packers 90-60 in an exhibition game. The Redskins had been scheduled to meet Anderson but officials of the Indiana club wired that they were unable to come here because of player difficulties. Sheboygan claims the championship of the four-team circuit but so does Waterloo. Final standings are to be announced by Commissioner Doxie Moore at Lafayette, IN. The league started out last fall with eight members. St. Paul, Kansas City, Denver, Grand Rapids and Louisville dropped out during the season, and Evansville was given a berth it kept to the end of play.
PACK SITTIN' PRETTY AT SCHEDULE PARLEY
MAR 22 (Green Bay) - Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani generally spends his birthday with the folks up in Iron Mountain, Mich. But next Wednesday, when he'll turn 42, Ronzani will be in Philadelphia or on his way back to Green Bay. Ronzani will be out there with Lee Joannes, chairman of the Packer board, attending a meeting of club representatives for the purpose of nailing down the elusive 1951 NFL schedule. Packer Prexy Emil R. Fischer may come up from Florida for the session. The meeting, called by Commissioner Bert Bell, is scheduled to start at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning. If everything goes well, club wheels should start rolling for home that night. Though the dozen clubs gave Mr. Bell power to draw up a schedule and then announce it, the nonorable czar isn't the kind of gent to be jamming anything down the throats of the teams. Thus, he called the session to iron out all kinks and explain the problems first-hand...MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY: Bell is running into all sorts of schedule bugs. San Francisco, for instance, has had trouble getting into Kezar stadium on certain dates due to the college traffic. The Forty Niners may be required to roll east twice - a costly item. Against the Forty Niners' troubles, the Packers would seem to be sitting pretty - right in the middle of the country, with airplane accommodations to boot. The Packers aren't fretting about the schedule. The big "thing" - home and home games with the Bears - is already set! The Packers likely will clear their non-championship program in Philadelphia, too. Four or five games will be played. While settling of the league schedule and non-conference games is the No. 1 problem at the moment, Ronzani is busy sending out contracts to the various draft choices, several sleepers here and there, and the veterans from 1950. Ronzani received a letter the other day from Joe Ernst, the Tulane quarterback he drafted at the league meetings in Chicago in January. Ernst, a six-footer with 185 pounds to match, wrote that "I was hoping to be selected by your team because I have been a follower of the Packers and always hoped to quarterback a Green Bay team." Thanking for Ronzani for drafting him, Ernst added: "I have heard that the Packers have their own stadium and practice field unlike the other pro teams that have to play their games in baseball parks." Credited by Coach Henry Frnka as being the most valuable back on his 1950 team, Ernst ranked 29th among the nation's passers last fall, completing 69 tosses out of 128 attempts for 900 yards and eight touchdowns in nine games. He had 10 intercepted. His completion percentage was 54.0...GOOD START ON QUARTERBACKS: With Northwestern quarterback Dick Flowers already signed and Ernst anxious to play here, it would seem that Ronzani has a good start on bolstering the quarterback slot. In addition, Wisconsin's Bob Petruska, a quarterback and halfback, is in the fold. Flowers, incidentally, ranked 11th among the nation's pitchers. The Wildcat thrower, who snapped Otto Graham's Big Ten marks last fall, finished with 91 completions in 183 attempts for a completion percentage of 49.7. His throws netted 1,063 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had 11 interceptions.
NFL CLUB OFFICIALS MEET TO ADOPT CARD
MAR 27 (Philadelphia) - NFL club officials view the outcome today of 400 hours of moving dominoes. And if the operators of the play-for-pay circuit don't like the results obtained by Commissioner Bert Bell, that can play with the dominoes themselves. The owners or their representatives are in town to adopt a 1951 schedule. From Green Bay are Head Coach Gene Ronzani and Lee H. Joannes, chairman of the Packer board. "I've figured out 20 schedules by moving the dominoes," said Bell. "But 17 of them I wouldn't show to anybody and I don't think one of them is fair and just to everybody."...OVERCOMES HALAS OBJECTION: Bell made it clear he has no intention of forcing his ideas on the owners, although he considers three of the schedules as fair as possible. "If they don't like any that I have worked out, I'll turn the dominoes over to them and say 'go to work'." He figures he has overcome the objection of George Halas, Chicago Bears, to making an annual trek to play the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. He's done this by arranging for each club to play every other team in the opposite division at least once every four years. For example, the Bears will drop Los Angeles and San Francisco next year and will play the Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins. That is the one thing Halas wanted short of a transfer from the National to the American conference. The following year, however, the Rams and 49ers will be back on the Bears' schedule, but in 1953 they'll be off again, with probably the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles playing the Bears...MANY PHYSICAL PROBLEMS: But Bell cited there are many physical problems. NFL clubs use baseball parks and stadia in which college teams also play. San Francisco, playing in Kezar stadium, presents one of the big problems, said Bell, adding "and it's no fault of the owners (Tony and Victor Morabito)." The 49ers cannot play in the stadium Oct. 14, Nov. 4, Nov. 24 or Thanksgiving day, said Bell. Neither can they play three successive games at home because college teams have the stadium tied up. "And since there always must be two eastern teams on the west coast to play the Rams and 49ers that also throws things out of kilter at Los Angeles," the commissioner added.
PACKERS MAY MEET EAGLES IN SHRINE GAME AT MILWAUKEE
MAR 27 (Milwaukee) - The Green Bay Packers will meet the Philadelphia Eagles here on Sunday, Sept. 16, in the second annual exhibition football game sponsored by the Milwaukee Shrine. Past Potentate Herb Mount, chairman of the committee in charge, said net receipts will be divided equally among the two clubs and the Shrine. In the first Shrine-sponsored game last year, the Packers defeated the Baltimore Colts, 16-14...Packer officials in Green Bay today said that the arrangements with Philadelphia for the Shrine game in Milwaukee were still tentative pending announcement of the NFL schedule.
TONY CANDEO SIGNS FOR 10TH SEASON
MAR 16 (Green Bay) - Tony Canadeo, the last Packer vet to sign in 1950, today became the first to officially register for the 1951 season. Hard-hitting Tony, the Packers' all-time ground gainer, is returning for his 10th season here, Head Coach Gene Ronzani beamed this morning in announcing the signing. Canadeo, a fullback by necessity last fall after playing eight seasons as a halfback - right and left - will "play where he's needed most next fall," Ronzani revealed. Canadeo, himself, is pleased with "this early signing". No salary terms were revealed - per club policy - but both Ronzani and his prize veteran were well satisfied with the contact. Last year, Tony signed after the training season was well underway. Signing of Canadeo officially opens Ronzani's big campaign to organize playing forces for the 1951 season - Gene's second. Already, four promising rookies have been signed....PLAYED IN 92 GAMES: Tony has played every backfield position except quarterback and before 1950 played considerable defense. In his early days here, Tony alternated between right and left half but he's been at left half since he returned from Army duty in '46 and until last fall. Canadeo has played in 92 NFL games as a Packers. In 1944, his activity was cut short because of Army service, getting enough furloughs to play in three contests and average 4.8 yards in 31 trips. Official National league figures show Canadeo with 3,875 yards on 916 attempts for an average of 4.23. He scored 25 touchdowns in his career - four in each of the last three seasons. Tony edged out Clarke Hinkle in the final game last fall to become the Packers' new all-time ground gainer. Hinkle had 3,860 yards in 1,171 attempts for an average of 3.29 in 10 years. Canadeo ranks as the league's No. 2 ground gainer. Only Steve Van Buren, who has the advantage of playing with three championship teams, has an edge on Tony. Steve has gained 5,533 yards. Tony had his greatest year in 1949 when he served as the Packers' one-man battering ram. The hard-working back piled up 1,052 yard in 208
PRO CHIEF MAY MAY FINAL DECISION ON '51 GRID CARD
MAR 28 (Philadelphia) - Representatives of the 12 clubs in the NFL, including Board Chairman Lee H. Joannes and Head Coach Gene Ronzani of the Green Bay Packers, went into their second day of deliberation today on the 1951 schedule. Delegates huddled with Commissioner Bert Bell from 10 o'clock Tuesday morning until 2 a.m. today - with intermissions for lunch and dinner - and they were back in session at 10 o'clock this morning. Joannes indicated today that the clubs may toss the schedule back into the commissioner's lap and thus let his decision rule. That's what they did in Chicago last January after a six-day deadlock. The meeting here was called by Bell for the purpose of ironing out schedule kinks but it appears that several of the clubs are in disagreement...TWO OR THREE STUMBLING BLOCKS: The clubs and Commissioner Bell are confronted with two or three stumbling blocks, the most serious of which involves the San Francisco 49ers. The Forty Niners are having difficulty getting into Kezar stadium on certain dates. The Packers have no particular problem, since the matter of a home-and-home set with the Chicago Bears already has been settled. The clubs are anxious to complete the schedule so that a non-conference card can be worked out. The Packers and Philadelphia Eagles are due to meet in the Shrine classic in Milwaukee Sept. 16. The sessions here, by comparison to other league meetings, have been quiet and peaceful. The only noise was the occasional thump of a domino on the table. The only object was to figure out a 1951 schedule. Each domino is wrapped in the colors of one of the 12 teams. They wee moved about on a board marked with dates and playing sites. The idea is to devise the most equitable schedule possible...PLAY BEARS THREE TIMES?: Every so often, one owner would come up with what he thought was the solution, only to have his idea doused with cold water a moment later. One man had the whole thing figured out. There was only one thing wrong. His team played the Chicago Bears three time. That, of course, was out. Pacing up and down on the rim of the circle was Bell. He knew exactly what would happen to each idea presented. Bell has been working on the problem for months. He figured out 20 different combinations, 17 of which he thought too inequitable to recommend. But in his pocket, Bell had three schedule, any of which he believes will work. "They're not the best in the world, but they're the best I can figure out under the circumstances," he said. Bell hasn't presented the owners with his ideas yet. He wants them to exhaust their own propositions first. When they give up, Bell will bring out his three. And one of those finally will become the 1951 slate.
PACKERS TO DUEL LAMBEAU'S CARDINALS HERE AUG. 25
MAR 29 (Green Bay) - Curly Lambeau's Chicago Cardinals will play the Packers at City stadium Saturday night, Aug. 25. This was announced today by Packer officials following the return of Head Coach Gene Ronzani and Board Chairman Lee Joannes from a NFL schedule meeting in Philadelphia. Lambeau, founder of the Packers and head coach for 31 years, will be making his second official visit to Green Bay since his retirement as Packer coach, Feb. 1, 1950. His first trip was an unhappy one - for Curly. The Packers, making their home debut under Ronzani, defeated the Cardinals, 17 to 14, last fall, the difference coming on a Ted Fritsch field goal. The Packer-Card test is the only non-conference battle revealed by the Packers thus far, and others are more or less tentative until the league schedule is completed. The others included a visit to Alexandria, Va., Sept. 23, for a test with Washington and the Shrine game against Philadelphia Sept. 16...UNDER STACK OF DOMINOES: Ronzani and Joannes left a special meeting of NFL club representatives in Philadelphia Wednesday afternoon after going down fighting under a stack of dominoes. The peaceful battle was still going on in Philadelphia today, but most of the clubs - at least the satisfied ones like the Packers and Chicago Bears - pulled out yesterday. Commissioner Bert Bell, who uses dominoes to work out a schedule, was still presiding. Ronzani and Joannes got an idea of the Packers' 1951 schedule and both expressed satisfaction with the arrangement of games, etc. The card, of course, includes a home-and-home set between the Packers and Bears. Actually, Commissioner Bell will announced soon the entire schedule - by mail to the various clubs - after hearing the remainder of club problems in Philadelphia. Club representatives were willing to toss the schedule back into Bell's lap yesterday already, although some of the clubs, most of them from the east, remained to discuss their hazards...FRISCO PROBLEM SETTLED: To show the clubs just how tough it is to work out a card and still carry out their wishes, Bell provided four tables of dominoes for the delegates to "work" with. Joannes said he struggled for four hours and "nothing seemed to work out." The ticklish San Francisco problem was settled by playing the early part of the Forty Niners' schedule on the road. 'Frisco had some difficulty getting Kezar stadium early in the season. All playing in baseball parks, the New York Yanks, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, are faced with the possibility of playing their Sept. 30 opponents in different parks in their home cities or opening on Monday night, Oct. 1. The Packers, Forty Niners and Los Angeles Rams are the only teams not playing their home games in baseball parks. The remaining nine clubs are still faced with the World Series problem, although the Bears and Cardinals don't expect the Cubs and White Sox to get into the classic. The Bears play in Wrigley field, home of the Cubs, and the Cards battle in Comiskey park, Sox home.
BELL ENDS NFL MEET; SCHEDULE TO BE READY NEXT WEDNESDAY
MAR 30 (Green Bay) - While the official NFL schedule won't be out until next Wednesday, there were indications today that the Packers will play home and home series with the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Los Angeles and the New York Yanks. This would account for 10 of the 12 scheduled National league contests. The remaining two would include single battles with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco Forty Niners. This schedule will call for nine games within their own National conference - doubleheaders with the Bears, Lions, Rams and Yanks - and a singleton with San Francisco; a doubleheader in the American conference with Pittsburgh and a singleton with Philadelphia. Before leaving a special meeting of club representatives in Philadelphia Wednesday, Packer Board Chairman Lee Joannes and Coach Gene Ronzani agreed on which teams they will play this fall - as did all of the other clubs...BELL TO DECIDE ON DATES: But they couldn't get together on the dates. Decisions on dates will be up to Commissioner Bert Bell. Bell revealed today that the schedule will be ready next Wednesday. It'll be the produce of Bell's 400 hours of moving dominoes. The NFL owners and their representatives gave up Thursday after three days of attempting to solve all the problems that go into the making of a schedule. "I figured they had exhausted all possibilities of reaching an agreement and so declared the meeting adjourned," the commissioner said. Bell said he would take into consideration all the suggestions made by the club officials, doing a little more moving of the dominoes and then mail them "the best schedule possible in my opinion." As things stand, George Halas of the Chicago Bears is happy - but not overjoyed. Dan Reeves of the Los Angeles Rams and Victor Morabito of the San Francisco Forty Niners are unhappy - but satisfied. Halas says, "I think Bell has presented a fine, fluid schedule. It's not exactly what I wanted but I think it shares the load. We'll play the Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins this season and will not make a trip to the west coast. We will go to the coast in 1952, and that's okay with me."...TEAMS GO TO WEST COAST: The balance of the Bears' schedule, only one yet disclosed, would feature Green Bay, Detroit, New York Yanks, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago Cards as home attractions and the Browns, Redskins, Green Bay, Detroit, Yanks and Cards away. Reeves said, "I want it to be clearly on the record that we object strenuously to the Bears as a home attraction this year. However, we'll go along with the commissioner's schedule," Morabito echoed this sentiment. Bell said Cleveland, Chicago Cards, Green Bay, Detroit and the New York Yanks definitely will go to the west coast this season. He added that where a strong team is taken away as a home and home attraction, such as the case of the Rams and Bears, a team of comparative strength and attraction will be substituted. Thus, should the Redskins lose Cleveland at home, they will get Los Angeles in place. The commissioner said he probably wouldn't announce the compete schedule for several weeks.
NAME BROCK PRESIDENT OF PACKER ALUMNI CLUB
APR 3 (Green Bay) - Charley Brock, the Packers' all-time center, was elected president of the Packer Alumni association at the group's April meeting in the Silver Rail Monday night. Brock succeeds the late Feryl J. (Fee) Klaus, who had served as the association's first and only president until the time of his death a month ago. Other officials elected were Al Rose, vice president; Weert Engelmann, secretary-treasurer; and Lyle Sturgeon, sergeant-at-arms. Rose succeeds Carl Zoll and Engelmann replaces Dave Zuidmulder. In a statement today, Brock said, "I deeply appreciate the honor that has been conferred upon me in my election as president of the Packer Alumni association to succeed the late Fee Klaus. I will continue as I have in the past to give my loyalty and efforts for the best interests of the Packers and the Packer fans. My personal plans are indefinite but, whether I continue to reside in Green Bay or not, I will always support the Packers." The alumni also discussed program plans for 1951, and it was decided to defer selection of a chief quarterback for the association-sponsored Quarterback club until May or June. Verne Lewellen served as chief QB in 1950. It is expected that the QB program will be completed by August. Zoll, as retiring vice president, presided at the meeting.
PACKERS OPPOSE BEARS IN OPENER HERE SEPT. 30
APR 4 (Green Bay) - The Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions and New York Yanks will be the Green Bay Packers' opponents in NFL games at City stadium next fall. Pittsburgh's Steelers and the Los Angeles Rams will provide the Packers' league opponents in Milwaukee. With Curly Lambeau's Chicago Cardinals coming in on Saturday night, Aug. 26, the Packers' football program at City stadium is complete with five games. Philadelphia will play in the Shrine non-conference game in Milwaukee on Sept. 16, providing three appearances there. The Packers' home league schedule show five of the first six games on Wisconsin soil. The first four - Bears, Steelers, Eagles and Rams - are alternated between Green Bay and Milwaukee and the fifth and sixth are at Green Bay. The schedule is being started two weeks later this year (it started Sept. 17 last fall) chiefly because of the difficulty experienced by the big city clubs in getting their parks which are used by major league baseball clubs. All of the clubs in the league are announcing their own home scheduled and the complete card likely will be ready for publication by this weekend. Detroit, Cleveland and Washington came out with their home cards today. The Lions' schedule shows the Packers in Detroit on Thanksgiving day, Nov.
22. This has been a traditional home date for the Lions against the Chicago Bears. The Packers are not scheduled against Cleveland or Washington in league action. The Packers' home card reveals that four of the six games are with opponents within their own conference - the National. NC foes are the Bears, Los Angeles, Detroit and the Yanks. American conference foes are Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The Packers will be returning to their traditional home opener against the Bears. Last fall for the first time in a number of years, the Packers played two games before engaging the Bears at City stadium. The "warmups" seem to work because the Packers, making their debut against the Bears with new coach Gene Ronzani, himself a former Bear, scored a tremendous victory. The real newcomer at City stadium next fall will be the rugged Eagles who haven't played here since 1949, when the two clubs met in a non-league battle. The Eagles are now coached by Bo McMillin, the former Detroit mentor, who replaced Greasy Neale recently. Detroit moves in with Buddy Parker, the former Cardinals and McMillin aide, at the helm. The Lions, considered a championship possibility, defeated the Packers twice last fall. The Yanks, under Red Strader, threatened to set the league afire last fall, but buckled after losing to the Bears. With George Ratterman returning, the Yanks are one of the early favorites.
cinch to be enrolled in football's national hall of fame, a $5,000,000 shrine planned at Rutgers university in New Brunswick, N.J., where the sport was born in 1869. Players on the first three teams will be considered for the shrine. The Associated Press' selections are based on players' achievements in college. In Hutson's case, however, his tremendous potentialities - exploded briefly at Alabama - didn't become a long-time reality until he reached the pro ranks. Hutson's performances with the Bays undoubtedly helped many an observer decide who the greatest end is and ever was. Don is famed for his offensive ability, his unmatched scoring power. The man with a remarkable faculty for faking defenders out of their shoes teamed with Millard (Dixie) Howell, a shotgun passer, to lead Alabama to 25 victories in 29 games over a three-year span, which reached the zenith in the Rose Bowl Jan. 1, 1935. Against Stanford, Alabama tried only 13 passes but completed 10 for 216 yards, mostly Howell to Hutson...BROKE IN SPECTACULARLY: Around Green Bay, the sight of Hutson revives scores of memories - miracle catches, exciting dashes, etc. Hutson's greatest accomplishment was the matter of the forward pass. Yet, he developed into one of the most deadly extra point and field goal kickers in the pro ranks. Don broke in spectacularly by snatching an Arnie Herber pass for the only touchdown in a 7-0 victory over the Bears in 1935. He went on to catch 100 touchdown passes. He scored four other TDs on his famed end-around play. It wasn't until 1941 that Hutson "broke in" with the toe. Down in Cleveland, the Rams and Packers were battling 14-up late in the game. Clarke Hinkle already had missed two field goals. With some two minutes left, Hutson got the nod to try a 25-yard field goal, with Hinkle holding, and he made it for a 17-14 win. Hutson's 19-record total has dwindled to 17 since he retired six years ago. The Los Angeles Rams' Tom Fears caught 84 passes last fall to snap Don's mark of 74, but Tom turned only seven of 'em into touchdowns while Hutson scored 17 TDs out of his 74 catches. Bob Shaw of the Chicago Cardinals broke the other by catching five touchdown passes in a single games against Baltimore last fall. Hutson and three other players shared the previous mark, four. Hutson had three "basic" passers during his career - Herber, the former West High flash; Cecil Isbell, the ex-Purdue star who retired at the height of his career; and Irv Comp, the Milwaukeeans who ever reached the brilliance of Herber or Isbell. Huston must have scored 1,300 points in his college and pro career. He counted 825 for the Packers alone on 105 touchdowns, 174 extra points and seven field goals.
HUTSON NAMED TO AP ALL-TIME ALL-AMERICA TEAM
APR 4 (New Brunswick, NJ) - It's official now! Don Hutson is unquestionably the greatest end the game of football has ever known. Most significant is the number of points he received in the nationwide Associated Press poll to select an all-time All-America football team. The University of Alabama and Green Bay Packer immortal virtually doubled the field in "scoring" 629 points against 349 for his first-team end mate, Bernie Oosterbaan. The AP awarded 10 points for a first team vote, five for second and two for third, and the final tabulation indicates that Hutson was No. 1 in the mind of practically every sports expert who voted. The experts - newspapermen, sportscasters and coaches - cover personal memories of football for more than 50 years. Thus, Hutson's victory is complete. Hutson has received hundreds of honors in his 16 years of football, but his selection as an "all-timer" today undoubtedly ranks as the epitome of recognition for his pass-catching feats for Alabama and Green Bay. Don was an All-America at Alabama, an all-professional end in the NFL in each of his 11 seasons, and, for good measure, he was among the first five male athletes of 1941 in all sports. He retired from active competition with the Packers in 1945, with 19 records in the book...CINCH FOR HALL OF FAME: Hutson's selection today makes him a lead pipe
PACK'S COMPLETE CARD SET
APR 5 (Green Bay) - With the announcement of enemy home schedules, the Packers’ 12-game NFL card was completed today. Green Bay make two separate eastern trips and one to the west coast to close out the season. The eastern journeys take the Packers to New York for a tiff with the Yanks Oct. 28, and to Pittsburgh Nov. 11. The Packers close out their schedule on the west coast, meeting San Francisco Dec. 9 and Los Angeles Dec. 16. Other road engagements send Green Bay into Chicago for a battle with the Bears Nov. 18 and into Detroit four days later, Nov. 22, for the Lions’ annual Thanksgiving Day feature…NINE GAMES IN NC: The Packers’ first four games are home, alternated between Green Bay and Milwaukee. The Bears are here for the opener Sept. 30, Pittsburgh in Milwaukee Oct. 7, Philadelphia here Oct. 14, and Los Angeles in Milwaukee Oct. 21. After invading New York, the Packers play Detroit here Nov. 4. Following the trips to Pittsburgh, Chicago and Detroit, the Yanks invade City stadium Dec. 2. Then it’s off to the west coast. The Packers will be playing nine games within their own conference, the National, and three with American conference clubs – two with Pittsburgh and one with Philadelphia. Actually, the Packers will be trading one game with National conference San Francisco for an additional one with Pittsburgh. In their conference, the Packers are playing home and home tests with the Bears, Rams, Lions and Yanks. The Packers’ 1951 schedule appears especially formidable. As Head Coach Gene Ronzani puts it, “there aren’t any breathers in that lineup; in fact, there aren’t any breathers in the entire league.”…START SCHEDULE LATER: The Bays will warm up for the league schedule with five or six non-conference games. Three of them already have been announced – the Chicago Cardinals, coached by Curly Lambeau, at City stadium on Saturday night, Aug. 25; the Philadelphia Eagles in the Milwaukee Shrine classic Sept. 9; and the Washington Redskins in Alexandria, Va., Sept. 23. The schedule this year is being started two weeks later than usual. Last fall, action opened Sept. 17. The change was made because a number of the big-city clubs have difficulty getting into the parks which are also being used by baseball clubs. The Yanks, for instance, are due to open home Sept. 30 against the Los Angeles Rams but the baseball Yanks and Boston Red Sox are in the stadium that day. The grid clash will be played instead on Monday night, Oct. 1.
FOOTBALL ON DEC. 2? WEATHER LOOKS OK
APR 6 (Green Bay) - So you’re wondering about that Dec. 2 Packer-Yank game at City stadium? It is rather late for our area, considering the weather and all. But Weatherman Herb Bomalaski isn’t discouraged a bit. “Why, the highest temperature for the last 20 years on that date was 34.4 degrees above zero, and for the past 64 yards it was 32.8,” he remarked. That average is taken during the “heat” of the day – in the afternoon. The average low temperature for Dec. 2, recorded just after sunup was 19.3 for the last 64 years and 20.7 for the last 20 years. The warmest Dec. 2 in Green Bay history came in 1932, when the temperature leaped to 53; the coldest was 14 below in 1893. You oldtimers who like to harp “the old days being a darned sight colder” are right. Now about precipitation early in December?...INCH OR MORE OF SNOW: Bomalaski reported that there was only one time in the last 20 years that an inch or more of snow piled up on the ground early in December. That started late in November last year, when Green Bay experienced the start of the roughest winter. In fact, the big snow blow started the night before the Packer-San Francisco here, and the field was pretty well covered come game time the next afternoon. Herb said that there were only four time in the last 20 years when there was enough snow to measure. The total precipitation for 20 years was only 1.89 inches on Dec. 2. Bomalaski admitted that 1950 was one of the most unusual weather years in history. The summer, the Bluejays will tell you, was “too cold” and, oddly enough, the warmest night was the night the Packers and Cardinals played at City stadium in August. With the exception of the day of the game with ‘Frisco, the football weather was excellent during the early fall. Packer officials, it can be pointed out, didn’t exactly go overboard on that Dec. 2 date with the Yanks…TOLD BELL TO GO AHEAD: Head Coach Gene Ronzani and Board Chairman Lee Joannes left the recent special league meeting with a schedule calling for the last game here on Nov. 18 against Pittsburgh. The matter of the schedule was placed in Commissioner Bert Bell’s hands by club representatives after they failed to agree on dates for the umpteenth time in three months. Finally, they told the commissioner to “go ahead” with the schedule. As soon as the Packer schedule arrived, Joannes registered the official Packer complaint to Bell, but, of course, to no avail. The Yanks also shuttered when the card came out; they’ll close their season in New York on Dec. 16.
