Green Bay Packers (1-1) 30, San Francisco 49ers (1-1) 10
Sunday September 24th 1961 (at Green Bay)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(GREEN BAY) - The Packers served notice - in full view of a record crowd of 38,669 at City Stadium Sunday afternoon - that they intend to repeat as Western Division champions. They defeated the dangerous and rugged 49ers to leap back into the thick of the title race. The final score was 30 to 10, but don't let it fool you. The last seven points didn't come until midway in the final quarter and then few fans left before the traditional countdown of the final seconds. Green Bay now has a balanced 1-1 record and rests in a five-way tie in second place in the Western loop with San Francisco, Minnesota, Baltimore and Chicago. Detroit is leading with 2-0. The Bears of Chicago invade City Stadium next Sunday to renew pro football's longest and bitterest rivalry, while the smarting 49ers invade Detroit. It took Willie Wood's weaving 39-yard return of a punt for a touchdown halfway through the second quarter to explode the Packer attack. The "big play" run broke a 7-7 tie and gave the Packers a lead they never lost. It was 20-10, Green Bay, at the half and 23-10 at the three quarter mark. Th final Packer total was the highest in the league over the weekend. The Packers, limited to 13 points in losing to Detroit last Sunday, was good offensively and defensively and they were alert, intercepting three passes. They more than held their own in a mean, rough - and at times, fist-fighting, battle. The Bays' dramatic Paul Hornung, the NFL's record-breaking scorer, reeled off 18 points on three field goals of 13, 43 and 15 yards, one touchdown and three extra points. He carried 17 times for 51 yards, caught a pass for 12 yards and kicked off over the goal line - and once over the end line - most of the afternoon. Hornung scored the first TD on a one-yard belt in the first quarter and set it up with an eight-yard jaunt. After Wood's TD, the Pack's only scoring until the fourth frame came on Hornung's three field goals. His second was the 43-yard shot with five seconds left in the half. The Pack's last TD was Bart Starr's 21-yard pass to Max McGee. The Bays came up with a new pass catching "high" - Ron Kramer, who hadn't experienced a day like this since his rookie year of '57. The pounding tight end nailed five passes for 61 yards, including three in the Bays' first TD drive. Starr, frustrated no end vs. the Lions, broke away with 11 completions in 16 attempts for 161 yards and picked the pesky 49er defense for 285 hard-earned yards. The Packer defense, with rookie Ron Kostelnik giving it a great try in replacing Dave (Appendectomy) Hanner, kept the 49ers from getting away with anything serious. San Francisco's only TD was helped along by a third-down-and-nine-to-go holding penalty to the Packer 3. The 49ers probably would have settled for a field goal. Two of the interceptions set up scores. Ray Nitschke's steal set off Hornung's 13-yard field goal for a 17-7 lead. Bill Forester's interception set up McGee's touchdown and the third interception, by John Symank, ended a final 49er threat in the last two minutes. The Bays' defense, facing the T and the 49ers' highly publicized shotgun formation, never let the visitors inside Green Bay's 25 except once all afternoon - that coming on the TD. The 49ers got to the 26 twice - both after the score was 30-10. The 49ers ran off 55 passing and rushing plays, and 24 of them came off the "shotgun." The Packers, staying pretty much on the ground, worked 53 plays, including 37 rushes for 124 yards - an average of 3.3. Herb Adderley, the Bays' top draft pick, made his first league appearance and ran hard on three kickoff returns for 74 yards. The third return was close to midfield, leading to Hornung's field goal just before the half...With Starr getting dumped for a 10-yard loss on the first play of the game, the two clubs exchanged punts before the Packers set sail for a 7-0 lead. Green Bay moved 81 yards in 12 plays. Hornung made five and Jim Taylor, who finished with 63 yards in 12 trips, added seven to get the drive started. Then Kramer gained 11 yards and Taylor and Hornung added another 10 to the 49er 48. Starr hurled to Kramer for 13 and Taylor, with Jerry Kramer blocking out two 49ers, raced for 10 yards to the 25. On third and four, Starr passed up the middle to Kramer to the 9. Hornung wheeled off the right side for eight yards, while Taylor faked into the line to the one and then Hornung carried it over and kicked the point at 9:34. A 37-yard kickoff return by Abe Woodson to the Packers' 49 set the 49ers in motion for a TD. J.R. Smith, the game's top ground gainer with 102 yards, got the drive going with two five-yard runs. On two big plays, Smith made 15 at center on a draw and then John Brodie passed to R.C. Owens for 18 to the six. With third and five to go, the Bays were caught for holding and the 49ers got a first down on the three. J.W. Lockett finally made it on third down from the one. The game see-sawed early in the second quarter as Bob Harrison intercepted Starr's batted up pass and Davis and Dowler exchanged punts. Dowler's boot was a fine 48-yarder and it rolled out on the 49er 4, a la Yale Lary. Standing on the goal line, Davis' next punt was taken like an outfielder on the run by Wood on the 39 and the fleet halfback cut down the west sidelines. Around the 15, he weaved sharply to his left, while some Packers screened out the remaining 49ers. Hornung's kick out the Bays ahead 14-7. A moment later, Nitschke grabbed Brodie's pass and returned 27 yards to the 49er 7. The 49ers wouldn't budge so Hornung field goaled from the 13 for a 17-7 score. With 40 seconds left in the half, Davis kicked a 46-yard field goal - the longest in 49er history. Adderley's long runback of the ensuing kickoff and Starr's 17-yard pass to McGee up the middle to the 49er 36 set the stage for Hornung's 43-yard field goal with five seconds left. Forcing the 49ers to punt after one first down to start the second half, the Packers went on a 59-yard drive to set up Hornung's third field goal. Hornung led off with a 10-yard run and then Starr threw to Kramer for 16 to the 49er 41. After 10 yards by Hornung and
Taylor, Starr and Taylor worked a 22-yard pass to the 9, but the Bays were holding and the gain was lost. The Bays got it right back when Woodson interfered with McGee on a long pass to the 49er 8. The Taxi hurt his ankle on the play and seemed done for the day, going out in favor of Lew Carpenter. The 49ers stiffened at this point and Hornung booted a field goal for the 23-10 count. The Bay defense presented the ball to the offense shortly and the Pack went on another TD drive, with McGee back in the lineup. Three big Starr passes set it off - to Boyd Dowler for 23, McGee for 14 and Kramer for 11. After an offside penalty on the Bays, Dowler made a leaping catch of a pass for 12 yards to the 10 and Hornung followed with five to the five for a first down. On the first three plays of the final period, Taylor, Tom Moore and Hornung settled for four yards. The field goal team went in to make it 26-10 on Hornung's fourth three-pointer but he missed. The anxiety surrounding the miss was relieved shortly when Forester grabbed a Bill Kilmer pass tipped up by Jess Whittenton, who was fighting with Clyde Conner for the ball. Forester took it on the 49er 47 and galloped 27 yards. After Hornung lost a yard, Starr put the ball in McGee's arms in the end zone for the TD. Max had out-maneuvered and was loose when Starr hit him. After the 49ers lost the ball on downs, the Bays punted and then took the ball right back on Symank's interception just before the happy end.
