Chicago Bears (6-2) 24, Green Bay Packers (3-5) 13
Sunday November 18th 1951 (at Chicago)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(CHICAGO) - The Green Bay Packers jammed 200-pound Tobin Rote down the Chicago Bears' throats here Sunday afternoon in a surprise death-dealing maneuver, but the Bruins - the lucky Bears, to be more specific - survived the ordeal for a bitterly-fought 24 to 13 NFL victory. Fighting for their first victory in this hex joint - Wrigley field - in 10 years, the Packers rammed home 13 points in 41 seconds in the second quarter for a 13-3 lead, and it appeared that this might be Green Bay's day before 36,771 who braved 20-degree weather. But the Bears got a "free" touchdown just before the half to cut the margin to 13-10, and the second half developed into a series of bad breaks for the highly keyed Packers. Such as: The Packers were on the Bear 11-yard line two plays after the second half started and on their way to a 20-10 lead when Rote fumbled on the Bear five and, you guessed it, the Bears recovered. After the Bears drove to a TD, giving them a 17-13 lead, the Packers made a devastating assault midway in the fourth quarter to the Bear one-yard line but two penalties killed the big hope.
ROTE ONLY MAN BACK
The Packers surprised the daylights out of the Bears with their odd "one-back" formation and young Mr. Rote, the big quarterback out of Rice, almost became the hero of the day. Tobin, playing four yards behind center Jay Rhodemyre, was the only man "back" as the halfbacks and fullbacks spread wide - but what a man. Running into the murderous Bear tacklers with abandon, Rote gained 150 yards in 14 attempts for what generally is believed to be a NFL record for yards gained by a quarterback. Rote completed 10 out of 33 passes for 88 yards and a total offense of 238 yards. Four other Packer backs gained only a total of 23 yards. While Rote's individual performance behind a hard-hitting line kept the Bears on their heels, the Packers couldn't overcome a rash of serious injuries that made the Bears' strong running game actually look stronger. The Packers were hurt where it helped the Bears the most - at the linebacker posts. LB Bob Summerhays, weak from injuries in the Pitt game a week ago, had to be pulled early. Then LB Chuck Schroll pulled a muscle and he had to be relieved. As if that wasn't enough, the man who loves to tackle, Rebel Steiner, was derailed.
ORLICH CATCHES PACKER KICKOFF
The Packers' quick scoring in the second quarter brought the big throng to its feet and made a lot of Packer Backers out of Bear fans. Rote started the first TD with an 18-yard sprint right over Don Kindt to the Bear six, and on the second play of the frame - only 11 seconds had elapsed - Dom Moselle took a direct pass and raced five yards for the score. Fred Cone, who converted to give the Bays a 7-3 lead, got off a high kickoff and Dan Orlich took it on the fly on the 22 and ran into the end zone. The ball came back to the 22 and the Packers scored in two plays. Rote smashed 12 yards to the 10, and then threw a pass to Tony Canadeo into the end zone for the score. Cone's kick was low. The Bears made it 13-10 on Steve Romanik's one-yard sneak just before the half. George Gulyanics climaxed an 89-yard drive with a three-yard TD smash to make it 17-13 in the third frame and late in the fourth period Julie Rykovich crashed over from the one. It was a rough contest right from the start. Ed Neal, the ex-Packer, caused a little commotion right away quick by rushing Rhodemyre but the Packers had the last laugh - a five-yard penalty on the Bears. Ed was nicked 15 yards for slugging later after which the worst thing that could have happened did happen - Neal went out with a leg injury early in the second quarter. A total of 238 yards in penalties were called - 130 on the Packers. And there were many others that weren't called - especially on the Bears - as confusion among the officials prompted a lot of Green Bay fans to quit in disgust in the last quarter. The Bears' big gun was big John Dottley, the heavy fullback, who gained 117 yards in 17 trips, but the crasher got stronger as the Packers started running out of linebackers. The Bears "won"' right off the bat, snaring the toss and electing to receive. But the Packers held their hated foes to exactly no yards and forces Morrison to punt, the ball being downed on the Packer 35. Big Neal went offside on the first play and the Packers graciously accepted the penalty. After Moselle and Cone were held to two yards, Rote hurled a 32-yarder to Bob Mann on the Bear 26, but, alas, the Packers were accused of a personal foul. Another Rote pass fell incomplete and Girard punted to the Bear 28. The Bears had a little luck on their first long completion, a Romanik to Rykovich throw gaining 40 yards to the Packer 32. Morrison managed three but two passes fell incomplete and Blanda stepped back on the 35 to kick a field goal and give the Bears a 3-0 lead. Starting on their own 28 after Moselle returned Blanda's kickoff from the five, the Packers went into their new formation, with Rote playing four yards directly back of center Jay Rhodemyre. But the first pass to Moselle went for a two-yard loss as the Bears dropped into a four-man line. Two more passes fell incomplete and Girard punted to Stone on the 32 and he returned to the Bear 40.
ROTE UP MIDDLE FOR 18
The Bears unleashed their powerful running game and, with Hunsinger, Rykovich and Morrison running, moved to the Packer 27 where Schroll and Wildung stopped Morrison cold. On the same play, the Bears were found holding and set back to the 44. Morrison punted and the Bays went into action on the 15. The Packers were in motion as Moselle gained seven yards but Rote ran straight up the middle for 18 yards for a first down. Rote, after the Bears were nicked for five for being offside, ran again, this time for 14 to the 47. The attack was stalled as Rote was smeared for a seven-yard loss and Girard punted out of bounds on the 17. Wimberly slammed in to throw Rykovich for a 10-yard loss to the seven and Morrison punted, the ball going out of bounds on the Bear 40. A personal foul on the Bears got the Packers off to a good start and Rote belted for 18 to the Bear six-yard line and Cone to the five as the first quarter ended. After Rote's pass fell incomplete, Moselle took a direct pass from center and went into the end zone for the TD. Cone's kick was good and the Packers led, 7-3, with 11 seconds gone in the period.
