Green Bay Packers (6-4) 41, Chicago Bears (5-4-1) 13
Sunday December 4th 1960 (at Chicago)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(CHICAGO) - The Packers smashed the Bears 41 to 13 with a tremendously dedicated performance Sunday. And here are some of the heart throbs: It was the worst league licking the Packers ever handed their traditional rival. It skyrocketed the Packers into a three-way tie for the Western Division lead and virtually knocked the Bears out of contention. It was a record breaker: The Blond Bullet, Paul Hornung, scored 23 points to boost his 10-game total to 152 and erase Don Hutson's 18-year-old record of 138. It was an expression of what the Packers thought of Jack Vainisi, friend and co-worker who died a week ago Sunday. It was everything any Packer fan could ask for. Plus. The Packers were blessed with some pleasant news from Baltimore. The Lions upset the Colts to knock the champs into a 6-4 mark - same as the Packers and 49ers, who beat the Rams. The title fight now shifts to California. The Packers play at San Francisco next Saturday and then close at Los Angeles. The Colts open at LA Sunday and finish at SF. The Packers were devoted to victory before 48,480, including several thousand real noisy Packer Backers, in Wrigley Field. There were a few reasons: The Packers looked terrible in losing to Detroit Thanksgiving Day; they were stunned by the death of Jack; they still had a shot at the title; and they were playing their traditional rivals. Thus, the Packers were keyed to a feverish pitch. The Bears were sky high, too. They were mean as ever and even acted owly on the sidelines before the game, fightin' among themselves. The opponents were fierce throughout. On the first play of the game, Jim Taylor ferociously bumped a Bear while out of bounds and a fight almost broke out. Thus, the Packers and Bears made this 85th meeting one of the "great ones." It was a tribute to the coaching opponents, too - George Halas of the Bears and Vince Lombardi of the Pack. It was Green Bay's first win here since 1952 and only the second since 1941. The first half was a dogfight with the Packers grabbing a 13 to 6 edge, all of the scoring coming in the second quarter. Tom Moore took the second half kickoff back 84 yards and the Packers' fury exploded. They scored the first three times they had their hands on the ball for a 34-13 lead and then added a touchdown with seven minutes left. The Bays outscored Chicago 28-7 in the second half. The Packers' offensive line was great and behind it quarterback Bart Starr and the Two Horsemen, Hornung and Taylor, led the Bays to a 443-yard offensive, including 225 yards on the ground. Taylor crashed for 140 yards in 24 carries and jarred to the point of injury at least three Bear defensive backs. He was on the verge of several fights. Jim now has 898 yards in 10 games. Hornung piled up his big 23 on two touchdowns, two field goals from 21 and 41 yards, and five extra points. Max McGee, Willie Davis and Taylor scored the other TDs. Davis' teedee was a triumph for the defense. He blocked Ed Brown's punt in the end zone with his arm and quickly grabbed it for the Pack's first sixer. In quick order in the second half, Starr passed 17 yards to Hornung for TD No. 2, Taylor blasted two yards for No. 3, Hornung ran 10 yards for No. 4, and Starr passed 46 yards to McGee for No. 5. Starr worked an errorless offense. There wasn't a fumble or an interception and he finished with 17 completions in 23 attempts for 227 yards. Twelve of his throws went to Boyd Dowler and McGee, each getting six. The Packer defense allowed only 82 yards rushing, 239 passing and two touchdowns, but 103 yards came on two pass plays. Angelo Coia, the Bears' fleet end, caught passes of 44 and 59 yards to set up both TDs. Other than the two TDs, the Bay defense kept the Bears in excellent check. There were two interceptions, by Bill Forester and Jess Whittenton, and Hank Gremminger recovered a fumble. The Packers tackled with stinging authority. They were gang murdering all over the place. Both Bear quarterbacks were belted ruthlessly and Brown was forced out of action. There was one defense change; Ray Nitschke (235) took over at middle linebacker for Tom
Bettis (220) to give the Pack more weight. Big Bill Quinlan was like a wild man and anchored the Big Four (plus Dave Hanner, Hank Jordan and Davis) up front. Offensively, Fuzzy Thurston and Jim Ringo led the Blocking Brigade of Forrest Gregg, Bob Skoronski, Norm Masters and Jerry Kramer. This was an exceptional team game. Every combatant actually sparkled in some way. Hornung and Taylor tore up 208 yards in 38 carries between them and scored three touchdowns. And Paul added a splash of color by flipping the ball into the screaming fans in the left field bleachers when he scored his second touchdown. Like a couple of fighters, the two clubs exchanged "breaks" right at the start. The Bears won the toss and five plays after the kickoff Gremminger recovered Rick Casares' fumble at midfield. On the Packers' first play, Taylor steamed outside left tackle for 21 yards to the Bear 29, but the Bays were holding and the Pack lost 40 yards on the play, with the penalty. After McGee and Brown traded punts, the Packers made their first move, going 41 yards from their own 37 to the Bear 22 in five plays, three of which were Starr passes to Dowler for 9, 14 and 9 yards. Taylor then carried six and Hornung lugged the ball for the first time after 10:13 minutes of the game had elapsed. He gained three to the 13 but the Bears then stiffened, stopping Taylor twice on the left side and taking the ball on downs. The Packers didn't go pointless a moment later. The defense made Brown punt and the Pack went in for three in seven plays, moving 41 yards. Hornung went 10, Starr threw to Hornung for 8 and then Dowler for 15 to the 22. With a third and two situation, Starr tried a slant pass to McGee, who was open, but the ball was deflected. Hornung then booted a three-pointer from 21 yards on the second play of the second quarter. It was back to the punt again as McGee and Brown each booted twice. Along the way, the Pack made three first downs to one for the Bears with Taylor getting one on a 29-yard rip. McGee's second punt and quick work in downing it by Steve Meilinger on the three set up the Bays' first touchdown. This was a lovely spot and the Bay defense held Adams to six yards in three cracks with Quinlan and Hanner getting the key tackles. Brown was four yards inside the end zone when Davis slipped through the middle to block and recover the kick - all in one motion. Hornung's point try bounced off the left upright and "in." The Bears blistered right back, moving 73 yards in six plays for a touchdown. The big play was Brown's 44-yard pass to Coia to the Packer 19. Brown, on second down, flipped to Willard Dewveall in the end zone. It stayed at 10-6 as Jordan snaked through to block Aveni's point try, with only 58 seconds left in the period. The Packers picked up 28 yards in four running plays, reaching their own 48 with 11 seconds left. Starr then hurled to Dowler but J.C. Caroline blocked the intended receiver for obvious interference. That put the ball on the Bear 34 and Hornung then kicked a line drive field goal from 41 yards away on the last play of the half. Moore took Aveni's second half kickoff, ran straight up the middle, veered to his right around the 30, and then sprinted down the sidelines in front of the Bear bench for 84 yards to the Bear 21, where Coia caught him from behind. After Taylor made four, Starr flipped a shortie to Hornung who juked Fred Williams out of his shoes around the 10-yard line and scampered past two other amazed Bears for the TD. This gave Hornung the point record, boosting the total to 139. The extra point at 1:09 made it 140 and the Pack had a 20-6 edge. The Bears slammed back with three first downs, to the Packer 15, where Forester intercepted a throw by Bratkowski. The Bays clipped on the play, but they had the ball. The offenses took over at this point and the Packers quickly moved for two touchdowns on drives of 85 and 80 yards and the Bears one on a 79-yard advance. Set back on their 15 by the penalty, Starr covered the 85 stripes in 12 plays. McGee was the key, catching passes for 7, 15 and 22 yards to set the ball on the Bear 6. From this point, Taylor cracked 5 to the 1, lost 1 and then bounced off the left side for the TD. Hornung's kick made it 27-6 at 10:14. The Bears then made their last offensive move. It covered 79 yards in three plays. The big blow as Bratkowski's 59-yard throw to Coia who got behind Jess Whittenton. Two plays later Bratkowski hurled to Dooley for the TD in the right corner to cut the score to 27-13, with Aveni making the point. The Packers then demonstrated that this was their game, moving 80 yards in nine plays, six of which were first down plays. The first three went into the double figures. Starr hurled to Dowler for 14, Taylor thundered 16 to the 15 and Starr passed 15 to McGee to the Bear 37. Hornung made two eight-yard gains, Starr hurled to Gary Knafelc for seven to the 14. Three plays later and on the first play of the fourth quarter, Hornung rambled around right behind a fine block by Thurston for the TD and tossed the ball into the stands. A new $25 ball was sailed from the Bear bench and Hornung booted that one into the stands for the extra point. After a couple of more punts, Whittenton intercepted a long throw in front of Coia and the Packers were off to the races again. The Pack gained 13 yards in three rushes and the Bears committed a personal foul. After Taylor gained four to the Bear 47, Starr drifted to his left and spotted McGee all by his lonesome on the Bear 10. He rifled home and Max galloped in behind J.C. Caroline. Hornung's kick made it 41-13. Two more punts, a first down for the Bears, and it was history. The Lions did the rest and today the Packers took off for San Francisco.