SAN FRANCISCO - 7 3 0 0 - 10
GREEN BAY - 7 13 3 7 - 30
SAN FRANCISCO GREEN BAY
First Downs 15 19
Rushing-Yards-TD 30-137-1 37-124-1
Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int 25-10-117-0-3 16-11-161-1-1
Sack Yards Lost 2-21 1-10
Total Yards 233 275
Fumbles-lost 2-0 0-0
Turnovers 3 1
Yards penalized 1-38 5-42
SCORING
1st - GB - Paul Hornung, 1-yard run (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
1st - SF - J.W. Lockett, 1-yard run (Tommy Davis kick) TIED 7-7
2nd - GB - Willie Wood, 39-yard punt return (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 14-7
2nd - GB - Hornung, 13-yard field goal GREEN BAY 17-7
2nd - SF - Davis, 46-yard field goal GREEN BAY 17-10
2nd - GB - Hornung, 15-yard field goal GREEN BAY 20-10
3rd - GB - Hornung, 43-yard field goal GREEN BAY 23-10
4th - GB - Max McGee, 23-yard pass from Bart Starr (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 30-10
RUSHING
GREEN BAY - Jim Taylor 13-63, Paul Hornung 17-51 1 TD, Tom Moore 5-7, Bart Starr 1-2, Ron Kramer 1-1
SAN FRANCISCO - J.D. Smith 16-102, Billy Kilmer 3-18, C.R. Roberts 4-15, J.W. Lockett 5-5 1 TD, John Brodie 1-0, Ray Norton 1-(-4)
PASSING
GREEN BAY - Bart Starr 16-11-161 1 TD 1 INT
SAN FRANCISCO - John Brodie 20-9-93 1 INT, Billy Kilmer 5-1-24 2 INT
RECEIVING
GREEN BAY - Ron Kramer 5-61, Max McGee 3-52 1 TD, Boyd Dowler 2-36, Paul Hornung 1-12
SAN FRANCISCO - R.C. Owens 3-60, Monty Stickles 3-28, J.W. Lockett 2-18, J.D. Smith 2-11
HICKEY 'SPANKS' 49ER PLATOONS; DEFENSE KEY: VINCE
SEPT 25 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Subdued yet militant, a chagrined Red Hickey verbally spanked "our special teams" for what happened to his San Francisco 49ers in the gray gloom at City Stadium Sunday afternoon. "Our punt and kickoff coverage beat us as much as anything," rapped the redhead, and had barred the press from the 49er dressing room for 20 minutes while he had a heart-to-heart talk with his unsuccessful athletes, Packer victims for the fifth straight time. Lest this last be misinterpreted, Hickey declared, "We certainly are not in a state of shock over losing. We're not pushing any panic button - all we have to do is beat Detroit next week and we'll be back on top. A lot of things can happen between now and the end of the season. I don't know who's going to win it, but we're going to be right up there with 'em," he vowed with a defiant thrust of the jaw. He clearly was mystified by his platoon's conduct. "One of our strongest games last year was our special teams," Red said ruefully. "Nobody did anything against us. This was a terrible day. We didn't punt and we didn't cover when we did (in obvious reference to Willie Wood's 39-yard return of a Tommy Davis kick for a touchdown) and we didn't kick off and we didn't cover when we did," the ex-Ram stalwart added dryly. As another example, he pointed out, "Just before the half, the Packers got a field goal back after David kicked that 46-yarder because his following kickoff was short and we didn't cover." "One thing, though," Red appended with a wry grin, "we didn't give up as many points as we did last year (41). That's an improvement." The Packers' possessive nature compounded the 49ers' problems, Hickey admitted. "They're a fine ball control team. Once they get the ball, it's hard to get it back from 'em. But we got it back enough to win today." At the same time, he was not impressed with the offensive output of the Packers - or the 49ers. "They had 285 yards and we had 254. I don't think either club made enough to be proud of," he said. He declined to second quess the officiating in connection with the interference call on Abe Woodson's apparent trip of Max McGee in the third quarter. It put the Packers on the San Francisco eight-yard line and set up one of Paul Hornung's three field goals. "It was a big play, no question about, but you don't know about things like that until you see the movies. It appeared to me that all Abe did, in going for the ball, was step on McGee's foot." The performance of another Packer pass receiver, Ron Kramer, "didn't surprise me," Hickey said. "He's a good football player. I was only disappointed in our group because he caught that many passes." Why had he used his vaunted shotgun sparingly until the fourth quarter? "We were moving the ball very well with the 'T' early, that's why we stayed with it." By way of explanation, he added, "John (quarterback Brodie) had a couple dropped that hurt out drives." All of which brought him to the conclusion that "there are some clubs you have a tough time with and we sure have a tough time with this one. I don't know if anybody knows the answer," Red signed, "but I sure hope we find it."...Vince Lombardi, who insisted it hadn't been easy, credited 1961's first victory to the defense - with a simultaneous bow to the offense. "We played a tremendous defensive game," the Packer headmaster felt. "That was the whole key. We had a much better rush than we did against Detroit last week. And we possessed the ball. We had it for seven minutes during one stretch in the third quarter, I believe." Although the Packers led most of the way, Vince said he was concerned about the outcome until Starr hit Max Mcgee on a picture play with six minutes gone in the final period. "Up to the last touchdown, it was anybody's ball game," Lombardi asserted, nervously running a hand through his jet locks at the thought. "They're capable of getting that big one at any time, you know. we made some key interceptions, of course." The Gold Diggers' defense had impressed him, too, Vince volunteered, "I believe the 49ers are a lot stronger defensively than they were in the past." On another subject, he said that Ron Kramer, who emerged as the game's leading receiver, had not been selected as the prime target of the day nor neglected in the past. "It isn't a matter of throwing or not throwing to any particular man. We throw where they let us throw," Lombardi explained. "It's a question of what defense they're playing. Today Kramer was open." The work of rookie Herb Adderley, the No. 1 draftee from Michigan State who until recently had been hampered by a shoulder injury, had been another bright spot, Vince agreed. "He did very well on kickoff returns."...WRONG NUMBER: The Packers, and 38,669 fans, were surprised to see Monte Clark reel toward the Green Bay huddle in the first quarter. Obviously bearing the birdies chirp after a collision with a bellicose Packer, he was intercepted by Jerry Kramer. Before Kramer could "escort" him back to the 49er huddle, two of Clark's teammates hastened over to help him back to the bench.
'IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME,' RON KRAMER ADMITS; WOOD GREAT
SEPT 25 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - "It's been a long time." This heartfelt admission came from a happy Ron Kramer, who had just had his greatest day as a pro after two years of futility and frustration. En route to the shower in the Packer dressing room late Sunday afternoon, his progress was slow as teammate after teammate came over to congratulate him. Kramer, brilliant as a rookie in 1957 but an enigmatic disappointment to both himself and the Packer coaching staff since coming out of service, lost his job to a vastly improved Gary Knafelc upon his return in 1959 and couldn't win it back. Sunday it was 1957 all over again. Ron, reinstated as a starter, grabbed off five passes, three of them for first downs that keyed the Packers' first touchdown drive, and blocked with the crunching abandon that made him everybody's All-American in 1956 when he was the Packers' No. 1 draft choice. "It's just real nice to be playing again, said Ron, a mild enough reaction but one which amounts to effervescence for the somewhat phlegmatic ex-Wolverine. "It's been a lot of hard work and he's (Coach Vince Lombardi) giving me a chance. I'm just happy I can do my best for the team as well myself," Kramer added. "This is all that matter to me. If I can do something to help the team, than I'll do it." Also accepting plaudits and attendant pats on the back was Willie Wood, author of a 39-yard punt return spectacular in the second `quarter. Paul Hornung grabbed Willie by his dusky shoulders and told him with a grin, "That's the greatest run I've ever seen, Willie." Describing his dazzling excursion with a shy smile, Willie confided, "Catching the ball on the run, that always helps. And I had a little running room. After that, the blocking picked up." As he headed for the training room, he shot back over his shoulder, "I hope we can have one of those every game." Down the line, ex-Gray Ghost Tony Canadeo greeted another interceptor, Bill Forester, with, "You almost had six today, Bubba. What happened?" "Ah ran out of gas," Forester drawled back. The perpetrator of a third steal, John Symank, grinned and declared, "If I can just get one a game, it'll be all right." The fiery little gamester also picked off a pass in the Pack's opener against Detroit. A svelte Dave Hanner, who lost "10 or 11 pounds" since last week's appendectomy, wandered through the dressing room felicitating his teammates and reporting on his condition. "It didn't feel good" missing his first game in 10 Packer season, Dave admitted. "It felt good to win but it's no fun sitting on the bench. You feel more a part of the clubs if you're playing." He didn't go unrecognized on the bench, it might be added. Wilner Burke and the Packer Lumberjack band saluted Hawg with his University of Arkansas alma mater just before the game, which was followed by an ovation from the fans. At the far end of the room, rookie Herb Adderley noted there had been "only one man" between him and a touchdown on a second quarter kickoff return. "One of these days I'm going to get by that last man," he vowed. A few doors down, Bart Starr volunteered, "Max ran a real nice route on that touchdown in the fourth quarter" and added wryly, "We should be 2-and-0 right now." In
another corner, Jess Whittenton was still miffed over an incident in the fourth quarter, triggered by Forester's interception. "I thought Conner (the 49ers' Clyde) caught the ball and I was trying to dig it out of his arms. As we crashed into the bench, Coach Johnson hit me and some other player hit me. I didn't know what was coming. But I know one thing, that's not a thing for a coach to be doing."
PACKERS IN BIG 'RETURN'; BEARS NEXT
SEPT 26 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers returned to the 1961 championship race with one of the "returningest" games ever played at City Stadium Sunday. And in good time. The two clubs returned 15 interceptions, kickoffs and punts a fantastic total of 334 yards - an average of 22 yards per run. Thus, if you spent most of the afternoon on the edge of your seat - that's why. How come the hot running? "It must have been all the good runners," Coach Vince Lombardi beamed today, and that was a compliment for Herb Adderley, the Pack's first draft choice who was unveiled for the first time in a league game. The first choice swiftee from Michigan State caught all three of Tommy Davis' kickoffs and returned them for 74 yards - an average of almost 25. That's not an Oscar-winning total, but it was the manner in which he ran that impressed. He literally flew and he ran with what Lombardi calls "abandon." One of Adderley's runs was a clutcher. With 40 seconds left in the half, Herb took Davis' kickoff (moments after he booted a 46-yard field goal) on the 13 and buzzed 32 yards to midfield, thus setting up Paul Hornung's 43-yard field goal in the last five seconds. The Packers gained 187 yards in eight returns, averaging 23.3 yards; the 49ers made 147 in seven returns for an even 21. The longest return of the day was Abe Woodson's 49-yard runback of a Hornung kickoff after the Bays scored their first TD. The 49ers went on from there to score their only TD. But the Packers had the big-play returns - the three interceptions. This was sweet music - 67 yards on three steals and two of them set up 10 points and the other ended the 49ers' last threat. Ray Nitschke returned the first 27 yards to the 49er seven to key Hornung's field goal - not to mention a 17-7 lead. Bill Forester stole a tipped-upper and slammed 33 yards to set off the final TD, on Bart Starr's pass to Max McGee. John Symank grabbed his deep in Packer territory with two minutes left in the game. Lombardi found the game movies to his liking and stated that the Bays "played good all the way - offense and defense." He said the "good times" showed how well the Bays played, explaining: "We possessed the ball 34 minutes on offense. Our defense was in there for only about 20 minutes. You can usually figure seven minutes or so for the other phases." The Packers had the ball for seven minutes in one stretch early in the third quarter - the drive that produced a field goal and a 23-10 lead. It started on the Packer 33 and ended on the 49er 8, with Hornung kicking from the 15. The Packers reached the 49ers' 6, 8 and 1-yard lines and came out with six points on two field goals. Lombardi indicated that this might be a trend, remarking "everybody's having trouble scoring touchdowns from close in." Regardless, Bart Starr is getting the Bay offense in that good position. And the TDs are sure to come. Incidentally, the Packers were the league's highest scoring team over the weekend - even without Willie Wood's touchdown on a punt return...What now? Those big bad Bears! Chicago, like Green Bay, is fresh from its first victory of the new season. The Bears, with Bill Wade working the second half, downed the Rams - in Los Angeles, mind you - to the tune of 21-17. The Packers loosened up today lightly and the coaches were happy to note that all hands are in good condition.
DALE HACKBART TO WASHINGTON
SEPT 26 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Defensive halfback Dale Hackbart was traded to the Washington Redskins for an undisclosed future draft choice by the Packers, Coach Vince Lombardi announced this noon. The trade brings the Packer roster to 35, one under the NFL limit. Hackbart, former University of Wisconsin quarterback and defensive back, was Green Bay's fifth draft choice in 1960. He QB'd the Badgers to the Big Ten title and Rose Bowl berth in '59.
THIRD TACKLE? KRAMER FINDS BLOCKING FUN!
