of Education. Wandry promised the board would decide at its Jan. 24 meeting whether it could participate in the study, whether it can handle the work alone, or whether it wants the Board of Public Works to take charge. Monday night’s session was a follow-up of committee consideration of a report from the Packers which suggested steel bleachers between 30,000 and 32,000 and pledged part of Packer gross gate receipts to help pay for the improvements. The Packers submitted the report in response to a committee request for an opinion on a possible stadium site at Boland Rd. and Military Ave. Packer Corp. President Russ Bogda told the meeting the Packers had concluded that expansion of the present stadium was the most economical possibility since other facilities, as the press box, were already present. “The big need is for added seats,” Bogda said. He said the Packers suggested enlarging the seating capacity “first, because we think we can fill them and, second, because it is increasingly difficult to schedule game here.” The Packer report said City Stadium’s 25,000 capacity limit compared with Milwaukee County Stadium put the club at a considerable handicap in scheduling games in Green Bay and is a situation which “will be more embarrassing as time goes by.” “For example,” Bogda told the meeting, “there isn’t any question that 42,000 seats would be sold if the Bear game were played in Milwaukee or that the same would be true if Green Bay had that many seats.” In response to a question from Ald. Robert Bittner, committee chairman, Building Inspector Al Manders said maintenance costs of the present wooden stadium is increasing and “the time for replacing two-thirds of the stadium isn’t too far away.” Only opposition to the committee’s action was voiced by Ald. Leonard Jahn, an advocate for a new stadium at Military Ave. and Boland Rd., which the committee later ordered bought as a park or arena site. He called the enlarging of City Stadium “nearsighted” and predicted that the present stadium could never be expanded above 35,000 seats if the need should arise. He said a stadium of between 6,000 and 7,000 seats would be adequate for East High School and that “it wouldn’t hurt to play the East-West game on the west side.” Jahn said the people of Green Bay would rather see a new stadium with plenty of parking space and he asked whether the Packers had considered the parking factor in their report…PARKING CONSIDERED, BOGDA: Bogda replied that parking had been considered and mentioned as possible parking lots on the site of old homes in the area, a foot bridge across the East River from a park on the east shore, and the probability that the University Extension Center may move from its present Baird St. location. Bittner labeled Jahn’s criticism as “unfair” in the light of the complete report from the Packers, which, he said, considered all factors. When the possibility of a stadium at the Military-Boland location being used as the “home” for West High football was raised, Wandry said the practice of having the stadium adjoin the school was preferred but he agreed that the present Wildcat field could be retained as a practice field. In opening the session, Bittner noted that city government realizes the importance of the Packers and “had an interest in keeping the Packers in a competitive position in the NFL, at least as far as facilities are concerned.” The fact that all discussion was centered on what the improvement should be rather than questioning the need, he said, after the committee vote, underlined this point.

RECOMMEND PURCHASE OF PARK SITE

JAN 18 (Green Bay) – The City Council’s finance committee Monday night voted to recommend to tonight’s Council meeting that $30,000 be spent as the down payment on a 38-acre tract at Military Ave. and Boland Rd. for a new park and possible arena or auditorium site. The recommendation came after the committee asked for the hiring of an architect to prepare a cost estimate for improving City Stadium. The Park Board obtained an option to buy the west side location from George Morrow last year for $58,000, and $30,000 was included in the 1955 city budget for a possible down payment after the finance committee asked for reports on how the land could be used, including questions as to whether the Green Bay Packers considered it wise to build a new stadium. Six lots on the tract include buildings. The city had paid the owners $500 for the option and would pay the remaining $27,500 in five years. Marshall Simonds, park superintendent, told the committee the area was “ideal for a park location.” He said tentative plans already were made for use of the buildings as caretakers’ headquarters, storage and a stable. Simonds said the topography of the area would make it possible to scoop out a “bowl” for sports and entertainment events and provide hills for spectators to watch baseball games and band concerts.

1955 TRAINING CAMP UPDATE

JAN 18 (Stevens Point) - No choice has been made by the Green Bay Packers concerning their 1955 training camp but Stevens Point has the inside track toward entertaining the professional football team for the seconds straight summer. The city officially invited the Packers several weeks ago after Central State College, the Board of Education and the Chamber of Commerce expressed a desire to have the state's NFL entry in town for its pre-season practice period. Verne Lewellen, general manager of the club, answered the invitation by saying that the contract offered by Stevens Point was another excellent one but that no decision would come until early this year. At that time the Packers still had a game or two remaining on the schedule and since then have been busy with signing players and preparing for the college player draft coming up later this month. In all probability, Stevens Point will learn about the Packers' 1955 training plans sometime in February. The Bays spent six weeks here in July and August last year and their here featured an intra-squad game as well as a couple of jaunts to Minneapolis, Pittsburgh and Green Bay for exhibition games.