GREEN BAY - 0 13 14 14 - 41
CHICAGO - 0 6 7 0 - 13
GREEN BAY CHICAGO
First Downs 28 15
Rushing-Yards-TD 43-225-2 26-82-0
Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int 23-17-227-2-0 27-15-259-2-2
Sack Yards Lost 9 20
Total Yards 443 321
Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1
Turnovers 0 3
Yards penalized 6-70 5-63
SCORING
2nd - GB - Paul Hornung, 21-yard field goal GREEN BAY 3-0
2nd - GB - Willie Davis recovered a blocked punt in the end zone (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 10-0
2nd - CHI - Willard Dewveall, 19-yard pass from Ed Brown (Hank Jordan blocked John Aveni kick) GREEN BAY 13-6
2nd - GB - Hornung, 41-yard field goal GREEN BAY 13-6
3rd - GB - Hornung, 17-yard pass from Bart Starr (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 20-6
3rd - GB - Jim Taylor, 2-yard run (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 27-6
3rd - CH - Jim Dooley, 20-yd pass from Zeke Bratkowski (John Aveni kick) GREEN BAY 27-13
4th - GB - Hornung, 10-yard run (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 34-13
4th - GB- Max McGee, 46-yard pass from Starr (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 41-13
RUSHING
GREEN BAY - Jim Taylor 24-140 1 TD, Paul Hornung 14-68 1 TD, Tom Moore 4-13, Larry Hickman 1-4
CHICAGO - Rick Casares 6-33, Willie Galimore 9-28, John Adams 6-13, Ed Brown 1-11, Johnny Morris 2-5, Zeke Bratkowski 2-(-8)
PASSING
GREEN BAY - Bart Starr 23-17-227 2 TD
CHICAGO - Zeke Bratkowski 19-9-151 1 TD 2 INT, Ed Brown 8-6-108 1 TD
RECEIVING
GREEN BAY - Max McGee 6-121 1 TD, Boyd Dowler 6-63, Paul Hornung 3-32 1 TD, Gary Knafelc 1-7, Jim Taylor 1-4
CHICAGO - Willard Dewveall 6-95 1 TD, Angelo Coia 3-104, Jim Dooley 3-34 1 TD, Johnny Morris 2-10, Herman Lee 1-16
JACK VAINISI 'WON IT FOR US,' SAYS HORNUNG; 'ALL THE WAY NEXT,' DAVIS
DEC 5 (Chicago-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - What tole did Jack Vainisi play in Sunday's memorable Packer victory? "He won it for us," said Paul Hornung simply. "His death was weighing heavily on us all week. He wanted this game more than anything - and we knew it." Bart Starr, dressing quietly alongside the NFL's new all-time scorer, revealed Coach Vince Lombardi has asked his players to win for three reasons, one of them as a tribute to the Packer business manager's memory. "He told us, 'You have three good reasons for winning today - for Jack, for the tradition of this great game and for the title. Now let's go and get it.'" "Did that set everyone off?" Bart exclaimed. "I've never seen anything like it." It was unfortunate Jack had not been there to see this great day, someone said. "He saw it," Starr replied, with conviction that brooked no disagreement. Vainisi had not without representation, Bart added. "His brother, Jerry, was down there on the bench with us and going around giving everybody encouragement." The game ball, Co-Captains Jim Ringo and Bill Forester later announced, will be presented to Vainisi's widow, Jackie, as a permanent memento...Hornung, who was the Packers' bonus selection in 1957 upon Vainisi's recommendation, declared. "That line really blocked today. That's the best organized game I've played in since I've been a pro. There were very few mistakes." Had Paul, who had scored 23 points during the course of the afternoon, been aware he had broken Don Hutson's all-time season record with his first touchdown of the day? "Yes, I knew it, because there's been so much talk about that record lately," he admitted. He was not, however, greatly concerned over the fact that he had eclipsed Hutson's mark by a wide margin and stands a fine chance of adding considerably to it in his remaining appearance on the West Coast. "You don't think that much about records," the erstwhile Golden Boy of Notre Dame grunted. "Somebody will come along and break this one." On another subject, Baltimore's loss to Detroit, he declared, "It just goes to show we should be on top of this thing all by ourselves." Persistence was the key to his success (that blocked kick), Willie Davis confided en route to the showers, "I just kept going in," he said. "The first guy on the outside didn't try to hard to block me and the slot back tried to lean into me but I slid around him and the ball was there. It bounced off the ground and into my hands." All of which prompted him to remark, "We can go all the way now - with a little luck." On the other side of the room, mountainous Bob Skoronski asserted, "If there's a better fullback in the league than Taylor (Jim), I'd like to see him." Defensive hero Henry Jordan seconded the motion, "He not only gained a lot of yards, he injured 'em," Hank declared. And the man himself? Taylor, sporting a bloody gash on the bridge of his nose, explained his performance with, "It's just a matter of that second effort - that's what this football is. You have to five that little extra effort." "They (the line) did a fine job of firing out of there. They all stood up and gave me a chance to pick my holes. Their (the Bears) red dogs helped, too," the bayou bronco confided. "They were getting bad angles on us." Jordan was in full agreement with Taylor's opinion of his support up front. "I've never seen blocking like that," the big Virginian enthused. "Any time you can block big men like the Bears, you're really doing a job." Ray Nitschke, a highly competent performer in his first full length effort, shrugged off a painful back bruise and grinned, "I'll be raring to go in those last two games out there in the sun." Bubba Forester, in a rare "I told you so" mood, wanted to know, "Didn't I tell you yesterday the Colts would lost two out of three? Now I hope they win their last two and we do, too, so we can play 'em in a playoff. I'd like to settle this thing face to face."