TEDDY FRITSCH COULD BE THE AL SCHACHT OF FOOTBALL
APR 7 (Green Bay) - Professional football has no Al Schacht. But it has one Ted Fritsch. Schacht is baseball’s original comedian. His clowning for the Washington Senators led to the birth of scores of diamond jesters, including Max Patkin, who mixed baseball and comics with the Bluejays at one time. Fritsch is a Bay fullback veteran of nine years, a noted alumnus of Central State Teachers college of Stevens Point, a native of Spencer, Wis., currently a resident of Manitowoc and Green Bay, and a downright nice and amusing character. We’re not in the promotion business, but we’ve always figured that a gent the likes of Al Schacht could find a place in pro football as a sideline entertainer of some sort or between-halves routiner. Fritsch would be a natural for the post. What would he do? That would up to Teddy. He has a bucketful of foolish ideas and stunts plus enough natural nerve and humor to put them across. Fritsch’s clowning on the basketball court is widely known. With the Oshkosh All Stars a couple of years ago, Fritsch saved many a game from boredom with his football rolls on the court, selling peanuts in the stands during timeouts, etc. He does his stuff on the court, too. The Stars were quartered in a large city hotel one evening and things got pretty boring – until Ted ambled into the lobby wearing nothing but (1) red flannels and (2) an overcoat. His mates and the hotel patrons, needless to say, went into hysterics during his antics. Fritsch joined the Sheboygan Redskins for an exhibition against the
All-America Girl Redheads the other night and 3,300 fans (one of the biggest crowds in years) turned out for the belly laughs. Fritsch dressed properly for the occasion and drew one of the two fouls called on the Redskins - for pinching one of the Redheads. Teddy was a natural for keeping the Packer spirits high. Coming home from the east several years ago, Fritsch put one of the most terrific imitations of Curly Lambeau you'd ever want to see. About 25 of the boys were in the diner for breakfast when Fritsch uncovered a hat like Curly always wore. Up and down the aisle, Teddy stomped with cigarette dangling a la Curly and made with the pep talk. A brakeman's coat and hand, unattended, aren't safe on a train with Fritsch around. It's not unusual for Teddy to walk down the aisle wearing brakeman's clothes and swinging a lantern, yelling the next stop or anything that came to his mind. On the plane, Fritsch is the first to volunteer for dinner service duty. He generally takes a couple of pillow cases, winds one around his head like a chef's cap, and uses the other for an apron. He adds a few French words with accent and the show is on - not to mention the food. We've often wondered what Ted could do to an opposing lineman if he was playing on the line. Once one of the most terrorizing fullbacks in the league, Teddy has slowed down somewhat. But wouldn't he be a natural at guard - with his for-a-guard 220 pounds and steady chatter? Man!...MINE MEAT: Evan (Red) Vogds, the former Packer guard, will serve as line coach of the Wausau Muskies football team next fall. He'll work with Stan Bechtel and Bob Hanzlik. Wausau plays in the Central States Football league.
PACKERS MAY PLAY NY, PITT
APR 10 (Green Bay) - Tentative arrangements have been made by the Packers for non-conference games with the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Giants and Packers would meet in Dayton, O., Aug. 18, and the Pittsburgh tilt is tentatively set in Buffalo Sept. 16. Other Packer non-loop games previously announced are the Cardinals in Green Bay Aug. 25; the Philadelphia Eagles in Milwaukee Sept. 9; and the Washington Redskins in Alexandria, Va., Sept. 23. Arrangements are also being made to schedule a non-league game in Minneapolis early in September - possibly with San Francisco. The league schedule opens against the Chicago Bears in City stadium Sept. 30.
END ART FELKER INKS PACKER PACT FOR 1951
APR 12 (Green Bay) - Two hundred and five-pound Art Felker joined the Packer forces today for 1951. The six-foot, three-inch Marquette end, who played Army football with Packers Billy Grimes and Rebel Steiner in Japan, is the sixth player under contract next fall and the first member of Head Coach Gene Ronzani's draft list to officially register. A brother of Wisconsin's Gene Felker, Milwaukee end, was the first regularly-elected football captain at Marquette since 1937. Art led the Hilltop machine in pass receiving in his three varsity seasons, catching 14 for 178 yards in 1948, nine for 144 yards in 1949 and 16 for 226 yards last fall. Felker caught most of his passes from quarterback Frank Volk, the former Green Bay West star, who was drafted by the Bears last January in the league's annual selection meeting in Chicago...JOINS FIVE OTHER SIGNEES: Felker joins four non-drafted aces and one veteran, Tony Canadeo, on the player signed list. Felker played prep ball at North Division in Milwaukee and was drafted into service in the summer of 1946. He was shipped to Japan for occupation duty and saw considerable action with the First Cavalry division football team. Besides Grimes and Steiner, Jack Vainisi, Packer scout and ex-Notre Dame tackle, played also with the service squad. Felker also earned two letters in basketball at Marquette. He is married and lived in Milwaukee. Art played both offensive and defensive end at Marquette. At 205, Art had little trouble handling the duties on defense. Fast for his size, he was elusive enough to gain recognition as a top-flight pass receiver...ONE OF SIX ENDS PICKED: Felker is one of six ends picked by Ronzani in the draft. The signing of the Hilltopper continues the Marquette trend in Packer football. Ronzani, himself, is a Marquette immortal, though he played his professional football with the Bears. First of the MU stars to play here was Whitey Woodin, a tough guard. Then came tackle Jab Murray, quarterback Red Dunn, all-time end Lavvie Dilweg, center Art Bultman, end Wayland Becker, tackle Ken Radick, end Dick Flaherty, back Ward Cuff, who joined the Packers after a long spell with the New York Giants and a year with the Chicago Cardinals, and Carl Schuette, who played with the 1950 team after service in the old All-American conference.
PACKER SET STATEWIDE TICKET DRIVE
APR 17 (Green Bay) - A state-wide season ticket campaign with a two-fold purpose will be held by Green Bay Packers during the latter part of May and the early part of June. The drive is designed to (1) sell out City stadium for the team's four NFL games there; and (2) increase the number of season ticket holders at State Fair park in Milwaukee. The intensive sale efforts not
only will be concentrated in Green Bay, but in Milwaukee and many other strong Packer communities in the state. L.H. Joannes, Packer board chairman, and Max Murphy, who chairmaned last year's successful stock selling drive, are heading the season ticket sale organization for Milwaukee and the "state at large", and William J. Servotte, a Packer director, will be in charge of the drive in "Greater Green Bay". "The Packers did not put on any kind of a season ticket drive last year mainly because of the fact that, at that time, we were devoting all of our efforts to the stock sale," Jug Earp, the Packer publicity chief, said today. "But, even at that, we had a very satisfactory season ticket sale. This year, with the added incentives of one of the finest home schedules we have offered in years, and the fact that the Bear game is the league opener in Green Bay, we believe that our season ticket drive will assure us of packed houses for all of our home games." Last year's season ticket holders will have an opportunity to reserve their same seats again for the season before the drive begins, according to Ticket Director Carl Mraz. The Packer ticket office over the weekend mailed out notices to all present season ticket holders that they have until May 15 to make such reservations. Cards must be returned to the ticket office in Green Bay by that time to make certain that the same sears are held for them this year. Indication that interest in the Packers' coming season is shown by the fact that a "large number" of reservations were received in today's mail at the ticket office at 349 S. Washington street. Notices were sent out Saturday, meaning that fans received them Monday and returned their reservation the same day. Earp also announced that all games in Green Bay and Milwaukee will start at 1:30 Sunday afternoon this year, instead of the usual 2 o'clock in past season, with the exception of the New York Yank game Dec. 2, which will tart at 1 o'clock.
BELL SEES 'WRONG' IN PLAYER JUMPS TO CANADA
APR 18 (Philadelphia) - Commissioner Bert Bell has no intention of taking action against NFL players going to Canada to play, but he believes it is wrong. "If one of our players wants to go up there to play in one of the Canadian leagues, that is up to the individual," the NFL commissioner said. "But I believe it is wrong for an organization to encourage young fellows to break the carry-over clause of their contracts, both morally and legally," he added. Bell pointed out the NFL is not at war with Canadian organizations, and "so far as I am concerned the league will take no action against players jumping to the Canadian circuits." The commissioner said, however, that if the individual clubs of the NFL want to do something, they are free to act. "But it all comes back to who wants a player if he doesn't care to play for you," Bell said. The commissioner said he didn't have the names of any players jumping to the Canadian leagues this year, but last season several players left club camps to play north of the border. (Jack Jacobs, Glen Johnson and Bill Kelley of the Packers played in Canada last fall. Stan Heath, one-time Packer, left the Bear camp for Canada.)
CHRISTMAN RETIRES BUT LEAVES A LOOP HOLE
APR 20 (Green Bay) - Pitchin' Paul Christman will not play football next fall, BUT: Packer Coach Gene Ronzani got a letter from Uncle Paul the other day in which the veteran quarterback stated that he has decided to retire from the game and continue in business. BUT? Paul added that "if I did anything in football next fall, I'd like to do it for Green Bay." Sort of a loop hole just in case that football bug gets to bitin' some night late next July! Christman, of course, is of an age (33) where football (playing, that is) starts to catch up with the heartiest of individuals. However, it's possible that his business connections might not materialize as well as expects, and that he might like to try another year...FLOWERS NOT IN NAVY: It's reasonable to believe that Ronzani would like an insurance policy the likes of Christman here next fall, although sharpshooter Tobin Rote already has that important first year under his belt. Understudying Rote will be Dick Flowers, the ace from Northwestern who led the Big Ten in quarterback pitching last fall, and possibly Bob Petruska, the Wisconsinite who plays both quarterback and halfback. Then there is Joe Ernst, the Tulane product who was Ronzani's 15th choice in the draft. Ernst hasn't signed yet. Incidentally, Flowers did not enlist in the Navy after signed a Packer contract. A Chicago newspaper reported that Dick joined the Navy the other day, but Ronzani knows otherwise...Packer halfback Jug Girard is playing third base with Wilkes-Barre, Pa., in the Class A Eastern league. Trying for a Class A team or nothing at the Cleveland Indians' training camp in Daytona Beach, Girard won a job on the strength of his hitting. He played halfback in his first year here, a quarterback the second and halfback last fall...Five Packer draft choices and one, Dick Flowers, not drafted ranked high in statistical lists prepared by the NCAA. It shows that Bob Gain, the giant tackle from Kentucky and the Packers' first draft pick, ranked third in the nation in kicking extra points, with 37 kicks out of 42 tries. Fullback Fred Cone of Clemson, the third choice, was 10th among scorers with 86 points on 14 touchdowns and two PATs. Halfback Milt Stinson of Kansas, the Bays' fifth choice, was 12th with 84 points on 14 TDs. Stinson placed fifth among the country's ground gainers with 1,129 yards on 167 yards for an average of 6.76 per. Cone was 25th with 764 yards in 153 brushes for an average of 4.99. Between 'em, Cone and Stinson scored 28 touchdowns. Russ Bauer of Montana, the Bays' 14th draft choice, ranked 23rd in receiving with 32 catches for 563 yards and three TDs. Flowers wound up in 11th place with his 91 completions in 183 attempts for 1,063 yards and 11
touchdowns. Ernst finished 23rd with 69 completions in 128 attempts for 990 yards and eight touchdowns. Carl Kreager, the Michigan center who was the 12th player drafted by the Packers last January, has blossomed forth as a theatrical headliner. He scored a lead toke of the Wolverines' "Go West, Madam" production. A Detroit show critic said Kreager handled the part as well as passed the ball in the blizzard game against Ohio State.
PACKERS SIGN WARREN CHAMBERLAIN
MAY 5 (Green Bay) - Warren (Tubba) Chamberlain, 265 pounds of man, is now a Packer and a candidate for Ed Neal's defensive job. The six-foot-four-inch Eau Claire State Teachers college tackle, guard and center is the seventh athlete to sign a contract for the 1951 season. He was Coach Gene Ronzani's 23rd choice in the recent NFL draft. Chamberlain put in four years at tackle at Eau Claire High and then toiled in the same spot in his first two years at the college. He was shifted to offensive guard and defensive center on the five-man line by Coach Ade Olson the last two years. On defense, Chamberlain is practically immovable and sparkled enough to gain all-state teacher college honors for three years. The young giant is looking forward to giving Neal a run for his money. Big Ed, 10 pounds heavier than Tubba, has had defensive center (on the five-man line) pretty well to himself, although Buddy Burris did step in at times. If Chamberlain pans out, Neal will be that much tougher and Ronzani will have a front-line substitute to boot. Chamberlain, 24, is a veteran of World War II, having served 21 months with the Navy in the Pacific theater. He lives with his parents in Eau Claire. Tubba is easily in the heaviest signee, though tackle Nate Osur, the 250-pounder from Springfield (Mass.) college is not far behind. Nate, who hails from Princeton, N.J., stands 6-3. The other linemen signed thus far are end Art Felker of Marquette and tackle Ralph McGehee of Notre Dame. Ronzani already has switched McGehee to guard since the 215-pounder is a "little light" to play major league tackle. Three backs have signed. Ronzani has been busy the last couple of weeks lining up his 30 draft choices, the veterans and a flock of promising undrafted college boys. He expects to be able to announce a number of players as signed in the next few weeks. Also still outstanding is a backfield coach to replace Ray Nolting, who resigned last Jan. 15. Ronzani has a number of prospects on the fire. Line Coach Tarz Taylor has been in Green Bay all winter, working on arrangements for next fall, while End Coach Dick Plasman is expected in sometime in July.
BULLETIN
MAY 5 (Green Bay) - George Sladky, a halfback on the La Crosse State Teachers college's Cigar Bowl football team, has signed with the Packers. Sladky, who hails from Marinette, is the second member of the 1950 squad to sign a pro contract. Ace Loomis, another back is the property of the Cleveland Browns.
DON HUTSON NEW CHIEF QUARTERBACK
MAY 8 (Green Bay) - Looks like Don Hutson will score one more touchdown. The Green Bay Packer Alumni association passed the ball to the Packers' immortal pass receiver and point producer at its monthly meeting at the Beaumont hotel Monday night with this note: "You have been appointed chief quarterback of the Green Bay Packer Men's Quarterback club for the 1951 season." The appointment was made by Charley Brock, Alumni president, and unanimous approval was voiced by association members. Hutson is the third chief quarterback in the short but spirited history of the quarterback club - a group sponsored by the Alumni association. Jug Earp, powerhouse lineman in his day, and present director, was the club's first CQ when the organization was struggling for life back in 1949. Verne Lewellen, the Packers' great punter back in the three-championship days, handled the CQ duties during the Packers' revival campaign last fall. Thus, Hutson, recently named to the all-time All-America team, moves back into the Packer picture. Outside of scouting a player or two, Huston has been away from the center of the scene, so to speak, since he closed out his two years of assistant coaching in 1947. Don finished an 825-point, 11-year playing career after the 1945 season...MEET AT WASHINGTON JR.: The Quarterback club, probably the fastest growing organization in Green Bay sports history, will hold its 1951 meetings in Washington Junior High school auditorium. The club met at Vocational school in its first year. As in the past, meetings will be held on Thursday nights and will feature pictures of Packer games played on the previous Sundays. The association cleared the way for a membership of 1,600 quarterbacks - 65 less than last year. The auditorium has a seating capacity of around 1,300, which, if all attended on the same night, would mean an overflow of 300. However, club officials pointed out that a "20 percent shrinkage is generally expected." Members of the 1950 QB club will get first chance to buy membership cards are being sent to all 1950 members and a deadline of June 1 was set for the return of the cards. After June 1, the sale of memberships will be opened to the public. To prevent any disappointments, Brock urged 1950 members to return the application cards with the $2 membership fee "as soon as you receive your application". The fee is the same as last year and covers 11 or 12 meetings...PAY TRIBUTE TO FEE KLAUS: The association paid tribute to the late Fee Klaus in a talk by Brock, Klaus, former Packer center, organized the Packer Alumni group and was instrumental in starting the quarterback club.
PACKERS ADD TACKLE HOLOWENKO
MAY 9 (Green Bay) - Sigmund Holowenko did more than sign a Packer contract today. The giant John Carroll university tackle made plans to (1) win himself a place on the team and (2) settle down in Green Bay. Holowenko is the "highest" Packer draft choice to sign thus far (he was the No. 6 choice) and, needless to say, Head Coach Gene Ronzani is pleased with the signed contract, not to mention Holowenko's enthusiasm. In fact, Holowenko played football with such vim, vigor and vitality at JC that opponents rated him as "our roughest opponent". What's more, his coach, Herb Eisele, several times had to "restrain" him for becoming too rough in practice. The newcomers plays left tackles, which means that his chief opponents next fall will be Richard (Dick) Wildung, the Minnesota bearcat, who is due back for his sixth season, and Ed Ecker, expected back for season No. 2. Holowenko, Wildung and Ecker were 60-minute operators as amateurs - in college, that is. Wildung, of course, gained All-America recognition for his full-time bruising play as a Gopher. Holowenko, according to JC statisticians, averaged 57 minutes of play in each game during this entire four seasons, winning four letters for his efforts. Ecker, incidentally, performed BP (before pro)
at John Carroll, later joining the Chicago Bears. Holowenko stands 6-3 and weighs 245 pounds. He's 27 years old, married and makes his home in Cleveland. He was on the All-Ohio first team picked by the AP, UP and INS in 1950, and rated honorable mention on several All-America clubs. Holowenko normally would have a season or two of pro football under his best but his college career was interrupted for nearly four years for service as a gunner's mate in the Navy during World War II. He served in both the Pacific and European theaters. The John Carroll star, a bug on hunting and fishing, told Ronzani that he wants to settle up here so "I can take advantage of hunting and fishing in Wisconsin." Make the team? Holowenko has told Ronzani several times in letters that "I'm certain I can cut the buck in pro ball." Ronzani feels that Holowenko's confidence will go a long ways toward making him a successful professional football player. Holowenko is the ninth player under contract thus far for the 1951 season.
STANSAUK, BAISCH SIGN PACKER CONTRACT
MAY 11 (Green Bay) - Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani had a full 11-man football team under contract today with the signing of two heavyweight wrestlers. Latest to enter the fold are Clarence Reuben (Tank) Baisch, a five-by-five fullback out of Lewis and Clark college, and Dan Stansauk, giant tackle out of Denver U. and the Detroit Lions. Ronzani now has a nucleus of five backs, four tackles, one guard and one end. Two are veterans, Stansauk, who battled during the entire 1950 league game campaign after training with Detroit, and Tony Canadeo, the warhorse back returning for his 10th drive. Baisch, a fast crashing back, played four years of college ball at the Portland, Ore., school. He stands a low 5-8 but packs a dainty 202 pounds...SCORED 14 TOUCHDOWNS: Baisch, a three-year veteran of the Lewis and Clark wrestling team, scored 14 touchdowns wit his brute strength last fall. He received all-Northwest conference honors in 1949 and 1950, and made the Little All-America team in '50. Like a number of other Packer signees, Baisch's football career was interrupted by service in World War II. Baisch, 27, served 36 months with the Navy Seabees in the Pacific theater. Baisch likely will have to make it as an offensive player since his squad size is against him for defensive backfield duty. However, the bullet-boy may be switched to guard duty in case of an overflow of fullbacks. And Baisch wouldn't be the first fullback to move into the line. One famed example is Buckets Goldenberg, the ex-Wisconsin crasher, who worked into guard as a Packer and later won all-league honors at his "strange" post...CAN'T MISS FOOTBALL: Stansauk, big and rough, left California last winter to continue his professional wrestling in these parts but a chest injury, developed during the grid season, forced him to quit wrestling for the season. As Stansauk explained: "I can't afford to take a chance wrestling and miss a season of football." Stansauk, now working in Green Bay, is 26 years old, stands 6-2 and packs 255 pounds. He served three years in the Navy during World War II...Jack Vainisi, Packers' scout and statistician, left today for South Bend, Ind., where he'll witness the annual Notre Dame Old Timers game Saturday afternoon. Packer back Larry Coutre is flying in from an Army camp in Kentucky to play with the Old Timers. Other pro stars with the OTs are Bill Wightkin, Jerry Groom, Fred Wallner, Gus Cifelli, Jim Martin, Emil Sitko and John Lujack. Vainisi, former ND tackle, will confer with a number of visiting coaches and his ex-teammates. Next week, he expects to take in Wisconsin's annual intra-squad game.
PACKER SIGNEE MAY BE FIRST 'PED' TO MAKE GRADE SINCE TED
MAY 15 (Green Bay) - George Sladky, one of the newest members of the Green Bay Packers, may well become the finest player to come out of the state college conference since Ted Fritsch of Stevens Point made the grade in 1942. Sladky, who hails from the same hometown of another Packer, Earl (Jug) Girard - Marinette (Wis.) is generally considered the most valuable player of the undefeated La Crosse State squad of 1950. Sladky can best be described as a workhorse or a play maker. In Coach Clark Van Galder's version of the T, Sladky played the vital, but often overlooked right halfback position. From this position, he led the blocking on all plays to the left; carried on a "suicide" reverse that was a setup for an alert backer-upper; and was the main target for spot passes down the middle. Besides, he played left half on defense and led the team in interceptions. Of the six first stringers who will be missing when La Crosse returns to football next fall, Sladky's absence will be the most felt. And that comes straight from Van Galder, who tabbed the stubby gridder "the best" of his talented squad. Popular with his teammates, George was generally considered by them as the squad's most valuable player. Sladky is definitely a ballplayers' ballplayer. La Crosse won 10 games and lost none last fall - winding up the school's most successful season with a trip to the Cigar bowl in Tampa, Fla. There they mopped up Valparaiso, Ind., 47-14, for win No. 10, and Sladky was the man who made the Indians "go"...BEST BLOCKING BACK ON SQUAD: Sladky stands 5-9 and weights in at about 177 pounds. He has plenty of speed and a remarkable store of power in his squatty frame. He was undoubtedly the best blocking back on the La Crosse squad, the No. 1 pass receiver and a glue-fingered defender on aerial defense. Sladky's alert pass defensive play allowed La Crosse to get the jump with early touchdowns in its two most important games of the season - against Gustavus Adolphus and Valparaiso. Actually, Sladky reached his peak in the Cigar bowl, coming from a sick bed in his hotel room to spark the Indians in routing "Valpo". He had been confined to bed with a serious face swelling caused from an overdose of sulfa drugs he was taking to fight off a cold. Sladky did not score in the New Years' day classic at Tampa, but he set up at least half of the touchdowns by using good football common sense. Ace Loomis, fullback, recently signed by the Cleveland Browns, scored five touchdowns. But he can give George credit for three of the five. Time and again Sladky would seem to be smothered on his "suicide" reverse, but, at the last moment, would lateral to Loomis to the outside. This combination - successful because of Sladky's ability to lateral the ball at the right moment - resulted in three touchdowns in the Cigar bowl and many more during the regular season. At Tampa, Sladky carried the ball only eight times but averaged nine yards a crack. Off the football field, Georgie - that's what his teammates tabbed him - is a modest, unassuming individual. One of the best-liked fellows on the La Crosse campus, he was usually the target of his teammates' jesting sessions because of being naturally bashful.
DIPIERRO, SCHEUTTE SIGN PACKER PAPERS
MAY 16 (Green Bay) - Ray DiPierro, a butter and egg man out of Toledo, and Carl W. Schuette, a coal ma from Sheboygan, became Packers for the 1951 season today. Receipt of signed pacts from the two veterans boosted the number of "set" players to 13, Head Coach Gene Ronzani announced. The list includes five tackles, one center, six backs and one end. Schuette, a center who plays most of the time as a linebacker on the right corner, is returning for his second season here and his fourth in professional football. Carl, one-time Sheboygan High and Marquette university fullback and halfback, played two seasons with the Buffalo Bills in the old All-America conference after closing out 43 months in the Pacific with the Marines. Schuette, who turned 29 last April 4, got off to a great start last fall, but an injury handicapped him some as the season progressed. Carl stands 6-1 and packs 210 pounds. Schuette is employed by the Reiss Coal company in Sheboygan and last night showed the film, Packer Highlights of 1950, at a company meeting. DiPierro, who will become 25 years of age next Aug. 22, is starting his third season in pro ball. He started with the Chicago Bears in 1949 and joined the Packers at the start of the 1950 training, playing considerably as an offensive guard. Still single, DiPierro is in the produce business with his father during the offseason. Ray weighs 210 pounds and stands 5-11...Signing of Schuette, incidentally, gives the Packers a total of five Wisconsin-born players under contract. Others are Marquette end Art Felker of Milwaukee; Eau Claire Teachers tackle Warren Chamberlain of Eau Claire; Wisconsin back Bob Petruska of Lake Mills, La Crosse Teachers back George Sladky of Marinette.. Four of the 13 players signed thus far are veterans. Besides DiPierro and Schutte, there are Tony Canadeo, 10-year fullback and halfback, and Don Stansauk, tackle.
MCLEAN STARTS MONDAY AS PACKER COACH AIDE
MAY 17 (Green Bay) - Raymond Tuttle (Scooter) McLean, the Packers' new backfield coach, will arrive in Green Bay Sunday and start work Monday. Appointed by Head Coach Gene Ronzani Wednesday, McLean today closed out his affairs at Lewis college in Lockport, Ill, where he coached football and basketball for three years after retiring as a halfback with the Chicago Bears. A New Englander with a sharp eastern accent, McLean told the writer via telephone this morning that "coaching in professional football has been my goal since I left the Bears."...21-5 RECORD AT LEWIS: McLean said he gained "enough college coaching experience to warrant the change and I certainly wish to thank Gene and the Packers for the opportunity." McLean's Lewis college football teams posted a total of 21 victories and five defeat in his three years there plus two title in the old Badger-Illinois college conference. In 1948, Lewis compiled an 8-1 record and in 1949 Lockport went on the map with 9-0. In the school's first year in the Midlands conference last fall, the team broke even in eight starts. One of the four losses was a 42-7 decision to St. Norbert college at Minahan stadium. Born in Concord, N.H., in 1915 McLean gained little All-American recognition at St. Anselm (Mass.) college in 1940 and was drafted by the Bears. He settled down for an eight-year pro career, playing both right and left half on four championship clubs. He was ranked as the most dangerous pass receiver in the league in 1944 when he caught 19 for 414 yards and five touchdowns...USED "T" IN COLLEGE: McLean, who stacked a swift 168 pounds as a player, also competed in track and baseball in college. During the summer, he played baseball with a number of minor league teams, including Topeka in 1947. McLean installed the T-formation at Lewis - "much on the same order that Gene is using at Green Bay," he said, adding, "I've had to change it around to fit the material." McLean is the third former Bear back to serve as Packer backfield coach in three years. Bob Snyder replaced Bo Molenda in 1949 and Ray Nolting succeeded Snyder in the reorganization a year ago. Nolting resigned last January...PRO STUFF: Coach Ronzani said today he may appoint one of the players to assist with coaching the line next fall. Linemen with the most pro experience are Dick Wildung and Chuck Drulis, who came to Green Bay early last year...George Trafton, former line coach of the Packers and Los Angeles Rams, has been named head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian league.