ORLICH TAKES KO ON FLY
Cone got off a high kickoff permitting the Packers to get under it. Dan Orlich took the ball on the fly on the 22 and ran into the end zone but the officials called the ball dead on the 22. Rote hit off tackle for 12 yards and then threw to Canadeo in the end zone, Tony doing a jig in midair to remain a couple of inches inside the end line. Cone's kick was low and the Packers led, 13-3, with only 52 seconds gone in the quarter. Cone got off another high kickoff and three Bears fumbled as the Packers closed in but Rowland recovered on the 20. Key tackles by Manley and Afflis forced Morrison to punt, Moselle returned 10 yards to the Bay 30. A clipping penalty on Girard against Sprinkle set the Bays back to the nine. Cone and Reid banged for nine yards and Girard punted to the Packer 48. A Bear holding penalty and the tight Bay defense forced Morrison to punt, the Bays taking over on their own 16. Rote completed a 23-yarder to Girard to the 39, ran for five and then was smeared back 10, forcing Girard to punt, the ball rolling dead on the 31. The Bears threatened to score as Romanik hurled to Keane for 37 yards to the Bay 32 and again to Keane for 17 to the 13. But Loomis ended the threat by intercepting on the three and returning it to the 17. Rote ran for 13 yards in two tries to the 30 but a holding penalty move it back to the 15. Hoffman moved in to intercept Rote's pass at midfield and the Bears scored in six plays. Romanik pitched to Gulyanics for nine and Dottley slammed 18 yards to the 25. Romanik pitched to Boone for 24 yards to the one and then "sneaked" it over. Blanda's kick was good to cut the Bay lead to 13-10. Just before the half, Stone intercepted Rote's pass and Romanik hurled to Boon for 23 yards. Canadeo and Rote set the stage for one of the big heartbreaks of the game as the second half opened. Tony took Blanda's kickoff on the four-yard line and ran up the right side 48 yards to the Bear 48 where the last Bear in sight brought him down. Rote set sail around left end for 32 yards to the Bear 15, giving the Packers a total of 80 yards in two plays. The Packer express continued to move as Rote, running like a 200-pound halfback, cracked up the middle to the six-yard line, but Bear tackle George Connor grabbed his arm, the ball popped out and Dempsey recovered on the 11. The Bears then proceeded to march 89 yards to a touchdown in 14 running plays. One pass was tried, but it was incomplete. Dottley and Gulyanics ate up most of the yardage, with Gulyanics going over from the three and Blanda kicking the extra point to put the Bears ahead, 17-13. Grimes returned the next kickoff from the 5 to the 30 and Rote slammed around left end for 15 yards to the 45. Rote took to the air but Girard dropped Rote's first pass and Lujack knocked one down aimed at Pelfrey. His next throw to Girard was a bit high and Girard punted. After an exchange of 15-yard penalties, Morrison got off a poor nine-yard punt, Girard taking it on the Bear 49 and running to the 40. Rote passed to Mann for four yards but a personal foul on the Packers moved it back to the Packer 44. Rote ran for six yards but two passes went afoul and Girard went back to punt. Jug's punt was five yards worse than Morrison's, traveling four yards out of bounds on the Bear 47. The Packers stiffened and Morrison punted to set the stage for some confusion among the officials. Grimes took the ball on the 15, fumbled and recovered on the 21. One official ruled that Grimes kicked the ball, another ruled that the Packers committed a personal foul while the ball was in the air, roughing the kicker.
A SIX-YARD PENALTY
After a lot of yapping among the officials and players, the ball was given to the Bears on the Packer 47 - some sort of a six-yard penalty. Gulyanics gained 11 yards in two tries and an in-motion penalty on the Bears moved it back to the 41. Romanik hurled to Schroeder for 13, but Wimberly knocked Rykovich, after taking a lateral from Dottley, for a three-yard loss. A Romanik pass was incomplete and Blanda tried and missed a field goal from the 39 early in the fourth quarter. Starting on their own 20, the Packers proceeded on a 79-yard drive that fell a yard short of a TD at one time. Rote passed first to Elliott for 20 yards and then to Pelfrey for 13. Rote tried going up the middle but Sprinkle nailed him back four yards. Schroeder intercepted Rote's pass aimed at Pelfrey but the Bears were clipping and the Packers regained possession on the Bear 36. Dempsey interfered with Elliott and the Packers got an automatic first down on the Bear 32. Rote went under the center, the other 10 Packers went on the line of scrimmage and the quarterback took the ball on a keeper around left end for 11 yards to the 21. Rote hit Pelfrey twice on the left side for nine-yard gains to the Bear 3 for a first down. Going back into the T from the "one-back" formation, Rote passed to Moselle on the one but Dom fumbled as he was tackled and Rhodemyre recovered on the three. Cone slammed to the one, but on third down, with Cone running into the line, the right side of the Bay line went offside and it was third down again back on the six. Running on the frozen-solid end of the field, Cone slipped and was stopped for no gain on the six. At this point, the Packers took too much time and the ball went back to the 11. On fourth down, Rote threw as he was being hit for a loss. The officials called intentionally grounding and the Bears took over on the 25. Dottley, Rykovich and Gulyanics, running against the badly weakened Packer defense, crashed to the Packer 31 where Wimberly threw Rykovich for a nine-yard loss to the 40. But Romanik hurled to Keane for 12 yards and Dottley ran 17 to the 11. The Bears just barely made a first down on the one and Rykovich belted over. Blanda kicked the extra point to make the score 24-13. Moselle took the kickoff from the 5 to the Packer 40 and the Bays took to the air, with about three minutes left. The Bears roughed Rote on a pass and it was first down on the Bear 45. An offside penalty moved it to the Bear 40, and Rote pitched to Mann for six yards to make first down on the 34. After a Rote pass to Moselle went incomplete, Rote ran two yards to the Bear 32. Mann went down to his right and was tripped on the 20 in plain view of three officials, but no penalty was called. Coach Gene Ronzani ran onto the field to assist Mann who was slow in getting up. As if the "blindness" wasn't enough on that play, Pelfrey caught a pass from Rote on the 10-yard line, ran three steps and fumbled. Reid recovered the ball but the officials ruled it an incompleted pass, giving the ball to the Bears with two minutes left. The Bears went to midfield in four plays as the game ended.