NO MYSTERY: 'WE PLAYED IT STRAIGHT,' LOMBARDI
DEC 5 (Chicago-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - There was nothing mysterious about the Packers' resounding conquest of the hitherto awesome Chicago Bears in balmy, overcast Wrigley Field Sunday afternoon. For this we have the word of an exuberant Vince Lombardi, who revealed with customary candor, "We just played it straight. We stuck to the simple plays - that's all you can do against the Bears' unorthodox defense." It was strictly fundamental football - all the way, Vince declared. "Defensively, we contained them splendidly," he glowed. "And offensively, we just blocked the hell out of them." He had received a fervent testimonial to this effect from one of the enemy, Vince added with a chuckle, "Fred Williams (Bear defensive tackle) told me after the game, 'I've never been blocked like that in my life.'" This inspired performance, which had catapulted the Packers back into championship contention after they had been feared out of it, had to be one of our better ball games," Lombardi admitted. There was another good reason, he was quick to add. "We didn't give up the ball once on a fumble or an interception, in contrast to our recent games." Had he been concerned when the Packers failed with third down and a foot to go on the Bear 13 in the first quarter? "No, I wasn't," he responded with alacrity. "It was a calculated risk - I guess you'd call it a hunch play. But I did not lose confidence when it failed." Understandably, Vince found more pleasure in discussing three other efforts. One of them was Willie Davis' block and subsequent recovery of Ed Brown's second quarter punt for a touchdown. "That was a big play," Vince said. "It gave us a 10-0 lead at that point, if you will recall. And, I might add, that was no accident -
we tried to block that kick. We try to do one of two things on every kick, run it back or block it. It was a great play and it was especially great because we've been hurt that way ourselves lately." "Hornung's touchdown run also was a great play," Vince observed. "We switched that play three times - Starr checked off three times before he called that one." Fuzzy Thurston had delivered a crushing block of Erich Barns on that maneuver, somebody interposed. "Yes, he did," Vince grinned. "Fuzzy's a fine football player." "That runback by Moore (his 84-yard return of the second half kickoff) was another great one," Vince continued. "If I remember correctly, we scored two plays after that. It made a big difference at that point in the game." The NFL's reigning coach of the year, as might be expected, could find no fault with the performance of Bart Starr, the scholarly quarterback from Alabama. "Starr had a tremendous day," Vince said, admiration in his tone. Veteran linebacker Tom Bettis was in good health all afternoon, he reported in answer to another question. "We used Ray Nitschke (who played the full 60 minutes) because we needed more size in there. And he did a good job." Under inquiry, he also named record-breaking Paul Hornung, who had just wiped out Don Hutson's 18-year-old NFL season scoring record, and the incredible Jim Taylor as "the best fullback-halfback combination I've ever had. Hornung has become the great back I expected him to be and there are very few runners in the league who have the tremendous balance and strength Taylor has." Both the Packers and Colts, following the day's fortuitous developments, were locked in a three-way tie for first place with San Francisco and bound for a two-game windup on the West Coast. How about the Packers' position in relation to the Hosses? "We're in just as good a position as they are," Lombardi said without hesitation. "It's tough for both of us. It could very well wind up in a tie. With San Francisco's winning, next Saturday's game is another do-or-die for us, of course. Actually, we've got to win both games." Pausing briefly, he continued his analysis with, "If we all (Packers, Colts and 49ers) lose one on the coast, we wind up with five losses apiece. It's a hell of a league," he grinned. Then, without warning, the smile vanished just as suddenly as it had appeared and the Packers' dedicated headmaster rapped, "We don't intend to lose, I can tell you that."...His Chicago counterpart, timeless George Halas, was unusually taciturn. The ordinarily bland Bohemian was deeply disappointed over this sledgehammer blow to the Bears' title chances and made no attempt to conceal his chagrin. "The Packers outplayed us offensively and defensively, in fact every department of play," George declared, mincing no words, "and the score reflects it." "The Packers were a fine team today," he continued, "and we played our worst game of the season." George, whose annual Halas U. homecoming festivities had been dampened by this turn of events, added sardonically, "But perhaps greater things lie ahead for us. We have two fine opponents left, Cleveland and Detroit." In a parting shot, Papa Bear wished the Pack "a little bit o'luck." With a typical smirk, he concluded, "I hope they lose one on the coast and the Colts lose one on the coast - and the Bears win two." All of which, of course, would present him and his Bruins with the NFL's Western Division championship...CALLED AWAY: One Packers was not able to share in the great victory or the subsequent celebration. Defensive tackle John Miller was called to his Boston home Saturday night after arriving in Chicago with his team earlier in the day. His father had suffered a stoke, he was informed...'SIGN' OF TIMES?: Signs have often been in evidence at this annual Chicago classic but they were considerably more abundant Sunday than at any time within memory. Some huge banners, and largely expressing pro-Packer sentiment, they proclaimed "Let's Send 'Em Into Hibernation," "Go Packers," "Chicago Always Welcome in Green Bay ," and just plain "Green Bay Packer Fans." There also was one of a personal nature, obviously directed at Bear coach George Halas. It read, "Good-bye, George."...TOUCH AND GO: There was, fortunately, no sustained violence by the day's bruising contact produced several flareups that well could have erupted into fisticuffs. The Packers' Jim Taylor and Charlie Sumner of the Bears squared off after the Pack's first offensive play of the game and Taylor and Joe Forunato later exchanged pleasantries, also in the first quarter...MEMORY LANE: Eighty-four Bear stars of yesteryear, some of them bearing the famous names of Luckman, Osmanski, Sisk and Ronzani, were introduced to the 48,000-odd fans during halftime ceremonies. All later were guests of Owner-Coach Halas at his annual homecoming soiree in the Edgewater Beach Hotel...TRADITION: The Packer Lumberjack Band continued an ancient tradition by playing the national anthem just before the game. The Lumberjack, under the baton of Wilner Burke, also more than held their own in "competition" with Armin Hand's Chicago unit throughout the afternoon. Their appearance was made possible by A.J. Schneider, who sponsored the Lumberjacks' bus excursion.
COLTS, 49ERS OR BEARS WOULD BE FOES HERE
DEC 6 (New York) - The NFL today set up an elaborate schedule of playoffs to select a Western Conference champion to meet the eastern champion Philadelphia Eagles for the league title. Twenty-seven possibilities exist for a division deadlock. Baltimore, San Francsico and Green Bay are tied with 6-4 records, followed by Chicago at 5-4-1 and Detroit at 5-5. Sites were selected as follows for two-way ties - or pairings under three or four team ties: Baltimore at Green Bay, Chicago at Baltimore, San Francisco at Baltimore, San Francisco at Green Bay, Detroit at Baltimore, Green Bay at Detroit, Detroit at Chicago, San Francisco at Detroit, Chicago at Green Bay, and Chicago at San Francisco. Thus, three of the four possible playoffs would be played in Green Bay as a result of the coin flipping ceremony in Commissioner Pete Rozelle's NFL headquarters. The other playoff would be in Detroit. Bert Bell, Jr., did the "coin calling" for Green Bay and Harry Standish of the league office called for Detroit. The Colts were represented by Owner Carroll Rosenbloom; the Bears by Pete Halas, nephew of Owner George Halas, and the 49ers by General Manager Lou Spadia. (Bell, son of the late commissioner, was in Green Bay last Wednesday to represent the league at the funeral of Jack Vainisi, Packer business manager. Vanisi would have represented the Packers at today's meeting.) In the event of a three-way tie involving Baltimore, Chicago and San Francisco, the bye went to San Francisco, a three-way tie involving Baltimore, Chicago and Green Bay gives the buy to Chicago; if Chicago, Green Bay and San Francisco are tied, Green Bay gets the bye; if Baltimore, Green Bay and San Francisco are tied, Baltimore gets the bye; if Baltimore, Detroit and Green Bay are tied, Baltimore gets the bye; if Detroit, Green Bay and San Francisco are tied, San Francisco gets the bye; if Baltimore, Detroit and San Francisco are tied, Baltimore gets the bye...SINGLE GAME HERE DEC. 26: If a four-way tie results between Baltimore, Chicago, Green Bay and San Francisco, then Baltimore and San Francisco are paired and Chicago and Green Bay are paired, with the winners meeting to decide the conference championship. If a four-way tie results between Baltimore, Detroit, Green Bay and San Francisco, Baltimore would play Detroit and Green Bay would meet San Francisco. If a single game is required in the playoff, it would be on Monday, Dec. 26, with the championship on Sunday, Jan. 1 at Philadelphia. If two games are needed under a three or four way tie, they would be played Monday, Dec. 26 and Sunday, Jan. 1, with the championship at Philadelphia on Sunday, Jan. 8. If no playoff is required, the title game would be in Philadelphia Dec. 26.