MANN SET FOR 1ST FULL PACKER YEAR; TO PLAY BOTH END SPOTS
MAY 18 (Green Bay) - Bob Mann will be a busy man with the Packers next fall. The veteran pass catcher will play both right and left end, Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani said today in revealing that swift Robert had signed for his first full season in Bay flannels. Mann will be creating confusion in enemy ranks by exchanging positions with Al Baldwin, normally a left win, who, incidentally, hasn't signed his 1951 contract yet. After missing the first nine league games last fall in rather unusual circumstances, Mann is anxious to get a "clean start" with the Packers next fall, he wrote to the head coach. The colored athlete, with the catlike swiftness, compiled an amazing pass receiving record in his first two seasons with the Detroit Lions, ranking 10th in the league as a rookie in 1949 and finishing second - only a flash behind Tom Fears - in 1950. For these achievements, he was peddled to the New York Yanks before the 1950 campaign started. Yank Coach Red Strader had his lineup pretty well set what with Dan Edwards, Bruce Alford, Art Weiner, Barney Poole and company, so Mann couldn't work into the picture although he wasn't given an opportunity in league competition...PLAYS AT 169 POUNDS: Mann then claimed that he was being "railroaded" out of the league, and promptly decided to get out of the game and enter the real estate business in Detroit. The Packers then made connections with Mann when they played in Detroit and Bob got the Packer inspiration when he watched them outplay but lose to the Lions, 24-21. Mann was drilling with the Packers the following Thursday and picked up enough signals to compete in the snowball battle against the San Francisco Forty Niners here. He caught one pass and put out a key block on Billy Grimes' long touchdown run. In his three Packer appearances, Mann caught six for 89 yards for an average of 14.8 per catch and one touchdown. As a Lion rookie, fresh out of Michigan, Mann caught 33 for 560 yards and three TDs. Bob exactly doubled his catches in 1949 and turned 'em into 1,014 yards - tops in the league - and four TDs. Standing an inch under six feet. Mann plays at 167 pounds. He turned 27 last April 8. Bob was the first Negro start to play for the Packers in a league game. Jim Clark, a back, and guard Jim Thomas, both of Ohio State, were the first colored boys ever signed by the Packers last summer, but they failed to make the grade. Mann played with the Michigan Rose bowl champions of Jan. 1, 1948 and gained all-Big Ten and All-America honors for his 1947 play. Mann is the 14th player signed thus far for next fall. The other end registered is Art
Felker, Marquette rookie...Coach Ronzani plans to go to Superior shortly to view the training facilities at Superior State college and nearby Grand Rapids, Minn. Several pro clubs considered training there for two or three-week periods following a promotional campaign started by upstate Minnesota groups at the NFL meeting in Chicago last January. The Philadelphia Eagles trained at Grand Rapids a number of years while the New York Giants worked at Superior. In their promotional talk, Minnesota groups offered facilities and board for what is considerably less than it would cost to train a club at its home base. The Bay executive committee is considering sending the team to one of the sites for a short period at the start of the season.
PACKERS TO LAUNCH TRAINING IN MINNESOTA
MAY 21 (Green Bay) - In an economy move, the Packers today decided to train at Grand Rapids, Minn., for a period of approximately three weeks, starting around Aug. 1. They will return to Green Bay shortly before the non-conference clash with the Chicago Cardinal at City stadium Saturday night, Aug. 25, and finish out training here. The Packers presented at least four big reasons for training out of the city for the second time in their history, most important of which is the money-saving aspect. Packer President E.R. Fischer, in making the announcement, revealed that the “overall saving on training there (lodging and board, etc.) is more than $2,000 less than the cost of the same period in Green Bay.” Broken down, Fischer said that it will cost $1.50 less per man per day to train at Grand Rapids. With approximately 70 men including coaches and trainers, this amounts to a saving of $105 per day. For 21 days, the savings can be estimated at about $2,205. Training in Green Bay (the team stayed at the Hotel Northland last year) would cost over $4,000 for a three-week period. In addition, the Packers may play one or two lucrative intra-squad games in the vicinity of Grand Rapids, which is approximately 100 miles northwest of Superior and 30 miles north and west of Hibbing. What’s more, the Packers will receive what could be termed “rights” to a non-conference game in Minneapolis. The game is tentatively scheduled for early in September against the San Francisco Forty Niners. Head Coach Gene Ronzani feels that the Grand Rapids site, headquarters for the Philadelphia Eagles for several year, will give him an opportunity to “keep the squad together better” and, as a result, “concentrate more on practice.” Ronzani and Packer officials pointed out that the training facilities in Green Bay are “limited”. Bluejay field, where the heavy drills for league contests were staged last year, won’t be available until after the State league baseball season ends Labor day. This is the first time the Packers have trained out of Brown country since 1935 when they drilled for a short time at a Rhinelander resort. The Bays drilled at Rockwood Lodge, 16 miles up the Sturgeon Bay road for several year, but the building burned in January of 1950 and workouts last fall were held here in the city. The Grand Rapids site is operated by Minnesota Sports, Inc., a civic organization encouraging sports and recreation in Minnesota. Ole Haugsrud, president of the Minnesota Sports, Inc., promoted professional sports as general manager of the Duluth Eskimos years ago. Grand Rapids offers exceptional facilities. In addition to excellent living accommodations, the club will have plenty of privacy as well as diversion for the players – golf, fishing, etc…The Packers’ new backfield, Ray McLean, arrived in Green Bay over the weekend and was introduced by Ronzani at a meeting of the Packer executive committee this noon. Ronzani will spend most of this week briefing McLean on the Packer setup. At Lewis college, where McLean was head football coach for three seasons, Ray used practically the same “T” system the Packers are employing.
LUCRATIVE NON-LEAGUE CARD MUST FOR PRO FOOTBALL CLUBS
MAY 28 (Green Bay) - A lucrative non-conference schedule is a must for professional football league clubs these days. There was a day when non-league games, commonly referred to as exhibitions, provided the athletes with a chance to learn the signals and the clubs with postage money. That was when training started in September and the regular league season opened a few weeks later. Now, practice gets underway almost two months before league activity. To make up butter and break for 50 to 60 athletes for two months and provide financial insurance for the rocky league competition, clubs are exploring every possible method of picking up extra revenue. The most lucrative is the non-conference game. The Packers this season are closing out details for their best non-league campaign in history – one that may develop into an even better and “more secure” program in the future. The first nail in a long-range, close-to-home exhibition platform was driven down last summer when arrangements were completed for the first annual Shrine game in Milwaukee. The contest, details and selling of which were handled expertly by the Shriners, resulted in nice checks for the visiting Baltimore Colts, the Packers and the Shrine. As a result, any team in the league would consider it a privilege to be invited by the Packers to play in the Milwaukee Shrine game. What’s more, the Packers gained a “sales” point. For example, the Packers can tell the Browns, Eagles or any other team that “we’ll invite you to the Shrine game, if you book us in one of your better exhibitions the following year.” You may be interested to know that Owner Art Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers wanted to play the Packers in the Milwaukee Shrine game every other year in “exchange” for the Packers’ appearance in the in-between years in the Pittsburgh Dapper Dan promotion – a 30,000 crowd affair. Rooney would like to make two or three non-league games annual affairs – “so people look forward to seeing them – just like a league game against a hot rival.” The Packers added another board to their long-range platform by gaining “home” rights to Minneapolis. This was part of the agreement under which the Packers are training at Grand Rapids, Minn. The drill camp and the Minneapolis game are promoted by Minnesota Sports, Inc. The Packers will meet San Francisco in Minneapolis’ new stadium early in September and in 1952 the Minnesota Shrine group may take on sponsorship of the game. Thus, the Packers would have two “surefires” starting in 1952 – Milwaukee and Minneapolis, as well as “trading” points with the visiting clubs for the following year. Minneapolis, incidentally, is a hot football community, what with its twin, St. Paul, throwing in population weight. Four years ago, tiny Nicollet field was sold out (14,000 fans) four weeks in advance for a Packer-NY Giant non-looper. Minneapolis’ new stadium may seat as many as 35,000, and, judging by the interest in the Packers’ last appearance, a sellout isn’t out of the question. Another non-league affair with future possibilities is the Chicago Cardinal-Packer feature at City stadium. The game drew over 20,000 fans one hot night last August – seven months after Curly Lambeau resigned as Packer coach to take over the coaching reins of the Cardinals. The sight of Lambeau on the “opposite” side of City stadium after 31 years of parading on the home side helped lure a record crowd for a non-league game here. Packer officials are watching the 1951 Lambeau-Packer ticket sale with interest. The battle gives Green Bay and area a total of five games – to support. At home, the Packers’ big job is to sell our City stadium for the four league games. Those four sellouts represent the backbone of the club’s financial structure. And speaking about those four league games. Wouldn’t it be a wise idea to save a buck or two a week for your season ticket – starting now. Bear Boss George Halas is a master at picking up extra revenue – in addition to non-league games. Halas, for instance, has made considerable money by selling records of the Bear song. The Packers, incidentally, are considering the possibility of doing same with their spirited song.
PACKER SEASON TICKET DRIVE JUL 31, AUG. 1
MAY 31 (Green Bay) - The Packers’ 1951 season is only two months away – from today. Coach Gene Ronzani will pack some 55 athletes into a couple of buses on July 31 for a trip to Grand Rapid, Minn., and bright and early the next morning, Aug. 1, official practice will start. The squad will gather in Green Bay July 30. They’ll return for the non-conference football clash with Curly Lambeau and his Chicago Cardinals at City stadium Saturday night Aug. 25. The arrival of the Packers here will mark the start of the club’s annual ticket campaign. The drive, originally, scheduled in June, will be packed through the state into two days – July 31 and Aug. 1. A big breakfast will launch the main campaign here. The season ticket sale is designed (1) to sell out snug City stadium for the four league games and (2) to substantially increase the number of season ticket holders for the two league games in Milwaukee…14 PLAYERS ANNOUNCED: The Eagles, coached for the first season by Bo McMillin, former Detroit mentor, also will perform in Milwaukee, the occasion being the non-conference Shrine-sponsored battle Sept. 16. The ’51 Detroits are coached by Buddy Parker, the ex-Cardinal mentor. Ronzani is busy these days with signing of players, conferences with new backfield coach Ray McLean, and finishing arrangements for training. A total of 14 players have been announced as signed but more are expected shortly.
PACKERS SIGN MANLEY, BURRIS; 16 ARE 'SET'
JUN 1 (Green Bay) - Six NFL clubs, including the Packers, went on a player-signing binge today. A total of 11 players were registered, including Packer veterans Buddy Burris and Leon Manley. Burris and Manley are the 15th and 16th players signed by the Packers by 1951. Coach Gene Ronzani’s ink list now includes seven veterans. Burris, former All-American from the University of Oklahoma, is moving in for his third season here. Manley, also an Oklahoma All-American, is returning for his second year. Both were handymen last year. Burris spelled Ed Neal in the slot on the five-man defensive line and worked as an offensive guard. Manley played both tackle and guard. Manley, incidentally, was the Packers’ most successful pass receiving tackle in history. He caught five for a total of 66 yards – an average of 13.2 His longest pass again was 18 yards – against the Yanks in New York. Manley’s sideline is out, however, since the league did away with the tackle-eligible play at their January meeting. Burris, 5-11 and 215, presently is farming 300 acres of corn, oats and barley in Odessa, Tex. Manley, 6-2 and 210, is finishing up work on his degree in Oklahoma. The Manleys are parents of a son recently.
DON HUTSON DIRECTS HUMOR AT ALL-TIMER BAUGH
JUN 2 (Green Bay) - Six gridiron immortals from the Associated Press all-time, All-America football team got together Friday for the kickoff of celebrity weekend in Washington. The six were guests of honor at a Washington Touchdown club luncheon along with a host of grid greats from the present day and yesteryear. They’re all here to play in the fifth annual national celebrities golf tournament, which starts today at Army-Navy Country club. Pudge Heffelfinger, a guard at Yale 1888-1891, kidded the present day stars and told them he could do just as well today as he did 60 years ago – if his legs had held up. All-time end Don Hutson of Alabama and the Green Bay Packers directed his humor at Slingin’ Sammy Baugh, the No. 2 all-time quarterback. “I’m proud to be here with Sammy Baugh,” he said. “It was my defensive play that’s kept him in the league so long.” Baugh, who joined the Washington Redskins of the NFL in 1937, is now the playing dean of America’s football stars.
DRILLING AWAY 'WORTH" $20,000 TO PACKERS
JUN 5 (Green Bay) - Anybody around here got $20,000? To keep the Packers in Green Bay during a brief training period in August! The Packers figure to save and/or earn around 20 G’s on the deal that takes ‘em to Grand Rapids, Minn., for a three or four-week training program starting Aug. 1. Coach Gene Ronzani, answering the question, “Why are the Packers Training Away from Home”, at the Kiwanis luncheon at the Northland hotel Monday, says the Packers will save over $2,200 alone on room and board for 60-odd players and coaches; they’ll pick up $5,000 on a couple of intra-squad games; and, to top it off, they get “home” rights to Minneapolis for a non-conference game – a $10,000-plus affair. Expenses at Grand Rapids will run about $105 per day per man less than they would cost here. The Bays roomed at the Hotel Northland and ate their meals at the YWCA during the training season last fall. At least two intra-squad games will be played in and around Grand Rapids. The fans up there, compared to those in this neck of the woods, are football starved – the big league style, at least. The Philadelphia Eagles worked there the two previous years, giving the Minnesota backing its first good look at pro ball…WOULD HAVE DRAWN 35,000: The big clincher is the Minneapolis deal. The Packers will play San Francisco in Minneapolis’ new stadium early in September. Twin City fans packed little Nicollet park to the rafters to watch the Packers play the New York Giants there a couple of years ago. At the time the sponsors figured the game would have drawn 35,000 or more – the seating capacity of the new stadium. Ronzani said that the Packers are trying to establish a “permanent” non-conference program – “one that we can depend on each year.” After 1951, the Minneapolis attraction may become a Shrine-sponsored affair – like the annual non-looper in Milwaukee. Thus, the Packers would have two sure-fire money-makers. What’s more, Ronzani said, “those two games give us a chance to barter with other major league clubs for games in their cities.” The Milwaukee and Minneapolis games will each furnish the visiting team with a “five-figure check”, Gene pointed out, adding, “naturally any club in the league will fight for a chance to get one of those gates – before the regular season starts.” As a result, “we can barter a date in one of these Shrine sponsored games for a ‘good’ non-conference game in the home of the visiting club,” Ronzani stated. The early non-conference game in City stadium shows some promise of being an annual affair. Nearly 20,000 fans turned out in the first of what could be a “series” with Curly Lambeau’s Chicago Cardinals in August of 1950. The clubs meet again on Aug. 25, next…TICKE DRIVE JULY 31-AUG. 1: Ronzani feels, in addition, that training in Grand Rapids gives “us a better opportunity to keep the boys together during those crucial first three weeks.” As to the Packers’ chances in 1951, Ronzani said he couldn’t evaluate the Packers until he got a look at some of the other clubs. “But,” he stated seriously, “we’ll try to produce a better team next fall and with God’s help I think we will.” Jug Earp, the Packers’ director of publicity, passed out brochures telling of the Packers’ 1951 home game program and reported on the club’s a better team next fall and with
God’s help I think we will.” Jug Earp, the Packers’ director of publicity, passed out brochures telling of the Packers’ 1951 home game program and reported on the club’s season ticket campaign. The drive will be packed into two days – July 31 and Aug. 1, Earp said. John Torinus, a member of the Packer executive committee, introduced the speakers while John Walter, Kiwanis club prexy, presided. The meeting closed with showing of the film, “Packer Highlights of 1950”.
'FANS OF GREEN BAY STILL MUST BE PATIENT,' WILDUNG OPINES
JUN 9 (Green Bay) - "The fans of Green Bay still must be patient." That's how Richard Knute (Dick) Wildung looks at the Packers' future. The veteran tackle, in a letter to this department, felt that "we were undermanned by comparison with most of the clubs (last year) and that is a situation which cannot be corrected in one year. As you know, it was a somewhat gradual process which brought about Green Bay finding itself in the position it has been in and you can only expect that it's going to be a gradual process which will correct the situation. For as you know the coaches can pick up only a limited number of new players in any year." Wildung, who presently is debating on whether or not to return for his sixth season, commented on the 1949 season: "I feel as though we could have beaten any team in the league on a good day and with a few breaks, which are always necessary in that league, whereas in 1949 I'm sure that we could not. The T is an intricate system, and, as a matter of fact, practically all of us were rookies as regards the T, it just was to be expected that we would make more mistakes on any given day than most of our opponents. I don't mean to imply that it was the rookies who made most of the mistakes because we were all equally guilty from that standpoint." Wildung was of the opinion that Green Bay must be patient "even if things are normal, the war situation, etc." However, he stated, "I feel definitely that the Packers are on the road back. We had a lot of young men and some were really outstanding." Elaborating on Wildung's view from this end, it would appear that Coach Gene Ronzani faces a terrific rebuilding job again, although the job doesn't seem as tough as the one he stepped into before the 1950 season. To offset (at least a little) the loss of such stars as Clayton Tonnemaker, Bob Forte, Larry Coutre and others, Ronzani has a nucleus familiar with his style of play - not to mention a promising crop of draftees, "sleepers" and veterans. Wildung, asked to select an all-opponent team, said he couldn't do it because "honestly, I'd just be guessing." However, Wildung said the outstanding man he played against "directly" was Gil Bouley of the Los Angeles Rams. "Gil doesn't get the publicity that some of the others do but I'd like to have him on my team anytime," Dick said. Wildung, a Minneapolis native, is a special agent for an insurance company there.
TWO 245-POUND T'S UP PACKER ROSTER TO 18
JUN 13 (Green Bay) - The Packers came up with two more sleepers today - a couple of 245-pound tackle
1950-51 Green Bay Packers vs. Sheboygan Redskins Basketball Program - Only Example Known! Yes, you read the title of this amazing catalog listing correctly. One of the only artifacts that remain linking the two professional Wisconsin sports teams together, this program represents a 1950-51 charity basketball game between the defunct NBA squad Sheboygan Redskins and historic Green Bay Packers. (Source: Heritage Auctions)
you've never heard of. They are John Harry Shehtanian, a specimen out of San Jose State college with a year of semipro ball under his belt, and Richard Brown of West Liberty State Teachers college of West Liberty, W.V. Signing of the two giants, announced today by Coach Gene Ronzani, gives the Bays eighteen players on the dotted line for next fall. The group includes eight sleepers, three members of last January's draft list and seven veterans of previous Packer teams. Shehtanian holds the unique distinction of playing with a "Packer" team. That was the name of the San Jose team which played in a California semipro league last year. The big Armenian, who does the 100-yard dash in 11 seconds, also plays center. His name popped up in NFL centers after a brilliant season for the California team. He finished out his college eligibility in 1950 but was graduated this month. Shehtanian, who turns 27 next Aug. 25 - the day of the Chicago Cardinal game here, started college in 1941 but was sidetracked nearly five years for service in the Air corps as a pilot. He made over 200 convoy coverage flights and received a presidential citation, an air medal, and British honors. Brown, on the other hand, still has another year of football eligibility left, but decided to skip his college closeout after five pro clubs chased him down. His class already has graduated, making him available for the pros. Three years ago, Brown was rated the leading freshman tackle prospect at the University of Kentucky but he enrolled at the University of Tennessee. After a successful fling there, Brown sought activity closer to home so he tried West Liberty State. A native of Natruna, Pa., Brown last fall made the AP and UP Little All-America teams and the Tri-State star squad. He was also given honorable mention on the AP "big" All-America. Brown will be 23 years of age next Sept. 2. At 6-4, Brown is nearly two inches taller than Shehtanian. Brown served as a sergeant in the Air corps in Europe after World War II.
BIG JOB AHEAD, ALL PACKER POSITIONS OPEN, COACH RONZANI TELLS PLAYERS
JUN 14 (Green Bay) - If you were a Packer player or prospect, you would have received a letter from Coach Gene Ronzani today. Your eyes might have popped upon reading Paragraph 2 of this first of a series of bulletins: "A tremendous job is ahead of us this year - There will be many new faces - All positions are open and everyone will have to compete for their positions - Those 1950 athletes who played just hard enough to make the squad (33) will find they will have to go all out to make the squad and play that way the entire year - Otherwise they will be replaced - There'll be no room for laggers and self-satisfied athletes." The bulletin carried the title: "Start Thinking Football Now!" Gene lead off optimistically, including the words champion and championship: "The 1951 Packers football season is only seven short weeks away. Are you prepared for a championship year? Both mental and physical conditioning are necessary. They go together like ham and eggs. You must think, talk and play like champions. To be champions you must be alert, smart and physically fit. Get your feet, legs and wind in best of condition. Do setups, spring, jog, trot, long runs, short runs, build your wind up. Use tincture of benzoin on your feet. More hours of football are lost by sore feet, blisters, etc. You may lose out making the team because of bad feet and sore legs - will it be you? Let's not be the unfortunate one!"...PLACE TO LEARN PLAYS: While the Packers won't start field training until Aug. 1 at Grand Rapids, Minn,. Ronzani wrote: "Remember, a camp is not a place to get yourself in physical condition, but it is a place to get your plays, assignments and learn a system - offense and defense. It takes guts to get into condition. It means many sacrifices of 'good things' - pushing yourself away from the table and food - also that beer. Get plenty of rest as you cannot endure a tough season of football without proper rest." Ronzani closed with a paragraph on the coaching setup: "Ray McLean is our new backfield coach. Holdover coaches include Richard Plasman and Tarz Taylor and our talent scout, Jack Vainisi."...While the Packer players were getting their bulletins today, Ronzani learned that halfback Rip Colling, the former Baltimore Colt drafted by the Packers last January, had signed with Montreal of the Canadian Football league. Ronzani said Collins agreed to sign with Green Bay via telephone recently and a contract was forwarded to him. Gene said he hadn't heard from him since - "until I heard that he signed up there." Ronzani said he planned to get in touch with Collins. A year ago, Abner Wimberly, the end, had signed with a Canadian team but decided to play with the Packers instead. Collins, a left or right half, hasn't had much luck sticking with one club. He came up with the Chicago Hornets of the old All-America conference in 1949 and that club promptly folded up after the season. He was drafted by the Baltimore Colts for 1950, and they quit the NFL last winter. A crack punter, Collins was a star at Louisiana State university.
'FIELDER' WIZBICKI IN '51 PACKER FOLD
JUN 15 (Green Bay) - Alex Wizbicki signed his Packer contract today to help repair some of the damage done by Uncle Same last winter. Wizbicki, onetime Holy Cross and All-America conference star, is one of three men available from the Packers' six back-of-the-line defensive corps. Three of them already are in service - Clayton Tonnemaker, the middle backer-up; Bob Forte, outside backer-up; and Wally Dreyer, the centerfielder. This leaves Wizbicki, Carl Schuette and Rebel Steiner, who broke in as a rookie last year with considerable promise. Schuette, the Marquette grade who got his baptism in the old AA loop, already has signed while Steiner's contract is still outstanding. Wizbicki, the 19th player signed for Packer duty thus far by Coach Gene Ronzani, never played anything but defense in college or pro ball. At Holy Cross, he gained fame for his pass interceptions and continued as a first-string "outfielder" for four seasons with the Buffalo Bills. Alex went to Cleveland in the pro draft when the Bills folded with the AA loop and the Packers picked him up whe the Browns came up with an oversupply of defensemen. Wizbicki, who will turn 29 next Oct. 6, stands a half-inch under six feet tall and weighs 188 pounds. A native of Brooklyn, Wizbicki is presently doing sales work in New Jersey. Wizbicki is the only outer defender with pro experience on the early roster. At least two of the rookies have possibilities - Bob Petruska, the Wisconsin quarterback and halfback, and George Sladky, a rough-tough operator from La Crosse State Teachers...PARALLEL TO STEINER: Ronzani has a parallel to Steiner in end Art Felker. Rebel, an offensive end at Alabama caught on quickly when assigned to "outfield" duty last fall. Felker played mostly on offense at Marquette and saw some defensive end action. Petruska played just about everything, including defense, after losing the No. 1 quarterbacking job to Johnny Coatta at Wisconsin last fall. He finally starred as an offensive back. At 5-11 and 185 pounds, Petruska would appear to be big enough for defense. Sladky, the unseen spark in the backfield of the Cigar Bowl champions, stands a mere 5-9 and weighs only 177 pounds. His speed may give him a shot at defense. Wizbicki is the eighth veteran to register for next fall.
HENRY BRUDER, SON OF EX-PACKER BACK, KILLED IN KOREA
JUN 15 (Green Bay) - Henry G. (Hard Luck Hank) Bruder, Jr., Chicago, former Packers halfback, was notified by the department of defense this week that his son, Pfc. Henry Lee Bruder II, 19, was killed in action in Korea June 2. There were no other details. Young Bruce was born on Dec. 6, 1931, and attended Lincoln school in Green Bay. His father played with the Packers from 1931-39, and then operated a tire shop here. The family lived at 1269 Porlier street until they moved to Chicago in October 1941. Hank Bruder, who was captain of Northwestern university's football team in 1930, is now employed by the Illinois Power and Light company. Pfc. Bruder enlisted in the Army last October after he finished a first summer term at the University of Colorado. He was in second grade when he left Green Bay with his parents. He continued his education at the Gale Grammar school in Chicago and at St. George's High school in Evanston.
FIELER, WIMBERLY JOIN PACKERS
JUN 20 (Green Bay) - Last January, Ralph Fieler, a six-foot beanpole from Miami university, wrote Packer Coach Gene Ronzani: "Glad to hear that you drafted me, I'll put my nose to the grindstone and make your team." Today, Ronzani announced the signing of Fieler, a 242-pounder, and veteran end Abner Wimberly, the man who never played high school football. Ronzani, who undoubtedly will let Fieler set a grindstone example for all of the rookies - not to mention the veterans - now has revealed the signing of 20 players for the 1951 campaign, which opens with training Aug. 1 - a month and half hence...RECOMMENDED BY PLASMAN: Fieler, the Packers' 29th draft choice, was recommended by Assistant Coach Dick Plasman who lives in Florida, Miami to be exact, during the offseason. He had been watching Fieler for the last three years. After the draft meeting in Chicago last January, Plasman said Fieler presented "great possibilities" as a pro end. Dick recalled that Fieler had a great year as a junior in 1949, catching 14 passes but was less successful in 1950. Ronzani figures the long end has the speed (he does the 100 in 11 flat) and the size, and "judging by his letter, the proper attitude," said Gene, adding that Fieler is considered a good blocker. He plays mostly left end - defense or offense. A Cincinnati native, Fieler turned 26 last Jan. 13. He picked up four letters in football, one in baseball and one in track at the Florida school. He co-captained the football team in 1950. Fieler served 30
months in the Navy in World War II, seeing action in New Guinea and the Philippine islands. He played prep football at Central High in Cincinnati...STARTED WITH LA DONS: Right end Wimberly, who stands 6-1 and weighs 215 pounds, came to the Packers via the pro draft in June last year. He broke into pro ball with the Los Angeles Dons in 1949, playing mostly defense, after a brilliant career at Louisiana State university. Wimberly made the LSU varsity as a freshman without a minute of high school experience. Wimberly, who was mentioned on the Associated Press lineman of the week selection five consecutive weeks, served 22 months in the Pacific theater with the Army. Wimberly and his family live in Baton Rouge, La. The Packers now have four ends under contract.