SEPT 26 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The tackle isn't "eligible" anymore under a change in NFL rules made several years ago. Hard-pressed defensive coaches didn't like the idea of making a tackle eligible to catch a pass, since scores were starting to soar back in those late 1940s and early 1950s. So the T-E was ruled out, also for the purpose of ending a lot of skull-duggery. But now the Packers have somewhat of a "third tackle". Ron Kramer referred to himself as such an animal while gassing at the weekly luncheon of the Mike and Pen Club at the Fox River Lanes Monday noon. "It's like a third tackle with all the heavy blocking, but it's fund to block. I've always taken a great deal of pride in my blocking. I had to most of the blocking in the single wing in school, so it's nothing new. I'm playing at 235 pounds and that weight helps in blocking linebackers. I guess I'd have to pick Bill Pellington (of the Colts) as the toughest linebacker to block," Ron said. With that kind of weight, plus his blocking savvy, Kramer can easily play the role of a "tackle-eligible" who can also catch the ball. Ron's number came up often in the victory over the 49ers and he caught five Bart Starr passes for 61 yards. Actually, Kramer is the "other end" and Boyd Dowler, the third end, is really a halfback. Confusing, eh what. In the offense lineup, Max McGee is listed as left end, Kramer right end and Dowler right halfback, since McGee and Kramer play on the line of scrimmage and Dowler is always wide (like an end) but slightly back of the line of scrimmage. On a running play, the tight end digs his nose into the turf and blocks like the "other" tackles. Kramer appears on his way to "making" the Packers. the big wing admitted that "this is a make or break year for me. What has helped me most is that Coach Lombardi has had confidence in me and this has given me more confidence in myself. This has been a great life for me." Kramer has started all seven games played by the Packers thus far this year. "I started one last year, the first Detroit game," Ron laughed, "and I made one mistake; I didn't play until this year." Gary Knafelc had beaten Kramer out of the tight end job in 1959-60. A "heavyweight" compared to his 220 as a rookie, Kramer said the extra weight hasn't cut down his speed. "Coach Lombardi taught me to get off the line quicker; all those practices helped me considerably, and I'm getting down under the ball quicker," he added. On a different slant, Kramer got to talking about "playing here." "This little town helps the unity of our team. We're all close together. We know each other's families and it's just a close group. It helps during the games. I know some of the players out in New York live 45 minutes from practice and miles and miles away from each other. Their families hardly ever get acquainted all year."
BIOLO BLASTS GAME TIME DECISION
SEPT 26 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The question of using City Stadium for high school football game is bouncing around the city's west side again this week in the wake of West High School's game last Friday being switched from that scheduled site to East Stadium five hours before the opening kickoff. John Biolo, Wildcat athletic director and football coach, has warned that he will go all out to clear up the situation, which has resulted, he claims, in a wave of phone calls to him questioning why his team was not allowed to play in the home of the Packers. "I wasn't told until 3 p., the day of the game that it was being switched," Biolo stormed Monday, "and I intend to pin the responsibility for this on someone. I'm really mad about this." The coach noted that the stadium was built with the idea that it would be used for high school games as well as for the Packers and that the lighting system was installed for those games. Clarence Nier, head of the Stadium Commission, said that the commission had an agreement with the Board of Education and the superintendent of schools that the game could be transferred from City Stadium at any time up until 5 p.m. that day. He explained that the switch was made Friday "in view of the new field with the Packers opener Sunday." He said it was "predicted on a change in the weather forecast that called for rain that afternoon and evening." Nier further explained the the agreement covered only the West-Sheboygan South game and that the rest of the Wildcat home schedule will be played in City Stadium regardless of the weather. Superintendent of schools Russell Wray confirmed that he has a letter from the Stadium Commission stipulating that game could be transferred anytime before 5 p.m. but that there is no reference to a particular game. Biolo, however, said he knew of no such time schedule and was left with the definite impression earlier in the week that if the game was to be switched it would be fone on Thursday or at least no later than 8 a.m. Friday., "As coach, I was never consulted on this at all. I had all the arrangement for the game set for City Stadium without question," Biolo declared. "All I know is that I was told at 3 in the afternoon that the game would be at East Stadium, he continued. "This meant I had to notify the other school, the officials, the band, all the help at the game, including the police, Red Cross and so on, and get word to the public. It was real confusing because the paper said one place and I was telling people another place. Besides that, the facilities at East weren't ready for a game. East's lock room wasn't ready and the field wasn't marked. And the lights are so bad there that we couldn't even get movies of the game. Another thing, the bench isn't even a private place there with people standing all along the sidelines. That just isn't right. And besides all that, this late switching is a bad morale factor for the kids on the team." Biolo staunchly declared that he was the one that should have been consulted and that he would have fought the switch..."NO CONTROL," LOMBARDI: "I don't get it," he muttered. "But that's the way they want it, I'd just as soon play on our own field next to the school if they can fix up some stands." Nier, while thanking the Board of Education for its cooperation on the matter, emphasized that "the coaches are never consulted in these matters. We deal directly with the
board and the superintendent. When we decided to switch the game, I called Mr. Dauplaise (George) because it is my understanding that the principal of the school involved is the game manager." Packer Coach and General Manager Vince Lombardi stated today that "I have no control over who plays their games at City Stadium. Other than that, I have no comment on it."