GREEN BAY - 0 13 0 0 - 13
CHI BEARS - 3 7 7 7 - 24
GREEN BAY CHICAGO BEARS
First Downs 18 25
Rushing-Yards-TD 24-173-1 56-256-3
Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int 33-10-88-1-2 22-10-191-0-1
Sacked-Yards 2-21 3-24
Net Passing Yards 67 167
Total Yards 261 447
Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-0
Turnovers 3 1
Yards penalized 12-130 10-108
SCORING
1ST - CHI - George Blanda, 35-yard field goal CHICAGO 3-0
2ND - GB - Dom Moselle, 5-yard run (Fred Cone kick) GREEN BAY 7-3
2ND - GB - Tony Canadeo, 10-yard pass from Rote (Cone kick failed) GREEN BAY 13-3
2ND - CHI - Steve Romanik, 1-yard run (Blanda kick) GREEN BAY 13-10
3RD - CHI - George Gulyanics, 3-yard run (Blanda kick) CHICAGO 17-13
4TH - CHI - Julie Rykovich, 1-yard run (Blanda kick) CHICAGO 24-13
RUSHING
GREEN BAY - Tobin Rote 14-150, Fred Cone 5-7, Dom Moselle 2-7 1 TD, Breezy Reid 2-7, Tony Canadeo 1-2
CHICAGO - John Dottley 17-117, George Gulyanics 13-73 1 TD, Chuck Hunsinger 5-25, Julie Rykovich 11-21 1 TD, Fred Morrison 3-13, Steve Romanik 6-10 1 TD, Billy Stone 1-(-3)
PASSING
GREEN BAY - Tobin Rote 33-10-88 1 TD 2 INT
CHICAGO - Steve Romanik 20-9-184 1 INT, Johnny Lujack 2-1-7
RECEIVING
GREEN BAY - Ray Pelfrey 4-31, Dom Moselle 2-(-2), Jug Girard 1-23, Carl Elliott 1-20, Tony Canadeo 1-10 1 TD, Bob Mann 1-6
CHICAGO - Jim Keane 3-66, J.R. Boone 2-47, Julie Rykovich 1-40, Gene Schroeder 1-13, John Hoffman 1-9, George Gulyanics 1-9, John Dottley 1-7
HALAS 'GLAD IT'S OVER FOR SEASON;' LAUDS ROTE; RUNNING BIG DIFFERENCE!
NOV 19 (Chicago) - Obviously relieved, the Chicago Bears' urbane observer, George Stanley Halas, signed, "I'm very glad we're through with Green Bay for this season." Halas, relaxing in the Pink Poodle, postgame mecca of coaches and sportswriters at Wrigley field, continued, "It was the usual tough game, which was not unexpected." But had it been more difficult for his Bruins than he had anticipated? "No, no," was the emphatic response, "it was just as tough as we expected it to be." Had the Packers' new version of their "Twin" (the spread) surprised the Bear board of strategy? "No," George, after giving the matter a little thought replied, "we were ready for everything the Packers threw at us - except Rote's running. And we compensated for that, in part, the second half." "This Rote," the veteran impressario of the Midway Monsters confided, "played a great ball game. He mixed 'em up nicely and his running was very good. Of course, we had to keep the usual two men on Mann. I don't remember how many passes he caught, though." (Somebody guessed two or three, excluding the one long reception recalled because of a penalty, but reminded that few passes were thrown in Mann's direction.) At this point, Halas was interrupted by a mildly inebriated hanger-on who had a suggestion to improve the Bears' offense. "Why don't you use that spread the Packers used?" the alcoholic strategist demanded. "They gained an awful lot of yards with it today." A little taken aback, George
fixed the intruder with a stony stare before replying, "We've got so damn many plays now we don't know what to do with them." This squelched the A.S. and he retreated to a far corner of the room...RUNNING BIG DIFFERENCE: Returning to his favorite subject, the Bears, Halas declared, "I was proud of those two sustained marches against a good line." What did he think had made the big difference? "The entire running attack," he opined. "Dottley, Gulyanics and Rykovich - and Romanik's quarterbacking. He was calling the plays just right." Of the Packers, in addition to Rote, "I thought Moselle, Pelfrey and Girard all did a good job," George submitted. "They were constant threats all the time. And Ronzani's doing a fine job, an excellent job. As well as his associates - Dick Plasman, Ray McLean, Tarz Taylor and Chuck Drulis."...After a brief but general outburst of vehement discussion, the Packers lapsed into virtual silence in the dressing room, although here and there small groups talked in low tones. For a time, the quiet was broken only by this subdued drone and, from the shower room, the unashamed lamentations of Jay Rhodemyre, the veteran center, who was unconsolable. Jay, one of the league's great competitors, had turned in a tremendous performance. An interruption came when George (Brute) Trafton, Packer line coach in 1944, entered. Trafton, who recently completed his first year as head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football league, boomed, "I thought you were going to beat 'em." Another visitor who occurrences that deprived the Packers of victory. "They were," he said, "Rote's fumble of the Bear 11-yard line right at the start of the second half when we were marching right down there; our inability to score from the one in the fourth quarter; and Ed Neal's leaving the game." This last was mentioned with just a hint of facetiousness, but Ronzani insisted, "He was a big help to us. He drew five yards one time for being offside and another 15-yard penalty for slugging. I'm sorry he didn't stay i there." Neal was injured in the second quarter. "I think the injuries to Summerhays and Schroll (two of the regular linebackers) hurt too because they forced us to juggle our defense."