COACH RONZANI'S FATHER CRITICALLY ILL AT 79
JUN 20 (Green Bay) - Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani left today for Iron Mountain, Mich., where his father, John Ronzani, 79, is critically ill. Mr. Ronzani suffered a stroke earlier today.
JOHN RONZANI, 78, FATHER OF PACKER HEAD COACH, DIES
JUN 22 (Iron Mountain, MI) - John Ronzani, 79, father of Packer Head Football Coach Gene Ronzani, died at his home here at 10:15 this morning. Mr. Ronzani, who suffered a stroke earlier this week, is survived by four son and three daughters. Besides Gene, the sons are Anthony, St, Paul; Dave, Iron Mountain; and Floyd, Watertown. Daughers are Justine and Irene at Iron Mountain and Natalie, Pueblo, Col. Requiem mass will held at 10 o'clock Monday morning at Immaculate Conception church here.
JACK CLOUD SIGNS, EYES NO. 1 PACKER FULLBACK JOB
JUN 22 (Green Bay) - Jack Cloud has official permission today from Coach Gene Ronzani to become the Packers' No. 1 fullback next fall. With a "new" leg, Cloud should be able to "carry the load for us at fullback," Ronzani said in announcing the signing of the sophomore William and Mary bulldozer. Cloud, the 21st player registered thus far, entered professional football here last autumn with one of those bad knees; he won All-America honors in 1948 with two good knees, but injured it at the start of the 1949 year and finished out the season playing on defense. That knee trouble popped up, oddly enough, while Jack was playing defense against the New York Giants in a non-conference game out in Boston last August but he scored a touchdown before the night was over. When Cloud's knee did come around, he injured his shoulder and hip in an automobile crash into the East river. This knocked him out of action for about three league games. Alternating with veteran Tony Canadeo, Cloud finished out of the season with 52 yards in 18 attempts for an average of 2.9 yards, scoring three TDs - one a vital six-pointer in the snow-swept battle with the San Francisco Forty Niners here. Cloud caught three passes for 19 yards...SURGERY ON KNEE: To give Cloud a clean bill of health, the Packers dispatched Jack to Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore for an operation last winter. The surgery was performed by Dr. George Bennett, a noted orthopedic surgeon, and the source of the trouble removed. Cloud wrote Ronzani the other day that his knee feels better than ever. The signing of Cloud is especially good news to warhorse Canadeo, who has been assured by Ronzani that he'll be playing left halfback - his natural spot. Canadeo worked at fullback last fall after gaining over 1,000 yards at left halfback during 1949. With Canadeo (he was the first veteran to sign) and Cloud in the fold, Ronzani now has set one-half of what may develop into his starting offensive unit. The two unsigned are quarterback Tobin Rote and halfback Billy Grimes. Cloud, a staff sergeant in the Air corps in World War II with 10 missions over Europe to his credit, is the second fullback signed. The other is rookie Rube Baisch, a squat 200-pounder at 5-8 from Lewis and Clark. Cloud, incidentally, packs 205 pounds on his 5-11 frame...PACKER PACKINGS: The Packers have two holiday babies - Cloud, who was born Jan. 1, 1925, and Steve Pritko, who opened his eyes on Dec. 25, 1921. Pritko, if and when he signed, would be returning for his ninth season of pro ball. Harry Szulborski, the halfback from Purdue, who failed to make the grade with the Packers last fall, will try out with the Detroit Lions this year. Trainer Bud Jorgenson is at Kansas City attending the annual National Trainers association convention.
PACKERS TO DULUTH FIRST TIME SINCE '24
JUN 25 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers will display their wares in Duluth, Minn., this summer for the first time in 27 years. They will play an intra-squad game
in that northern city on Friday, August 10. Completion of the arrangements for the game was announced by Minnesota Sports, Inc., the promotion outfit in northern Minnesota which arranged the details of the Packer training session at Grand Rapids, Minn. One other intra-squad game will probably be arranged in that area, and the Packers are expected to meet the San Francisco Forty Niners in a non-league game tussle at Minneapolis. The last time the Bays played in Duluth was early in the 1924 season, when the Packers lost a 6 to 3 decision to Ernie Nevers and his cohorts. They got revenge later in the season by beating the Eskimos in Green Bay, 13 to 0. The Bays played there also in 1922 and 1923, when Duluth was in the NFL. Packer President Emil R. Fischer said the game would be known as the "first annual Fish Bowl game," indicating that the Packres hope to make the swing to northern Minnesota and Minneapolis an annual affair...Many Packer officials and most of the business and coaching staff were in Iron Mountain today to attend funeral services for Coach Gene Ronzani's father, John Ronzani, who died last Friday after a stroke. Rites were held at Immaculate Conception church at 10 'clock this morning...Backfield Coach Ray McLean will be the speaker at a Packer rally at Marinette and Menominee tonight. He will be accompanied there from Iron Mountain by Packer Publicity Chief Jug Earp and Office Assistant Jack Vainisi...One of the Packer rookie quarterbacks for 1951, Dick Flowers of Northwestern, was picked Sunday for the College All-Star team which faces the Cleveland Browns at Chicago's Soldiers' field Aug. 17. He was the first Packer draftee to be selectd for the squad. Flowers and Don Stonesiger, Northwestern's record-breaking pass combination last season, were both selected for the All-Star team.
PACK TO PLAY 'FRISCO 49ERS IN MINNEAPOLIS
JUN 28 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers will meet the San Francisco Forty-Niners in a non-league game at Minneapolis' new municipal stadium Wednesday night, Sept. 12, it was announced today. The game will be sponsored by Catholic Welfare, Inc., of that city, an organization of Catholic Charities who will benefit from the proceeds. Announcing completion of arrangements for the game today, Packer President Emil R. Fischer said that the Packers were particularly happy to be able to play in Minneapolis' new stadium because of the large number of Packer fans in that general area. It will be the first football game in the new stadium which seats 17,000. "Despite the distance, some of Green Bay's most loyal followers come from northwestern Wisconsin, Upper Michigan and norther Minnesota," Fischer said, "and now we are able to give them a game right in their own backyard. We hope to be able to make this Minneapolis exhibition an annual affair because we know that Minneapolis is one of the best sports towns in the Middle West." Fischer also pointed out that this game was one of the main reasons the Packers were training for three week this summer at Grand Rapids, Minn., since this game, plus several intra-squad games in that area and the training camp deal were all tied up in one package promoted by Minnesota Sports, Inc., an organization interested in promoting sports in northern Minnesota. The Forty-Niners are ideal opponents for a game in Minneapolis, since two of their stars are the former Minnesota greats, Leo Nomellini and Gordy Soltau. And the Packers will have Dick Wildung and probably Art Edling in their lineup. One of Coach Gene Ronzani's great regrets is that Clayton Tonnemaker won't be on hand for the game since he's now playing for Uncle Sam. As of this week, Coach Ronzani has 22 players signed to contracts but expects to take about 50 to camp at Grand Rapids Aug. 1. With their preseason games now pretty well set except for possibly an opening over the Labor Day weekend, the Packer front office is turning its attention to the season ticket drive scheduled for late July and early August in Green Bay and throughout the state. Separate phases of the drive will carry ticket salesmen into the communities within a 150 mile radius of Green Bay and also into Milwaukee.
PELFREY, BACK SIGNED BY PACK
JUN 30 (Green Bay) - Because, admittedly, there is little time for the so-called refinements in football, it is generally - and often erroneously - assumed that the fellows who play the game have no great appreciation of the esthetic. Now comes Raymond Harrison Pelfrey, a halfback from Eastern Kentucky State college, whose signing was announced today by the Packers, to dispel this hoary illusion. Ray, who was Green Bay's 17th choice in the college draft last January, is an artist, no less. The 6-foot, 190-pound athlete, who warned four grid letters during his collegiate career at Auburn and Eastern Kentucky, specializes in oil painting. But Pelfrey, it should be chronicled, is not merely a fast man with the brush. A trackman who won two letters in the outdoor sport, Ray has been clocked at a rapid 10.2 seconds in the 100-yard dash. The 23rd player and eighth back to be signed by Head Coach Gene Ronzani, the fleet Ohio resident was named to the first all-Ohio Valley conference team at halfback as a senior and earlier, while wearing Auburn colors, was selected as one of the outstanding sophomore backs in the strong Southeastern conference. A versatile fellow - he proved that physical education and art are not incompatible by majoring in those subjects at Eastern Kentucky - Pelfrey also earned one monogram in basketball in addition to the two he collected in track and those four in football. Ray, who is 23, considers that his most unusual exploit came in the Auburn-Louisiana Tech game. "With only three minutes remaining," he wrote Ronzani, "the score was 14-7 in favor of Louisiana Tech. Got lucky," Ray added modestly, "and returned their kickoff after touchdown 87 yards for TD and a tie game." However, he had his biggest day, he feels, in the Auburn-Tulane game last Oct. 23 at New Orleans. "Played entire first half, offense and defense," Pelfrey penned, "completed six out of eight passes and had a fair day running. He held Tulane to a 0-0 draw until the second half. We were outmanned, however. The score was 21-6."...COACHED BY PRESNELL: According to Paul Duncan, athletic publicity director at Eastern Kentucky, the new Packer "was rated one of the fastest and hardest running backs in the tough little Ohio Valley conference." He also relayed the information that Ray was a member of the college's undefeated track team last spring, garnering several firsts in the pole vault. One of Pelfrey's grid tutors at EK, incidentally, was one of pro football's immortals, Glenn Presnell. The former Detroit Lion back, who still holds the NFL field goal record - a 54-yarder he booted, incidentally, against the Packers - is backfield coach at Eastern Kentucky. Ray, who was born at Sarnia, O., has another "pro" connection - he now is a resident of Portsmouth, O., once the home of an NFL team - the Portsmouth Spartans - who ultimately became the Detroit Lions. Pelfrey is married and the father of an eight-month old son.
DICK WILDUNG BACK FOR SIXTH YEAR
JUL 3 (Green Bay) - With the captain of the Packer crew in the fold, Commander Gene Ronzani cleared the decks today for wholesale signings before setting sail for Grand Rapids, Mich., Aug. 1. The captain, of course, is Richard Knute Wildung, the veteran left tackle returning for his sixth campaign. Wildung, the former University of Minnesota All-American, is the 23rd player announced as signed thus far and the seventh veteran to join the 1951 parade, which means: Ronzani, in order to reach strength of 50 to 55 athletes, must produce the signatures of some 25 or 30 players in the next 28 or 29 days to fill a couple of buses for the trip to Grand Rapids. Wildung, an insurance broker in Minneapolis, has been field captain of the Packers for four of his six seasons. He won the appointment in 1948 after Charley Brock finished his career in 1947..."OH MY ACHING BACK": Dick, an All-American in 1941 and 1942, joined the Packers in 1946 and was an immediate star. He won all-league honors three times and was an honorable mention the last two seasons. A tackle at Minnesota, Wildung played guard his first two campaigns here and then played both positions in his third year. The original "oh my aching back" guy, Wildung was handicapped considerably during the last half of the 1949 season with back misery. He experienced little back trouble last year and carried the tackle load with signed Leon Manley and unsigned Joe Spencer. Wildung expects to play at 220 pounds again next fall. He stands an even six feet. He'll turn 30 next Aug. 16. The former Gopher is the ninth tackle already signed but only the third veteran "T". The other vets are Don Stansauk, the wrestler man who will contribute 255 pounds to the Packer cause, and Manley, who also plays guard.
'BALDY' TO CANADA? REID, CHRISTIE SIGNS
JUL 6 (Green Bay) - Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani today (1) announced the signing of two players and (2) heard the report that Al Baldwin had signed with Ottawa of the Canadian Football league. Latest to enter the fold are left halfback Breezy Reid, the Packers' second highest ground gainer as a rookie last fall, and Richard (Dick) Christie, a fullback and linebacker from Omaha university. A total of 26 players have been announced as signed thus far. The signing of Baldwin by Ottawa came as something of a surprise to Ronzani, although Gene said, "We had our suspicions because we hadn't heard from Al for some time." Baldwin lives in Fayetteville, Ark. The fleet pass catching end ran into rugged luck last fall - his first in the new NFL - after ranking second in pass catching for two straight seasons in the old All-America conference. However, Ronzani always figured Baldwin had the makings of another Tom Fears and believed that Al would reach his peak next fall. Baldwin, who led the Packers in receiving but placed 23rd in the league last year with 28 catches for 555 yards and three touchdowns, next fall would have had the benefit of working a full year at the opposite end from swift Bob Mann, the former Michigan and Detroit catcher, who already has signed his contract. Mann only played the last three games with the Pack last fall...SET AT LEFT HALF: The Ottawa team is coached by Clem Crowe, former Baltimore Colt and Buffalo Bill coach. Baldwin played Crowe during his AAC term. Though Crowe has announced the signing of Baldwin, it isn't official until Baldwin passes word to the Packer office himself. In other words, it's still possible Al might reconsider and sign with the Packers. Ronzani didn't appear too disturbed at the possible loss of Baldwin today. The burly Packer mentor stated that "we want to build the Packers around boys who want to play here. Boys with a real desire to play for Green Bay will make us a better and much harder fighting team." With Tony Canadeo moving back to left half, and the signing of Reid today, Ronzani appeared pretty well set at that position. "All we need now is for one of those rookies to come through and Tony and Breezy will have plenty of assistance," Gene beamed. Reid, one of the Bears' leading choices a year ago, came to Green Bay shortly after the league season started last year. George Halas, Bear coach, apparently had some difficulty deciding between George Hunsinger, his No. 1 draft choice, and Reid, before putting Floyd on waivers. As it turned out, Reid beat out Hunsinger for ground gaining honors, 394 yards to 326. Reid played college ball at the University of Georgia...PLAYED UNDER CARDWELL: Christie, the Packers' 24th choice last January, worked at Omaha under Lloyd Cardwell, the former Detroit Lion back. The speedy fullback packs 205 pounds on his six-foot, one-inch frame and hails from Shenandoah, Ia. Christie played a prominent role in Omaha's platoon system, toiling at fullback in the single wing and backing up the line on defense. Cardwell figures Christie would go even better in the T-formation because of his speed. In his senior year, Christie picked up 219 yards in 54 trips for a four-plus average although he missed three games because of injuries. He tried four passes, all jump throws, and completed all of them. And he caught two passes for 53 yards - one a touchdown.
GRIMES SIGNS PACKER CONTRACT
JUL 11 (Green Bay) - As a celebrated gentlemen oft has proclaimed via the airwaves, “Ah, but there is good news tonight.” In all of Packerland, that is. It stems from the announcement today that Head Coach Gene Ronzani that graceful Billy Joe Grimes, the fellow who exploded the theory that the “change of pace” is exclusively a basketball stretegem in his maiden season with the Packers in 1950, will be back. And there can be no doubt that this is an eminently edifying development in Ronzani’s preparations for the 1951 NFL grind for Billy Joe, more familiarly known to his Packer colleagues as “Burleigh” and to the public as “Wheelin’ Willie”, in one short season, has become one of the most feared climax runners in the NFL. There are, it should be added, a number of impressive stats to support this contention since the ex-Army parachutist ranked high in four of the five most important offensive departments at the conclusion of ’50 competition and stood well up the list in a fifth. For example, the Oklahoma A. and M. product ranked season in punt returns. Which, however, doesn’t begin to tell the story, Grimes, who utilized that “change of pace” to best advantage in this department, raced back 555 yards with 29 opposition punts, an average of 19.1. Yet Baltimore’s Herb Rich, ranked No. 1 under the league’s inverse grading system, returned only 12 for 276 yards, an average of 23.0. Further, Grimes’ total yardage eclipsed by 133 yards the performance of the Chicago Bears’ George McAfee, who is credited with the NFL record because he returned one more punt, 30, in 1948 than Grimes a year ago. The “Comanche Kid”, as he also is known, led the Packers to the league’s team punt return championship in the process. Bay “returners” brought back 72 kicks a total of 729 yards for an average of 16.1 yards – and two TDs...LONGEST OF SEASON: Both of these, of course, were scored by “Wheelin’ Willie”. One of these, an 85-yarder against Washington, was the longest return of the season. It was the one in which he “faked” the kicker and lone remaining defender, Bill Dudley, out of his footgear to go all the way. Then, of course, there was the matter of scoring. Here the 6-foot, 1-inch, 197 pound Oklahoman finished 16th with a total of 48 points on eight touchdowns – one of them as the result of a pass reception. That latter, by the way, resulted in the longest pass completion of the 1950 season. Taking a short toss from Tobin Rote on the four-yard line, Billy scampered the remaining 96 through the vainly clutching hands of various San Francisco Forty Niners to the goal. Grimes, 27th player announced as signed for ’51 by Ronzani, likewise ranked 12th in ground gaining. He compiled the second best average among regularly employed ball carriers by amassing 480 yards in 84 attempts for an average of 5.7 per try. Only better ration was the 5.8 posted by the Cleveland Browns’ Marion Motley, who finished No. 1…”BOUNCED” PAST BEARS: Billy’s most memorable run from scrimmage was the 73-yard gallop he engineered against the beloved Bars at Wrigley field last Oct. 16. Skirting his own left end on a reverse, the incendiary blond was felled by the Bruin’s John Hoffman. But not for long. Scoring the questionable comfort of Mother Earth after describing a complete arc in the air following his contact with Hoffman, Billy bounced to his feet and sprinted into the Chicagoans’ end zone with burly George Connor in spirited but futile pursuit all the way. In addition to these achievements, the fleet halfback also stood 16th in kickoff returns, lugging back 26 kickoffs for 600 yards, an average of 23.1 yards, and was 44th in pass receiving. He caught 17 passes for 281 yards and a 15.4 ratio.
CLEMSON'S CONE SIGNED BY PACKERS
JUL 11 (Green Bay) - The average football fanatic may
back 26 kickoffs for 600 yards, an average of 23.1 yards, and was 44th in pass receiving. He caught 17 passes for 281 yards and a 15.4 ratio.
CLEMSON'S CONE SIGNED BY PACKERS
JUL 11 (Green Bay) - The average football fanatic may immediately think of “center” when he sees the letter C, but so far as Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani is concerned, it stands for fullback. This was indicated today when he announced the signing of the Packers’ second “C-man” at that position, Fred Cone, a bruising line smasher from Clemson university. The first, of course, was sophomore Jack Cloud. The Packers’ No. 3 choice in the NFL’s college draft, Cone is the 28th player and third FB – the other is Clarence (Tank) Baisch of Lewis and Clark college – to sign for 1951 competition. Captain of Clemson’s 1951 Orange bowl champions and a star of Tigers’’ 1949 Gator bowl titlists, Fred has been termed “the best fullback I ever say anywhere” by his coach, Frank Howard, who had dubbed him “My Ol’ Hoss.” Although Cone never played ball before enrolling at Clemson, he quickly established himself among the South’s great players, according to word from there, which is supported by the fact that he scored two touchdowns as a sophomore in Clemson’s Gator bowl triumph over Missouri and average five yards per rush over that season and the next...GETS CAROLINAS AWARD: Indication of how he is regarded in the Southland came last February when the stocky 194-pound plunger was selected for the Lewis E. Teague Memorial award, made annually by the Carolinas Amateur Athletic union, as the outstanding male athlete of the Carolinas for 1950. The full significance of this honor cane be appreciated when it is considered that other nominees for the award included Sam Ranzino, Billy Cox, Steve Wadiak, Irv Holdash, Dick Dickney, Charlie Teague and Arnold Palmer. And his 1950 performance would make it appear that the tribute was well earned. For he netted 764 yards in 153 carries, scored 14 touchdowns and two conversions for 86 points, punted 15 times for a 37.3 average and caught six passes for 129 yards. Appropriately enough, he produced the best effort of his career in his collegiate finale against Miami in the Orange bowl last New Year’s day. Cone, called “Pineapple” – because of his explosive power – hit the Hurricane line no less than 31 times. He gained 93 yards and scored the first Clemson touchdown…WORLD WAR II VETERAN: Cone was only the second South Carolina athlete to win the Teague award. The other was Banks McFadden, Clemson’s All-American football, basketball and track star, who received it in 1939. Fred, who confides that flying and golf are his favorite hobbies, apparently is a modest fellow. For in answer to the query in the standard Packer questionnaire, which runs, “Did you ever have an unusual day as a college or professional athlete?” Cone penned a cryptic “no”. Cone, who is 25 and single, is a veteran with the 11th Airborne defense during World War II, having served 26 months in the Philippines and Japan as a member of occupation forces. He has a 4-A classification. Presently a resident of Coosada, Ala., Fred plans to teach vocational agriculture when he closes out his football career.
ALL VETS SAVE NEAL, COOK SIGNED: GENE
JUL 11 (Green Bay) - All of last year’s Packer veterans with the two exceptions of Ted Cook and Ed Neal have turned in signed contracts for this season, Head Coach Gene Ronzani told a gathering of Rotarians and Elks at Manitowoc Monday night. Ronzani revealed that approximately 55 players will begin training at Grand Rapids July 31. He said the Packers’ number one choice in the draft, tackle Bob Gain of Kentucky, has not signed, but Ronzani said he was confident that he would come to terms. The Packers office follows the policy of not announcing a player as signed until his contract has been approved by Commissioner Bert Bell. Some of last year’s stars like quarterback Tobin Rote, end Steve Pritko and backs Jug Girard, Bob Summerhays and Ted Fritsch have not yet been officially announced as signed, but Ronzani’s statement would indicated that they all have. The Packers will field a much better team this year, but how successful they will be will depend upon the improvement shown by other clubs in the league, Ronzani told the Manitowoc meeting. He said the lack of big names in the Packers’ 1951 draft list was due to the fact that the Packers chose men whose draft status would make them available for play this year. Ronzani also pointed out that the Packer coaching staff this year will have the advantage of beginning training with players now grounded in the Ronzani-type T-formation, whereas last season the first portion of the season had to be spent familiarizing rookies and veterans alike with the intricacies of the T.
PACKERS SEEK 500 WORKERS
JUL 11 (Green Bay) – A campaign to recruit some 500 workers for the Packer season ticket campaign in Green Bay – a campaign designed to sell 20,000 plus season tickets for City stadium – got underway. The campaign will be a two-day affair, Tuesday July 31, and Wednesday Aug. 1, and simultaneously campaigns will be run in Milwaukee and about 20 other communities in the state. William J. Servotte, chairman of the Green Bay phase of the drive, has mailed out letters to some 2,200 members of both the men’s and women’s Quarterback clubs asking their help as workers on the campaign…LIST OF 1,600 PROSPECTS: “These members represent the real core of Packer fans in Green Bay, and we are asking them if they will make not more than five calls on season ticket prospects,” Servotte said. Addressed postal reply cards were enclosed with the letters. The Packer ticket organization had a list of some 1,600 prospects to call on during the drive, but in addition workers will be asked to call on anyone they know who might be a prospect. L.H. Joannes and Max Murphy are in charge of the ticket drive outside Green Bay. Murphy is organizing a pilgrimage of Green Bay businessmen to go to Milwaukee in August to “sell” the Packers to season ticket prospects in that city, and local committees are being organized in most of the communities in Packerland.
STEVE PRITKO, STEINER SIGN FOR 1951 ACTION
JUL 12 (Green Bay) - Two purposeful fellows who have evinced a deep and abiding desire to play the game of football, No. 1 among Head Coach Gene Ronzani’s requirements for Packer employment, today signed their contracts. They were stern-visaged Steve Pritko and fearless Rebel Steiner and their addition to the rapidly swelling Green Bay roster – it now numbers 30 players – considerably eased the burly Packer chieftain’s worries over his 1951 defensive platoon, which had been weakened no little by the call to service of the brilliant Clayton Tonnemaker, Wally Dreyer and Bob Forte. Pritko, a cinema bit player during the offseason in his native Los Angeles, is a veteran of NFL strife. The rugged end will be starting his ninth season, his second full campaign as a Packer, while Steiner will begin his second year. Rebel, who levels pass receivers with a savagery seldom seen anywhere, functioned as a defensive halfback in 1950, but it is entirely possible that he will see more than a little offensive action this year since Ronzani faces the prospect of finding a replacement for Alton (Legs) Baldwin, who reportedly has “jumped” north of the border to Canada…SHONE AT STADIUM: Though both labored, with more than a modicum of success, on defense for the most part last season, they provided Packer partisans with two of the most electrifying moments the latter were privileged to see during the Bays’ four 1950 appearances at City stadium. Steiner, who tied for seventh place among NFL pass interceptors as a rookie at a new position – he had ranked seven among the nation’s collegiate receivers in 1948 while at Alabama – produced his piece de resistance in that delightful 31-21 upset of the Bears Oct. 1. And it couldn’t have been more opportune. The score was tied at 10-all following Dreyers’ 29-yard runback of a Bear aerial for a touchdown – but the Bears were advancing upon the Green Bay goal. At this point, Steiner intervened – dealt the stunned Bruins a mortal blow. He speared a Johnny Lujack toss on his own six-yard line and, maneuvering with the skill of a halfback, sprinted 94 yards down the south sidelines to a TD. Although it was only the second game of the season, his feat stood up as the year’s longest return of an interception. In all, he waylaid seven enemy passes and returned them 190 yards…SURPRISED GEORGE RATTERMAN: Pritko, who had probably his best season since he was an all-league choice in 1945, staged his heroics the following weekend and in the Packers’ hectic 44-31 scoring with New York’s talent-laden Yanks. With the Packers trailing, 24-10, Steve returned the Packers to contention in a trice. Barreling into the Yank backfield, he hurled a surprised George Ratterman to the ground with considerable force. The ball popped from Ratterman’s right hand (he had had his arm cocked to pass) and it bounced behind him toward the goal. Dan Orlich, who collaborated with Pritko in this project, scooped it up on the run and raced into the end zone. Pritko, one who grows restless when idle, didn’t confine his efforts to the defense, however. A sure-handed receiver, he operated on offense often enough to snare 17 passes, good for 125 yards, and two touchdowns – his third and fourth as a Packer. Both, fortunately, have seen military service. Steiner, 6 feet and 185 pounds, served for 13 months with the Army in Japan and China, while the 6-2, 210-pound Pritsko saw duty with the Marines in World War II and presently is a member of the corps’ reserve.