BETTIS ACTIVATED; PACK GREAT, HALAS
SEPT 27 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Tom Bettis was placed on the Packers' active playing list today. Room for the veteran linebacker was made Tuesday when defensive halfback Dale Hackbart was traded to Washington for an undisclosed draft choice. The trade of Hackbart put the Bays one under the player limit of 36 - until Bettis was put on. Coach Vince Lombardi announced his decision on Bettis before starting today's morning meeting and practice. The Packers now have five linebackers and five secondary men. Barring changes in defensive alignments, this leaves the defense with two replacement linebackers and one replacement for the secondary. Bettis, the Pack's first draft pick in '55, missed the last four games in '60, including the playoff, but started this season all even with Ray Nitschke, his replacement at the end of the '60 campaign. Bettis was off to a good start in training this year but an old knee injury kicked up and Dr. Jim Nellen, team physician, ordered surgery. Bettis, operated on just before the Dallas preseason game, made a remarkable recovery and had hoped to open the season. Bettis and Nitschke had been playing the middle linebacker spots, with Capt. Bill Forester and Dan Currie handling the outside positions. Backing up both outside spots is Nelson Toburen, the promising rookie. Hackbart's departure left the secondary with only Em Tunnell as the all-around replacement. The starting foursome for the last two games is composed of cornermen Hank Gremminger and Jess Whittenton and safetyman John Symank and Willie Wood. This is the third "change" in the Packer defense in one week. The first took place last week then tackle Dave Hanner underwent an appendectomy, placing rookie Ron Kostelnik front and center for the 49er game. Kostelnik came up with a good game in the 30 to 10 victory. Defense has been a major factor in the Packers' split of their first two games. Detroit was held to two TDs, although one was pretty much a fluke, and the shot-gunnish 49ers got one and a holding penalty set it up. In fact, Russ Thomas, scout for the Lions, watched the Packer-49er game and spent most of the time charting the Packers' successful defense against the shotgun. The Lions likely will use the Pack's defensive tricks against the 49ers in Detroit next Sunday. And speaking about tricks, the Pack's fine defensive lineman, Hank Jordan, had to laugh after Sunday's win. "You know what that Bosley (49er guard) said to me out there? 'Now Henry don't you use your bag of tricks on me today.'" Jordan explained that "we've known each other for a long time - played against each other in college. He's quite a guy."...Papa George Halas was absolutely gushy in some views on the Packers today. Halas' team and the Bays meet in Green Bay next Sunday, you know. Halas told Chicago scribe Cooper Rollow that the Packers are the greatest football team ever assembled on the shores of the Fox River. Furthermore, ventured Halas as to Rollow, the Green Bay pass catching combo of Max McGee, Boyd Dowler and Ron Kramer is every bit as frightening as the Colts' fabled triumvirate of Raymond Berry, Lenny Moore and Jim Mutscheller. Halas went on: "With all due respect to such great Packers are Don Hutson, Arnie Herber, Cecil Isbell, Clarke Hinkle and Tony Canadeo, I would have to say that the present Packer team is the strongest the Bears have ever faced. The Packers have had strong individual stars before but this team has tremendous balance - so tremendous that an opponent can't afford to concentrate on any one man for fear of being caught short somewhere else." Unquote. Comments like these from Papa George before a Packer-Bear game in Green Bay are most unusual. Mr. Friendly Enemy apparently wants to soften the Packers up...The Packers had three statistical leaders after the first two games - Paul Hornung, Willie Wood and John Symank. Hornung, with an 18-point blast vs. SF, leads all scorers with 25 points. Wood tops the punt returners with an average of 20.7. His 39-yard TD return was the longest of the early season in the league. Symank is tied with 10 players, each with two interceptions. With 11 out of 16 completions, Bart Starr leaped from 10th to fifth in passing. Jim Taylor stayed at third in ground gaining while Max McGee dropped from first to third in pass catching.
NEW BEAR UNITY BREWIN' PACK HEADACHE?
SEPT 28 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - If the Bears give the Packers a king-sized headache in City Stadium Sunday afternoon, don't be surprised. The 1961 Bears apparently have tremendous spirit and/or club togetherness, judging by their comeback in Los Angeles last Saturday night. Dan Desmond, the Bears' publicist, was telling about it Wednesday. "We looked just horrible in Minneapolis. Nothing went right and it was just disgraceful and embarrassing - especially to George (Owner-Coach Halas). We had four passes intercepted, made four fumbles, had pass interference called and there was even a bad pass from center on a punt. "We were 35 angry young men (Rick Casares didn't make the game) when we went out to Los Angeles. They got together on the morning of the game and barred the coaches. They went out and played inspired football, and won. It was tough out there; you know how big and rough those Rams are - especially in the Coliseum." The question then, Mr. Desmond, is this: Will the Bears carry the same fire and brimstone into the Packer game Sunday? The visiting fireman just smiled. It goes without saying that the Bears are anxious to try their new "team-ness" on the Packers. By the same token, the Packers are anxious to try out their muscles on their traditional foes. The opener here a year ago is a sterling example of the Bears' never-say-die spirit. Everybody in the stadium had the impression that the Packers would win going away - except the Bears. Our boys had a 14-0 lead and it seemed only a matter of running down the clock. The Bears hung in there and won in the end 17-14. The Bears had no illusions of grandeur this year. "George figures he's got a sixth place club and all he wants is to spring a few surprises while rebuilding for the future," said Dan, indicating (like an explosion) that the Chicagoans would like to surprise Green Bay. Chicago, he pointed out, will start three rookies on offense - Mike Pyle, center; Art Anderson, right tackle; and the talented
Mike Ditka, closed end. "We don't have any rookies starting on defense but your old friend, Harlon Hill, is going to start at right safety. He's done very well back there and he's won the position. The big guy is a good tackler and he knows how to cover passes, and intercept. He really likes defense; never objected one bit when he was switched. He still can play some end if necessary," Dan said. Hill's old left end spot is being filled by swift Angelo Coia, while Ditka is at right end. The flanker is Johnny Morris, who is pound for pound (180) the best of the Bears. Morris' backfield starters are likely to be Willie Galimore at left half and Casares, if he is recovered from an injury, backs up Ditka and Morris...BRIEFS: The new book, "The Green Bay Packers," will be unveiled at an autograph party at Prange's tonight (6 to 8). Author Chuck Johnson will be on hand to autograph books...In case you missed development of the past two days, Defense Back Dale Hackbart was traded to Washington for an undisclosed draft choice and Tom Bettis was placed on the active list...Note to Taylor, Hornung and Moore: The Bears are best in the league in yards allowed per rush in the first two games - a mighty low 2.7 on 59 rushes...The Packers are rounding into excellent physical condition for Sunday's game. Coach Vince Lombardi put the Bays through a key drill today. Tapering off starts Friday.