COLTS REIGN OVER, LAMENT IN BALTIMORE
DEC 6 (Baltimore) - "The reign of the champions is nearing an end," Sports Editor Paul Menton of the Baltimore Evening Sun wrote of the Colts Monday. Similar feelings were expressed by other Baltimore writers in the wake of Sunday's loss to Detroit. Even the fans, known for their fierce loyalty, were preparing to face the end after two years of championship glory. There was a strong, sincere dissenter, linebacker Don Shinnick. "I still believe we are going to win it," he wrote in an article for the Baltimore News-Post. "Why? I can't tell you in so many words, but I am as confident as ever. We will do real fine. If we go to the west coast on Friday and have the right attitude, we will again come back champions of the Western Division after our games with the Rams and 49ers." But the feeling persisted around town after the Colts have had it after twice beating the Giants for the championship of the NFL. They go into the last two games tied with the 49ers and Packers after losing two straight at home, of all places. "Their physical resources are ebbing and the opposition knows it," Menton wrote with foreboding. "The Colts no longer dominate opponents physically nor scare them with their invincibility." John Steadman, sports editor of the News-Post and author of a book about the Colts, wrote sadly that Dame Fortune seemed to have deserted them. "She let them know yesterday that they have played out the string," he said. "What a heartbreaker. She loved them, then picked up and departed."
COINS, PACKER FANS FLIP; 'FRISCO IN BEST POSITION
DEC 6 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The coins were flipping in New York, the fans were flipping in Packerland and the Packers were quite normal in California. That just about covers the report for today. This is the day representatives of the five clubs meet in New York to decide where to play Western Division playoffs - if there are any. It's all done by the flip of a coin among the five contenders - Green Bay, Baltimore and San Francisco who are tied in first place with 6-4 records; Chicago, with 5-4-1; and Detroit, with 5-5. Commissioner Pete Rozelle set aside two playoff dates to take care of a triple tie. Teams A and B would meet Dec. 26 (the scheduled date of the league championship game), with the winner playing Team C on Jan. 1. The title game against the Eastern champion Eagles then would be played Saturday, Jan. 7. In the event of a four-way deadlock, eliminations would be played Dec. 26, with the two survivors clashing for the Western crown Jan. 1 and the title game following on Jan. 8. In case of a two-way tie, the playoff would be Dec. 26 and the title game on Jan. 1. There are all sorts of possibilities but the Packers have their hearts set on just one - winning it outright and meeting the Eagles Dec. 26. They must beat the 49ers in San Francisco Saturday and then down the Rams in Los Angeles the next Saturday. Then, the Colts would have to win both their games on the coast to gain a tie. If the Colts split while the Pack wins two, Green Bay would be
in. Baltimore plays at LA Sunday, at SF the next Sunday. The Packers' key game, of course, is against the 49ers. The winner will actually take over first place - at least for 24 hours, with a 7-4 record. It would then be up to the Colts to win the next day to gain a 7-4 tie. The 49ers actually are in the best position. They meet their fellow-first placers in their own Kezar Stadium. The Bears and Lions don't stand a chance unless all three of the clubs lose at least one game. The Bears play the Browns and Lions yet while the Lions finish against the Cowboys and Bears. At any rate, olde Packerlande is now in the process of "counting down" the period from now until 3:35 Saturday afternoon when the Packers start slashing against the 49ers. The game will be on TV and judging by the excitement, everything will come to a two and a half four standstill. The Packers' tremendous 41 to 13 victory over the Bears and the Lions' win over the Colts set this town on its collective ear Sunday night. This was Christman on Dec. 4. Now everybody has realized the amazing possibilities ahead - a real live, healthy and kicking shot at the championship. The Packers flew out to the West Coast from Chicago Monday morning. They are headquartering at Rickey's Studio Motel in Palo Alto and practicing at nearby Stanford University. The squad came out of the bruising Bear game in excellent physical condition. Em Tunnell started with a sore shoulder and went full speed until the last few minutes when Willie Wood replaced him. He'll be in top shape for the payoff test. As he put Sunday night, "nothin' hurts when you win."
TOM MOORE'S KICKOFF RUNBACK 'OUR BIG LIFT'
DEC 6 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Paul Hornung was kidding Tom Moore one day last week while they looked over the league's individual statistics tacked on a dressing room door. "You've dropped out of the kickoff return leaders, Tom," said Paul. Tom smiled with that "they haven't been kicking to me" look but he didn't have to say it. Hornung did with real pride in his teammate: "They're just not kicking the ball to you anymore; they don't want to take any chances on runbacks." Moore has now returned nine kickoffs for 333 yards but seven of them came in the first four games - two in the last six. No. 9 was an 84-yard return against the Bears Sunday that was started five yards behind the goal line. It ended on the Bear 21 with dashman Angelo Coia capturing Tom from behind. And that was the "big play." Bart Starr thought about it Sunday night: "I'd have to say that Tom's run was our big lift. That set us off. We scored in two plays. That was the first touchdown for the offense and we went on from there." On Play 2 following the runback, Starr hurled a 17-yard scoring pass to Hornung. It was Starr's first TD throw of the season. The Packer offense scored three more touchdowns and they came on moves of 85 yards in 12 plays, 80 yards in 9, and 79 yards in 5. Hornung almost "missed" the first quarter. It was strictly by design that he didn't run, pass or receive the ball until the last three minutes of the first period. The Packers were felling out the Bears with their powerful "left jab," which would be Jim Taylor. "Our fullback is the key man when we play the Bears," Lombardi explained, adding: "It's up to him to pick his holes. We have to do it that why against the Bears because of their unorthodox defense. And he does a great job." Taylor carried 24 times for 140 yards. he could have had 161 yards in 25 trips. His very first lug, a 21-yared bolt off left tackle, was killed by a holding penalty. "We've had bad luck on our first plays all season," Vince remarked. "Something always seems to go wrong." In the two previous games (Rams and Lions), Starr attempted passes and both were incomplete. Lombardi said, "this would have to be my best day" but then quickly corrected himself: "No, that first one was the best. I didn't know what to expect that day." He referred to that historic 9-6 victory over the Bears in Green Bay a year ago. That was Vince's debut as a head coach in the majors. But remember Sunday, Dec. 4, 1960. That was a perfect day. They played a "perfect" game, received a miracle assist from the Lions, and went into first place. And come to think of it. Scooter McLean called from Lionville last week to express his feelings on the death of his friends, Jack Vainisi, and signed off this way: "We'll beat the Colts. We can beat Baltimore and I just know we'll do it."
49ERS HOLDING 'SHOTGUN'' OVER PACKERS' HEAD
DEC 6 (Redwood City, CA) - Coach Red Hickey of the San Francisco 49ers sees "all sorts of possibilities" in the club's new shotgun offense, but he isn't saying what they'll do with it Saturday. That's when the Green Bay Packers, who handed the 49ers their worst licking of the season, invade San Francisco's Kezar Stadium for the return engagement. And they arrive deadlocked with the surprising 49ers and the Baltimore Colts atop the NFL's
Western Division, each with six victories and four losses. "They sure gave us a good trouncing," recalls Hickey of that 41-14 Green Bay victory in Milwaukee last Oct. 23. At that time most everyone was counting San Francisco out of the race, but now the 49ers have won three of their last four games. "We weren't playing great ball, but we weren't playing lousy ball except in Milwaukee," says Hickey, when asked what contributed to the team's comeback. "We were moving the ball, but we weren't getting into the end zone. Our defense was playing well." Hickey said the installing of the shotgun offense for the Baltimore game gave the players a lift. They beat the Colts with it 30-22 and Sunday whipped the Los Angeles Rams 23-7. "The players figure they've got something the other clubs are going to have to worry quite a bit about," the coach asserted. "It presents quite a defensive problem." In the shotgun spread, as the 49ers call it, the quarterback stands seven or eight yards behind the center and takes a direct snap. He can then throw or handoff to one of his running backs running across. "There's no doubt it has all kinds of possibilities," Red added. "How much we're going to do with it is something we'll just have to wait and see." San Francisco probably will go into Saturday's game in their best physical shape of the season. "We've been crippled with injuries much of the time this season," the coach declared, " so this should be the healthiest we've been." San Francisco will be bolstered by the return of R.C. Owens, a top-flight pass receiver, and guard Tom Connolly. Quarterback Y.A. Tittle, who sat out the game Sunday against the Rams, also will be available.