TOBIN ROTE SIGNS PACKER CONTRACT
JUL 13 (Green Bay) - The air arm of the 1951 Packers, who assemble here in 17 days, was officially reactivated today. This was effected with announcement by Head Coach Gene Ronzani that Tobin Rote, the lithe long passer from Rice Institute, has signed for his second season. He is the 31st player to enter the fold. It, of course, was a substantial step forward in Gene’s blueprint for a potent Packer offense since the swarthy chief strategist has intimated he expects the rangy Texan, who served as the home talent’s No. 1 quarterback as a freshman, to take his place among the NFL’s premier field generals – Johnny Lujack, Sammy Baugh, George Ratereman, et al – during the ’51 grind. And there was more than a hint in Rote’s 1950 performance, it might be added, to indicate that Gene’s confidence is justified. Rote, who came here early last July to begin the long process of assimilating Ronzani’s version of the complex T-formation, mastered the intricate system with surprising facility and, toward the end of the season, gave indication that he shortly would “arrive”. One salient reason for Ronzani’s faith in the handsome Houston produce is that he feels Tobin, a conscientious fellow and an ardent student of the game, is completely over the jitters that haunt more first year performers…AHEAD OF TIDWELL: Another is the talent he exhibited for throwing a football – both long and short – to a given target. He ranked 17th among all NFL passers and ahead of such a widely publicized rookie as the New York Giants’ Travis Tidwell and veterans such as teammate Paul Christman, Johnny Rauch of the New York Giants, the Bears’ Sid Luckman and Fred Enke of the Detroit Lions. And, it is virtually certain that his record – 83 completions in 224 attempts for 1,231 yards and seven touchdowns – would have been enhanced considerably had not several of his receivers experienced difficulty in clasping the ball – more commonly known as “butterfingers” – on several occasions. Most notable instance of this mysterious malady was the Packer-Los Angeles game in Milwaukee Nov. 12 when Al (Legs) Baldwin, now reportedly Canada-bound, fluffed no less than ten of Rote’s casts. Another offender that day was Billy Boedeker, since departed, who dropped a certain touchdown pass on the opening play of the game…LONGEST PASS PLAY: Probably Rote’s chief distinction during his maiden season was the 96-yard pass play in which he collaborated with Billy Grimes against the San Francisco Forty-Niners in the Packers’ 1950 finale at San Francisco Dec. 10. Standing on the goal line, he hit Grimes with a short toss that culminated in the longest pass play of the year. Though 24 of Tobin’s aerials were intercepted by opposing defenders, it is interesting to note that a like number thrown by such a seasoned – and accomplished – performer as the Chicago Cardinals’ Jim Hardy were waylaid by the enemy. The 6-foot, 3-inch, 200-pound specimen, who holds the collegiate record for throwing 85 successive passes without interception, likewise established that he is more versatile than most rival QBs. He carried 27 times for 158 yards, an average of 5.9 per attempt and the 15th best among all NFL rushers. Tobin, who passes in the off-the-ear style, a la Baugh, is 23, married and a father.
SPENCER, MCGEARY ENTER PACKER FOLD
JUL 14 (Green Bay) - The Packer tackle corps today became a full team following announcement by Head Coach Gene Ronzani that veterans Joe Spencer and Clarence V. (Clink) McGeary have entered the 1950 fold. They are the 10th and 11th tackles to sign and their addition swells this department’s number of experienced performers to five and Ronzani’s contract list to 33. The other veterans at this position previously signed are Capt. Dick Wildung, Leon Manley, the quiet Oklahoman, who also labors at guard, and Don Stansauk, the 255-pound part-time wrestler. The rookie contingent includes Nate Osur of Springfield (Mass.) college; Ralph McGehee, Notre Dame, who will be playing guard; Warren (Tubba) Chamberlain, Eau Claire State Teachers; Sig Holowenko, John Carroll; John Shehtanian, San Jose State; and Dick Brown, West Liberty State. Spencer, a 6-3, 250-pound specimen, came to Green Bay in the trade that sent Gordon Soltau, the Minnesota end, to the Cleveland Browns. Paul Brown subsequently dealt Soltau to the San Francisco Forty-Niners. A veteran of two prior years in the defunct All-America conference – he toiled for Brooklyn’s Dodgers and Cleveland in ’49 – Joe operated on both offense and defense with the Packers, functioning with equal skill in each department. The quiet giant, who captained Oklahoma A. and M. in 1947, made one of his biggest contributions to the 1950 Green Bay cause when he recovered a fumble that set up a touchdown in the Pack’s return match with the Lions in Detroit Nov. 19. On the play, he and Steve Pritko had burst into the Detroit backfield. Clutching Bobby Layne’s arm, Pritko threw the Lion QB to the ground and the ball popped out of his hands. Spencer fell on it on the 30-yard line. Tobin Rote hit Larry Coutre with successive passes on the next two plays, carrying the ball to the one-yard line, from where Jack Cloud plunged over. Joe, a 6-3, 235-pound specimen who played in the 1948 East-West game, is studying for his master’s degree at his alma mater. Now 28, he is relatively draft-proof, having served three years in the Army during World War II…LAUNCHING SECOND SEASON: McGeary, a huge 6-foot, 5-inch, 250-pounder, likewise will be launching his second season with the Packers when Ronzani assembles his squad here July 31. Clink, surprisingly fast for a big man, gave strong indication in his freshman year that he has the ability to develop into one of the NFL’s better tackles and Gene is confident that 1951 will see him fulfill that promise. Chosen in the 1947 draft by the Packers, McGeary played at the University of Minnesota, where he served as president of the freshman class, and at North Dakota State over a span of six seasons – which included over two years in the Air corps in the Pacific theater during World War II. The big fellow, an insurance agent in Fargo, N.D., in the offseason, won the Purple Heart during action in the Pacific. He was a staff sergeant in the Air corps and made 47 missions in India, China, Australia, Hawaii, Okinawa and Guam.
BILL LEE MAKES 'FOOLHARDY' TRIP IN JAIL BREAK
JUL 16 (Green Bay) - Big Bill Lee, former Packer tackle and co-captain with Buckets Goldenberg in 1942, did a “foolhardy” thing in thwarting the escape of eight prisoners from the county jail here Sunday, according to Patrol Lt. Joe Smelley. Lee, onetime Alabama All-American and presently a deputy sheriff here, shouted demands that the armed prisoners, who had retreated to the second floor, return to their cells. When they failed to respond, Lee walked into the jail alone to return the prisoners. As he neared the second floor, eight cards of highway patrolmen arrived with machine guns and tear gas bombs. Smelley said, “If those guys had been big time like they thought they were, they would have stuck a gun in Lee’s back and held him hostage.”
COLLINS QUITS CANADIAN LOOP, TO JOIN PACKERS; CHARLES, LIBER SIGNED
JUL 18 (Green Bay) - Halfback stock in the Green Bay Packers zoomed high today as (1) Rip Collins, the former Baltimore Colt flash, decided to play for Green Bay instead of Canada and (2) Head Coach Rip Collins announced signing of draft choices Jim Liber and Monte (Coot) Charles. Collins’ decision to remain in the United States came as a pleasant surprise to Ronzani since the Ripper had already signed a contract with the Montreal Allouettes of the Ontario-Quebec Big Four Football league. Still not signed by the Packers, however, Collins’ return brought a blast of disapproval from Montreal Coach Lew Hayman. Collins’ action, plus that of National league commissioner Bert Bell, may cause a number of NFL players to think twice before moving to Canada. The Packers’ Al Baldwin is reportedly Canadian bound. Collins wired Hayman – “I received a call from Commissioner Bert Bell and I have definitely decided to stay here in the States and play with Green Bay.” Hayman commented, via Associated Press: “American football is certainly not acknowledging our 1951 contracts since it became quite obvious that pressure is being used on our imports to jump their signed contracts with us.” In Philadelphia, Bell said he was “very glad to hear that Collins thought the matter out and decided to abide by his contract with Green Bay.” Collins had wired
Ronzani and the commissioner, asking what his status was with the NFL…TRYING TO ENTICE BOYS: “I called the boys on the telephone and told him that, under the constitution of the National league, he was legally and morally bound to play foe Green Bay. I told him Green Bay held a legal option on his services. His contract was transferred to Green Bay when Baltimore dropped out of the league,” Bell said. He further advised Collins that, “If I were you, I’d stay with Green Bay. Your whole future may hinge on whether you honor a legal contract. It’s not the right thing to violate a legal agreement.” As for Hayman, the commissioner said the Canadian coach had signed Collins after he already was bound to Green Bay. “They’re merely trying to entice boys to violate contracts by offering them more money,” Bell said. Collins was selected by Ronzani in the draft in Chicago last January. The three-year pro veteran, a long-distance punter and a Canadeo-like competitor, was tossed into the college draft pool when the Colts quit the league. When Collins and Ronzani get together, the Packers will have four topflight offensive halfbacks with pro experience, the others being Tony Canadeo, Billy Grimes and Floyd Reid. Collins can play either left or right halfback but played right at Baltimore. Tony and Floyd are left halfbacks and Grimes is a right. Charles and Liber are among six rookies who will be out to unseat the veterans…CHARLES KO, EXTRA POINT MAN: Liber, the Packers’ 19th draft choice, played at Xavier college. A Marine veteran, Liber saw some action at fullback. However, his weight, 178 pounds, knocks him out of the fullbacking in the majors. He stands 5-8. A native of Cincinnati, Liber is married. He’ll turn 26 tomorrow. Charles, the 25th choice, was one of a few players at Hillsdale (Mich.) college who played both offense and defense. He worked as a linebacker on defense. Charles, at 21, will be one of the youngest players in pro football. And he’s married and has two children. Charles is built for the pro ranks – six feet, 195 pounds. A native of Vicksburg, Mich., Charles averaged 3.7 yards in 87 trips last fall. He attempted 35 passes and completed eight for two touchdowns and 240 yards. A kickoff and extra point man, Charles averaged 55 yards on the kickoff last fall and drilled home 10 extra points (the goal post are 10 yards behind the goal line in college ball) in 10 tries. Signing of the rookies brings the announced roster to 35 players.
PACKERS GET QB THOMASON ON LOOK-SEE BASIS FOR '51
JUL 19 (Green Bay) - The Los Angeles Rams’ No. 1 draft choice in 1949 today became the Packers’ No. 1 candidate for the position of Assistant to Tobin Rote, Chief Quarterback. In a unique deal announced in Los Angeles last night, the Packers acquired Bobby Thomason, the 23-year-old Virginia Military Institute sharpshooter, on a look-see basis for the 1951 season. If Thomason pans out, Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani revealed today, the Packers will trade a player or a draft choice – to be agreed upon later by Ronzani and Ram mentor Joe Stydahar – to the Rams. If Thomason failed to make the grade, he’ll go back to the Rams, and the Packers will be out nothing. To add spice to the Thomason story, Ronzani announced today the signing of three more players – veteran fullback Ted Fritsch, returning for his 10th season; end Carleton Elliott, who started with the Pack last year; and Billy Ray Ayres, a defensive halfback expert and part time QB from Abilene Christian. Thomason moved into the professional picture in 1949 after a spectacular career at VMI. He found himself behind Bob Waterfield, then having a terrific year, and Norm Van Brocklin, Oregon ace…PAUL CHRISTMAN UNDECIDED: Clark Shaughnessy, then head coach of the Rams, used Thomason briefly – enough, however, to complete six of the 12 passes he threw for 50 yards. When Shaughnessy was in Green bay during part of the training season. Thomason’s name popped up occasionally as a quarterback fill-in here. However, the Rams, still hopeful that young Bobby would someday lead their offense, sent him down to the Richmond Rebels of the now defunct American Football league. Ronzani expects Thomason to blossom into a topflight major league quarterback. With Paul Christman still undecided about playing, Thomason will provide the Bays with competent QB insurance, Gene said. What’s more, Dick Flowers, the Northwestern quarterback, is a possibility for Uncle Sam’s service, while Joe Ernst, the Tulane QB draftee, and Ronzani have not been able to agree to a contract – as yet. Bob Petruska, the Wisconsin quarterback, may be used at another position. Thomason played prep ball at Leeds, Ala. At VMI, he earned four letters in football, three in baseball, and two in basketball. He ranked third in the nation in passing in his senior year, 1948, with a record of 95 completions for 1,252 yards and 14 touchdowns…BETTER THAN LUCKMAN?: Henry Frnka, Ernst’s coach at Tulane, said in 1948 that “I consider Thomason a better college passer than Sid Luckman was.” Thomason made most All-America clubs in ’48 and AP sportswriters voted him the Virginia athlete of the year. In his college career, Thomason completed 257 passes in 516 attempts for 3,432 yards and 32 touchdowns. The newcomer stands 6-feet, 1 ½-inch tall and weighs 198
pounds. He turned 23 last March 26. Ayres likely won’t throw a ball for the Packers because he’s a defensive ace, but he probably will do some extra point and field goal kicking. The six-foot, 190-pound star, who runs the 100 in 10.6 seconds, called signals on both offense and defense in Abilene Christian’s unbeaten season last fall. A Navy veteran, Ayres, who will be 24 next Aug. 11, preserved AC’s record by intercepting a pass and running 40 yards for a TD and then kicked the extra point in a 7-6 victory over Southwestern…KICKED LONGEST FIELD GOAL: Fritsch, one of the old pros in the National league, will be out to regain the position he held as the Packers’ leading field goal kicker, ground gainer and scorer for years. Last fall, Red kicked one of the longest field goals in the history of the league – a 52-yarder against the Yanks in New York. Elliott, a lanky pass catcher, is determined to make the Packers this season. Carrying more weight, the former Virginia star may see considerable duty on defense. The six-foot-four, 215-pound wing played both offense and defense for the Cavaliers. He was “farmed” out to the Erie Vets last fall and had a great season.
COLLINS, THREE OTHERS INK PACKER PACTS
JUL 20 (Green Bay) - The Packers moved into the 40-player bracket today with the signing of these four hot prospects: Bob McCollough, an All-American center from Ohio State; Harry (Hattie) DeLoach, a University of South Carolina halfback recommended for former Packer Rex Enright; Art Edling, crack defensive end from the University of Minnesota; and Rip Collins, the former Baltimore Colt who almost went to Canada. Head coach Gene Ronzani has now announced the signing of 42 players, including 19 backs, nine tackles, four guards and two centers – twenty-one of them are veterans of par ball. Fifty or 55 players likely will be signed to contracts before the squad shoves off for intensive training at Grand Rapids July 31…GOT INTO PROS BY MISTAKE?: McCullough got into the pro ranks almost by mistake. At the draft meeting in Chicago last year, Bob’s weight was listed at only 180 pounds. Though he had been scouted, most pro clubs figured him too light for major league pivot duty, though they agreed that he was an excellent prospect. The Packer coaches delved into McCullough’s “odd” weight and found that he stacked slightly over 200 pounds on his six foot, one and a half inch frame. He was a star on defense in the East-West game and a member of the Ohio State Rose bowl champions a year ago. Thus, big Bob moves in as a candidate to succeed the Army-departed Clayton Tonnemaker or Bob Forte. McCullough, just a kid at 22, hails from Uhricksville, Ohio. DeLoach finished collegiate action at South Carolina in 1949 and spent 1950 working on his degree in dentistry. SC Coach Enright believes DeLoach can make the pro ranks as an offensive or defensive halfback. On offense, Hattie runs with high-knee action…CHIEFLY A DEFENSIVE END: Edling is chiefly a defensive end and, Ronzani hopes, another steamroller like Larry Craig or Ed Sprinkle. The Minnesota star, carries 202 pounds on his 6-2 frame, will be out to steal work from Steve Pritko and Ab Wimberly, veteran right ends. Edling, 23, played prep ball at Minneapolis High. He had been a defensive regular right end throughout his prep and college career. Collins, who probably will share right halfback with Billy Grimes, broke into big print earlier this week with his decision to remain in the United States and play with Green Bay instead of Montreal. At the time, Collins phoned Ronzani that he was placing his Packer contract in the mail and Gene received it today. Collins, selected by the Packers when the Colts were tossed into the college draft pool last January, already had signed with Montreal but was advised by Ronzani and NFL Commissioner Bert Bell to “stay home”. Collins, a hard-working and effective back – but not spectacular – is considered one of the better punters in pro football. The nation’s fifth leading punter in 1948 at Louisiana State, Collins started his pro career with the Chicago Hornets in 1949, pacing that team in ground gaining and ranking fourth in the old All-America conference in punting. He moved to Baltimore last year and worked at right half. Collins is 24, stands 5-11 and packs 190 pounds…Bob Thomason, the quarterback prospect obtained by the Packers from the Los Angeles Rams yesterday, worked out informally at the stadium today with fullback Jack Cloud, halfback Tony Canadeo and fullback Ted Fritsch. Also starting early exercising are Clink McGeary and Don Stansauk, sophomore tackles…Jay Rhodemyre, one-time All-America center from the University of Kentucky, appears definitely interested in returning to professional football with the Packers. Jay was an outstanding center and linebacker for the Pack in 1948 and 1949, but retired in 1950. Joltin’ Jay, a real replacement for Clay Tonnemaker, penned this writer today that he’s anxious to leave Louisville, where he’s working for a manufacturing corporation and get up to “God’s country”. Rhodemyre says he thinks “maybe I can play the game again.” He’s also interested in joining a Green Bay firm as a plant engineer or sales engineer.
COOK RETIRES; 2 GUARDS ARE SET
JUL 21 (Green Bay) - Wayne Goddard, the old Brooklyn Dodger gridder now coaching football at Southeast Missouri State college, never recommended a player to the pro ranks until Jesse Crawford came along. But, he added, “I’m sure Jesse can make your team; this boy’s initial cat-like movements on both offense and defense coupled with the strength and power he has gives him some assist that I feel sure will win out for him even with the best.” Crawford, a 215-pound six-footer, and Bill Lambright of the University of Arkansas were announced as signed today by Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani was also revealed that veteran end Ted Cook and draftee Bob Bossons, a center from Georgia Tech, will not play football next fall. Cook wrote Ronzani today that he and a buddy bought a used car business in Birmingham, and that he had definitely decided to retire from the sport. Ted expressed confidence in Ronzani and wished him the best of luck for 1951. Cook came to the Packers three years ago in a trade with the Detroit Lions. He was the Bays’ leading pass receiver in 1949, but was released before the season ended. Ronzani reclaimed him in the pro draft a year ago this summer. Bossons, who had planned to play a few seasons of pro football and then go into coaching, received what he called a “big break” – an assistant coaching job at Georgia Tech in 1951. Bob expressed regret at being unable to play pro football but added that he felt he couldn’t pass up the coaching job…TOSSED INTO GUARD FIRE: The double signing today boosts the Packer announced roster to 44 players, including 19 backs, eight ends, nine tackles, six guards and two centers. Come the opening of training at Grand Rapids, Minn., Aug. 1, Crawford and Lambright will be tossed into the guard fire with veteran Ray DiPierro, Buddy Burris and Leon Manley, who also plays tackle, and rookie Ralph McGehee, the Notre Dame tackle who will seek a place in the pro sun as a guard. Crawford, 26 and a Navy veteran of 34 months, was rated by Goddard as being “smart in diagnosing plays.” Lambright is the heavier type guard, at 5-11 and 230 pounds, and may get a shot at the center spot in the five-man line. A Navy veteran of 23 months in the Pacific, Lambright is 25 years of age and hails from Ashdown, Ark. Like Crawford, Lambright also possesses a quick charge. Against Rice in 1944, Lambright actually intercepted a handoff from the quarterback and ran 20 yards for a touchdown. He did the same against Tulsa two years later…PRO STUFF: Billy Grimes, the Packers’ ace back, arrived in Green Bay yesterday. Among other new arrivals are Jack Cloud, Clink McGeary and Bobby Thomason. Half the squad will probably be in town next week. The team leaves for training at Grand Rapids, Minn., July 31. The first drill will be held the next day…Manpower shortages have forced the American Football league, the nation’s oldest pro football minor league, to call it quits for 1951…Cardinal Coach Curly Lambeau vacationed in the peninsula this week. The former Packer mentor has two of his ex-Packers signed to Cardinal contracts, tackle Lew Ferry and fullback Walt Schlinkman. The whole business will come to a head when the Packers and Cards clash at City stadium Saturday night, Aug. 25.
PACKER OBTAIN ROBERTS FROM GIANTS
JUL 23 (Green Bay) - Gene (Choo Choo) Roberts, the versatile New York Giant back who gained 218 yards in a single game last fall and scored 17 touchdowns during the 1949 season, may play for the Packers in 1951. The Packers obtained rights to deal with 27-year old Roberts in a trade with the Giants for a player to be named later, Packer Coach Gene Ronzani announced today. But, Ronzani added, the transaction hinges on whether Roberts will play this fall. Despite the fact that he has only four years of pro service under his belt, Roberts revealed after the 1950 season that he was retiring from the sport. Ronzani and Roberts likely will engage in a number of telephone conferences this week. The halfback lives in flood-stricken Kansas City. Roberts is one of a few top handymen in the league. He played left and right halfback and fullback as the occasion demanded during his Giant career. The Chattanooga Choo Choo, who stands 5-11 and packs 188 pounds, led the Giants in ground gaining in three of his four years. He’s an exceptional pass receiver for a back, snaring 64 throws for an average of 16 per campaign. With these qualities, Roberts, if he plays, will give the Packers one of the leading sets of halfbacks in the league. He likely would race at left halfback with Tony Canadeo and Floyd Reid. At the other half will be Billy Grimes and Rip Collins. This fivesome can run and catch passes. Roberts complied a terrific record in 1949 when he led the Giants in scoring, ball carrying and pass receiving. He tied with Cardinal Pat Harder for the league scoring title, getting 102 points on 17 TDs – one less than Steve Van Buren’s record. He gained 632 yards in 152 rushes for an average of 4.2 and snared 35 passes for 711 yards. Eight touchdowns came on passes and nine by rushing…KNOCKED BEARS OUT: Packer fans will remember Roberts well for his performance in ’49. He ripped off 41 yards in 12 tries on the ground and caught seven Chuck Conerly throws for 212 yards and three touchdowns. A few games earlier, Roberts caught four passes for 201 and three TDs to knock the Bears out of the championship. Last fall, when the Giants finished in a tie for the American conference championship, Roberts turned out five touchdowns and was one of 11 league backs to carry more than 100 times. He finished with 483 yards – three more than Grimes – to place 11th in the league. He settled for 11 pass catches good for 144 yards. Roberts went into the record books last season for his 218 yards against Coach Curly Lambeau’s Cardinals Nov. 12. He carried the ball 26 times to average 8.4 yards per trip. The Giants went ahead with plans for 1951 without Roberts after his retirement announcement after the 1950 season. The New York club is well heeled with backs, including Kyle Rote, the SMU all-timer. Rote likely will work in Roberts’ spot at left half, although Coach Steve Owen plans to use him at all three spots – plus tailback in the A formation. The Giants bagged Rote in the bonus draw preceding the league’s college draft in Chicago last fall. Incidentally, there was some talk at that meeting of trading Roberts – after Rote went to the Giants…PRO STUFF: The Packers have announced the signing of 44 players thus far. Six or seven likely will be revealed before the club leaves for training in Grand Rapids, Minn., July 31.
PACKERS ADD GREEN, FULLBACK; 45 READY
JUL 24 (Green Bay) - The Packers were about “full up” at fullback today, with the signing of Alton Green, a battering ram from Abilene Christian. Green, a 23-year-old with 196 pounds on his 5-11 frame, is the 45th player signed thus far for 1951 action and Head Coach Gene Ronzani believes the swift charger may be one of the surprises of the new rookie crop. Green was the top offensive sparkplug of the unbeaten and untied AC team last fall, leading his squad in scoring with 60 points and in ground gaining with 974 yards in 195 trips for an average of a fraction under five yards per try. Alton also scored 60 points in 1949 and turned out 883 yards in
133 carries for an average of six-plus yards per. Green, who turned 23 just last July 8, is the second member of Abilene Christian’s powerhouse to join the Pack. Bill Ayres, a defensive backfield star who works occasionally at quarterback on offense, signed last week. Ayres goes six feet and packs 100 pounds. Ronzani has five or six fullback candidates lined up thus far – give or take a halfback or two who can play both positions. Chief among the FB opposition Green faces are veterans Jack Cloud and Ted Fritsch and Fred Cone, the clever Clemson crusher…A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE: And for a “darkhorse” there is one George Rooks, the giant colored fullback from Morgan State who comes recommended by scouts as another Marion Motley. Rooks, however, hasn’t signed yet. He stacks a muscles 215 pounds on his six-foot frame. Speaking about unsignees, there is Mr. Gene Roberts, the New York Giant who was traded to the Packers yesterday for a player to be announced later. Roberts toiled at fullback half the time for the Giants, though he was most effective at left half. Green apparently is a deceptive cuss, judging by a unique experience he had in a game last fall. Playing in the T-formation, Alton faked through the line and the wingback, running on a reverse, took the ball and ran 20 yards. Meanwhile, Green, as he passed through the line, was nailed by three men. The official thought Green had the ball and stopped the play when he hit the ground, Green advancing five yards. There as much embarrassment as the ball was discovered 20 yards down the field…Steve Pritko, the veteran right end, arrived in Green Bay yesterday, looking in excellent condition. Among other early arrivals are Billy Grimes, Clink McGeary, Bob Thomason and Jack Cloud. A number of the Packers are looking for furnished apartments with one or two bedrooms. Anyone with available apartments is asked to call the Packer office, Adams 334.
MONTREAL SIGNS ROBERTS
JUL 25 (Montreal) - The Montreal Alouettes announced last night they have signed Gene (Choo Choo) Roberts, fleet halfback who played for the New York Giants last season. The announcement came 24 hours after the Giants had announced they had traded Roberts to the Green Bay Packers for one of their top collegiate draft choices. Meanwhile, the Packers announced today that Chuck Drulis - who has played seven years of football as a guard for the Packers and Bears - has been named as an assistant coach. The signing of Drulis rounds out head coach Gene Ronzani's staff. His other assistants are Dick Plasman, Ray (Scooter) McLean and Tarz Taylor.