PICNIC? WADE HAD ONE HERE IN '58
SEPT 29 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Bill Wade played only one game in Green Bay. It was strictly a passing picnic. He pitched the Rams to a 20 to 7 victory over the Packers in City Stadium in '58. More significant now was his aerial record that day: He attempted 42 passes and completed 19 of them for a whopping 372 yards. One throw went for a TD and he had two interceptions. Wade's a Bear now, due to the offseason trade, and he'll make his second showing in our town next Sunday. All of the other Ram-Packer games were played in Milwaukee. Nobody seems to know - except maybe Bear Coach George Halas and he may not be sure - the identity of the Bears' starting quarterback for this third league game for both clubs. Halas has been insisting all along that he doesn't have a No. 1 quarterback, explaining merely that his two QBs are Ed Brown and Wade. As you'll recall, the Packers had a situation of that sort the last two years and Coach Vince Lombardi turned his two-QB "problem (Bart Starr and Lamar McHan) into a fancy 15-9 record - not to mention the Western Division title. Before '60 was out though, Lombardi had decided on his No. 1 QB. That would be Starr, who will start Sunday. Papa George's strategy in the Department of Quarterbacks will start to unfold when the Bears' offense takes the field. Will it be Wade or Brown? We'd guess it will be the former Ram since he engineered the Bears' victory over the Rams in Los Angeles last Sunday. Brown started the game and played the first half, with the Rams holding a 10-7 halftime edge. Wade took over in the second half. Brown has this advantage on Wade: The Bear veteran knows the Bruin personnel and system and thus might react quicker in tough situations. At any rate, the starting QB really doesn't bother the Packers' defense. This unit knows they're both skilled quarterbacks and tough to handle. And speaking about defense, the Pack's publicity chief, Tom Miller, informed the sporting world of something of a medical feat today. "Dave Hanner will be available for play," said Tom, announcing that Dr. Jim Nellen, Packer team physician, has given him permission to play. He underwent an appendectomy at 1:30 Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 19. He was hitting the blocking dummies in practice Thursday - just like nothing ever happened. Thus, Hanner is making his comeback to active hitting in 10 days. The Packers will have two "knife" cases ready for action. Besides Hanner, there will be linebacker Tom Bettis, who was activated earlier this week. Bettis underwent an operation on his knee during the training season...BRIEFS: The Ron Kramers became parents of a daughter Thursday night at Mt. Carmel Hospital in Detroit. Ron said today the new arrival has been named Cassandra. The Kramers have one other child: Kurt, 3 years...Willie Galimore led the Bears in rushing against the Rams last Saturday night, moving 75 yards in 15 tries as a running back. Mike Ditka led in receiving with five catches for 130 yards and Wade completed six out of seven passes for 98 yards and one TD; Brown had 7 out of 15 for 160 yards and one TD. Galimore also
also caught four passes. Bears' defense tough? The Rams had a third and one situation on the Bears' 25. Jon Arnett tried to make the yard but lost six and on fourth down Zeke Bratkowski's pass was intercepted...The Pack's two safetymen, Johnny Symank and Willie Wood, made seven tackles between 'em in the 30-10 victory over the 49ers...Coach Lombardi has a rough head cold...The Packers are leading the league in percent of completed passes - 58.1, thanks to Starr's 11 out of 16 last Sunday.
1941 SERIES BATTLE OF TITANS
SEPT 30 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Don't look now, but don't let your guard down either, folks. The Chicago Bears are back in town. Sunday afternoon in City Stadium the Bears and the Packers renew the oldest and most bitter feud in professional football. It was old and just as deadly 20 years ago when two of the mightiest gridiron machines ever assembled fought it out in 1941 in a battle of titans that went into a postseason playoff before the Bears staggered off with the decision. Having mauled each other to a standoff while smashing down all lesser opposition, the two clubs had to meet a third time to settle the issue. Beaten in the first encounter, 25-17, the Packers evened the score in the second, 16-14; then lost the nod in a freezing playoff, 33-14. The 1941 Bears were hailed in their day as the greatest football team ever to pull on shoulder pads. Whether that accolade still holds is a question - pro football has changes - but they rated it then...AWESOME POWER: With a line that included Dick Plasman, Hamp Pool, Joe Stydahar, Ray Bray, Danny Fortmann, George Musso and Bulldog Turner, and a backfield featuring Sid Luckman, Ray Nolting, Hugh Gallarneau, Norm Standlee, Bob Swisher, George McAfee, Bill Osmanski and Scooter McLean, they generated awesome power. The only team to come even close to matching them was the Packers. Curly Lambeau's crew were no patsies, either. The front wall contained the likes of Don Hutson, Harry Jacunski, Carl Mulleneaux, Baby Ray, Buckets Goldenberg, Pete Tinsley, Russ Letlow, Charley Brock and George Svendsen. Operating behind it were Cecil Isbell, Eddie Jankowski, Lou Brock, Larry Buhler, Andy Uram, Hal Van Every, Joe Laws and a rookie fullback named Tony Canadeo. If the Bears were the greatest team in history, those '41 Packers were the second best. They collided for the first time in old City Stadium on Sept. 28 before a sellout crowd of 24,876. Off to a 15-point lead, the Bears saw that disappear and the Packers in front, 17-15, before they struck in the second half to pull a 25-17 verdict out of the fire...BEAUTIFUL SKULLDUGGERY: A beautiful bit of skullduggery involving Luckman, McAfee and Ken Kavanaugh netted the first score. Luckman lateraled to McAfee, who fired a long strike to Kavanaugh for 44 yards and the touchdown. The conversion was blocked, but early in the second quarter Bob Snyder keuboled a 25-yard placekick to make it 9-0. The Bears then rolled 60 yards for another TD, little Scooter McLean popping through the middle for the last 13 yards. Again the conversion failed (they actually missed 'em in those days), but it didn't seem to matter. The Packers came to life with a dazzling air attack that paid off when Hutson took Isbell's 10-yard flip and raced 35 yards to score and convert. Just before halftime, Hinkle booted a 39-yard field goal, shaving the Bears' margin to 15-10. Shortly after the second half opened, the Packers marched 60 yards to a Hinkle touchdown and went ahead, 17-15. The advantage lasted just 50 seconds as McAfee lugged the kickoff from his goal line to midfield and three plays later swept end for 13 yards and the tally...PACK COULDN'T SCORE: The Packers threatened all through the final quarter but were thwarted by a grim Bear defense. With three minutes remaining, Snyder clinched the victory with a 34-yard placement. Five weeks later, on Nov. 2, the Packers got their revenge in Chicago. Except for a fourth quarter flurry by the shell-shocked Bears, the Bays dominated a 16-14 upset before a stunned audience of 48,454. Green Bay drew first blood the first time it got the ball, grinding 63 yards to a touchdown by Isbell, but the PAT was blocked. All through the half the Packers were on the march, but couldn't dent the Bears' goal line stand, while two Hinkle field goal tries were off target. Early in the second half, the Packers advanced from their 15 to the Bear 34, exchanged fumbles and then scored on a Isbell-Lou Brock completion that spanned 36 yards, Hutson converting. Once more, with Van Every and Laws slicing through the Bear line, the Packers swept downfield to be stopped, and this time Hinkle made good on a 44-yard field goal...BEARS LASHED BACK: The Bears lashed back in the final quarter, sailing 63 yards on the good right arm of Luckman to a touchdown by Standlee. With time running out, McAfee picked off an Isbell aerial intended for Hutson and dodged 55 yards before being hauled down on the Packer 15. Nolting crashed over for the final score. The victory was a triumph for one Packer who didn't even play in the first game and only briefly in the second. Injured early in the season, Russ Letlow was given the job of scouting the Bears and did it so competently that previously murderous attack was halted for a net of 25 yards and only three first downs in the first half. George Halas still calls it "Letlow's miracle." Sweeping through the rest of their schedule, the Packers finished a week ahead of the Bears with a 10-1 record. That left it up to the Chicago Cardinals on Dec. 7 and they came within five minutes of a shocking upset before the Bears rallied to win and force the first divisional playoff in league history. The Bear-Cardinal game had barely started when word came of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Before it was avenged two of the players who had faced each other in the bitter series died fighting in the same uniform. Lt. Young Bassey of the Bears and U.S. Marines was killed in the assault on the beaches of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines while Marine Capt. Howard Johnson, Packer lineman, stopped one with his name on it at Iwo Jima...SHOWDOWN IN COLD: The showdown came on a bitterly cold Dec. 14 in Chicago. The temperature was only 19 degrees but the bears were too hot for the Packers or anyone else to handle, exploding for 24 points in the second quarter and a 33-14 victory. It didn't start that way. Gallarneau fumbled the opening kickoff, Charley Schultz retrieved it on the Bear 19 and in five plays Hinkle was in the end zone. A short time later Gallarneau more than made up for his skill by taking Hinkle's punt on his 18-yard line and sweeping 82 yards for the score. The conversion was missed, but Snyder opened the gates with a 24-yard placement early in the second period, and before the Packers could slam them shut the Bears were out of reach. In quick succession, the Bruins converted a fumble and two long drives into three touchdowns. The Packers smashed 79 yards in the closing minutes of the half but were halted by the clock after reaching the Chicago one-foot line. Green Bay lost a touchdown in the third when Ray Riddick stepped out of bounds en route to the goal line after covering 45 yards with a completed pass but came back to make it 30-14 on a 10-yard bullseye from Isbell to Van Every. The Bears upped the ante to 33-14 on Snyder's second field goal, a 26-yarder. Two statistical items held the key to the Bear conquest. The Packer running attack was held to 35 yards while the Bear backs stampeded for 267. Don Hutson, who had broken or tied eight league pas catching and scoring marks during the regular season, caught only one pass all afternoon.