BLACKBOURN AFTER VITAL 'DRAFT' HELP

JAN 19 (Milwaukee) - Coach Lisle Blackbourn prepared today to go into the NFL draft with a dismal list of holes but a bag full of hope. "We hope we'll be able to fill a few key spots before the draft," Blackbourn said, "and not have to struggle in the draft just to stay alive." Blackbourn said to do this his Green Bay Packers coaching staff was lining up all the talent possible before the draft starts. Players who played for the Packers before and the like. "We feel assured we will get a couple of experienced men," he said, "and we can put more concentration on improving our position in the draft, rather than having to choose to just fill holes." Blackbourn had cause for alarm. Selective Service already had plucked one outstanding second-year man, tackle Art Hunter, and several more were threatened. Quarterback Bobby Garrett, Tobin Rote's only understudy at present, halfback Veryl Switzer and guard Al Barry were expected to follow Hunter before long. End Max McGee, defensive guard Bill Forester and defensive halfback Gene White were in a doubtful category. On top of all that, veterans Clayton Tonnemaker, a mainstay at linebackers, and guard Dave Stephenson have retired. One of Blackbourn's worries was erased recently, however, when Rote signed for the 1955 season, at the highest price paid a Packers player, ending possibilities he might desert to Canada. Four expected service returnees lightened the picture some with Johnny Coatta, former Wisconsin star, heading the list as Rote's possible understudy. Others who get out of the service before the season are tackles Tom Johnson of Michigan and Bill Turnbull of Auburn, and fullback Bill Reichardt of Iowa. Blackbourn often seemed like a coach of destiny last season as he brought the Packers off the mat into fighting contention the first time in several year. The story was not clearly indicated by the 4-8 won-loss record because Green Bay lost only one game by a decisive margin. The Packers coach wasn't telling about his first draft choice, but the name Alan Ameche spells magic in Wisconsin. Too, Blackbourn would have little fear of losing Ameche to Canada, unless the money difference was fabulous because the Wisconsin fullback said he wants to play in the Midwest. Canada seems to be popping up when talking about Blackbourn and the Packers. The man of destiny seems to have an affinity for the north star.

LIZ EYES LATE ROUNDS IN '55 PLAYER DRAFT

JAN 20 (Green Bay) - The last 10 rounds of the Packers’ last five college player drafts have produced one pro – guard Al Barry, the 30th choice in the 1953 pickin’ party. Barry represents .02 percent of the 50 players chosen in the final 10 heats starting with Curly Lambeau’s last draft in ’50, continuing with three by Gene Ronzani, and one by Coach Liz Blackbourn. There’s still hope that Barry may have a last-10 partner because several boys from the 1953-54 drafts slipped into service and still haven’t had their chance to shine. The lack of success in the lower 10 or in some cases 15 hasn’t only plagued the Packers. The other 11 clubs have the same trouble. Since 240 of the possible 360 players already have been chosen by the time the last 10 rounds start (the draft goes 30 rounds) the chances of picking up sure-fire bets would seem to be poor. But, as Blackbourn put it today, “we will do better in the later rounds. Of course, we still must have plenty of luck and good judgment.” Blackbourn hopes to combat the last-10 jinx through a methodical system of cross-checking, which presently is occupying Blackbourn and aides Tom Hearden, Ray McLean, Lou Rymkus and Vainisi. The coaches, for instance, are checking their own personal player recommendations with those given by college coaches and various “bird dogs” around the country. These recommendations are totaled and the Packers thus gets another check on the prospects. One athlete – not a name one – had been recommended from seven different outside sources. In the cross-checking, Blackbourn is more interested in recommendations for the so-called unknown athletes since the reputations of the big-time athletes already have been pretty well established…DRAWN IN NO. 4 SPOT: After this check, the Packer staffmen total up the recommendations made by teammates and opponents of the athletes concerned. The recommendations are then compared to those made by the Packer coaches and the outside coaches and BD’s. Hundreds of players are checked in the process. From the individual lists by position, Vainisi will prepare a giant master list, also by position and with weights, heights, etc., for use at the draft staring in New York a week from today. Green Bay will draw in the No. 4 position in each round behind the Chicago Cardinals, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Colts. The Packers also will participate in the drawing for the bonus choice with the Cards, Colts and Pittsburgh. The draft will start at 9 o’clock, Green Bay time, next Thursday morning in the Warwick Hotel and continue until its completion – probably about 1 o’clock Friday morning…PACKER PATTER: Packer tackle and Mrs. Dave Hanner were due in town today, making the second Packer couple in a week to stop here. Halfback Joe Johnson and his bride stopped briefly on their honeymoon. They drove all the way from New Haven, Conn. Incidentally, New Englander Joe was born on the west coast – in San Francisco on April 13, 1927… The Packers leave for the draft next Wednesday morning, arriving in New York in time to handle last-minute draft details.