DRULIS NEW PACKER COACH AIDE
JUL 25 (Green Bay) - The Packers gained a coach and suffered the possible loss of a player today. Chuck Drulis, the veteran Chicago Bear who joined the Packers in time to beat his former mates last fall, has been named an assistant coach, Head Coach Gene Ronzani announced. The probable lossee is Gene (Choo Choo) Roberts, the New York Giant halfback who was traded to Green Bay Monday. Roberts, according to an AP dispatch from Montreal, has signed with the Alouettes and his coach there, Lew Hayman, said “the boy is clear as far as I understand. He informed me he was a free agent.” Roberts was traded to the Packers for a player to be announced later. The slick Giant, who plays left and right half and fullback, had announced last winter that he was retiring from football, though he had played only four seasons with New York and was in the prime of his athletic life – at 27. Montreal is the same club from which halfback Rip Collins “jumped” to get back to Green Bay recently. Collins, a former Baltimore Colt, was drafted by the Packers but signed with Montreal. After considering his move, Collins decided to return to Green Bay and already has signed his contract here. Ronzani has no particular comment on Roberts. He said he had two telephone talks with Roberts, and the halfback seemed about ready to come to terms…PACKER STAFF INCREASED: Word reached this office yesterday that Roberts was getting ready to play in Canada. Signing of Drulis rounds out Ronzani’s staff. His other assistants are Dick Plasman, Ray McLean and Tarz Taylor. Drulis played college ball at Temple university, winning all-eastern honors. He played six seasons with the Bears, getting all-pro recognition in 1948, and one with the Packers. A native of Girardsville, Pa., Drulis has been making Chicago his home the last few years. Addition of Drulis increases the Packer coaching staff by one. Last year, Ronzani had End Coach Dick Plasman, Line Coach Tarz Taylor and Backfield Coach Ray Nolting. Nolting resigned last winter and McLean, the former Bear back, has replaced him…PRO STUFF: A number of Packers are working out on their own in the area back of City stadium. Uncoiling his arm for the first time is quarterback Tobin Rote. Rote and the new QB, Bobby Thomason, who arrived last week, have been busy, too, in conferences with the coaching staff, lining up strategy for 1951.
400 SALESMAN TO OPEN TWO-DAY DRIVE WITH BREAKFAST TUESDAY; OPTIMISM!
JUL 25 (Green Bay) - Some 400 salesmen are out to sell season tickets for Packer league games at City stadium this fall will kick off their two-day drive with a breakfast meeting at Hotel Northland next Tuesday morning. And the 1951 Packer squad will be on parade at the breakfast meeting. They gather here next Monday and take off for Grand Rapids, Minn., immediately after the meeting with the ticket salesmen Tuesday morning. Object of the drive in greater Green Bay and De Pere is to sell 20,000-plus season tickets for the four league games at City stadium this fall. Similar drives are ready to in a number of the other communities in this area, and in Milwaukee and vicinity for the two league games at State Fair Park. William J. Servotte, chairman of the Green Bay phase of the drive, is optimistic…MAKE FIVE CALLS APIECE: “We’ve got one of the best league schedule we’ve ever offered in Green Bay. Four top-notch attractions like the Bears, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Detroit Lions and the New York Yanks. And we’re ready to capitalize on the great games which Gene Ronzani’s teams put on at City stadium last fall. We didn’t put on a season ticket drive last year,” Servotte continued, “because of the Thanksgiving Booster game and the big stock drive, so we have a lot of prospects to call on this summer. And with 400 salesman making about five calls apiece I know we’re going to sell some tickets. In fact, I would almost go so far as to say that anyone who really wants to see the Packers at City stadium this fall better get a season ticket, because there may not any single game tickets left when we get through.” After Tuesday morning’s breakfast meeting, the salesmen will be “on the road” for two days, and the drive will culminate with a dinner meeting at the Beaumont hotel Wednesday evening at which prizes will be distributed to the leading ticket sellers.
GIRARD SIGNED; MAY PLAY END
JUL 26 (Green Bay) - What position will Earl (Jug) Girard play next fall? The Man from Marinette has performed at left half, quarterback, right half and end at various intervals in his past three Packer campaigns. Girard, who today became the 46th player signed by Coach Gene Ronzani for 1951 action, started in 1948 as a left half, though he moved to right on several plays. The next year, he handled most of the quarterbacking. The Jugger started 1950 as a left half but injured himself in the second league game and, after a couple of weeks of recuperation, blossomed out as a replacement for Al Baldwin, the left end who had been suffered from dropitis. Whether the Jugger was merely a “needle” for Baldwin won’t be known, but the ex-Wisconsin star managed to snag four passes as an end – including a 55-yard on-the-run catch that set up a touchdown at Detroit. With Baldwin reportedly in Canada, Girard may find an opening at left end, although Bob Mann, the Michigan flash who played RE last year, can play both ends. At left half, Jug will be opposed by veterans Tony Canadeo and Floyd (Breezy) Reid and possibly Rip Collins – not to mention a flock of ambitious rookies. Lest we forget, Girard handled just about all of the Packer punting in the last three years. A week after the aforementioned injury, Girard punted against the ferocious Bears without shoulder pads. He averaged 38.2 yards in 71 kicks last year; 39.0 in 69 in 1949; and 40.0 in eight in 1948…MORE WEIGHT FOR JUG: The statistics show up Girard’s “travels”. In 1948, he rushed 13 times for 26 yards, passed 14 times and complete four for 117 yards, and caught one for two yards. Next year, as a quarterback, he completed 62 out of 175 passes for 881 yards and four TDs, besides carrying 45 times for 198 yards. Last fall, he ran only 14 times for 39 yards and caught four passes for 89 yards. Girard’s return to the Packers signals the start of a weight-putting-on campaign for Jug. Normally a 175-pounder, Girard loses around 10 pounds playing professional baseball. He played with Wilkes-Barre in the Class A Eastern league this summer. Girard explains it this way, “These night trips after games are tough on me; a guy can get regular sleep in football, though the bumps are harder.” At that, Girard suffered his most painful “knock” playing for the Bluejays a couple of years ago. He lost a fly ball in the lights and it hit him in the eye, knocking him out of action for a couple of days…PRO STUFF: The Montreal Allouettes started training yesterday with four NFL stars in camp – quarterback George Ratterman and end John Yonakor, both ex-New York Yanks; halfback Gene (Choo Choo) Roberts of the Giants and Packers; and halfback Frank Aschenbrenner, formerly with the Cardinals. Roberts, who was traded by the Giants to the Packers earlier this week, signed with the Als shortly before the first drill. Last winter, Roberts announced that he was retiring from football…The New York Yanks will drill at Ripon college again this year…The signing of Girard today gives Ronzani a total of 21 backs on the dotted line. The rest of the signees included eight ends, nine tackles, six guards and two centers. Several more players, bringing the roster to 50 or over, will be revealed before the Packers leave for training at Grand Rapid, Minn., next Tuesday.
PACKER DRIVE, PRACTICE OPEN NEXT WEEK
JUL 27 (Green Bay) - This is the last week of the “off season” for the Packers. Starting next Tuesday or Wednesday, the Packers will be in a state of complete operation for approximately four months and 16 days. Slightly less than the first half of the “on” season will be spent in training, which includes the playing of five non-conference games against NFL teams and one or two intra-squad contests. The remaining half features 12 league engagements, opening with the Chicago Bears here Sept. 30 and ending with the Rams in Los Angeles Dec. 16. To add an optimistic note, the league playoff game this season is scheduled in the home city of the National conference champion. Two big events are scheduled next week – (1) the Packer corporation’s concentrated two-day season ticket drive, opening with a breakfast at the Northland hotel Tuesday morning and (2) the departure of the team Tuesday for preliminary training at Grand Rapids, Minn. Packer officials expect to line up approximately 400 salesmen for the gigantic job of selling out City stadium for four league games. As of now, Drive Chairman Bill Servotte is still looking for about 100 more prospective salesmen to make five calls next Tuesday and Wednesday. On the team side, Head Coach Gene Ronzani and members of his staff, Dick Plasman, Ray McLean, Charley Drulis and Tarz Taylor, are busy arranging details of strategy for the opening of drills. Approximately 55 athletes will take part in the workouts. A total of 46 players have been announced as signed thus far, including 21 backs, eight ends, nine tackles, six guards and two centers. A large number of the players are expected in this weekend. Three Packers will be absent because of training for the College All Star game – tackle Bob Gain of Kentucky, quarterback Dick Flowers of Northwestern and end Art Felker of Marquette. Gain, the Packers’ first draft choice, is still unsigned, while Flowers and Felker will report immediately after the game. Trainer Bud Jorgenson left today for Grand Rapids to arrange his training rooms and sort equipment. The squad will leave by plane Tuesday morning after the kickoff breakfast. Some of the players will drive there from their homes. A number of players have already started training – on their own – near City stadium. Tony Canadeo, Tobin Rote, Bobby Thomason, Jack Cloud, Don Stansauk, Alex Wizbicki, Steve Pritko, Billy Grimes, Clink McGeary – to mention a few – are running around, shedding a few pounds. George Rooks, the big Negro fullback from Morgan State, arrived last night. So did Bob Summerhays, veteran fullback and linebacker. Both are unsigned but they are expected to sit down with Coach Ronzani over the weekend. Summerhays, incidentally, is looking for a two-bedroom furnished apartment. Anyone with an apartment available is asked to call the Packer office, Adams 334. Of the 46 players announced thus far, 20 are veterans. One of the remaining 25, halfback Rip Collins, has had pro experience. Collins played with the Chicago Hornets one season and with Baltimore last fall. He was picked by Ronzani in the draft last January when the Colts disbanded…PRO STUFF: The Packers will look at the single wing three times this season. Which means that the Packers will be playing the Pittsburgh Steelers thrice – once in a non-conference tilt at Buffalo Sept. 16 and twice in league competition, in Milwaukee Oct. 7 and in Pittsburgh Nov. 11. The Steelers sharpened their claws yesterday by signing Michigan’s great wingback, Chuck Ortmann, the Milwaukee athlete. Ortmann is presently training with the College All Stars.
THREE NEGRO STARS SIGNED BY PACKERS
JUL 28 (Green Bay) - Three highly-prized Negro prospects, including the tank-like and versatile George Rooks of Morgan State, today signed Packer contracts. The other two colored aces are Charley Robinson, a guard from Morgan State, and Alan Hopewell, a guard-tackle-end from New York university. Signing of the trio boosts the official Packer roster to 49 players. Coach Gene Ronzani will herd about 55 players into action at Grand Rapids, Minnesota, next Wednesday. Rooks and Robinson were selected on the first Negro All-American team in 1949 and 1950. They toiled as a formidable pair during Morgan State’s undefeated seasons. Rooks, 23, who carries 220 pounds on a six-foot, two-inch frame, runs the 100-yard dash in 10.3 seasons – amazingly fast for a big man. The fullback, who answers to such nicknames as Choo Choo, Tank and Train, told Ronzani that “I also feel at home at end or left halfback."...DEFENSE AND OFFENSE AT END: Hailed by scouts and Morgan State coaches as another Marion Motley, the Browns’ great fullback, Rooks plays both defense and offense at end but his main duty the last three years has been at fullback. He led MS in ground gaining and scoring for the past three seasons. In 1950, Rooks counted 12 touchdowns and ripped off 819 yards in 107 carries for an average of 7.5 per try. With Rooks in the fold, the Packers are well established at fullback. Behind veterans Jack Cloud, who may carry the FB load, and 10-year man Ted Fritsch, are such rookies, besides Rooks, as Fred Cone, a powerfully-built smasher from Clemson, Rube Baisch from Lewis and Clark, Dick Christie of Omaha and Alton Green, a highly-rated ground gainer from Abilene Christian. Robinson, a Mr. Five by Five at 225 and 5-11, played left guard most of his college career. Robinson, 24, has been a 60-minute man for Morgan State for the past three years. In one
game last fall, Robinson played the third and fourth quarters with his mouth packed with cloth to absorb the blood as a result of a bitten tongue…FOUR NEGROES SIGNED: Hopewell earned three letters at NYU in football. He played right tackle and right guard as well as defensive end. At 20, Hopewell will be the youngest player in the Packer camp. He’ll turn 21 Aug. 16. Hopewell twice was selected on Boston university’s all-opponent team. Hopewell is a native of Chicago but attended high school at Boys High in Brooklyn and still lives there. Robinson, born in Lester Manor, Va., lives in Richmond, Va., while Rooks, a native of Newberry, S.C., calls White Plains, N.Y., his home. The Packers now have four Negroes under contract. The other is Bob Mann, brilliant University of Michigan pass catcher who joined the Packers for the last three games in 1950 after pacing the Detroit Lions for two seasons. In fact, Mann was the first Negro ever to play in a National league game for the Packers. The first colored players ever signed by the Packers were guard Jim Thomas and back Jim Clark, both of Ohio State. They remained during most of the 1950 training season.
HUTSON, HINKLE IN HALL OF FAME
JUL 28 (Green Bay) - Don Hutson and Clarke Hinkle, two of the Green Bay Packers’ greatest stars, were among 14 famous athletes of Wisconsin sports history named today for enshrinement by the Hall of Fame committee of the new Milwaukee Arena – the official choice of the state legislature as the permanent abode of Badger athletic immortals. Thirty-five sports editors of Wisconsin dailies participated in the poll and without exception their nominations were concurred in by the enshrinement committee, which is composed of Chairman Joe Krueger, Milwaukee city treasurer and sportsman; Sports Editors Lloyd Larson of the Milwaukee Sentinel, Russ Lynch of the Milwaukee Journal, Dave Christensen of the Wausau Record Herald, Hank McCormick of the Madison State Journal, Bill Draves of the Commonwealth Reporter and Art Daley of the Press-Gazette; Athletic Director Con Jennings of Marquette and Athletic Director Gus Sundt of Wisconsin. As expected, former stars of the gridiron and diamond received the heaviest support, capturing nine of the coveted spots. The categories of coaching, wrestling, bowling, boxing and track came in for one selection each…PAT O’DEA INCLUDED: Hutson like was landslide choice. The Alabama Antelope scintillated as a Packer pass catcher for 11 years. His teammate for the first half of his career, fullback Hinkle, was one of pro football’s greatest ground gainers for 10 years. Other football stars selected: Wisconsin’s legendary hero, Pat O’Dea, the kicking Kangaroo fullback of the 1897 to 1899 teams; Lancaster’s military hero, the All-American end of 1942 and 1943 Badger elevens – Dave Schreiner; and Superior’s “Blond Bombshell”, Ernie Nevers, who rated all-time collegiate fullback selection because of his great work for Pop Warner at Stanford university. The stars of the diamond who will shine forever are Charles (Kid) Nichols, a Madison product, enshrined at baseball’s Hall of Fame at Cooperstown because of his great record as a National league hurler from 1890 to 1906; Clarence H. (Ginger) Beaumont, leadoff hitter of modern World Series history as a member of the 1903 Pittsburgh Pirates, National league batting champion of 1902, and leader in hits made during the seasons of 1902-03-04 and 1907, a lifelong resident of Honey Creek; Al Simmons, a lad from Milwaukee’s south side, who reached great heights as an outfielder for Connie Mack’s Athletics and led the American league in batting in 1930 and 1931; Adrian C. (Addie) Joss, Juneau, Wis. born, one of the American league’s greatest pitching stars at the turn of the century. As a member of the Cleveland club, Joss authored a no-hit game and turned in one of baseball’s few perfect games on Oct. 2, 1908, against the Chicago White Sox in the hectic pennant scramble of that year. Track stars of Wisconsin’s cinder-path saga are well represented by Ralph Metcalfe, the “World’s Fastest Human” while he competed for Marquette university from 1932 to 1934. Wrestling’s banner is carried by Ed (Strangler) Lewis, of Nekoosa, a champion from the time he first won titular honors about 1910 in a tournament held at New York. Robert Zuppke, the “Little Dutchman” from Milwaukee’s west side, who attended Wisconsin and starred in basketball, is named because of the great record he compiled as mentor of the “Fighting Illini” – the “upset scourges” of the Big Ten football conference. Charley Daw, Beloit born, represents the thousands of Wisconsin bowlers. A member of bowling’s ABC Hall of Fame, Daw became internationally famous as a tenpin toppler and a national titleholder. Boxing is honored with Ritchie Mitchell, a great lightweight, who fought all of the great contenders of his time, including two world champions, in a career that took him from coast to coast. Bronze plaques, 40 by 30 inches in size, sponsored by public subscription, are now in the process of preparation. They will be hung from the lobby walls of the Arena, with suitable dedication ceremonies sometime late this fall.
NEW PACKER PLAYER LOSES $95 TO THIEF
JUL 30 (Green Bay) - Robert Lee Thomason, new Packer quarterback, had a rude introduction to Green Bay Saturday night, when his wallet, containing $95, was stolen from his hotel room. The empty wallet was found in the corridor.
PACKERS OPEN 2-DAY SEASON TICKET DRIVE TUESDAY
JUL 30 (Green Bay) - The financial success of the 1951 Packers - to a certain degree – will be at stake when nearly 400 salesmen hit the road in a concentrated two-day season ticket sale. The campaign, designed to assure a close-to-capacity crowd at the Packers’ four home NFL games, will with a kickoff breakfast at the Hotel Northland at 8 o’clock Tuesday morning. Members of the 1951 squad as well as the coaches will be on hand. Drive Chairman Bill Servotte announced today that all of the campaign plans have been completed. Scores of prospect cards have been made and it is hoped that workers will be able to make five calls each. A gigantic effort will be made this year to interest Green Bay and De Pere business firms to purchase blocks of season tickets. And why should a De Pere or Green Bay business house buy a Packer season ticket? Here’s how, Servotte says: “For use with their customers, both local and out of town. A couple of tickets to a Packer game is a fine gift to a customer or prospect and a supply of season tickets will insure the businessman of having tickets for individual games. For use with employees as sales prizes, safety prizes or goodwill gifts. For example, one professional man is planning to give a season ticket to each of the girls working in his office. For out-of-town friends and relatives who find it convenient to come to Green Bay on football weekends. To bring extra business to Green Bay and De Pere. To help keep the Packers financially sound.” Servotte’s last point – “To Help Keep the Packers Financially Sound” – is the keynote of the entire campaign. This is one of the few concentrated ticket campaigns in the history of the Packers. No special ticket sales job was done last year because of the stock campaign held earlier in the year. As the present drive progresses, a new campaign will be launched throughout the state. Efforts will be made to sell season tickets throughout Northeastern Wisconsin for the game here, and in the southern part of the state, including Milwaukee, for the two-game (league) card in Beer City.
MCCULLOUGH AND FLOWERS LOST TO ARMED SERVICES
JUL 30 (Green Bay) - Green Bay bulged at the muscles today with 50-odd Packer football players. They won’t be around long, though, ‘cause Coach Gene Ronzani will herd the heavyweights and lightweights on a train tomorrow for a trip to Grand Rapids, Minn., where they’ll undergo intensive training. The next glimpse at the Packers will be something of an official one – at the Chicago (Lambeau) Cardinal non-conference game at City stadium Saturday night, Aug. 25. By that time, Ronzani will probably have boiled down the squad to 45 players. Ronzani, starting his second season as head coach, got a couple of shocks over the weekend, but he remained optimistic. Visiting at Delafield where the College All Stars are in training for their date with the Cleveland Browns, Ronzani was informed that quarterback Dick Flowers of Northwestern had been called into the Marine corps. In addition, Ronzani learned today that center Bob McCullough of Ohio State has been drafted into the Army and will be unable to report here. Both Flowers and McCullough were signed to 1951 contracts. Flowers was considered one of the prize sleepers of the season. The Wildcat passer, who topped the Big Ten in pitching last fall and fractured a couple of Otto Graham’s records, somehow escaped the player draft last January. But Ronzani signed him shortly after the meeting along with quarterback Bob Petruska of Wisconsin. McCullough, a Collier’s All-American selection, was one of two centers announced as signed thus far. The other is veteran Carl Schuette, who plays mostly as a linebacker. With one center officially left in the fold, Ronzani didn’t appear worried. “Clink McGeary, the tackle, can play center, you know. Ed Neal’s in town, too,” Gene laughed. What’s more, Jay Rhodemyre, the Packers’ great center of 1948 and 1949, is planning on returning this fall. Ronzani is presently awaiting Jay’s contract in the mail. Rhodemyre didn’t play last fall. Neal hasn’t signed yet but the 275-pounder is pawing the ground, ready for action. McGeary signed earlier. While at Delafield, Ronzani said Art Felker, the Packers’ signed end from Marquette, “looked good.” He reported that tackle Bob Gain, the club’s No. 1 draft choice now drilling with the Stars, is still holding out. All Star coaches, including former Packers, George Sauer and Harry Jacunski, were upset about the loss of Flowers. He was figured as the No. 1 replacement for Bob Williams, Notre Dame’s signal caller. In fact, Flowers and Williams were to divide the quarterbacking duties. Also in camp, and a possible backstop for Williams is Frank Volm, the Green Bay graduate of Marquette. Both Williams and Volm are Chicago Bear choices. Speaking about quarterbacks, the Tulane star, Joe Ernst, is still unsigned. Ernst, in a letter to Ronzani earlier this year, said he was “anxious to play with the Packers.” He was selected in the draft.
PACKER DRIVE OPENS; RHODEMYRE SET
JUL 31 (Green Bay) - Nearly 400 salesmen – representing the backbone of Green Bay Packer spirit – launched the gigantic task of selling approximately 20,000 season tickets in the Packers’ two-day campaign at a breakfast at the Hotel Northland today. Campaign officials were more pleased by the large turnout this morning, and, Chairman Bill Servotte observed, “we’ve cleared the first hurdle.” Judging by the intense interest, Servotte believed that the “campaign will be a success.” Included in the large group of men and women were approximately 50 players who were introduced by Coach Gene Ronzani. The team left for Grand Rapids, Minn., at 11 o’clock this morning via the North Western. Each worker was handed a sales kit after breakfast and brief talks by Emil R. Fischer, Packer president, Chairman of the Board Lee Joannes, Mayor Dominic Olejniczak and Ronzani. The kits contain a number of ticket application cards as well as timely information on the 1951 season. The salesmen also were armed with questions and answers pertaining to the operation of the Packers. The workers have a special incentive. Scores of attractive merchandise prizes have been offered and they can actually be “purchased” by the salesmen, that is. Here’s how Servotte explained it: For every $4 in season tickets, a worker can be given one Packer Buck. He or she can take the Packer Bucks and purchase the various gifts offered. A total of $100 in season tickets, for instance, will give the salesmen 25 Packer Bucks – enough to purchase a valuable prize…SELLING A HOT PRODUCT: Servotte, given the title of “assistant coach” by President Fischer because of his reputation as “such a hard worker”, told the workers that “we’re not out for donations; we’re out to sell a hot product – one that fosters great entertainment, the City of Green Bay, business and every possible advantage to ourselves and our community.” To the players, Servotte said: “You’ll find that Green Bay will support you win, lose or draw – if you play spirited football.” Ronzani, after introducing the players, stated that “our team will be improved over a year ago. How many games we’ll win I can’t say.”
JAY, DARTMOUTH QB SIGN; TEAM OFF TO GRAND RAPIDS
JUL 31 (Green Bay) – Cheered by the return of veteran center Jay Rhodemyre and the addition of a rookie quarterback, the Packers left Green Bay today for training at Grand Rapids, Minn. The traveling squad, about 50 strong, will arrive in camp late tonight and the first workouts will start Wednesday morning. Five or six other athletes, including Dick Wildung and Dan Orlich, both Minnesota residents, will drive to camp from their homes. The new quarterback is Dick McCraney, the University of Dartmouth’s No. 1 passer for the last two seasons. One of the leading QBs in the east, McCraney, 22, gained considerable recognition in the East-West game last winter. He stands 6-1 and weighs 200 pounds. Rhodemyre has been itching to get back into football for the past two or three months. This writer has been corresponding with the former All-American pivot and Jay often expressed the hope that “the coach could use a broken down center.” He could! Rhodemyre joined the Packers in 1948 after being named the most valuable player in the College All-Star game that fall. He sparkled in the pro ranks in 1948-49 and then retired from the game, taking a position with a manufacturing concern. He has a degree in engineering…JAY REPORTS LATER: Jay and his family are anxious to make their home in Green Bay or somewhere in Wisconsin. That, plus a natural love for football, prompted him to resign from his work in Louisville. In order to give him time to close out his business in Louisville, Packer Coach Gene Ronzani permitted Jay to report a week or so after the opening of workouts. Rhodemyre, a backerup the likes of Clayton Tonnemaker, now in service, likely will see considerable duty on offense, Ronzani hinted yesterday. Ed Neal is the only other offensive center in camp at present since Bob McCullough, the rookie from Ohio State, was called into service. Who will work in Tonnemakers’ center backeup spot? Ronzani indicated that Bob Summerhays, the fullback-backerup, may do the job. Big Bob is 15 pounds lighter and “faster than I’ve ever seen him,” Ronzani said after watching him run in an informal workout over the weekend. Should Summerhays toil in Clayton’s shoes, Rhodemyre could possibly work in Bob Forte’s backerup spot near the end. Forte, like Tonnemaker, is in service. Incidentally, Tonnemaker reportedly passed his officer candidate examination and is to be commissioned a second lieutenant…VOLZ, AFLISS COMING: Rebel Steiner, a defensive outfielders last fall as a rookie, may get a lick at one of the backerup spots. There’s a possibility of an experienced defensive back coming in the person of Wilbur Volz, the former Buffalo Bill drafted by the Packers in the pro selections in the summer of 1950. Volz decided to coach last fall but was called into service a few weeks later. A veteran of the last war, Volz expects to be discharged sometime next month. Another surprise is the return of Dick Afliss, the 250-pound tackle from Nevada. Dick, drafted last January for future use since he’s a junior, was knocked out of football when Nevada cancelled its football program for 1951. Transfer to another school would result in loss of his year of eligibility, so he decided to turn pro. His class already has graduated…The Packers will return to Green Bay in time for the Cardinal game Saturday night, Aug. 25 and then go back to Grand Rapids until Sept. 7 when they’ll break camp there for the season. They’ll play the Philadelphia Eagles in Milwaukee Sept. 9, then move to Minneapolis Sept. 12 to meet San Francisco and then journey to Buffalo to battle Pittsburgh Sept. 16. The final non-conference game sends them against Washington in Alexandria, Va. The Packers open league play against the Chicago Bears here Sept. 30…Packer officials, including President Emil Fischer, Drive Chairman Bill Servotte, Director Max Murphy, Publicity Chief Jug Earp and Ronzani, sat down with members of the press and radio at a luncheon at the Beaumont Monday noon. Servotte told of the season ticket drive and Fischer and Ronzani reported on the 1951 season. Gene said that he hasn’t given up yet on Montreal’s Gene Roberts, the speedy halfback who was acquired from the New York Giants in a trade. “Maybe he won’t like it up there,” Gene laughed. Ronzani said that a number of American players discover that “things aren’t as rosy as they seem on the other side of the border.” He said that he heard that Bill Blackbourn, the Cardinals’ great center, may return to Lambeau’s team because he doesn’t like Canada…Gene Huebner, the lanky youngster who tried out at center with the Packers last fall, is drilling with the Cleveland Browns along with Stan Heath, the former Packer passer. Bob Forte, an officer in the tank corps, may be sent to Korea…A Green Bay Packer Quarterback club has been organized in Grand Rapids, Minn., to handle arrangements for the team and guests.