PACKERS PLOT IN SECRET
DEC 7 (Palo Alto, CA-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Green Bay Packers are taking no chances on being caught off guard by the San Francisco 49ers' new "shotgun" offense in their NFL showdown Saturday. The Packers hung out a "no visitors welcome" sign at their Stanford University practice site Tuesday in presumably setting up defenses against the recently installed San Francisco spread formation. Green Bay coach Vince Lombardi indicated he would devote special attention to his defense this week. He pointed out that the Packers' 41-14 rout of San Francisco in Milwaukee was "before the 49ers had their 'shotgun.'" San Francisco Coach Red Hickey unveiled his version of the "shotgun" in 49er victories over Baltimore and Los Angeles. The triumph over the Rams Sunday enabled the 49ers to climb into a tie with the Packers and Colts for first place in the NFL's Western Division. In the "shotgun" formation, quarterback John Brodie lined up some seven feet behind the line with his three backs spread out. Brodie took the direct snap from center and either passed or handed off to one of the backs or ends coming around. "It isn't new," Lombardi said. "The Packers themselves have used such a formation in the past. Sammy Baugh pioneered it in pro football with the Washington Redskins." The Packers used the formation under Gene Ronzani, with Tobin Rote as the tailback. One thing appears certain. If the 49ers use the "shotgun: against the Packers, Brodie better be ready for a rough day. Green Bay's rugged, hard-charging linemen and red-dogging linebackers will make sure he gets hit when his backs aren't around to give him protection.
TAYLOR TAKES OVER SECOND IN NFL, STARR VAULTS TO SIXTH IN PASSING
DEC 7 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers can run on the 49ers. And that's not news to Jim Taylor or Bart Starr. San Francisco is aware of the fact that Green Bay rushed for a staggering 763 yards in their last three meetings, all won by the Packers. And the 49ers undoubtedly are taking special precautions to stop Taylor and Paul Hornung from controlling the ball with their mad rushes. Taylor, who moved into second place with 898 yards in the league rushing derby, made his major league debut against San Francisco. It was in the second last game of the horrible 1958 season and Taylor got his chance. He amazed with 137 yards in 22 carries. Taylor ran only twice against the 49ers last year and he was most unhappy. He burned his hand and foot the Tuesday before the first 49ers game in a kitchen accident. Before the game he moaned: "I can run against these guys all day. I don't know why I can't play." Jim dressed before the game but was told he'd have to go to the hospital instead. In the replay at San Francisco, Taylor was still bothered and carried only twice for 13 yards. Jim ran like a wild man against the Bears last Sunday, piling up 140 yards. Starr regards Taylor as his big first-down man, with Hornung as his "surprise package." The Packers' success with the rush against the 49ers is really quite amazing. In that 21-20 game here last year, the Bays made 284 on the ground with Hornung getting 138 yards and Lew Carpenter 62. In the coast windup, the Bays rushed for 230, with Carpenter eating up 113 and Hornung 83. Last Oct. 23 in Milwaukee, the Bays rushed for 249, with Taylor gaining 98 and Hornung 72. Thus, the Packers averaged 254 yards in three straight wins over Frisco. The Packers have a top rushing twosome in the league in Taylor and Hornung, who have 1,461 yards between them. And the Bays parlayed this rush into the most first downs in the league, 209 total and 115 by rushing. While Starr gets the limit out of Jim and Paul, the heady quarterback also has been getting the mostest out of his trusty right arm. The official statistics today showed Starr in sixth place among the league's passers. That was a leap all the way from 11th play since last week and from 13th in two weeks. Starr pitched and called what amounted to a "perfect game" against the Bears. He completed 17 out of 23 passes for 227 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. It is interesting to note that Starr's hottest day was against the 49ers in San Francisco last winter. He completed a fabulous 20 out of 25 for 249 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Starr moved the Packers 479 yards that day. The Packers want a repeat! PS - Speaking about figures, the experts have named the Packer a four-point favorite Saturday.
PLAN TELEGRAM TO BACK PACK
DEC 7 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - If you are an ardent "Packer Backer" you will be extremely interested in something special being planned for next week. The season windup for the Packers on the West Coast involved two crucial contests with the Forty-Niners and the Los Angeles Rams. Should the Packers win both games they will end the highly successful 1960 season with no less than a tie for the Western Division title. With this in mind, a hardy core of Packer fans have embarked upon a two-pronged recognition for the squad. On Saturday, Dec. 17, immediately before the team charges into the Coliseum to meet the Rams, it will receive a huge telegram from fans in Packerland. Then, the following day on the evening of Dec. 18, thousands of loyal rooters are expected to turn out at Austin Straubel field to welcome the squad home. To make the telegram as effective as possible, the signatures of every fan in Wisconsin and Northern Michigan is being solicited by the voluntary homecoming committee. Because funds are needed for both the telegram and the homecoming celebration, fans are asked to send one dollar and their names to: Telegram, Green Bay, Wis. Every name submitted will be included on the giant telegram of confidence to be sent the Packers. Remaining funds collected will be used to provide suitable gifts for the players, which will be given to them at special homecoming ceremonies at the airport.
KEEP FROST FROM STADIUM TURF, PLAN
DEC 7 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Precautions will be taken to keep the frost out of the field at City Stadium - just in case the Packers are engaged in a Western Division playoff there. Field Custodian Johnny Proski put the tarpaulin down shortly after the Packers finished their last practice their last Friday. Presently, there is little frost in the ground. The turf would be kept free of frost by covering the tarpaulin with hay or sawdust. There are also chemical methods of removing frost. Packer President Dominic Olejniczak, who is in telephone touch
with Coach-GM Vince Lombardi at Palo Alto, Calif., where Packers are training, was to meet with city officials today and make a decision on covering the field. Whether a playoff is held here won't be known until Sunday evening, Dec. 18, when the five contenders finish play. Green Bay stands a good chance of hosting a playoff in case of tie. In coin flipping ceremonies at NFL headquarters at New York yesterday to determine sites, the Packers won three flips. The playoff would be held here if the Packers were tied with the Colts, 49ers or Bears.