PRO GRID CHIEF JOINS CHORUS FOR 'DEAD BALL'

JAN 21 (Green Bay) - The whisper that started going around the NFL a couple of years ago for some sort of a dead ball rule has now reached the yelling stage. Most of the 12 clubs have expressed themselves in favor of such legislation, including the Packers, and, what’s more, Commissioner Bert Bell has jumped on the D-B bandwagon. Bell’s backing makes a new rule for stopping a ball carrier when he hits Mother Earth, except if he’s in the clear, pretty much of a certainty. The issue will come up for vote at the league’s annual convention in New York next week. The dead ball rule has been a subject for controversy all season because of inconsistent officiating, which permitted wrestling, crawling and piling on before the whistle was blown. A strict interpretation of the pro rules as now written would eliminate these evils and their potential for injuries but a dead ball rule as proposed by Bell would not require judgment by the official. He would make it automatic that the ball is dead immediately when the runner hits the ground, aside from his hands or feet, after being tackled, pushed, blocked or otherwise touched by an opponent. The pro rules now call for dead ball only when the runner hits the ground while in the grasp of an opponent or when he is in a prostrate or semi-prostrate position and is danger of being piled on. Strict interpretation of that rule put the heat on officials by the coaches who claimed “quick whistle”. Thus, Bell would take the heat off the officials. The rule would not take away one of pro football’s most exciting plays, the get-up-and-go of the runner who falls in the open without contact. Packer Coach Liz Blackbourn has been in favor of a dead ball rule all along. Liz feels that “the game is spectacular enough with its great passing” and believes that “a dead ball rule would take nothing away from the excitement of the game.” Bell also will present a plan to do away with fake injuries in the final two minutes. He would like to install a law which would require an arbitrary 20-second runoff on the clock for any injury, fake or legitimate, after the player is removed. This would apply only to a team which is losing or tied, and which has used its quote of timeouts. As Bell explains: “Nobody can tell at the moment whether an injury is faked or legitimate. My 20-second device would take the bonus off the player who is hurt in the final two minutes and would remove the temptation to fake. There would be no more suspicion of sharp practice.” This proposal penalizes unfairly a team which suffers a legitimate injury, but Bell apparently feels the unsavory reputation of last-minute injuries demands a severe check. It is possible under this proposal that a game would end on an injury before a team could make its last play. A losing or tied team, for instance, incurs an injury with 19 seconds left after having exhausted the permitted times out. After the player was taken from the field, the clock would be run for 20 seconds, thereby closing the game.