'PRIZE NIGHT' CLOSES PACKER SEASON TICKET CAMPAIGN
AUG 1 (Green Bay) - Nearly 400 salesmen in the two-day Packer season ticket sale will go on a “buying spree” at the Beaumont hotel tonight – Prize Night. The workers will be given a Packer Buck for every $4 worth of season tickets they sell, after which they can go to the “counter” in the Attic room and purchase thousands of low-priced but valuable items with their Packer Bucks. The Packer Bucks will be awarded by Drive Chairman Bill Servotte as the workers make their reports. The big evening will start at 6:30 with a tasty dinner in the Whitney room after which the workers will make their reports and hear the final report for the entire two days of ticket selling. After the reports and brief talks, the workers can proceed to go shopping. The “prizes” include such items as sport shirt, raincoats, sport shorts, pajamas, ties, golf balls, cocktail shakers, glassware, pipes – to mention a few. Servotte urged all workers emphatically to be present tonight. “You will enjoy the meal and, of course, the prizes,” he said. Servotte sounded optimistic today, though no official reports were in. “We made several test checks and the most encouraging thing is that the workers are making all of their calls.” What’s more, the drive and preceding publicity has greatly increased activity at the Packer ticket office at 349 S. Washington street, Ticket Chief Carl Mraz reported. Incidentally, only season tickets are being sold at the ducat office. The individual game sale won’t start until shortly before the league opener. The sale of tickets to the Cardinal-Packer non-conference game Aug. 25 also has been going well. The two-day campaign – the first concentrated season ticket effort in the history of the Packers – opened with a breakfast at the Northland hotel yesterday morning. Some of the workers had finished making their allotted five calls by yesterday afternoon and came back for more prospect cards.
TEAM ARRIVES AT RAPIDS; OPEN DRILLS
AUG 1 (Grand Rapids, MN) - The Green Bay Packers, some 55 strong, worked out for the first time this season under a hot sun this afternoon. The players were issued equipment this morning and later underwent physical examinations. The first drill started at 2:30. Coach Gene Ronzani will hold the first official meeting tonight and outline the program of training and strategy for the next three weeks. Ronzani said that, starting Thursday, two-a-day workouts will be held – one in the morning at 9:30 and the other in the afternoon starting at 3 o’clock. Each drill will go about two hours. The team arrived in camp at 2 o’clock this morning. The players left Green Bay at 11 o’clock Tuesday morning and traveled to Duluth by way of Minneapolis. From Duluth, they took a bus to Grand Rapids. Passing and punting drills followed a long session of calisthenics today. Quarterbacks Tobin Rote, Dick McCraney, the rookie from Dartmouth college, Bob Petruska of Wisconsin and Bobby Thomason, the former LA Ram, Ram, handled most of the throwing. Jug Girard headed the punters, while a number of rookies showed considerable promise. The Packers will aim their conditioning toward the intrasquad game in Duluth a week from Friday night. After this event, they'll prepare for the Cardinal game in Green Bay Aug. 25…The Cardinals, incidentally, obtained fullback Ralph Pasquariello, former Villanova star, from the LA Rams today. Cardinal Coach Curly Lambeau said the club got Pasquariello in exchange for a high draft choice. At the same time, the Cards revealed that the deal sending San Francisco halfback Emil Sitko to the Cardinals has fallen
through – at least for the time being. The Forty-Niners traded Sitko for Ken Cooper, but it was learned that Cooper had quit the Cards to accept a coaching job.
END PROSPECT HAD HEART SET ON 'GOING WITH THE PACKERS'
AUG 1 (Baltimore) - Mountain-sized Bob Noppinger, like so many young men in these trying times, shook his head doubtfully today and said it appears his long fostered ambition to join the Green Bay Packers was going to be denied. In a few days, Noppinger is scheduled to check in at the U.S. Air Force base in Mountain Home, Idaho for 21 months active duty as a newly commissioned lieutenant. The huge tackle-end, drafted the Packers from Georgetown, has his contract signed and the envelope sealed and addressed to Coach Gene Ronzani. But he only wishes the contests could be delivered. He has an ill wife here in Baltimore and has asked the Air Force to rewrite his orders for a later date. The 240-pound, six-foor-four-inch Baltimorean, with hands nearly twice the size of an average man, isn’t too hopeful of the Pentagon being that cooperative…LOOKS WITH REALISM: If a deferment should be granted, however, Bob feels he might be able to report to the Packers this year. But looking at the situation with realism, he simply says: “No, it doesn’t look as though I’ll make it to the Packers. I wanted to play pro ball with Green Bay for a long, long time, but Uncle Sam seems to have first call now. I was in the Army for 21 months and overseas with the occupational troops in Italy after World War II. Then I went to Georgetown and got into the ROTC program because I felt it was the thing to do and because I wanted to be ready for any crisis. So many people have told me so many nice things about Ronzani and about Green Bay that I really had my heart set on going with the Packers.” Noppinger is 24 years old and a former high school teammate of quarterback Bob Williams, the celebrated Notre Dame All-American now with the Chicago Bears…10TH DRAFT CHOICE: He was drafted tenth by Ronzani in 1951, after playing two years at end and one at tackle for Georgetown. He was shifted to the latter post to plug a squad weakness, but feels he is better tailored for terminal play. Patrolling the flank for the Hoyas in 1949, he received All-America mention and numerous all-sectional honors. Following that season, he was erroneously drafted by the Washington Redskins. They figured him to be eligible for selection, but he still had another year at Georgetown. Noppinger, an easy kid to coach, wanted to take his fling at the pro game with the thought that it would supply him with the background and be the wedge for a good coaching job in later years. All that seems changed for the present by a fellow named Joe Stalin – who was never known to care for football.
PACKER BAND OPENS 14TH YEAR
AUG 1 (Green Bay) - Five vacancies exist in the Packers’ Lumberjack band this year, and tryouts will be held at the Bay beach park’s east pavilion at 7 o’clock Monday night, Wilner Burke, band director, announced today. Players are needed as replacements in five positions to bring the band up to its full strength of 27 members, including a baritone saxophone, clarinet, bass horn and two trumpets. The vacancies occurred when several band members entered the military service recently and others left to attend school this fall. Persons interested in joining the organization, as it begins its 14th year as the official Packer band, are asked to call Burke after 6 o’clock any night this week, at Adams 5658. With the exception of the baritone saxophone, the players must have their own instruments. Band members will be paid for all rehearsal periods, and will also be paid for games at which the band appears. Expenses for trips to Packer games played away from Green Bay will also be paid…PRACTICE MONDAY NIGHT: Regular practice for the coming season will get underway at 7:30 Monday evening and the band will make its first appearance at the Packer-Cardinal game here, Aug. 25. Burke, along with Jim Collard, are starting their 14th year with the band, while other members have been with the group periods ranging from one to 12 years. Returning this year to play in the saxophone section will be Herb Hall, Phil Sarvello and Lee Bouchea; clarinets, Don Schultz, Walter Schoepke and Pat Bouscka; drums, Jim Collard, Walter Remick and Carl Zirbel; and trumpets, Don Bouscka, Dick Bangert, Roger Kocian, Johnny Zehms, Dick Klipstein and Dewey Rosman. Tom Kennedy, Bob Miracle and Dick Nier will be back in the trombone section again, with Oliver Lytie playing the flute, Bill Johnston, the baritone, and Wendell Shaw, the bass horn. Bruce Stengel will be starting his fifth year as drum major with the Lumberjack band. The drum majorettes are Bernadine Boyere, four years experience; Carol Collard, 11 years; Pat Lison and Beth Gales, three years each, and a newcomer, Shirley Remick.
DRIVE BOOSTS PACKER SEASON TICKET SALES
AUG 2 (Green Bay) - The Packers won't know the real benefit derived from the concentrated two-day season ticket sale for two weeks. That was the consensus Wednesday night as workers reported the sale of 1,476 season tickets - valued at approximately $25,000 - at the campaign closeout dinner at the Beaumont hotel. The fire-packed campaign, when it was announced recently, immediately boosted the sale of season tickets at the box office. It continued during the drive and undoubtedly will be stepped up as the season nears in the next two or three weeks. At the moment, approximately 10,500 season tickets have been sold - two or three thousand more than at the same period a year ago. Emil R. Fischer, Packer president, expressed hope that "we start the 1951 season with 16,000 season tickets sold." Thus, the real sale of tickets is "not reflected in the report made here tonight," Drive Chairman Bill Servotte told workers after reports were made. The drive was termed a "great success" because most of the tickets sold represented "new business". People who had never before purchased season tickets were contacted and a number of them became customers. For example, Ed (Rocket) Wolf had difficulty with five prospect cards. So he got into his car, visited fans up around Coleman and other Northeastern Wisconsin cities, and came home with orders for 30 season tickets - approximately $500 worth. A number of Green Bay firms, being contacted for the first time in years, bought five or 10 more tickets than a year ago. It appeared that prospective customers liked the idea of buying tickets from a "calling" salesman. Worker Don Becker reported that a customer told him, "It is gratifying to know that we have somebody call on us in person." Becker recommended that the drive be continued for at least two more weeks. Ace McLain, the livewire Optimist club member, turned up as the individual champion with the sale of 57 tickets valued at $913. Arnold Long sold 42 for a value of slightly over $8,000. There were a number of $500 reports. Servotte expressed appreciation for the work done by everybody - "including those who were unable to sell a ticket." He pointed out that "the enthusiasm was tremendous, judging by the reports and the large turnouts at the kickoff breakfast Tuesday morning and the windup tonight." Last night's program closed with the "purchasing" of scores of prized with the Packer Bucks. One Packer Buck was given for every $4 worth of tickets sold. It was a sort of commission for the workers for their efforts. Special prizes were placed on all of the prizes and most of the merchandise was sold. Fans who purchased tickets in the drive were asked to be patient as to picking up their ducats at the Packer office, 349 S. Washington street. As soon as the reservations are processed, cards will be sent to the fans telling them when they can pick up their tickets.
PAUL BURRIS HURT IN JUMP DRILL
AUG 2 (Grand Rapids, MN) - Buddy Burris, the Packers' veteran guard, was the first casualty of the Green Bay team's first day of practice Wednesday. Burris suffered a chest injury when he caught his foot in the square-rope exercise and fell on a stake. Three stitches were required to close the gash. He will be hospitalized for two or three days. The first two-a-day workouts were scheduled for today. Morning drills are held from 9:30 to 11:30 after a 7:30 breakfast. Lunch is served at 12:30 and group meetings are held for 1 o'clock until 2:30 when the two-hour afternoon drill starts. Dinner is served at 6 o'clock and the night sessions start at 7:30. Curfew is 11 o'clock. Head Coach Gene Ronzani has opened a fat man's table and the first "guests" are Jack Cloud, Ted Fritsch, Rip Collins, Alex Wizbicki, Ed Neal, Dick Afliss, Tubba Chamberlain, Don Stansauk, Tobin Rote and Bobby Thomason. A lean man's table will be set for those who aren't quite so far. Prospects for this table are Billy Grimes, Floyd Reid, Ralph McGehee, Sig Holowenko and Art Edling.
PACKERS GO THROUGH TEST PLAYS; POSITIONS SWITCHED
AUG 3 (Grand Rapids, MN) - The Green Bay Packers ran through test plays today as Coach Gene Ronzani conducted the third day of practice. The accent was on running as Ronzani shifted men from one position to another, sometimes making changes as often as after each play. The main switches involved the halfbacks. Rip Collins, the former Baltimore Colt flash, worked at both left and right. At right, he performed under Billy Grimes, the Packers' leading ball carrier last year. At left, he toiled with Floyd Reid, Tony Canadeo and Jug Girard. Some of the backs also likely will be given a shot at offensive end. Ronzani handed out six plays yesterday and six more were to be given out this afternoon...CLOSING OUT BUSINESS: Only two men were still absent from the expected squad. Jay Rhodemyre, 215-pound Kentucky center, is due to arrive any day. Rhodemyre is closing out his business in Louisville. Also due to report soon is Wilbur Volz, an experienced defensive back who formerly played with the University of Missouri and the Buffalo Bills. Volz is awaiting discharge from the Army. He was drafted by the Packers in the pro selections when the All-American conference closed business. Buddy Burris, the veteran guard, was back in camp and working out today after a brief stay in the hospital. Buddy injured his chest when he stumbled on the square-rope jumps and fell on a stake. Three stitches were required to close the wound.
DR. KELLY DIES OF HEART ATTACK
AUG 4 (Green Bay) - Dr. W. Webber Kelly, a practicing physician in Green Bay for nearly fifty years, suddenly dies after a heart attack in his office in the Columbus building about 5:15 Friday evening. Dr. Kelly suffered a previous heart attack nine years ago, and he had been in failing health for several years although he had maintained regular office hours. Funeral services will be held at St. Willebrord church at 11 o'clock Monday morning with burial at Allouez cemetery. The body will be at the Kelly resident, 924 Emilie street from 4 p.m. today until the time of the funeral...BORN IN JAMAICA: Dr. William Webber Kelly was born Dec. 7, 1875, in Kingston, Jamaica, British West Indies. His parents were Capt. Patrick Kelly and Mary Cousins Kelly, the former of the British Army. They were both natives of Ireland. He was educated in the grammar schools of Market-Harboro and Nottingham, England, and took his A.B. degree at St. Xavier college in Bruges, Belgium, in 1900. Following his graduation, he entered the British civil service and returned to live in Kingston, Jamaica. He took his medical degree from the University of Bishops college (now McGill university) in Montreal in 1903, the degree known as MDCM. His internship was spent in Westmont hospital in Montreal. Dr. Kelly came to the United States in 1903 and opened his American practice at Flintville, Wis., where he stayed for three months before coming to Green Bay and going into a partnership with Dr. W.E. Fairfield in 1904. After five years he set up his own private practice of medicine and surgery...MEMBER OF COLLEGE SURGEONS: Dr. Kelly was admitted to the American College of Surgeons in November of 1914, at a time when the college had only some 2,100 members. He took his post-graduate work in medicine and surgery in Vienna in 1903, just before coming to Green Bay and in London in 1914. Dr. Kelly married Miss Ida Nadeau of Marinette, Wis., in 1915. They have one daughter, Jacqueline, presently a medical technician in St. Vincent hospital. There are no other immediate survivors. Dr. Kelly was a member of the attending staff and a former president of St. Mary's hospital in Green Bay, a member of the courtesy staff of Bellin Memorial hospital and a member of the attending staff of St. Vincent hospital. He was a consultant for juvenile, municipal and county courts and for the Veterans' administration in psychiatric cases. In 1915, he was elected president of the Brown County Medical society, and in 1916 president of the Fox River Valley Medical society. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Medical society, and the American Medical Society, as well as the Wisconsin Academy of Surgery. He was a member of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus...SERVED WITH PACKERS: Dr. Kelly was
physician of the Green Bay Packers from the time the team was organized for the next 25 years. He was president of the Packer corporation in 1929, and a member of its executive board from the formation until 1944. He continued as a member of the board of directors until 1949. He was president of the Board of Education of the city of Green Bay from 1930 to 1933, a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Wisconsin from 1934 to 1938, and a member of the Board of Regents of the university from 1938 to 1940. He was president of the State Board of Health for six years, from 1937 to 1943...WAS TO BE HONORED: Dr. Kelly, although not a member, was one of the chief supporters of the local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous, organized here about 10 years ago, the first chapter of its kind in this territory. Members of the chapter were going to honor him at their 10th birthday dinner tonight. Dr. Kelly was planning to attend, although he did not know any special tribute was to be paid him. The AA chapter said today that they will hold the dinner anyway because they believe Dr. Kelly would have preferred that. About 500 persons are expected, along with an outstanding American, who is an AA member. Money that was to be spent on a gift for the doctor will be put to some other use in his honor, but what it will be has not yet been decided. Dr. Kelly called the AA office every morning to see what he could do to help. On Friday, he got in touch with the office twice.
PACK SCRIMMAGE! RAY PELFREY LEADING PUNTER
AUG 4 (Grand Rapids, MN) - The Packers must be in good physical condition. They are scheduled to go through scrimmages today and Sunday - only a few days after the opening of drills. Coach Gene Ronzani called for batting heads this afternoon and Sunday afternoon. It will be well controlled and there will be downfield tackling. The Bays sharpened up for the rough stuff with wind springs and blocking on the dummies Friday. It was the first day out with pads. A couple of newcomers showed up as speed merchants in the wind sprints. Charley Robinson, the Morgan State guard, led the guards, while rookies Fred Cone of Clemson and George Rooks topped the fullbacks. Other sprint winners: ends, Bob Mann; tackles, Leon Manley and Joe Spencer; quarterbacks, Tobin Rote; left halfbacks, Floyd Reid; right halfbacks, Billy Grimes. A rookie set the pace in a long punting drill. He is Ray Pelfrey, the six-foot, 190-pound back from Eastern Kentucky State, who outbooted veteran pro booters Jug Girard and Rip Collins, formerly of the Baltimore Colts. Also hitting well for distance were Dick McCraney, the rookie quarterback from Dartmouth, Dick Christie, rookie from Omaha, and Cone. Mann put on a terrific demonstration of pass receiving the other day. Stretch Elliott, the Virginia end who tried out with the Pack last year, showed up well in pass catching...SQUAD DIVIDED FOR GAME: Ralph McGehee, the rookie tackle from Notre Dame who is trying out for a guard job, pulled a muscle in drills yesterday and will take it easy for a few days. Fullback Jack Cloud bumped his thumb, while end Steve Pritko had an ingrown toenail removed by Trainer Bud Jorgenson. Moving back into action today was guard Buddy Burris, who suffered a chest injury when he tripped and fell on a stake. Three stitches were needed to close the gash. The Packer squad has been divided into two groups in preparation for the Fish bowl intra-squad game at Duluth Friday night. Dick Plasman and Tarz Taylor are handling the regulars and Ronzani and Ray McLean are coaching the newcomers. The Packers had a couple of distinguished guests yesterday - Clayton Tonnemaker, the spectacular defensive center, and Johnny Blood, onetime Packer back. Tonnemaker, now in the Army, visited camp on a furlough. Blood drove up from Collegeville, Minn., where he is head coach at St. John's university.
PACKER ROSTER PARED TO 56 AS FOUR ROOKIES 'RETIRE'
AUG 6 (Grand Rapids, MN) - The Green Bay Packers launched the first full week of practice here today minus four rookies who decided over the weekend that professional football won't be their future business. The departees are Bill Ayres and Alton Green, the backs from Abilene Christian, and guards Jesse Crawford of Southeast Missouri and Bill Lambright of Arkansas. The four made up their minds to quit after a scrimmage Saturday. Coach Gene Ronzani now has 56 players left in camp, and still to report is Jay Rhodemyre, the former Packer center who will attempt a comeback this season after a year's absence from the game...TWO DRILLS HELD SUNDAY: The second controlled scrimmage of the early training was scheduled for this morning. The first was held Saturday and Sunday's planned batting-heads had to be postponed because of rain. Two practices, however, were held Sunday. The early rough stuff is designed to give all of the rookies a thorough workout. In fact, few of the veterans were in the scrimmage Saturday. Throwing the passes were quarterbacks Tobin Rote, Bob Petruska, Dick McCraney and Bobby Thomason. Fred Cone and George Rooks ripped off several long gains from fullback. Looking good at left half was Ray Pelfrey, the nobody from Eastern Kentucky State, who earlier last week led the punters. Also working in at LF was Harry DeLoach of South Carolina. Veterans at left are Tony Canadeo, Floyd Reid and Jug Girard. The backs got a good opportunity with a wet ball Sunday. Punting and passing featured morning drills and a long signal drill occupied the athletes in the afternoon...BUCK, BLOOD SPECTATORS: Watching Sunday's drills were Cub Buck and Johnny Blood, Packer heroes of the 1930 era. Buck drove up from his home in Rock Island, Ill., and Blood came up from Collegeville, Minn., where he is head football coach at St. Thomas college. Today's scrimmage likely will close out the rough stuff before the Fish bowl contest in Duluth Friday night. The team has been divided into two groups for the intra-squad contest. A number of honorary coaches will be selected for the game. Two of them are Blood, who once played for the Duluth Eskimos, and Butch Larson, former pro gridder and coach at Winnipeg. Eight to ten thousand fans from the vacation areas in Minnesota and Wisconsin are expected for the battle.
HEATH RELEASED BY CLEVELAND BROWNS
AUG 6 (Bowling Green, OH) - The pro football Cleveland Browns today released quarterback Stan Heath and center Gene Huebner. Both rookies, Heath starred at the University of Nevada and Huebner at Baylor. Heath of Milwaukee played at Wisconsin before going to Nevada. He also was with the Green Bay Packers in 1949.
GENE'S WARY - BUT NOT WORRIED OVER PACKERS
AUG 7 (Grand Rapids, MN) - Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani pointed to 58 football players on the practice field Monday afternoon and smiled. "We haven't got much, but that's it." It was merely Ronzani's way of not climbing out on that proverbial limb, but he did go so far as to say, "We've got a few good fullbacks." Which, in our talk, means that the Bays are loaded at fullback - about nine of them headed by veteran Jack Cloud and outstanding rookies Fred Cone and George Rooks. And let's not forget Ted Fritsch, the 10-year veteran who is working terrifically hard against tremendous odds...CONSIDERABLY IMPROVED: Ronzani's smile, as the team walked off the field, means that Gene, starting his second season as Packer chief, isn't in a state of worry. It (the smile) would indicate that the 1951 Packers are considerably improved over the 1950 edition. Ronzani would take more, but it appears that he's hoping to improve the '51 team by at least 20 percent over last year's club. The players themselves are pleased with the first week of practice. Bob Summerhays, the veteran linebacker who may play in Clayton Tonnemaker's spot, feels that "we really got something here. We're far more advanced than we were a year ago." Dick Wildung, captain and veteran tackle, says "all this work is bound to pay off." It's all work and play here. That "play" stands for playing football. There's no time to see the sights. Grand Rapids, a town of close to 5,000, is only a mile away but few players have been able to do much visiting. Two workouts are held every day and meetings are held every night. The lights go out at 11 p.m...GR FANS PUZZLED: The local fans, watching the practice out here, are somewhat puzzled at the amount of practice and concentration on details. They're remembering the Philadelphia Eagles, who worked once a day and played golf and fished the rest of the time when they were here. The Eagles, at the time, had their team "set", not requiring as much drills, while Ronzani and the players here realize that the Packers are in the process of coming into a new era and as a result need as much work as possible. The general feeling in camp is that the Packers will come up with more good rookies this year. Which means that more than one veteran will find tough sledding.With Tobin Rote and Bobby Thomason pacing the quarterbacks (the others are rookies Bob Petruska and Dick McCraney), the backfield looks tough with such as Billy Grimes, Tony Canadeo, Floyd Reid, Rip Collins, Jug Girard and a flock of hot rookies. An important change has been made in the line. Veteran tackle Clink McGeary has been moved to right tackle to fill the hole left by Len Szafaryn, now in the service. Working in McGeary's spot are Dick Brown, Sig Holowenko and Marv Strauch - all promising rookies. Strauch, a 265-pounder out of Wyoming, looked good in the weekend scrimmage...ROBINSON BRIGHT SPOT: One of the bright spots in the line has been guard Charley Robinson, the colored boy from Morgan State. He gave everybody who played opposite him an absolute fit. Another rookie guard with promise is Dick Bye of Michigan College of Mines. He'll likely share RG with McGeary. Al Hopewell, the colored tackle out of NYU, has been shifted to right defensive end. Too light for tackle at 200 pounds, Hopewell likes his new position. He put together a number of devastating tackles in the scrimmage. Speaking about the colored boys, all four of them are out to win themselves jobs. George Rooks, the fullback from Morgan State, has been holding his own with Cloud and Cone. Rooks, a good receiver, could even play end. And Bob Mann, the former Michigan and Detroit Lions pass catching whiz, has been so spectacular with his receiving that the other catchers actually look a bit below standard. Leon Manley, who worked at both guard and tackle as a freshman last year, has been installed at left tackle with Wildung for '51. Manley put on 15 extra pounds off solid muscle during the off season, giving him a total of 226. On the other hand, Summerhays is packing six pounds less than he did a year ago, giving him more speed at 214. Fritsch, at a fraction under 220, came in lighter than he did a year ago. There are three surprises in camp - two with pro experience. The two veterans of other clubs are Hamilton (Ham) Nichols, who played two years with the Cardinals, and back Bob Hanlon, the former Loras college star who played a season with the Cards and one with Pittsburgh. The other is Otto Klug, a fullback from Moorehead, Minn., Teachers who is catching on quite fast as linebacker. Still unreported are tackle Bob Gain and end Art Felker, who are drilling with the College All Stars; Jay Rhodemyre, the veteran center expected later this week; and Wilbur Volz, the former All-American conference defensive star who is due out of the Army later this month. The last big scrimmage before the Fish Bowl game in Duluth on Friday night will be held this afternoon. Some of the 26 backs, 10 guards, 10 tackles and 10 ends may be released after the drill to reduce the squad to better working size.