...NOT BEARS' GREAT PLAY: In the final analysis, however, the big fellow felt, "We actually beat ourselves. It wasn't the Bears' great play - it again was our own mistakes that beat us. Those mistakes always seem to come at the most critical times." Almost in the same breath, though, he made certain no erroneous impression would be created, declaring, "I though the outstanding thing about our ball club was the desire to overcome their mistakes and those bad breaks. And it's discouraging, you know, for the fans to watch a game that was officiated as this one was. It was typical of the officiating at all Packer-Bear games - they (the Bears) always come out on top. There were more technical decisions in this ball game," he contended, "than in the last 10 years." Gene, discussing individuals, commended the work of Rote. "I thought he did the most outstanding bit of running by a quarterback in the league in 10 or 15 years. I don't know what the record (Tobin gained 150 yards in 14 carries) is, but this must come awfully close to being one for a T quarterback. In fact, I think it probably is a record. I can't ever remember of seeing anything like it before." "I thought, too, that our ends played a great ball game," Ronzani said. "Wimberly was exceptionally tough and Martinkovic was rough. And Wildung played his usual tough game. Moselle played a wonderful game, too - but they all played good ball. It's hard to single out any one player because they all played so well."...The fans expressed violent disapproval of a fourth quarter decision by the officials when they failed to rule interference after Bobby Mann obviously had been trapped in the open while waiting for a pass from Rote. Three officials, Referee Bill Downes, Back Judge Claude Grigsby and Field Judge Jim Beiersdorf, all observed the play but it went merely as an incomplete pass. Yet Headlinesman Sam Pecoraro, when accosted by a fan along the sidelines, yelled, "Yes, I saw it but how would it look for me to call it from way over here." Pecoraro was located across the field from the play but had a clear view of the action. This appeared inconsistent, since Grigsby earlier has called a clipping penalty on the Packers from a distance of 50 yards. And, on the play following the Mann incident, Pelfrey caught a Rote pass and proceeded three steps before fumbling, Rhodemyre recovering. But Downes ruled it an incompleted pass...Chicago fans apparently don't care for hockey anymore - or it could be that they do. This impression was created when a lusty chorus of boos developed as Field Announcer Rocky Wolfe reminded, "Don't forget the Blackhawks are back at the stadium tonight."...As is customary at Packer-Bear classics in Chicago, the fans got out of hand on occasion. One of them, who was well lubricated, had to be ejected from the end zone before the Packers’ first touchdown in the second quarter when he appeared determined to become a Bear linebacker. Another, growling pugnacious, slugged the chief usher to enliven proceedings in the fourth frame...The day marked an anniversary for the Packer Lumberjack band. The colorful organization, which was well received during a pregame performance on the field, made its first appearance at Wrigley field 30 years ago this month, under the direction of George DeLair. The fans, incidentally, vigorously applauded the baton twirling efforts of Drum Major Bruce Stengel of Suring, who is the national champion, and majorettes Carol Jean Collard, Beth Gale, Shirley Remick, Mary Ann Van Duyse and Bernadine Boyere. Although they were themselves able to bear the 20-degree temperatures, the cold made life miserable in another way for the musicians. It “froze” their instruments. Particular sufferers were the bass players, who reported they couldn’t “get a sound out of our horns.”…Although there were a few hardy fellows who essayed cold beer as a stimulant, most fans preferred blankets and thermos bottles. And the Bear players protected their craniums with stocking caps in their pregame warmups…It was feared Moselle might be seriously injured when he crashed into the brick wall in pursuit of a Rote pass in the fourth quarter, the incident reminding fans of the time Dick Plasman rammed headlong into that same wall and fractured his skull. But Moselle, although dazed, was able to get to his feet after a minute or two and leave the field under his own power…Among the spectators was Clyde Grimes, the father of the Packers’ Billy, who came from distant Purcell, Okla., located 40 miles north of Oklahoma City, to watch his son perform.
500 GREET PACKERS
NOV 19 (Green Bay) - The Packers, weary after an all-out effort, were unexpectedly rewarded for their game performance against heavy odds when they were greeted by a throng of 500 fans as they arrived at the Chicago and North Western railroad station at 10 o'clock Sunday night. "Where else but in Green Bay," one of the Packer players exclaimed, "would you find this after losing a game?"