RINGO AND FORESTER - FIRST ON STAGE
SEPT 30 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Jim Ringo and Bill Forester are first on stage at all Packer game productions. No. 51 and No. 71 and the captains of the visiting team are called to midfield twice by the referee for the coin flipping ceremony. The first time's for real; the second for the television audience and those lucky enough to be present in the flesh. The actual call (to receive the kickoff or choice of goal) is made the first meeting about a half hour before the kickoff and provides the two clubs with plenty of time to arrange their kickoff and early-play strategy accordingly. The co-captains and the official merely go through the motions of the first "meeting" for the spectators who are thus "told" the winner of the toss and what each team will do - kickoff or receive. Ringo and Forester are old hands at co-captaining the Pack. They started as C-C's in 1955 and now are in their seventh year in that capacity. Both came into professional football with the packers in 1953. Ringo, the onetime Syracuse University great, was the Bays' seventh draft choice that year. Forester, a fullback and all-around footballer at Southern Methodist, was the Packs' third selection. During the game the co-captains are the direct pipeline from the players to the officials. "We have nothing to do with game strategy," Ringo said, "but we call the timeouts and decide on taking or refusing penalties." Forester said he doesn't like to call timeouts because "it means we're behind and trying to stop the clock. We had to do that near the end of the Detroit game." Ringo can run into the same thing - when the Packers are behind and trying to stop the clock with timeouts. Timeouts can only be called by the captain. "They keep an eye on us and sometimes we often warn them that a timeout signal might be coming up," Ringo explained. Three timeouts are allowed each half. The co-
captains are the direct pipeline from the players to the officials. "We have nothing to do with game strategy," Ringo said, "but we call the timeouts and decide on taking or refusing penalties." Forester said he doesn't like to call timeouts because "it means we're behind and trying to stop the clock. We had to do that near the end of the Detroit game." Ringo can run into the same thing - when the Packers are behind and trying to stop the clock with timeouts. Timeouts can only be called by the captain. "They keep an eye on us and sometimes we often warn them that a timeout signal might be coming up," Ringo explained. Three timeouts are allowed each half. The co-captains also have some off-the-field duties. If the player have any problems, they come to the co-captains who then take it up with Coach Vince Lombardi. "We try to settle the problems ourselves but if necessary we go to the coach," Ringo said. Oh yes, Co-Captains Ringo and Forester, who were part of the Packer "famine" for the first six years of their careers, especially like to "captain" a winner. And, being homegrown Packers, they have a special hankering to beat the Bays' traditional rivals, the Bears. The Bears, who battle the Packers for the 85th time in City Stadium Sunday, have lost to the Ringo-Forester combine only four times since 1953. The Packers didn't beat Chicago in 1953 or 1954 bur R and F for their first taste of Bear meat in 1955, a 24-3 verdict here. They had to wait two years for the next taste but it was a juicy one - a 21-17 win at the Stadium Dedication in 1957. The next two were under the Lombardi regime - a 9-6 edge here in 1959 and the wonderful 41-13 decision in Chicago last December. PS - Don't miss the kickoff Sunday. It's at 1:06.
PACK, BEARS DUEL 85TH TIME
OCT 1 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Professional football's greatest, oldest and bitterest rivalry explodes before a sellout crowd of over 38,600 in City Stadium Sunday afternoon. It will be the 85th Packer-Bear game since these natural rivals started clubbing each other back in 1921. And this one's a little different for a couple of reasons: First, they'll be meeting in their third NFL game. Usually these rivals are booked in the league opener - sometimes in the second game. Not since 1950 have the Packers and Bears battled in their third game. And if you're a wee bit superstitious about such things, the Packers won it 31-21. The other "third gamer" was in '41 and the Bears won that 25-17. Second, the Packers go into today's struggle as a clear-cut favorite and that's enough to make the heart of every real Packer Backer quiver and quake. Anything can happen in a "big rival" game - and most times it does. The Packers are favored by some six points. Odds are unhealthy in this series. Remember '59. The Bears were choiced by a touchdown; the Pack won 9-6. Last year, the Packers were slight picks; the Bears won 17-14. Papa Bear George Halas, the dean of coaches in the NFL, likes nothing better than to win in Green Bay and he has one thing going: His Bears are rebounding from a 21-17 victory over the Rams. Packer Coach Vince Lombardi has the pleasure of watching his club rebound, too, since the Bays whipped the 49ers 30 to 10 last Sunday. This is a key game for the Lombardimen since a win would get them off the ground, as it were. They are now knotted with 1-1, same as the Bears. The Bears will present something of a mystery attack in that their starting quarterback is unknown. Newcomer Bill Wade turned the win trick in LA last Saturday and he's a good bet to start but Ed Brown knows the Bears better. At any rate, the Packers are anxious to try their defensive stuff on the Bears. The Bays allowed only three touchdowns in the first two games. The Bears may have to look at Rick Casares, the Bears' big fullback who wrecked the Bays here last year. Rick is rated a "possible participant" after recovering from a cracked wrist. The Bears may have gained new running power since shifting former flanker, Willie Galimore, to a running back spot and they certainly helped themselves by drafting and starting big Mike Ditka at a slot back. He has helped make the running attack go with his blocking and toughened the air game with his receiving. The Bears' big catcher is speedy Angelo Coia, left end. Johnny Morris plays the key flanker spot. It's interesting to see what the Packers do on offense. The fine balance at Bart Starr's fingertips is a real headache for the enemy. The Bears' strong points on defense, judging by the statistics, is against rushing. They're leading the league with a stingy 2.7-yard average. The Bears have been passed on, to the tune of 63 percent, and Starr is likely to unlimber his flipper. He threw only 16 times last Sunday and completed 11. His big receivers will be Max McGee, Boyd Dowler and Ron Kramer who snared six passes last Sunday. The game will mark the "return" of Dave Hanner, who is just 10 days removed from an appendectomy. He's ready to play, but rookie Ron Kostelnik will start in his place. Kostelnik did a good job vs. the 49ers, but the Packers played it coy, shifting him side to side.