PACKERS GET FACE LIFTING IN NY, PICK 30 IN DRAFT

JAN 24 (Green Bay) - The Packers got their annual face lifting this week. Coach Liz Blackbourn will do the major portion of the job in the NFL’s 20th college player draft in New York’s Warwick Hotel Thursday. Liz, with help of staffmen Tom Hearden, Ray McLean, Lou Rymkus and Jack Vainisi, will select 30 players in an effort to strengthen the Packers for warfare next fall and in future years. The Packers will come out with 30 athletes – no matter what. If they win the bonus choice in a picking derby with Pittsburgh, Chicago Cardinals and the Baltimore Colts, they will lose their 30th choice. But Blackbourn won’t complain. He’d be glad to trade No. 30 for that bonus. The Packers will lose their No. 4 choice to the Cleveland Browns. Liz traded that pick for tackle Jerry Helluin, who filled the shoes vacated by Dick Wildung last fall. The Packers will “gain” a player from the New York Giants, getting a 20th choice in exchange for John Bauer, the former Illinois tackle who was sent to the Giants last fall after he failed to make the grade here. Besides the five coaches, the Packers will be represented by President Russ Bogda, General Manager Verne Lewellen and Publicity Director Bonnie Ryan. The draft starts at 9 o’clock Thursday morning (Green Bay time) and will continue until it is finished – generally about 2 o’clock Friday morning. Business meetings will start Friday morning while the coaches launch almost immediately their efforts to sign the draftees – and maybe talk a little trade. New rules, the Canadian problem, television, radio and many other items will be discussed during the sessions which will be presided over by Commissioner Bert Bell, who recently recovered from an illness that required a two week hospitalization. Bell plans to tell the delegates that the NFL financially is in the most prosperous state of its history. Bell says that, while he hasn’t received the final figures from league accountants, the record-breaking 2,164,585 customers who watched pro football in 1953 increased by more than one percent in 1954. Eleven of the 12 pro teams made money last year. And the commissioner sees an even better year in 1955, if several of the second division clubs can improve a bit…CAN’T HELP BUT IMPROVE: In addition to revenue devised from the gate, concessions, programs and endorsements, league teams collected totally some $1,600,000 for radio and television broadcast receipts. Bell hopes the same or an even better radio and TV setup can be arranged for 1955. As usual, the portly head of the NFL attributed the success of his league to close competition, television, and the best press his group has ever received. The mediums of communication, said Bell, have made the league and its players household words. “Our product is being seen, heard and read about around the world. It can’t help but improve attendance,” Bell said. On the Canadian problem, Bell said he thought steps were being taken by both the Canadian Big Four League and the NFL to reach an agreement to honor each other’s options and contracts. As to college players not obligated to either faction, the best offer in open competition will prevail, he said…BURYING THE HATCHET: Ralph Cooper of Hamilton, Ont., president of the Rugby Union, and four other Canadian representatives met Saturday in a four hour secret session. Cooper said afterwards: “We will come to agreement, possibly within the next month or sooner. We want to. It is in our best interests.” Bell said, “We have come a long way toward burying the hatchet.”

PACKERS EXPECT TO 'JOCKEY' IN DRAFT

JAN 25 (Green Bay) - The Packers are prepared “to do some jockeying” during the college player draft in New York Thursday. Coach Liz Blackbourn put it this way: “It won’t be like last year, when our choices were high and we had a good idea what players would be available for us. We were able to get Hunter right away and then follow with Switzer. We needed another tackle and Fleck was next. Everything went according to pre-arranged plan. This year, we’ll be drawing fourth and will have to do more jockeying and changing of our selections, according to how the other three clubs draw.” The Packers drafted second in ’54, but in addition to their own first choice they owned the first choice of the New York Giants who picked third. Thursday, the Packers will draw behind the Chicago Cardinals, Washington and Baltimore. The Packers could get the first player in the draw – if they win the bonus choice in a picking with Baltimore, Pittsburgh and the Cardinals. Blackbourn is facing what might be termed his most crucial draft – especially in view of this development: “There’s a chance we will lose everybody we thought we’d lost to the service,” he pointed out yesterday. This represents something of a disheartening twist because Blackbourn will be forced, as he was a year ago, to “fill holes instead of strengthening what we’ve already got,” as he explained. Ticketed for service are halfback Veryl Switzer, guard Al Barry, end Max McGee and quarterback Bobby Garrett. Already in is tackle Art Hunter. Thus, Blackbourn feels that he must plug up those holes before he can even think of adding strength to other positions such as offensive end, fullback and center. To darken the picture a bit more, Blackbourn revealed that “there seems to be a shortage of good ends, centers and tackles in the college crops and while the guards are good they are small sized.” On the bright side, Blackbourn said that defensive halfback Gene White will be available next fall. Earlier, White had expected to go into service. An end at Georgia Tech, White was changed into a defensive halfback. He played as a regular until he was injured in mid-season. Also on the bright side, the coach felt that there are a number of good backs available – halves, fulls and quarters. Among them are fullbacks Allan Ameche of Wisconsin, Dick Bielski of Maryland; halfbacks Don Drzewiecki of Marquette, Ronnie Waller of Maryland, Carroll Hardy of Colorado, Dickie Moegle of Rice; and quarterbacks Ralph Guglielmi of Notre Dame and George Shaw of Oregon. The Packer contingent – eight strong- will leave via North Central at 7 o’clock Wednesday morning and arrive in New York about 1 o’clock, changing flights in Milwaukee. Making the trip will be Blackbourn and assistant coaches Tom Hearden, Ray McLean and Lou Rymkus, Scout Jack Vainisi, Packer president Russ Bodga, general manager Verne Lewellen and publicity director Bonnie Ryan. The draft will start at 9 o’clock Thursday morning, Green Bay time.