would rank about a seven-point favorite but the Bays are in the worst possible shape. Thus, you can call the Lions a 17- or 20-point choice. The Packers went into the Bear game last Sunday with 16 injuries suffered in the Pittsburgh test the previous Sabbath. Quarterback Bobby Thomason and guard Buddy Burris didn’t play at all and halfback Billy Grimes was used on only a few punt returns…GRIMES, THOMASON READY: Thomason and Grimes will be ready to work against the Lions, but the Bear game produced five stunning and new injuries to end Bob Mann, linebackers Chuck Schroll and Bob Summerhays, defensive end Abner Wimberly and defensive halfback Rebel Steiner. Mann, who was hurt when tripped late in the game, will be badly handicapped – if he gets in – and Wimberly may be used sparingly. The Packers’ linebacking corps is all but shot with Schroll and Summerhays practically out. Carl Schuette, the offensive center, likely will fill in at one spot and Rip Collins, converted from a halfback-fullback, will work the other. Loss of Summerhays and Schroll made it simple for the Bears’ big John Dottley to run wild as most of the tackling burden was thrown on middle-backer Walt Michaels and the light defensive halfbacks – especially after Steiner went out. Sunday, barreling Pat Harder will be running against the weakened defense – not to mention Bob Hoernschemeyer and Doak Walker. With their defense hurting, the Packers will need plenty of points if they expect to win. But their offense won’t be exactly clicking on all 11’s with Mann on the injured list. Bay opponents have been putting two defenders on the swift Negro, leaving a “free” man, but the Lions may be able to play a normal defense. And speaking of the Lion defense, Coach Buddy Parker is probably working overtime this week figuring out ways and means of stopping the Packers’ new “one-back” formation used for the first time against the Bears. Quarterback Tobin Rote, playing “alone” four yards back of the center with three backs out wide and virtually on the line of scrimmage, picked up 150 yards rushing and completed 10 passes for another 88 yards. Ronzani will be able to toss Thomason’s sharp-shooting in the same formation, though Bobby hasn’t shown the running ability of Rote. The Packers will be looking for revenge for that 24-17 defeat placed on them by the Lions in Green Bay recently. The Bays had the Detroit on the run in that game but an “unheard” official’s whistle after a fumble turned the tide toward the Lions. But the Lions will be tough since they’re still in that championship picture with a record of 5-2-1. Detroit’s big threats are quarterback Bobby Layne, who has thrown 20 touchdown passes thus far, ends Leon Hart and halfback Walker. Hart caught two passes for touchdowns, one a circus catch, against the Packers and Walker got the other. The Lions, chiefly a passing team, likely will polish their running game against the Packers since their scouts no doubt reported the condition of the Packers in the Bear battle. The Lions are pretty noticeable in the NFL statistics. Hoernschemeyer ranks fourth in ground gaining with 503 yards in 97 trips, while Layne is third in pitching. His 102 completions produced 1,695 yards. But he’s wild at time, enemies having grabbed off 15. Detroit has two gents among the leading scorers. Walker ranks fourth with 66 points on four TDs, 30 extra points and four field goals while Hart has 48 on eight TDs – tied with Mann. Bob Smith is fourth in the league in punting with an average of 42.1 against Packer Jug Girard’s sixth place standing on 40.2…The Packers will arrive here about 9 o’clock tonight on their Capital Airliner trip from Green Bay. They are headquartering at the Shelby hotel. The team will fly back to Milwaukee shortly after the game, arriving in time to catch the 7:50 North Western which brings them into Green Bay at 10 o’clock. The Packers will be idle next week Sunday since the holiday game is their regularly-scheduled holiday game is their regularly-scheduled “Sunday” game. They’ll return to action against the revitalized New York Yanks in Green Bay’s City stadium Sunday afternoon, Dec. 2.
INVALUABLE ADVERTISING? GB GETS NEW TYPE OF GRID BILLING
NOV 21 (Green Bay) - You’ve heard about the “invaluable advertising” the Packers bring Green Bay. Our little old town, the population of which would fit comfortably in Briggs stadium, will receive a new and broader type of billing everywhere when the Packers tangle with the Lions here Thanksgiving day. An estimated 24,000,000 fans (and that’s conservative) will view the representatives of the biggest-little sports center in the world on television. It won’t be the first time the Packers have worked before the TV cameras, since the games in Milwaukee were screened at one time, but it will be the first time the Packers will get into front rooms from coast to coast. This battle will be cabled to cities up and down the eastern seaboard, the midwest and the far west. Los Angeles and San Francisco will be getting pro football about breakfast time since the time difference brings it there about 9 o’clock. Midwest and eastern fans will be getting ready to mash the potatoes and stir the gravy, with eastern time belt cities getting it at noon and central standard timers receiving it at 11 o’clock. Dumont is putting on the show but TV stations throughout the country will serve up their own sponsors. Miller High Life will back the Packer effort on Milwaukee’s WTMJ-TV. Families owning TV sets in Green Bay are hoping for no snow on the screen Thursday. ther fans in Packertown plan to go to Milwaukee or Sheboygan for a glimpse. The game, of course, also will be carried on Press-Gazette Radio Station WJPG and other cities in Wisconsin, while WJT of Detroit will beam it to Michigan cities. TV of the game will be blacked out in Michigan and Toledo…PRO HASH: Packer guard Ham Nichols was drafted by the Packers in 1945, but the Bays lost their choice because he was not eligible to be selected. The Chicago Cardinals drafted him in 1946, and last fall the Cardinals cut him loose…In the first eight NFL games, the only two forward passes thrown by halfback Bob Hoernschemeyer of the Detroit Lions connected for touchdowns…Packer defensive back Rebel Steiner spends most of his traveling time guessing names. Rebel asks a buddy to pick a name (“don’t tell me”) and then proceeds to discover the name within 20 questions. Steiner rarely misses – even on names of famous French personalities, Italian artists, etc…From their series inception in 1934 to 1948, the Packers dominated the Lions in NFL play by winning 25 games and losing but five. Since 1948, the Lions reversed the table, winning five of six games with the Packers..By pitching three touchdown passes last Sunday against Philadelphia, Lion quarterback Bobby Layne ran his total to 20 for the season. This puts Layne within striking distance of Sid Luckman’s league record. In 1943, Luckman hurled 28 TD passes for the Bears.
PACKERS PROVE THEY'RE BETTER THAN RECORD
NOV 21 (Milwaukee Sentinel-Lloyd Larson) - Last Sunday's Bear game proved again that the Packers of 1951 aren't nearly as far off the pace as current standings would indicate. And surely are a lot better than anyone dared hope in pre-season training. With that little something extra in key spots they could have beaten the Bears, just as they could have tamed the Lions and the high powered Bears. And as usually happens to a club that needs all possible breaks, the Packers didn't get them. Nor have they been getting them in other games. Three time Sunday the Ronzanimen had receivers in the clear. Twice the ball was overthrown - not by much, but still enough to choke off almost certain touchdowns. Once the receiver, too anxious to get going after the catch, dropped the ball. On two other occasions receivers dropped perfect passes and with the muffs went big, vital gains. Those are examples of that extra something a winning team must have in the clutch, as was the failure to knock it over the final chalkline after having first down on the three. Consider, too, that the Bays' first sweep into Bear territory, via a 30 yard Tobin Rote to Bob Mann pass to the enemy 27, was nullified by an untimely roughing penalty. When they were forced to punt, the Bears turned the break into a counterattack climaxed by George Blanda's field goal for the first score of the game...ROTE'S RUNNING OFF SPREAD WAS HIGHLIGHT: Jug Girard was almost away in the second quarters when Billy Stone managed to grab him by the pants and delay him long enough to permit defensive reinforcements to get into the act. Tony Canadeo was the key man in another of those "almost" happenings that will keep the hot stove league fire burning all winter. The Grey Ghost, running like an 18 year old sprinter, was within inches of breaking into the clear after a 48 yard return of the kickoff starting the second half. On the second play thereafter, Rote, who had swept defensive left end for 32 yards on the first, had at least a chance to bull his way into the end zone when a bump on the arm caused him to drop the ball. It became a doubly bad break when the Bears recovered. And so it went. But through it all, the Packers put on a pleasing show that lost no friends. The highlight was turning Rote loose as a runner off the spread formation for the first time. That required some fine blocking, in the line as well as at the wings. It was the best blocking of the season and Rote took full advantage of it. With each passing game, one can't help dream about what a season this could have been with Clayton Tonnemaker, Bob Forte, Len Szafaryn and Larry Coutre doing their stuff. They were called into service after playing key roles in the 1950 revival. No team in the league suffered more serious personnel losses.