IF HE LOSES, COACH LOMBARDI OFFERS NO EXCUSES, NO ALIBIS
OCT 1 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - There is a story about Vincent T. Lombardi after he loses a league contest. Sure, there are more pleasant things to talk about than that dark period in the dressing room after the Packers finish on the short end of the score. But it's during this "eternity" that Lombardi displays - despite deep disappointment - a characteristic that is absolutely straightforward and untainted by even the slightest trace of an excuse or alibi. In Vince's football book, what happened, happened. What will be, will be. When the Rams handed Lombardi his first loss as the Packers' head coach by a whopping 45 to 6 score in the fourth game of the '59 season, Vince stated flatly: "We couldn't cope with their speed." He might have added "today," because in Los Angeles in December the bays gave the same Rams a lacing...SURPRISE FROM LIONS: In Milwaukee two weeks ago, the Lions surprised the Lombardimen 17-13. And if ever a coach had a right to moan about the breaks, this was it. Lombardi merely said: "That's football; we were overpowered on the goal line. And they played a helluva football game." Since taking over the Packers and their 1-10-1 record in the winter of '59, Lombardi has led the Bays into 26 league games, posting a lovely 7-5 in '59 and a championship 8-4 in '60. It's easy to sit back and pontificate after a victory. The true test comes after a loss, and that's where Vince stands out. And it's not unusual for him to shoulder the blame...Remember 1959? The Bays lost five in a row after opening with three straight wins. Here are some of Vince's forthright comments after those losses: Oct. 18 in Milwaukee (Rams 45, Packers 6) - "We did a lot of good things but we couldn't cope with their speed. We made a lot of mistakes. We've got to develop a little more mental toughness, and that will stop some of the mistakes. We played a real top flight football team, the best we've played this year and we played a bit of a flat game. But we've got no excuses, w just got beat. Oct. 25 in Baltimore (Colts 38, Packers 21) - "We didn't get to Unitas enough, but when we did he completed passes when he was hit. Unitas is the greatest I've ever seen. He does everything well." Nov. 1 in New York (Giants 20, Packers 3) - "We were just overpowered on offense. We couldn't move. I never should have started McHan." (Lamar McHan had a sore arm). Nov. 8 in Chicago (Bears 28, Packers 17) - "The best team didn't win. I thought we were the better football team. We should have won the game. The defense played a very adequate game but we made too many errors offensively. It wasn't the question of the play on the goal line, we just didn't block. We didn't have the punch down there." Nov. 15 in Milwaukee (Colts 28, Packers 24) - "We played the same kind of a game in the second half as we did in the first. We just did things a little better. At that, we played well enough to win. By that I don't mean that we were the better team today, but we played well enough to win. The other team played better." The 1960 championship season started out with a real shocker and Vince shouldered some of the blame himself. Here are his comments after the four league losses. Sept. 25 at Green Bay (Bears 17, Packers 14) - "The answer's not in the officiating (as suggested by questioners) or anything like that. We just didn't play a good ball game. We made too many mistakes. I probably should have substituted more freely but I was reluctant to because it was our first game. I will in the future. I played it too close." Nov. 6 at Baltimore (Colts 38, Packers 24) - "That was the best game I've ever seen the Packers play and I was mighty proud of the way they played offensively and defensively. We lost that game on four basic plays because of inexperienced personnel. I felt sorry for those two rookies (Wood and Pesonen). It was the pressure out there. Any other game and they would have been all right, but they did as well as they could." Nov. 20 at Milwaukee (Rams 33, Packers 31) - "We gave the ball up five times; that's five times too many. We weren't mentally ready to play a football game when we went out
there, but we fired up in the second half right after Moore's long run." Nov. 24 at Detroit (Lions 23, Packers 10) - "We were up for the game. I thought we were going to roll."...And then there was the championship game in Philadelphia last Dec. 26. In brief, here's how Vince put it on the line: "Our big trouble was we couldn't cash in our breaks. We played well enough defensively to win. We just couldn't bring the ball in and score." What will be, will be? When Dave Hanner became an unexpected victim of the surgeon's knife after the first league game, Lombardi put it this way: "It's something that happened that can't be helped. We'll just have to get along the best we can without him and hope that he'll be back real soon."
KENNEDY SIGNS PRO SPORTS TV POOL BILL
OCT 1 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - President Kennedy Saturday signed into law a bill permitting NFL teams to pool their television rights in a single package for sale to a network. Professional baseball, basketball and hockey leagues will have the same privilege. The law is especially important to the Green Bay Packers, whose television income in future years was seriously threatened when a federal court held in July that such a package deal violated the federal anti-trust laws. The new law exempts such deals from the anti-trust laws. The NFL earlier this year concluded a contract with the Columbia Broadcasting System, giving the network exclusive rights to televise all league games. At the same time the league members agreed the receipts from
the contract would be divided equally among all clubs. It was estimated that under the contract each team, including the Packers, would get $325,000 for their rights. Under the present contract the Packers have with CBS, which expires after this season, the Packers receive $100,000. The Packers are at a considerable disadvantage in selling television rights on an individual basis in comparison with clubs in large metropolitan cities. The markets covered by their telecasts are relatively small, except for Milwaukee, and entrance of the Minnesota Vikings into the league this year also complicated the picture since Packer broadcasts formerly took in Minnesota and other states to the west of there. General Manager Vince Lombardi expressed pleasure Saturday at the announcement. He said that while the CBS package contract applied to this season and that a new contract will have to be worked out for 1962 he was certain this would present no problem. While the federal court decision in July threw out the NFL package contract, the AFL is continuing to operate under a similar contract this year since theirs had never been challenged in court. It was this decision which led to the introduction of the legislation in Congress. The bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Cellar (D-BY), whose judiciary subcommittee had previously held hearings committee and House approval, and then went to the Senate, where it was passed on the last day of the present session. To protect college football, Congress wrote into the ball a provision preventing the telecasting of professional football games on Friday nights or Saturday within a 75-mile radius of a college game. The ban would be in force between the second Friday in September and the second Saturday in December.