PACK RECOVERING FROM 'BLISTERING' SCRIMMAGE
AUG 8 (Grand Rapids, MN) - The Green Bay Packers were recovering today from what Coach Gene Ronzani called the "toughest scrimmage I've ever seen." About 55 athletes crashed as if their job depended directly on their showing in this particular two-hour blistering Tuesday afternoon. It was the first scrimmage in which all of the rookies and veterans fought side by side or against each other. An all-rookie scrimmage last weekend resulted in the departure of four newcomers. But nobody was walking out of camp after yesterday's crushing, on their own or by request of Ronzani. The big squad probably won't be cut until the Fish Bowl "intra-squad" game in Duluth Friday night. There was one bad shock yesterday. Veteran tackle Leon Manley suffered a painful back injury and probably will be on the take-it-easy list for a week or so. Just about everybody worked on offense and defense during the fierce scrimmage. Designed to "see who can take it", according to Coach Ronzani, the scrimmage was 10 minutes old before a five yard gain was recorded. The leather popping peaked when fullback Jack Cloud, running like a bullet about two feet off the ground, slammed into a defensive back and knocked him cold. Then fullback Fred Cone started to bust loose, cracking through a veteran line for good gains. Dick (Humphrey) Afflis, the former Purdue and Nevada guard who signed his Packer contract after the workout, and giant Ed Neal had themselves quite a fuss. The 258-pound Afflis fought big Ed, a 275 pounder, to a standstill in a personal duel that seemed a bit heated from the sidelines. First, Afflis would nail Ed back about five yards, then Afflis would bounce back. At any rate, the two may give the Packers a tower of strength. Neal played all offensive center yesterday and defensive guard in a six-man line...ROOKS, ELLIOTT COLLIDE: George Rooks, the big colored fullback, and Carlton Elliott, the former Virginia star back for his second try, also had a couple of collisions. Elliott showed plenty of
power as a defensive left end as he banged into Rooks, protecting the passer. A couple of times Rooks flattened him but on other occasions Elliott slipped past and onto the passer's neck. The old pro, Tony Canadeo, looked like his 1949 self as he ran 10 to 15 times from left half and then played defense. Backfield Coach Ray McLean remarked that "Tony hasn't lost any of his old drive." On an excursion around right end, Canadeo was hit by three backs about hip high. He kept his feet and spun away for another 10 yards when the whistle finally stopped him. Canadeo, who played fullback last year after gaining over 1,000 yards at LH in '49, says he prays every night for the 1951 fullbacks "so nothing happens to 'em." He wants no part of fullback this season. Maybe it's an optical illusion but Jug Girard looks a lot faster than he did last year. The Jugger, always a swift runner, picked a couple of holes yesterday and then ran away from the defense. Veteran Tobin Rote and Bobby Thomason, the former Los Angeles Ram, led the quarterbacks with their handing off and passing. Dick McCraney, the former Dartmouth ace, seems to be better advanced than Bob Petruska of Wisconsin. McCraney is an excellent passer, but he'll need more speed on maneuvering and even running. Both Rote and Thomason, and Tobin in particular, are running threats. Incidentally, both Rote and Thomason are at the fat man's table, and, needless to say, they don't like it. They're handy with the knife and fork but Ronzani feels that they'll do even better with the ball on a few less pounds...VETERANS HOLD OWN: The veteran linemen pretty well held their own in scrimmage. Several more scrimmages will be needed to determine the caliber on the rookies. Most of them impressed on occasions - especially Charlie Robinson, the Morgan State guard who springs like a cat. Four players were held out of the scrimmage because of injuries - backs Alex Wizbicki and Zip Zehler and guards Buddy Burris and Ralph McGehee. The cool weather yesterday was ideal for the head pushing, but Ronzani is calling for some heat "so some of those heavyweights can lose a few pounds." It rained off and on during the scrimmage. Among the spectators yesterday was Bernie Bierman, former head football coach at the University of Minnesota. Bernie said he wasn't interested in coaching in the National league. He is well tied up with radio and newspaper commitments this fall, anyhow. Bernie was rumored as the next coach of the New York Yanks, what with Red Strader "resigning" and NFL Commissioner Bert Bell calling camp yesterday for Bierman. Bernie wouldn't give the nature of his talk with Bell but stated flatly that he (Bernie) "wasn't leaving for Ripon" - where the Yanks are training. Ronzani pulled a surprise last night by calling the 9 p.m. chalk talk. Normally, the evening meeting starts at 7. The team will taper off today and Thursday in preparation for the Duluth contest. Passing, punting, field goal kicking, the kickoff, huddle and signal drills will feature workout before the contest. The roster has been split as evenly as possible for the Duluth game. Dan Orlich, a native of nearby Chisholm, will captain the Duluth Eskimos, quarterbacked by Rote, and Dick Wildung of Minneapolis will captain the Packers, quarterbacked by Thomason.
RONZANI NOT WORRIED OVER PACKER AIR GAME
AUG 9 (Grand Rapids, MN) - Nobody seems to be overly excited about the Packers' 1951 passing game. On the other hand, nobody seems to be worried or concerned about it. The important air arm, without which it is virtually impossible to succeed in the NFL, is muscled by two sharp shooting quarterbacks, Tobin Rote and Bob Thomason, and the talented end, Bob Mann. Rote and Thomason, both pro experienced, have the situation well in hand at quarterback. They're taking charge like a couple of 10-year men and the two rookie QBs, Dick McCraney and Bob Petruska, probably will have a tough time cracking the twosome...LOST NONE OF SPEED: Mann should catch a lot of passes, starting with the Chicago Cardinal game in Green Bay Aug. 25, and, heaven help, score his share of touchdowns. The graceful colored speed merchant, nicknamed Suntan by nickname-master Ed Neal, has lost none of the speed that helped him catch 66 passes for Detroit in 1949. Coach Gene Ronzani's main problem is developing capable receivers to go with Mann. The best solution would be another end like Mann, but, as Gene would put, "you can't use what you haven't got." On the strength of yesterday's game-condition passing drill, Carlton Elliott, the long Virginian who started the 1950 season with the Packers, and veterans Dan Orlich, Steve Pritko and Ab Wimberly, may see a lot of pass catching duty. Rebel Steiner, a defenser last year after a pass catching tole at Alabama, is being worked in as a defensive left end. The rookie ends, Art Edling, Dean Sophia, Ralph Fieler and Al Hopewell, are toiling mostly on defense, though they'll be given a good chance to drill offense. The rest of the air power will come from pass catching backs. All of yesterday morning's workout was spent in pass patterns featuring the backs on the receiving end. In the afternoon, the same plays were scrimmaged. It's too early to report anything "out of this world" in the line of pass snatching fullbacks or halfbacks. The veterans seemed to have improved with their receiving while Rip Collins, the addition from the Baltimore Colts, and rookies Fred Cone and Ray Pelfey handled themselves nicely with the thrown ball. They used to kid Tony Canadeo about not being able to catch a pass not many years ago but he's been making a lot of hot catches. Backfield Coach Ray McLean, off what he's seen thus far, feels that Ronzani is a "good receiver". Jug Girard, who caught several passes as an end last year, has improved his pass catching as well as his speed as a halfback. There was some talk of trying Girard at end, but he hasn't worked in that spot yet...TOBIN, BOB DIFFERENT TYPES: Rote and Thomason, incidentally, have different kinds of pitching motion. Rote is the overhand, off-the-ear thrower, while Thomason had a three-quarter arm motion. On handoffs, Thomason reminds you of Paul Christman who gave the Packers a big lift last fall and apparently is making his retirement announcement of last winter stick. Ronzani is anxious to see his charges under fire in the Fish Bowl game in Duluth. Rote will quarterback the Duluth Eskimos and Thomason will do the same for the Packers. Rote will have Mann at left end and Carlton Elliott will work LE for the Pack. Rote's backfield mates will be Canadeo, Collins and Jack Cloud while Floyd Reid, Billy Grimes and Cone will work with Thomason. A kicking off session started yesterday's drill and Ted Fritsch, who has been kicking off and booting field goals and extra points for years, was unable to take part because of a shoulder injury sustained in the scrimmage Tuesday afternoon. Rounding into excellent condition, Fritsch will spend the next few days running around the field. With Fritsch, the Packers have five candidates for kicking off. The others are veterans Dan Orlich and rookies Dick Bye, a guard, and Monte Charles and Cloud, backs. Another kickoff possibility - when he reports - will be Bob Gain, the Kentucky tackle who was the Packers' No. 1 draft choice last winter. Gain is drilling with the College All Stars. Watching practice this morning again was Bernie Bierman, former Minnesota football coach. Also dropping from a nearby community was Vic Spadiccini, former Cleveland Ram and Packers lineman. Spadiccini was immediately appointed as an honorary coach of the Eskimos, along with Butch Larson, a Duluth native. The visitors got an eyeful when rookie tackles Nate Osur and Sig Holowenko started swinging. That, incidentally, shows how fierce the competition is here. It shows that the boys are "hungry" and anxious for work. The first two or three hours of today's session was used for taking pictures. Here from the Press-Gazette photo department is Clarence Bredell. Tight drills will be held Thursday and a brief workout is scheduled Friday morning before leaving for Duluth after lunch. The team will return to camp after the game and resume practice Saturday.
HEATH SAYS BROWNS DROPPED HIM FOR FLUNKING EXAMS
AUG 9 (Hamilton, ON) - Stan Heath of Milwaukee, quarterback last season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, arrived here Wednesday and explained that there's more to making a place on a United States professional football team than mere playing ability. Heath said he was chopped from the roster of the Cleveland Browns because he failed to pass the written examinations. The former Green Bay Packer backfielder expressed a desire to return to the Tiger-Cats of the Big Four league this season. He met with Coach Carl Voyles to discuss chances and was told he would be advised Monday.
PACKERS ALREADY LOOKING TO GAME WITH CARDINALS AUG. 25
AUG 9 (Grand Rapids, MN) - Considerable thought is being given by the Packers here to the Cardinal game in Green Bay Saturday night, Aug. 25. As a matter of fact, Coach Gene Ronzani says that "you can say 'Ronzani fears Cardinals.'" It appears from here that the Card-Pack tussle will be one rip-snorting game. Ronzani needs only to think back to a year ago to find good reason for fearing the Cards. If you'll recall that, too, was a rip-snorter, the Packers winning by a 17-14 margin. On the sidelines, both coaches will be starting their sophomore years with their respective products - Ronzani with the Pack and Curly Lambeau, the Packer founder, with the Cardinals. Generally, the first non-conference game is the fiercest because both clubs are usually loaded with good rookies bent on making a good showing. The Packers appear heeled with several boys who may make a big difference in the club's final standing this season. But they still must fight it out with the veterans. The first of such "fights" will be the Aug. 25 fracas. We're particularly anxious to see some of the effects of drilling away from home this year. The Packers are getting into terrific condition - mentally and physically. All they do is play and study football. Competition is virtually bitter for the various positions. If suitable reservists can be found, you may be pleasantly surprised. With Tobin Rote and Bob Thomason calling signals and pitching, the important quarterback slot isn't a worry - a far cry from a year ago when Ronzani threatened to get back into the moleskins himself and play quarterback. At the moment, end and center may be the two "question positions." The club could handle a pass receiver to match Bob Mann. If Jay Rhodemyre plays defense, a reservist for Ed Neal will be needed at offensive center. Then, there's the matter of defense against passing. That's strictly a question that can't be answered until after the Cardinal game. Speaking about pass catchers, Dan Orlich, the former Nevada wing who lives in closeby Chisholm, made a nifty one-handed snatch in scrimmage the other day. The six-foot, five-inch wing may get a good shot as a pass receiver. Rebel Steiner, a defensive back who is being switched back to end this season, shows surprising talent as a catcher. But maybe that's not so surprising either because Rebel won All-America honors at Alabama in 1949 for his pass receiving. Steiner is marking time since he's about 15 pound underweight. He's one of those southern boys who gains weight in the north and then loses it after the season. Dick Afflis, the promising tackle, is a wrestler. A native of Indianapolis, Afflis, who has been nicknamed Humphrey, played three years at Purdue before shifting to Nevada for his last year of eligibility. But Nevada quit football and Dick decided to join the Packers. The Bays had drafted him for 1952 delivery...And what's this about Sid Luckman buying the New York Yanks and coaching them? 'Tis said that Yank Owner Ted Collins wanted Luckman to coach the Yanks this year, but Sid said "no". Reportedly, Luckman and Collins are only $50,000 apart on the Yank sale deal. Luckman, not exactly a poor man himself, would buy the club in partnership with friends.
BULLETIN
AUG 10 (Grand Rapids, MN) - Head Coach Gene Ronzani announced this noon that Marvin Strauch, huge rookie tackle from Wyoming, has been signed to a Packer contract. Strauch, who has been working out with the squad since the start of practice Aug. 1, is 6-4 and weighs 255 pounds.
PACKER DEBUT IN 'FISH BOWL' GAME AT DULUTH
AUG 10 (Duluth) - The Green Bay Packers will be out to post their first victory of the infant 1951 season at the expense of the “Duluth Eskimos” here tonight. A crowd of over 7,000 fans will watch the glorified intra-squad production, known here as the Fish Bowl game, at All School stadium. Something of a historic atmosphere has been created for the occasion. The players dressed in blue have been named the Eskimos in honor of the club by the same name that competed in the NFL from 1923 through 1927. The “real” Packers will be dressed in gold and will be coached by the real head coach, Gene Ronzani. Butch Larson, a native of Duluth and one time Minnesota All-American, will handle the Eskimos although it’s possible that Dick Plasman, Ray McLean or Chuck Drulis will, in turn, coach Larson…NEVERS FLYING FROM COAST: To add more color, two all-time All-Americans, Ernie Nevers and Bronko Nagurski will attend the game. Nevers is flying in from San Francisco. A number of remaining members of the old Eskimos, once deadly rivals of the Packers, will be on hand. The Packers, who drove in from their training home at Grand Rapids, Minn., have been evenly divided for the battle. In the key quarterback slots, Tobin Rote will call and hurl for the Eskimos while Bob Thomason will do the same for the Packers. Dan Orlich, a native of Chisholm, Minn.,
and a favorite Packer up here, will captain the Eskimos and Dick Wildung, another Minnesotan, will serve in his regular capacity as captain of the Packers. Rote will direct a starting backfield composed of Tony Canadeo at left half, Rip Collins at right and Jack Cloud at full. Thomason has Floyd Reid at left, Billy Grimes at right and Fred Cone at full. Each quarterback will have nine backs at his disposal including rookie quarterbacks. Rote can ask for relief from Bob Petruska, while Thomason can motion to Dick McCraney. McCraney is reporting at Duluth from Minneapolis where he took an air corps examination this week. Rote has the camp’s most accomplished pass receiver, Bob Mann, on his side. In the left end spot for the Packers is Carlton Elliott, who has been looking excellent as a pass catcher thus far. Both clubs are expected to toss a lot of passes…BIG TEST COMES IN LINE: Like any other game, the big firing will take place in the line. The club has a flock of good looking tackles and guards seeking employment. Sig Holowenko, the newcomers out of John Carroll, will be getting the supreme test because he’ll work opposite Wildung. Veteran Joe Spencer will try rookies Dick Brown and Marv Strauch for size. Don Stansauk will look across at Warren Chamberlain and Nate Osur. There could be some last minutes changes at the tackles what with Leon Manley sitting out because of a back injury, thus weakening the Eskimos. Buddy Burris, another veteran injuree, won’t work at guard for the Packers. Buddy will be replaced by rookies Joe Farinello or Cal Hoff, one of whom will be battling against veteran Clink McGeary. The Clinker has been shifted from tackle to guard. Ronzani will be keeping an eye on two highly-prized guards, Dick Afflis and Charley Robinson. Afflis will be on defense while Robinson will start on offense. In fact, the game will mean the pro grid future of possibly four or five or more of the athletes. The Packers have 26 backs, 10 ends, 10 tackle and 10 guards in camp. Ed Neal and Carl Shuette are the only centers but Jay Rhodemyre is due to report Sunday or Monday. On the basis of the Packers’ play tonight, Ronzani expects to get a pretty good idea of the makeup of his roster for the opening non-conference game against the Chicago Cardinals at City stadium Saturday night, Aug. 25. The Packers will be talking Cardinals once they resume drills Saturday afternoon…HOPE FOR IS INJURIES: While the Packers are rounding into excellent physical condition, Ronzani is keeping his fingers crossed in an attempt to discourage injuries. There is reason to believe that tonight’s game will be just as rough as the scrimmage last Tuesday when several players were banged up. Missing the game tonight besides are Ted Fritsch, who has a bad shoulder; Ralph McGehee, muscle pulls; Bob Hanlon, back strain; Lou Pluim, leg injury; and Buddy Burris, chest injury. The weather has been cool and cloudy most of the week and some of the overweights were unable to take off weight until Thursday afternoon when a hot sun broiled extra poundage off such as Cloud, Afflis, Neal, Fritsch, Rote and Thomason. Bringing in sunshine Thursday were Press-Gazette Photographer Clarence Bredell, Packer Board Chairman Lee Joannes and H.J. Bero, a member of the Packer executive committee. Joannes and Bero flew in with Jules Parmentier, and will stay over for the game.
BELL, HALAS EXPRESS REGRET AT DEATH OF PACKERS' DR. KELLY
AUG 11 (Green Bay) - Two professional football leaders, Commissioner Bert Bell of the National league and George S. Halas, owner-coach of the Chicago Bears, have expressed their regret at the passing of the late Dr. W. Webber Kelly, former Packer president and team physician who was claimed by death a week ago Friday, in letters to George W. Calhoun, a Packer director. Bell said: “Dr. W. Webber Kelly was one of the pioneers in the NFL and all who knew him or worked with him through the years will mourn his passing. For more than a quarter century, he was associated with the Green Bay Packers as physician and a member of the board of directors and during that time he was one of the most widely known men in professional football. All of us in the NFL,” he concluded, “extend to his family our sincere condolences in their bereavement.” In his letter, Halas said: “Dr. Kelly certainly led a full like and was a splendid influence and a credit to Green Bay. I am sorry to say that we lost a fine friend.”
PACKERS TIP 'ESKIMOS', 22-21, ON FRITSCH'S FG
AUG 11 (Duluth) - Ted Fritsch kicked a 31-yard field goal in the last five seasons to give the Packers a 22-21 victory over the “Eskimos” before a paid crowd of 8,500 in Duluth’s first annual Fish Bowl game here Friday night. In an exceptionally well played game contest, considering the fact the Packers have been in training only 10 days, the Packer Golds, overcame a 21-0 first quarter deficit with two 80-yard touchdown marches and one for 95 yards to set the stage for Fritsch’s payoff boot. The Packers started their winning rush with only three minutes left from their own 20, quarterback Bob Thomason’s passes ate up most of the distance as Steve Pritko took two for 21 yards, Jug Girard one for 21 and Carleton Elliott one for 25 to place the ball on the 10…THREATENED TO RUN AWAY: Fritsch, who missed two extra point kicks earlier in the game, stepped back on the 21, and with Jug Girard holding, split the uprights which were 10 yards behind the goal line, making the goal line, making it a 31-yarder in all. The Eskimo Blues, coached by Ray McLean, Chuck Drulis and Tarz Taylor, threatened to run off with the contest as quarterback Tobin Rote (1) scored on a two-yard sneak after completing two passes to Bob Mann for 30 yards; (2) raced around left end for 51 yards for a TD on an unrehearsed play; and (3) hurled 20 yards to Abner Wimberly for another TD early in the second frame. Orlich kicked all three extra points. The Golds, coaches by Gene Ronzani and Dick Plasman, broke the ice just before the half as Billy Grimes wheeled 50 yards and Thomason hurled to Girard for six yards and the score. Just before the end of the third period, the Packers put on another 80-yard march, with Wally Dreyer belting over from the 13. Early in the fourth frame, a fumble stalled an Eskimo drive on the Gold five. Young Dick McCraney moved into the quarterback slot and engineered a 95-yard drive, capping a slow start with two 35-yard passes
to Elliott, the last for a TD…FUMBLE AGAIN HALTS DRIVE: Again the Blues put on a TD drive but again a fumble killed it near pay dirt. Then the Packers drove for their payoff field goal. Both teams were hitting on forward passes. The Eskimos tried only 14 but completed 10 for 205 yards, while the Packers hit on 18 of 29 for 306 yards. Eskimo Rote connected on the first three passes he threw and then Bob Petruska hit Bob Mann twice to give the Eskimos five consecutive completions before Petruska incompleted one. Mann, Elliott and Wimberly pulled in most of the passes among the ends while Grimes paced the backs. The rushing figures were pretty even, with the Eskimos gaining 170 yards and the Packers 148. The Golds had an edge in first downs, 19-15. The young Eskimo line, rushing against Wildung and Joe Spencer, held the advantage early in the game. Tony Canadeo opened the game with a nine-yard run off right tackle and Jack Cloud ripped the middle for 10. Rote hit Mann twice for 30 yards and Cloud added 12 in two tries, setting the stage for Rote’s touchdown sneak. The Packers started to move as Grimes made 18 in two attempts and Thomason hurled to Elliott for 12, but the attack bogged down and Fred Cone's punt gave the Blues a start on their own 39. On the first play, Cone faked a handoff to his right and then wheeled around his left end and went the distance. The Eskimos forced Jug Girard to punt as the game moved into the second quarter, but Rip Collins also had to punt. His boot was fumbled by Grimes and Clink McGeary recovered on the Packer 20. Rote pitched to Wimberly on the first play for the score...ESKIMOS THREATEN AGAIN: Again Girard had to punt and the Eskimos promptly threatened again as Mann took a pass from Petruska and danced and weaved for 19 yards. Ray Pelfrey ran for nine and Petruska hit a pass to Mann for nine yards to the Packer 27. The attack backfired when Al Hopewell threw Petruska for a 13-yard loss. The Golds finally moved into concerted action. Grimes then bounced around right end for 10 and then cut inside the same spot for 50 yards before Art Edling brought him down on the Eskimo 20. After Thomason hit Ralph Fieler for nine yards, he threw to Girard for the score. The Golds started their second touchdown drive late in the third frame with Thomason hurling 34 yards to Steve Pritko. George Rooks nagged center for 15 yards and Grimes took a nine-yard Thomason pass. Grimes and Girard ran to the five and Dreyer buzzed around left end for the score and Fritsch made his only extra point. Rote started hitting his receivers again caching Abner Wimberly for 19, Mann for 17 and Canadeo for 10 before the attack fizzled under a fumble on the five yard line. McCraney took over and passed his team to the score. He hit Elliott for eight, Girard for four, Girard for 11, and Elliott twice for a total of 70 yards to make the score 21 -19. The Eskimos threatened again as Cloud slammed for 36 yards in two tries over the right side but another fumble ruined the attack and set the stage for the last drive and Fritsch's field goal.
DREYER BACK
AUG 11 (Duluth) - Wally Dreyer, the Packers' ace defensive back, became a full fledged civilian shortly before Friday night's Fish Bowl game. Dreyer was informed that his final discharge papers had been received from the Marine corps. Dreyer, a World War II veteran, was recalled to service early this year.
PACKERS EYE CARDINAL COLLISION AUG. 25; RHODEMYRE REPORTS
AUG 13 (Grand Rapids, MN) - The Green Bay Packers today set their sights on the Chicago Cardinals with the opening of their third week of practice here. The Bays will engage Curly Lambeau's Cards at City stadium a week from Saturday night. The Packers strengthened up over the weekend with the arrival of Jay Rhodemyre, the veteran center who sat out the 1950 season. Jay, coming up from Louisville, was an All-American at Kentucky and played with the Packers in 1948 and 1949. He was the most valuable player in the 1948 College All-Star game. Rhodemyre, who plans to make his home in Green Bay, or "somewhere in Wisconsin", reported Sunday weighing 205 pounds. He said he had been keeping in shape by running during the summer. He'll probably play around 208 or 210. The Packers got another lift over the weekend when Wally Dreyer, veteran defensive back, received official discharge notice from the Marine Corps. Dreyer, a veteran of World War II, was called into service last winter. The present of Dreyer, who scored a touchdown in the intra-squad Fish Bowl game in Duluth Friday night, leaves the Packers' defensive outfield intact. Rebel Steiner and Alex Wizbicki both have returned. While Dreyer will be of great help, Coach Gene Ronzani still must find suitable replacements for such veterans as Clayton Tonnemaker, Bob Forte, Larry Coutre and Len Szafarn - all in service. A rumor that Tonnemaker was getting a furlough to play football proved false over the weekend. Besides the veterans lost
to the service, three topflight rookies are working for Uncle Sam - Dick Flowers, the quarterback from Northwestern; Bob McCullough, Ohio State center, and Don Noppinger, end from Georgetown. The squad was reduced by one today with the release of Rube Baisch, the stocky fullback from Lewis and Clark. Several more players are to be released later today. Dick Brown, the rookie tackle from West Liberty State Teachers, was the only casualty from the Squad game. He suffered a broken nose, but will be back in action this week. Fullback Jack Cloud is in bed with a deep chest cold.
CARDINAL CRUICE SCOUTS BAYS; BLOOD WATCHES, TOO - FOR FUN
AUG 13 (Duluth) - Since the Chicago Cardinals are Green Bay's first non-conference opponent, it was only fitting that the Cards' ace scout, Wally Cruice, viewed Friday night's Fish Bowl test here. Cruice scouted for Green Bay during the last five years of Curly Lambeau's regime in Baytown. Cruice apparently went to the Cardinals in the "deal" that sent Lambeau to the same organization. Cruice was crying the blues about the Cardinals before the game and Packer Coaching Aide Ray McLean who bumped into Wally in the Hotel Holland lobby promptly did the same. It was positively sad. It was apparent, though, that the Cardinals will miss fullback Pat Harder and quarterback Jim Hardy, Harder retiring into business and Hardy going to Canada. "Outside of that, we haven't got any tackles, no ends and one or two backs," moans Wally. Anyhow, it sounds like a new approach to the Aug. 25 classic in Green Bay. Remember a year ago when the Cardinals were almost certain to win? It may be a tossup this year!...The Packers, who returned to their training camp at Grand Rapids after the game, got their first "vacation" Saturday morning. Most of them went fishing. Funny thing, erroneous word got around that the winner of the Fish Bowl would stay in Duluth. Coach Gene Ronzani almost melted away. He wouldn't have had a team left because the athletes would have killed themselves trying for a night off. Ronzani figured the boys had plenty of incentive, fighting for their jobs...Ronzani put in some eight hours of concentrated football Friday. After directing the Bays through a long drill, he conducted a clinic for 75 high school coaches of range cities in the afternoon - a session that lasted three hours. Then, the game...Johnny Blood, ye olde Packer vagabond, roamed up from St. Paul to serve as one of the advisory coach of the "Eskimos", along with such grid greats as Ernie Nevers, Bronko Nagurski, Bree Cuppoletti, Joe Rooney, Bill Stein and Vic Spadaccini. Blood said he'd visit New Richmond, his hometown, and then move into Green Bay to watch the North-South athletes in practice and in the game at City stadium Saturday night. Blood, professor and head football coach at St. John's, spent the summer at the University of Minnesota taking advanced courses in ethics and sociology. Everybody was well pleased with the glorified intra-squad game. It had a surprise ending, and the general play was fierce despite the fact that the Packers had only 10 days of practice under their belts. The announced crowd of 8,500 paid was amazing considering the slight drizzle that filled the air. It was pouring hard downtown a half hour before the game. The Packers are getting into terrific physical condition at Grand Rapids. Actually, they played two games - a two-hour scrimmage Tuesday afternoon and the business here Friday night. In addition, they scrimmaged their passing maneuvers Wednesday. A couple of busloads of fans came over from Chisholm, Minn., to watch native son Dan Orlich. The Chisholm High school band performed between halves. Also present here and at practice earlier in the week was Stan Kostka, the onetime Minnesota fullback powerhouse who coached Orlich at Chisholm High and guard Clink McGeary later at North Dakota State. Watching the game from Green Bay were Lee H. Joannes, chairman of the Packer board, and H.J. Bero, Packer executive committee member. Bero, helping Duluth officials check the ticket sales after the game, gave 'em a shock when he told them that "we gotta count that big stack of tickets." Bero explained that "they were going to make an estimate." Joannes was impressed with the crowd and well pleased with what he saw on the field.
PUNTERS? PACKERS HAVE FOUR OF THEM IN CAMP
AUG 14 (Grand Rapids, MN) - The Packers are getting a lot of "foot" in their football. A year ago Coach Gene Ronzani started his freshman season wit