PACKERS TO FACE LIONS IN TURKEY DAY CONTEST
NOV 21 (Detroit) - Already bruised and battered from three straight defeats, the Green Bay Packers will run into the NFL's hottest team, the Detroit Lions, in a Thanksgiving Day game here Thursday. The game, which start at 11 AM Milwaukee time, will broadcast over WTMJ and telecast over WTMJ-TV. The Lions have been snarling of late after a disappointing start. They have won three games in a row, including a 24-17 decision over the Packers at Green Bay November 4th, and a victory Thursday would put them in at least a temporary tie with the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams for the National Conference lead. Detroit's resurgence began soon after its acquisition of Pat Harder from the Chicago Cardinals. The former Milwaukee Washington and Wisconsin fullback has been running like the Harder of old since joining Buddy Parker's club. With quarterback Bobby Layne and halfbacks Doak Walker and Bob Hoernschemeyer, he rounds out one of the greatest backfield in professional football. Layne is having his best season. He has thrown 20 touchdown passes and needs nine more in the last four games to break the league record set by Sid Luckamn of the Bears in 1943. His favorite targets are the massive Leon Hart, who has caught eight touchdown aerials, and Dorne Dibble, who has caught five. Green Bay will go into the game still below peak strength, but in better physical condition that it was last Sunday against the Bears. Quarterback Bobby Thomason, who miss the Bear game, will be ready for at least part-time duty. Halfback Billy Grimes, used only briefly against the Bears, also will see action. Neither Thomason nor Grimes will start, however, Tobin Rote, who ran the Bears dizzy off the spread formation with a 150-yard total and added 88 yards through the air, will continue at quarterback, and Dom Moselle at right half. Tony Canadeo and Fred Cone will complete the backfield. Only one Lion, tackled Thurman McGraw, is on the injured list. Floyd Jaszewski will replace him. A crowd of 35,000 is expected.
BATTERED PACKERS FACE LIONS
NOV 21 (Detroit) - The number four looms importantly when the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers clash here Thursday, starting at 11 a.m. Milwaukee time. The Packers, bruised and battered after three defeats, will try to avoid the fourth. The Lions, on the other hand, will be seeking their fourth straight victory before an anticipate crowd of 35,000. If they come through as expected, they will go into a temporary first place National Division tie with the Rams and Bears, who don't play again until Sunday when the Lions will be idle. A nationwide hookup (excluding Michigan and Toledo) will carry the telecast of the game with WTMJ-TV of Milwaukee as one of the outlets. The game also will be broadcast on WTMJ. Bobby Thomason, who sat out last Sunday's battle with the Bears because of injuries, will be available for at least limited duty for the Packers, as will Billy Grimes, who played only a minute or two. Neither will start, however. Which means that Coach Gene Ronzani will pin his ball carrying and passing hopes on the same four who gave the Bears quite an argument, namely quarterback Tobin Rote, halfbacks Dom Moselle and Tony Canadeo and fullback Fred Cone. The favored Lions again are looking to their rejuvenated fullback Pat Harder to provide the heavy punch and loosen up the Packer defense for Bobby Layne's passes and the varied running of Doak Walker and Bob Hoernschmeyer. Ronzani's squad will leave by plane late Thursday for Green Bay. They will have 10 days to prepare for the next game, the home tilt with the New York Yanks December 1.