HALAS TO QUIT AFTER '55, EYES 8TH TITLE

JAN 25 (Chicago) - George Halas, the man who made the country “T” conscious, is quitting as coach of the Chicago Bears. A pioneer of professional football, Halas won seven NFL titles and molded a record of 367 victories, 111 losses and 27 ties. He wants to make it eight championships before quitting after the 1955 season. The Bears haven’t won a title since 1946. Halas helped organize the American Football Assn., in 1920 and two years later, on June 24, it became the NFL. That same day, Curly Lambeau was granted the franchise for the Green Bay Packers…”IT’S TIME TO QUIT”: At 57, Halas, whose greatest thrill was a 73-0 championship victory over Washington in 1940, feels he could step out of the coaching ranks. “I’ll still handle front office matters, make deals and attend drafts but coaching is a year round job and now that I’ve molded a contender it’s time to quit,” Halas said Monday. About that 73-0 victory, “It wasn’t only winning the game the way we did,” said Halas, “but it made the entire country ‘T’ conscious, and, I believe, it was the biggest reason for the great influx of the T formation in college and pro ball.” Who’ll be the new coach? “It’s too early to speculate,” said Halas, “but I’ll tell you this. Whoever it is will have to be a full-time coach.” In the years when the Bears were alone in organization and scouting, Halas “beat the bushes” for unknown players who turned into big stars…CAME UP WITH UNKNOWN: But even last year, “Papa Bear” came up with an unknown who burned up the league. The player was Harlon Hill, a pass catching end from Arkansas State Teachers College. “I’ve had some of the greatest players,” said Halas, referring particularly to Bulldog Turner, Bronko Nagurski, Red Grange, Beattie Feathers, Jack Manders, Ed Sprinkle and Sid Luckman. “Sid was one of greatest,” Halas continued. “Remember he was a single-wing player at Columbia who set the pattern for today’s great quarterbacks. If it wasn’t for Luckman, you probably wouldn’t have heard of guys like Otto Graham, Norm Van Brocklin, Y.A. Tittle and Bobby Layne.”

GRID LOOP ASKS SUIT DISMISSAL

JAN 25 (Philadelphia) - Attorneys for the NFL and nine NFL clubs sued by the defunct Liberty Broadcasting System for $2,100,000 Monday filed notice that they will ask U.S. District Court to dismiss the suit on February 28. Attorney Cornelius O'Brien Jr., who filed the motion on behalf of the NFL and the other defendants, said that the football clubs were "not engaged in trade or commerce within the meaning of the antitrust laws and that professional football is a sport and not a trade or commerce and broadcasting and telecasting of the football games played by the defendants was merely incidental thereto." The suit alleges the NFL "has illegally adopted, and maintain, throughout the United States of America...a system of authorizing the broadcasting of professional football games in such manner as to restrain trade unlawfully in broadcasting and to maintain a monopoly of the broadcasting" in the home territories of NFL clubs. The Liberty Suit was filed on behalf of William Rochelle Jr., trustee of the bankrupt firm by Earl Harrison, a Philadelphia attorney last September 27. The motion to dismiss in addition to saying the Federal District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania did not have jurisdiction, declared that "broadcasting and telecasting was not done by any of the defendants, but by others who are not parties to or named in the suit." Besides the NFL, the other defendants are the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. O'Brien's motion to throw out the suit also states that the suit fails to make clear the allegations relied upon by Liberty as violating the federal anti-trust laws.

BOARD TAKES NO ACTION ON STADIUM

JAN 25 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Board of Public Works should hire the architect for rebuilding City Stadium, the Board of Education decided at its monthly meeting at the Administration Bldg., Monday evening. The City Council's finance committee recently asked that either the Board of Public Works or the Board of Education should employ the architect. The Board of Education decided that it will be too busy this year with its school expansion program to handle the stadium program. Its resolution asks, however, that the Board of Education be represented on a citywide committee which it feels should be appointed to plan the remodeling. It also asks that the Board of Education be allowed to retain the control it now has over the stadium.