HOT ROOKIES, DEFENSE KEYED 49ER REVIVAL
DEC 7 (San Francisco) - What brings a football team back from the depths to the midst of a NFL championship race: In the case of the San Francisco 49ers, credit half a dozen rookies, a defensive squad that refused to give up and an intangible called pride. Three and a half weeks ago, the 49ers' staunchest fans wouldn't have bet a nickel on the club being in the Western Division race today. The 49ers had lost two of their last three games badly at that point and were heading east for a three-game trip with a 3-4 record. Today Coach Red Hickey's San Franciscans are tied with the Baltimore Colts and Green Bay Packers atop the division. Each has a 6-4 record with two games left. Ask Hickey about his rookies and he smiles with quiet satisfaction and ticks off the names: Mike Magac, Monty Stickles, Dee Mackey, Dan Colchico, Gordon Kelly, Bobby Waters and C.R. Roberts. As for the other youngsters, Magac moved into an offensive guard slot when Ted Connolly injured a knee and came on rapidly in the job. Stickles and Mackey have been sharing the offensive right end post and each has come up with key catches. Waters, the squad's No. 3 quarterback, didn't see any action on offense at all until late in the game at Baltimore when both the other quarterbacks, Y.A. Tittle and John Brodie, were injured. Waters came in, hit two of two passers, including a heave to Mackey, which was lateraled to R.C. Owens for the winning touchdown...BEST POINT DEFENSE: Colchico, a defensive end, and Kelley, a linebacker, have moved right in as regulars on the 49ers' fine defensive unit, a squad that has allowed only 182 points - least in the league. Roberts moved into the starting lineup at fullback at Dallas the day the 49ers started their current three-game victory string. He's picked up 177 yards on 53 carries but he's been getting better every game. He grabbed 100 of those yards in 22 carries at Los Angeles Sunday in the 49ers' 23-7 victory. Roberts' improvement has enabled J.D. Smith to move from fullback to halfback, a running slot to which he's more adapted. Add to that, a defensive backfield that pursues enemy passes like a big league outfield - Dave Baker has intercepted nine passes in the last three games - and that intangible and you've got the secret.
PACK-49ERS DUEL PAIRS NFL POINT 'LEADERS'
DEC 8 (Palo Alto, CA-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers and 49ers are the league's current scoring champions - for and against. Green Bay has scored more points than any other club in the NFL, a rosy 284 in 10 games for a average of 28.4 per. San Francisco has allowed the fewest points, a miserly 182 in 10 tests for an 18.2 ratio. That sounds great. And maybe the Pack should win by 28 to 18 but, alas, it's not that easy. Figures like these usually can be ash-canned when the table is loaded with big, blue chips. The figures show that the Packers have been scoring at a four-touchdown clip and the 49ers have been defensing at a two touchdown pace. What happens when the 49ers are revved up by nearly 60,000 hometown screamers - not to mention home cooking? Brrr. The Packers can account for a new scoring record for the second consecutive game. Last Sunday, Paul Hornung reeled off 23 marks in the 41-13 win over the Bears to give him 152 and a new all-time league record, thus breaking Don Hutson's old mark of 138. Saturday, the Packers can become the highest scoring team in the league history of the club. The most points ever scored by Green Bay was the 300 turned in by the 1942 team. The Packers' 17th point, and we're hoping for more than that, would set the current total at 301. Incidentally, the Packers aren't far behind the 49ers in point defense. Green Bay has allowed only 188 points and 71 of those were scored by two clubs, the Colts (38-24) and Rams (33-31). The 49ers can't hold a candle to Green Bay in scoring, having counted only 174 - the third lowest in the league...Green Bay has picked up another backer. Ram Coach Bob Waterfield said the other day that he'd string along with Green Bay to win the Western title. Joe Schmidt, the Lions' great linebacker, told a Detroit fan club Tuesday that "Green Bay has the best chance of winning the Division." Joe didn't play against the Pack in Green Bay this season because of injury but was in the Thanksgiving Day replay...The three leaders - Colts, Packers and 49ers - each have a chance to win it outright in the final two games. Here's what would have to happen to each club
to escape a division playoff: Green Bay - Beat the 49ers and Rams, while the Colts are beating the Rams and losing in their final at 49erville. That would give Green Bay 8-4, the Colts 7-5 and 49ers 7-5. San Francisco - Beat the Packers and Colts. That would give the 49ers 8-4 and the Packer and Colt records would depend on what they did vs. the Rams. Baltimore - Beat the Rams and 49ers, while the Packers are losing to the 49ers. That would give the Colts 8-4, the Packers 7-5, if they beat the Rams, and the 49ers 7-5. The Packer formula is simple: Win both games!...The 49ers have three "mentals" going for them Saturday: (1) They are playing at home; (2) they already have lost three straight to the Packers and the law of averages should be on their side, and (3) they have been rated underdogs (four points). The two clubs played one other "real crucial" - in Green Bay in 1959 wen both clubs were unbeaten with 2-0 marks. The Packers won that battle 21-20 but almost lost when Tommy Davis missed a 30-yard field goal in the final seconds..."The 49ers are the fastest team in the league," according to Coach Vince Lombardi. Vince pointed out that the 49ers' solid defense is as fast as anybody's with Eddie Dove, Dave Baker, Abe Woodson and Jerry Mertens manning the outer rim. "And with their spread formation," Lombardi added, "they're in good shape to utilize everybody's speed to best advantage. With all that room the spread gives them they're bound to be able to run, not to mention throw the ball," he contends. He is not, he added, lending undue weight to the Packers' 41-14 rout of the 49ers in their first meeting of the season at Milwaukee Oct. 20. "Don't emphasize that last time too much," Lombardi said. "The 49ers were flat against us just like we were flat against the Lions. This time I'm sure it'll be different and playing in their own park should have a decided edge."
VINCE THROWS 'FRISCO PHOTOGRAPHER FOR LOSS
DEC 8 (San Francisco) - The Green Bay Packers Wednesday confiscated film shot through a knot hole of the Pack's drills at their Stanford University training camp, where they are preparing for a game with the San Francisco 49ers Saturday. The film was exposed by Paul Gorman, United Press International photographer. The Packers have imposed "top security" around their drills. Gorman took a photo through a knothole of the camp of the team in action 100 yards away. It was immediately grabbed by Tom Miller, publicity director for the Packers. "I'll give it to Vince Lombardi and see what he has to say," said Miller. "Hang around." So Gorman hung around and Lombardi finally came up. "I never heard of such a thing." said Lombardi, who has been in professional football for seven years. He walked away and refused to give the film back.
COVER STADIUM FIELD WITH HAY, JUST IN CASE
DEC 8 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers today added weight in their preparations for a possible playoff - 40,000 pounds of hay. It was deposited at City Stadium for spreading over the tarpaulin which had been put down shortly after the Packers finished their last practice there last Friday, in an effort to keep the frost out of the ground. President Clarence Nier of the Stadium Commission announced. The task of distributing the hay over the huge "tarp" was supervised by John Proski, field custodian, and Nels Sorenson, greenskeeper at Brown County golf course, who contracted to provide and spread the "cover." This project was undertaken in the event the Packers become involved in a Western Division playoff. The decision won't come until Sunday evening, Dec. 18, at which time all five contenders - Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit and San Francisco, in addition to the Packers, will finish play. Green Bay stands a good chance of hosting a playoff in case of a tie. In coin flipping ceremonies at NFL headquarters in New York Tuesday, the Packers won three flips. The playoff would be held here if the Packers should tie with the Colts, 49ers and Bears.
49ERS WILL BE 'READY FOR WAR,' HICKEY
DEC 8 (San Francisco) - What will happen when the Packers and 49ers collide Saturday in San Francisco's Kezar Stadium? "It'll be an earthquake that they'll hear all the way back to Arkansas," says 49er Coach Red Hickey, a one-time Razorback. "We haven't been all year, but we'll be ready." They're a real sound football team in every department." says Red. "That fullback of theirs, Jim Taylor, is just great. It'll take a war to beat 'em and I feel sure that our boys will be ready to do just that, go to war." "The Packers kicked the hell out of us the last time, 41-14," Hickey remembered. "We're going to do everything we can to beat 'em, use everything and everybody since we're all in good health again." At the 49er camp, the secrecy lid was clamped on to visitors. Hickey is attempting to develop some variations off his powerful new weapon, a version of the short punt formation. "I'm gonna call it the 'shotgun offense,'" says Red. "The Baltimore Colts call it the rinky-dink. But so far it's working well for us." Most coaches, including Weeb Ewbank of the Colts and Bob Waterfield of the Rams, claim the offense would be used only by a "dying or desperate" football team. Hickey admits he's desperate. "We don't have the personnel to beat Green Bay or Baltimore with orthodox methods," says Hickey. "So maybe we can do it with this setup."