24,035,000 TO WATCH PACKERS TAKE ON DETROIT
NOV 20 (Green Bay) - The Packers won’t be at their physical beat for the “biggest” show of the year in Detroit Thanksgiving day. Approximately 24,035,000 persons will watch little Green Bay tangle with big Detroit – the 24 million being television fans from coast to coast. But: Packer Coach Gene Ronzani is fearful that the Bays will be at their physical worst for the Turkey day feature – an annual event for the Lions. The Packers went into the Chicago Bear game last Sunday with 16 assorted injuries suffered in the Pittsburgh game the previous Sabbath. They left Chicago with three damaging new hurts to: Bob Mann, the team’s leading scorer and pass receiver. Bob Summerhays and Chuck Schroll, regular linebackers. Abner Wimberly, outstanding defensive end. One of the few players who wasn’t injured Sunday was quarterback Bob Thomason, who had to remain on the bench with hurts obtained in the Pitt game. Ronzani said Bob would be ready to share the quarterbacking duties with Tobin Rote – at least one bright spot. During the exhibition season and the first few league games, all of the Packer opponents made it a regular practice to hammer Mann in the face, the idea being to knock him out of action. After Chuck Bednarik of the Philadelphia Eagles left Mann’s face a mass of raw beef in the league game here, Ronzani came up with a special face guard for Mann…TOUGH BLOW FOR MANN: Unable to clip the Packers’ leading pass receiving threat in the face, opponents took up tripling him. And the payoff came in the Bear game when tackle George Connor kicked Mann’s legs out from under him in the last three minutes – when the Packers were on their way to score. To make it worst, three officials standing close never called a penalty. Mann injured himself when he fell and Ronzani said it’s doubtful whether he’ll be able to play Thursday. It’s a tough blow for Mann because Detroit is his home base and he formerly played with the Lions and the University of Michigan. Injuries to Summerhays and Schroll, both whom aren’t likely to play, leave the Packers with one regular linebacker – Walt Michaels. Carl Schuette probably will step in a LB spot as he did in the Bear game. Summerhays was one of those hurt in the Pitt game and was in no shape to play against the Bears. Wimberly, who gave the Bear backs a fit all afternoon, probably will play against Detroit but he will be handicapped. Chuck Robinson, the Negro guard, was placed on the active list for the Bear game, replacing Buddy Burris who was hurt in the Pittsburgh test…The holiday game will be the first pro battle of the season to be televised into New York, according to Nick Kerbawy, Lions’ publicity chief and business manager. In addition, the game will be seen in the midwest and the west coast. In New York, games of the Yanks and Giants are not TV’d because one team is always home. Most of the eastern seaboard cities will view the contest, including Washington. The Milwaukee TV station will carry the game and a large number of Bay residents are planning to go to the Beer City to watch the game. The TV of the contest will be blacked out in the state of Michigan and nearby Toledo. Press-Gazette Radio Station WJPG will carry the broadcast of the game, starting at 11 o’clock Thursday morning. It will start at noon, Detroit time…The Packers will leave Austin Straubel field at 6:30 Wednesday night in a Capital Airliner and will stop in Milwaukee en route to Detroit. The team will fly back to Green Bay after the game, arriving in the early evening. After the Detroit game, the Packers resume action a week from Sunday when they meet the New York Yanks in City stadium.
PACKERS BOAST THREE OFFENSES, TWO 'LEADING' QUARTERBACKS
NOV 20 (Green Bay) - Packer Coach Gene Ronzani wasn’t kidding some weeks ago when he revealed that “this will be an interesting season.” Today, the Packers boasted three different offensive formations, one quarterback who is leading all other QBs in the league in rushing and another quarterback who has the best passing percentage in the circuit. And it’s no wonder Bear Coach George Halas said with relief after Sunday’s game, “I’m very glad we’re through with Green Bay for the season.” Both of Ronzani’s spread formations were pulled on the Bears – and with obvious surprise. The Bays came out with the double-flanker (the quarterback under the center, fullback behind the QB a few yards to help block, run or take a pass and the two halfbacks wide to either side) in the first Bear game here Oct. 1. It produced 238 yards by passing but the polish was missing since it was installed just two days before the game. The Bears got off to a good start and pushed down a Packer rally to win. Down in Chicago Sunday, the Packers surprised again – this time with a sort of “one-back” formation which was tailor made for Tobin Rote, who loves to run. This odd setup had three backs out wide practically on the line of scrimmage and the quarterback (Rote) standing about four yards directly back of the center – alone. While big Tobin (in that crouch) looked vulnerable out there all by his lonesome, the rawboned Texan was a terror with his running and of course a constant threat with his passing. He gained 150 yards in 14 rambles around both ends and straight up the gut. Tobin, who gained 79 yards in seven trips in the first half and then opened the second with his longest dash – a 32-yarder – turned in the top individual one-game ground gaining performance of the season for any back. Late in the afternoon, fullback Dan Towler of the Rams gained 155 yards. Rote now has piled up 228 yards by rushing in 33 attempts for an average of just under seven per try – 98 more yards than fullback Fred Cone. Rote completed 10 out of 33 passes for 88 yards against the Bears. Bob Thomason, Rote’s sharp shooting quarterback mate, sat out the game due to injuries in the Pittsburgh game a week ago Sunday. It’s interesting to wonder what might have happened if Thomason had been able to share the “tailback” spot with Rote – Bob with his loop-leading 60.1 completion percentage and Rote with his exceptional running ability which is enough to keep any defense honest. The Packers all but ran out of players, what with injuries in the Pitt game and those against the Bears. Bay fans shuddered every time as two or three Bears jarred Rote extra hard on tackles, since Thomason was in no condition to play if Rote was disabled. At one stage, the Bays were down to one linebacker – Walt Michaels – after Bob Summerhays and Chuck Schroll were forced out. Carl Schuette, who had been working as an offensive center with Jay Rhodemyre, moved in as a linebacker – a position he played last year – along with Rip Collins, a fullback-halfback. Dom Moselle played most of the game at offensive right half and then wound up on defense when Rebel Steiner was hurt. Jug Girard also worked both offense and defense. Injured Billy Grimes was risked in the second half on punt returns, but most of the lugging, also on kickoffs, was done by Tony Canadeo and Moselle. The tackles switched back and forth between offense and defense; so did some of the guards. Rhodemyre played the entire game at offensive center and the “new” passback was something of a unique experience for him. A “T” center for years, Rhodemyre never missed all afternoon on the passback.