INJURIES DIM PACK CHANCES IN 49ER DUEL FOR TOP
DEC 9 (San Francisco-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers have a couple of hurts. And the 49ers would like to know the seriousness of injuries to Paul Hornung and Forrest Gregg. The two all-pros were hurt in the victory over the Bears in Chicago last Sunday. Hornung has a bruised knee and Gregg a bruised back. Announcement of the injuries made by Coach Vince Lombardi Thursday afternoon which is in compliance with the league's 48-hour rule. All hurts, especially those of a serious nature to key personnel, must be revealed to the public no less than 48 hours before the game. The two clubs battle at Kezar Stadium Saturday afternoon for the Western Division lead. The public announcement rule, ordered by the late Bert Bell, is designed as "protection" to the Joe Phan who likes to bet and the fan who might be buying a ducat to see a particular player. It is not known whether the injuries will chance the odds on the game, which presently rate the Packers a four-point favorite. Hornung did very little work in practice this week. Lombardi said he wouldn't know if Paul could start Saturday. "It will depend on what he can do in practice Friday," Vince said Thursday night. The same goes for Gregg. Hornung's injury didn't show until Monday when his knee puffed up. Gregg said he got a couple of knees in the back, but, as he explained, "It got worse earlier in the week." He added: "I don't expect it will slow me down and Saturday is quite a long ways off." Loss of the players would be a crippling blow to the Packers' chances. Hornung, who set a league record of 152 points with 23 last Sunday, is Green Bay's major "point" hope, what with his running, passing, receiving and kicking. And Gregg is one of the league's best offensive tackle. The flashy Tom Moore would take over for Hornung. Ironically, Moore started out to imitate Hornung on the pass-run play last Sunday but was smeared for a loss. He headed toward right end and then started to get set for a pass when the Bears ganged him. Norm Masters would move into Gregg's spot. Offensive line coach Bill Austin, keeping his fingers crossed, said, "He went all but the last two minutes against the Bears and played a great game." Masters had been "rotating" with Gregg and Bob Skoronski in some earlier games but "I couldn't take Gregg out of there last Sunday," said Bill. The Packers injury announcement gave the 49ers something to think about. It dropped like a bombshell in the public prints. The 49ers had been doing their best to give the Packers something to fret about what with the so-called shotgun offense. Now San Francisco must ready another defense just in case Hornung isn't playing. The guy needs a special defense because of his pass-run ability. The 49ers apparently don't know Moore can pass, too. Lombardi isn't taking the shotgun and/or spread formation lightly. "It can be troublesome and we're working on it," he pointed out. The spread, which resembles the old short punt, has quarterback John Brodie in the tailback spot...RUN 'EXCEPTIONALLY WELL': "Yes, it may be mostly a passing formation," said Vince, "but they run off it exceptionally well." J.D. Smith and C.R. Roberts, both large and strong runners, do most of the ball carrying. The flanker back is R.C. Owens, the jumping jack, who is now pushed by Hugh McElhenny. Hurrying Hugh, limited all season, said Wednesday that "I feel five years younger." The players feel they can win and Lombardi has noted that the team is "really getting ready." He explained that the team had little work this week. "We just had one day, Wednesday. We were off Monday to travel and we took it easy Tuesday. We were all bruised up from the game. The Bears were rough. Thursday we tapered down and it will be just a light one Friday." The Packers are in top condition defensively and that will disappear when the bell rings.
NO DRY EYES FOR PACK SPIES; CARL'S CHEWIN'
DEC 9 (San Francisco-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Carl Zoll, one of the first Packers, is doubling up on his chewing tobacco purchases these days. He's chewing double chaws, as it were. Zoll is out here to spend a long-awaited vacation and is also taking in Packer practice. Hearing about the photographer who took pictures of the Packer practice through knotholes in the fence the other day, Zoll not has stationed himself at a few holes and on occasion lets fly with a stream of tobaccy juice to discourage photogs and/or spies. That's the story, anyway, and Zoll is enjoying himself. He had dinner with the team Thursday evening...Saturday's Packer-49er game is a battle all its own. Neither team is giving a thought to the Colt-Ram game Sunday...Everybody here wants to know what Green Bay is thinking. The coaches and players left home last Friday and didn't experience the joy in Packerland over the victory in Chicago...The Packers are being covered by four papers - the Milwaukee Sentinel and Journal, the Chicago Tribune and, of course, the P-G. Cooper Rollow, the Tribune scribe, saw his first Packer practice the other day and commented: "They've got as much life as a high school team. What spirit."...Ran into Joe Cronin, president of the American League, in O'Hare Field airport Thursday, and the baseball executive said he's a "Packer fan. We like 'em out in Boston." Cronin was returning from the baseball meetings in St. Louis at which Los Angeles was admitted as a new team to the AL. Reminded that Dallas had a tough time this year in its football debut, he laughed: "We don't expect any picnic for Los Angeles, but they'll win a few games."
MUST HOLD PACK UNDER AVERAGE TO WIN: HICKEY
DEC 9 (San Francisco) - Question and answer interview with Coach Red Hickey of the San Francisco 49ers as he prepared for the "showdown" with the Green Bay Packers Saturday: Q - Do you think you can beat the Packers? A - We are capable of beating any club in the league, including the Green Bay Packers. Q - What do you fear most about this opponent? A - Everything. We fear their running as much as their passing, and vice versa. They are a much better running team than the Los Angeles Rams, for instance. Q - Are your men mentally "up" for the game? A - They are as ready as it is possible to be. They know what's at stake. We are juiced up and ready to get at them. Q - How about the physical condition of your players? A - This is the best condition we've had all our team members since the start of the season. Every man on the club is ready to see action. That includes quarterback Y.A. Tittle, halfback Hugh McElhenny, R.C. Owens and guard Ted Connolly. Q - Do you plan on using Tittle in the game? A - We plan to start John Brodie. But if he runs into trouble, we'll put Tittle in there, or Bobby Waters. I'm not afraid to use any or all three of the quarterbacks. Q - What kind of a score do think will win it? A - I don't know that. But I do know that the Packers have been averaging about 28 points a gam. That's more than we ever score. So we are going to have to hold them to less than that and score more than we usually do. Q - How do your athletes feel about the battle? They took such a beating from this club before (41-14), are they still shell-shocked? A - We have a confident attitude among our men. They are not cocky -
but confident they can do the job. We feel we can take the Packers. Q - You mean they aren't looking back at that shellacking they took? A - We forget the past. We look to the future. Q - Have you one final statement to make before the battle, Coach? A - Just that our guys know they are against a solid club. We have to play our very best to have a chance to win. We have to play better than we did when we beat Los Angeles or Baltimore. But I think we can do it. And the players think we can do it.