PACKERS JUMP INTO LION 'FIRE' THURSDAY
NOV 21 (Detroit) - From the frying pan into the fire – all in five days! That appeared to be the quandary of the crippled Green Bay Packers today as they limped into this motor capital prior to their Thanksgiving day classic with the ambitious Detroit Lions in Briggs stadium. Approximately 35,000 fans are expected to sit in on the proceedings, and 24,000,000 fans from coast to coast will view the match via television. Kickoff is set for 11 o’clock, Green Bay time. The Lions, under normal Packer physical conditions,
PACK SHOULD RESIGN TOP SHAPE FOR NY YANK TEST HERE DEC. 2
NOV 22 (Detroit) - Keeping an eye on Dec. 2. The Packers should be in good physical condition for the
1951 City stadium finale against the New York Yanks a week from Sunday. They'll have 10 days to heal the raft of injuries which started leveling the squad off in Pittsburgh Sunday, Nov. 11. The Chicago Bear game the next Sunday produced four more and the tally isn't in yet on today's battle against the Detroit Lions here. The Packers will be off Friday and Saturday and may gather Sunday. Heavy drills will be resumed Monday...Fans are reminded that the Yank-Packer game will start at 1 o'clock - a half hour earlier than previous league games at City stadium...Plans are proceeding for the combined Homecoming and Don Hutson Day ceremonies to be conducted between halves of the Yank-Pack battle. Russ Winnie, the Milwaukee radio executive who broadcast doings of the Packers for years before he retired, will serve as master of the ceremonies. As a highlight, Winnie will "rebroadcast" over the public address system a portion of a Packer game involving the passing battery of Arnie Herber and Hutson. The famed aerial experts will demonstrate one of their passes...SIX TO BE HONORED: Six famous former Packers who were recently nominated in the Helms Hall of Fame Foundation will be honored during the ceremonies. They are E.L. (Curly) Lambeau, founder of the club and head coach until 1949; fullback Clarke Hinkle; halfback Johnny Blood; tackle Cal Hubbard; and Herber and Hutson. The guests will be presented with blankets. The award for Lambeau will be received in behalf of Curly by his brother, R.E. Lambeau. Curly's Chicago Cardinals will be playing in Cleveland against the Browns that Sunday. Arrangements for the program are being made by a committee composed of Bill Sullivan, chairman, Russ Leddy, Charley Brock, John Torinus and Clyde Meidl...Missing today's game was Dick Plasman, the Packer assistant coach, who underwent an appendectomy last Friday night. Dick will be ready for the Yank game. He left the hospital yesterday...With the Packers and Detroit playing today, five games instead of the usual six will be contested on Sunday. One of the top notches sends the Chicago Bears to Cleveland to meet the Browns, the defending champions who are leading the American conference with a 7-1 record. The Bears are locked in the NC lead with Los Angeles,
with 6-2 records. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia resume their state rivalry on the Eagle gridiron; the Cardinals and New York Giants in Chicago; Los Angeles' powerful Rams invade Washington; and San Francisco plays the Yanks in New York. After the Yank game, the Packers will close their 1951 season with two games on the west coast. They'll meet 'Frisco Dec. 9 and then invade Los Angeles Dec. 16. The 1951 championship game will be held in the home city of the National conference title winner. The favorite in the NC is Los Angeles, while Cleveland is expected to win in the AC.
AL MANCHESKI'S SYSTEM HONORS DEFENSIVE PLAYERS
NOV 22 (Green Bay) - Al Mancheski has figured out a system of honoring the forgotten men of football - the defensive players. The former East High grid star, who played at the University of Wisconsin and assistant coached the Badger Junior varsity before spending three seasons as head grid mentor at Sturgeon Bay High, has published and copyrighted a simple scorebook which he named "Man's (short for Mancheski) Defensive Football Scorebook". The purpose of this unique book is merely to give the coach a black-and-white indication of the best defensive men on the squad. And, Mancheski points out, it's helpful at halftime to show who has been doing most of the defensive work. Mancheski "worked" his system on the Packer-Bear game in Chicago, but more of that later. Little Al, who scored 12 touchdowns for East High in 1939, got the idea while assisting Diny Mansfield with the Badgers JV's and working on his master's degree but didn't get a chance to put it into practice until he went to work at Sturgeon Bay in 1948...SETS UP TROPHIES: He installed the platoon system and immediately set up three trophies as rewards to the best defensive players. As Al put it, "these defensive kids in the platoon system never got their names in the papers so they had to be rewarded somehow." Mancheski's record at Sturgeon Bay is a tribute to his scoring system. His first team (in' 48) won two and lost five which was quite an improvement over the 1947 club which didn't win any. In 1949, the Sturgeon Bays came in with six wins, no losses and two ties, while in 1950 the record was 7-1. Overall, Mancheski's clubs won 15, lost six and tied two. Under Mancheski's system, two points are recorded for a blocked pass, two for a double tackle, thre for a tackle-alone, four for a blocked kick, five for an interception, five for a recovered fumble, and zero for a missed tackle. Six Packers scored more than 20 points each against the Bears Sunday, and the leader was middle linebacker Walt Michaels, who was credited with 29 points. Walt had five "along" (or clean) tackles for 15 points, added 12 more for double tackles (sharing the chore with somebody else) and two for knocking down a pass. Ab Wimberly, the rough defensive end, ranked second with 26 points while Jug Girard got 25, Harper Davis and Ace Loomis 22 each and Dick Wildung 21. Other high totals include Dick Afflis 17, Carl Schuette 16, Rebel Steiner 15 and Charley Robinson 14...SPRINKLE PACES BEARS: Leon Manley and Dan Orlich each scored nine, while Chuck Schroll made eight before leaving the game with injuries. Joe Spencer and Dom Moselle each got six, Howie Ruetz 5, John Martinkovic, Floyd Reid and Dave Stephenson three each, and Carleton Elliott two. The point leader for the Bears was Ed Sprinkle, the defensive end, who scored 30. Linebacker Franklin Dempsey got 23 while John Hoffman scored 19, Ray Bray 16, John Lujack and George Connor 15 each, Don Kindt 13 and Billy Stone 13. Wash Serini picked up nine and Fred Davis and Gene Schroeder eight apiece. Other totals: Stu Clarkson seven, Bob Moser five, Wayne Hansen, Ed Neal and Brad Rowland three each, and Julie Rykovich two. Tables in the scorebook are arranged so that the scorer can credit the players by quarters. In his introduction, Mancheski points out that the book gives sportswriters and sportscasters an opportunity to put more emphasis on defensive players. For the fan, Mancheski feels that use of the book in the stands enables them "to get more out of the game." Mancheski, who has published hundreds of the books, presently is attending the Northern Illinois School of Optometry. He hopes to be an optometrist and keep his fingers in sports, possibly coaching, at the same time.