PACKERS, LOMBARDI HOPING 49ER SHOTGUN FIRES BLANKS
DEC 10 (San Francisco-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Packer Coach Vince Lombardi makes like a sports journalist at times. To quote him as practice ended Friday: "I'll tell you what you can write if we win. You can say the shotgun fired a blank. That's a pretty good lead." Vince was referring to the 49ers' one-back formation which they used to beat the Colts and Rams on successive Sundays. It has been nicknamed the shotgun formation. It's quite similar to the old "Iron Mountain Spread" Gene Ronzani used in the early 1950s. The Packer staff is treating the "shotgun" with the greatest of respect. "They have the personnel for it," said defense coach Phil Bengtson. Lombardi is mum on how he Pack will defense it. You folks will see it this afternoon on your TV's. All of the defense backs were on the field at the same time Friday as the anti-shotgun plans were drilled. This was to make it virtually impossible for prying eyes from giant trees in the distance to detect the type of defense. Defense tackle Dave Hanner, who admitted "I never played much against the spread - even in school," would rather the 49ers used the formation all the way. "I hope they run off it. It's no good for running. That running back is four to seven yards back (of the line of scrimmage) before he even starts. And we get that much more time to get at him," Hanner said...The 49er-Colt game a week from Sunday was sold out Wednesday before today's contest in Kezar Stadium. There were 4,000 tickets left Wednesday for the Packer battle when the 49ers put the sold sign on the Colt game...Paul Hornung was limping when he went to dinner Friday night. But he was running well in practice Friday morning and kicking accurately in field goal practice. His left knee is injured. "Maybe he'll be a better kicker with the injury," Lombardi told Dr. Jim Nellen, team physician. Dr. Nellen said Paul was "really in bad shape Monday." Lombardi had to all the boys in from practice Friday. They worked just briefly and then over half of them stayed out to throw the ball around and run. Finally, Vince yelled, "Let's get out. Don't leave it here."...Carl Zoll, one of the first Packers, is helping Dad Braisher and Bud Jorgensen. He
is wearing white pants, a sweat shirt and slick cap, and looking the part of a training aide...Dr. Nellen took Thursday off and went to Squaw Valley, site of the recent Winter Olympics, for some skiing. He went down the giant slalom on Hill K-22, the big test that kayoed so many of the Olympians. "Yes," in answer to the players, "I took a few spills."...Tackle John Miller was called to Revere, Mass., by the death of his father, John Miller, Sr., 58, Thursday night. He missed the Bear game when his dad suffered a stroke last weekend and caught up with the team earlier in the week. John said the stroke was entirely unexpected since he had never been sick "a day in his life."...The rumors are really flying. There's a story that the Packers will come out with a spread today. Another report is that R.C. Owens is hurt more than anybody wants to admit. He suffered a shoulder separation in the Colt game and played little against the Rams. That may be true about Owens. We're not so sure it would be better if Owens played. Hugh McElhenny is his "substitute" and Hugh is rested and geared for a great one. He's murder...One hundred fourteen players and some 15 coaches, all on the west coast, have their hearts set on a bonus of around $5,000 for Christmas. They make up the personnel of the Packers, Colts, and 49ers, who all think they're going to win the Western Division championship. That five grand would be the approximate share in the championship against the Eagles in Philadelphia. If two clubs are tied and there's a playoff, each player in that game would get an extra game's salary. The odds point to the Packers and Colts meeting in a division playoff in Green Bay Dec. 26. But pro football has a habit of making complete fools out of oddsmakers. The Bears were favored to whip Green Bay last Sunday. And the Packers are favored today. Ugh...Steve Smith, Green Bay's claim to amateur golf fame who is a senior at Stanford University, looked in on the Pack this week. He's leading the cheers for Green Bay today.
BIG ONE - 49ERS VS. PACKERS
DEC 10 (San Francisco Examiner) - This is it for Red Hickey, the San Francisco 49ers and "Shotgun"! The target is power laden, equally determined Green Bay, the biggest game yet. The locale is Kezar Stadium where, at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon, a wild-eyed, title hungry gallery of some 59,000 fans will start to tock and roll with high-geared, tension packed professional football action. A championship could be the reward, although there is no telling what will yet come out of perhaps as torrid a National League stretch drive as has ever been staged...COLTS-RAMS GAME IMPORTANT: The world champion Baltimore Colts, equal shareholders in the three-way deadlock with the 49ers and Packers, still are alive. What they do against the Los Angeles Rams in the L.A. Coliseum tomorrow will have an all-important bearing on the eventual outcome. Next week's Baltimore-San Francisco and Green Bay-Los Angeles battles are listed as crucials, too. But, at the moment, all eyes must be focused on Kezar's semi-skinned turf, where Green Bay, the highest scoring machine in pro football and 27 points the best the first time the Packers collided with the 49ers in Milwaukee, hopes to outblast "Shotgun" with its own "Double Howitzer" assault featuring Paul Hornung and
Jim Taylor. As if the complications and unknowns surrounding this historic high point in 49er fortunes weren't already overwhelming, the weatherman got in on the act yesterday with a prediction of possible rain...TURF WILL BE COVERED UNTIL GAME TIME: The Kezar turf is covered and will remain so right up until kickoff time if there is any threat. As of yesterday, the field was in perfect playing condition. But, there's no telling what might happen with a surface bare of grass between the 20 yard lines should there be rainfall. Vince Lombardi, whose "Miracle at Green Bay" story is known to all, laughed when questioned on what a muddy field might do to his troops. "How do I know?" he asked with a chuckle. "We won't dissolve." Hickey wasn't upset, either, by the possibility of wet going. "Heck, I don't know. I don't think it will hurt 'Shotgun' too much," he opined. "Naturally, we would prefer a dry field. But we worked in the rain all last week, before the LA game, and were in the slop up to our ankles. But we threw, caught, and ran, just the same. In fact, rain might hurt the defense, the way they have to chase us, as much as it would our offense." Further, the 49er coach added: "There ain't nothing to replace blocking and tackling in this game, weather notwithstanding. This is what we have to do. The way these fellas of mine have made up their minds, they think they can beat anybody. I'm not ready to argue with them." What will wet weather do to "Shotgun," the offense heard 'round the pro football world?...PACKERS HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK: True, the 49ers have supreme faith that their scatter-shot offense will once more prove a stunner, even though the Packers have had two weeks to study it from every angle since it was first turned on Baltimore. But Hickey and every 49er knows that their most solid argument, if the case against Green Bay is to be won, is a defense now regarded as the toughest in 49er annuals. Headed by the take charge men - Leo Nomellini up front and ball-hawking Dave Baker in the secondary - the defense which has yielded the fewest points (122) holds the key. It will have to get in and break up the off-tackle shelling by Taylor, amounting to 898 yards in 10 games. Hornung, the do-it-all Packer, has to be carefully guarded against everywhere - running (he has gained 563 yards); passing (he has completed 5 of 14 passes for 78 yards and 1 TD); receiving (he has caught 21 for 202 yards and 2 TD's); as a field goal kicker (he has booted 13); and as a one-man scoring gang (he has put together 11 TD's, 13 field goals and 35 extra points for a record smashing 152 points). At the same time, there can be no minimizing of the little discussed Green Bay passing game...STARR LIVES UP TO HIS NAME: While the Packer air arm, handled by Bart Starr and Lamar McHan, has been directly responsible for only six of Green Bay's 35 TD's, it is a big part of the offense. Starr, who'll be in opposition to John Brodie, at the start at least, has thrown for 1,116 yards. Until Lombardi took over and since the 49ers joined the NFL in 1950, Green Bay had won only one of 20 contests with SF and LA on the western slope. That's something to consider in the reckoning. So are the big changes in the 49er makeup since the advent of "Shotgun" - the "new" Brodie, who has completed 23 of 39 passes for 371 yards and two TD's in his last two outings; the hit and run threat of J.D. Smith; the double flanker threat with R.C. Owens and Hugh McElhenny sitting outside; the marked increase in receiving potential with Dee Mackey and Clyde Conner figuring prominently. Y.A. Tittle could prove the "forgotten man." The 49ers have shown themselves a winning road team. They're 4-2 away and 2-2 at Kezar. The Packers' record is built on a 4-2 home figure and 2-2 on foreign soil. Green Bay's defense is not to be underestimated. It has provided strength in Lombardi's 4-0 record against the 49ers. Today's showdown, which will be nationally televised (CBS) but blacked out locally, and broadcast by KSFO, will be the 20th in the rivalry with the 49ers looking for their 14th triumph. We're picking them to get it, 24-21.
