Green Bay Packers (5-1) 33, Minnesota Vikings (1-5) 7
Sunday October 22nd 1961 (at Minnesota)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(MINNESOTA) - A 79-yard touchdown pass from Bart Starr to Boyd Dowler. A 69-yard run by Tom Moore to set up a touchdown by Jim Taylor. A 21-yard touchdown run by Dan Currie with an interception. Four field goals by Paul Hornung. And from Chicago, a rip-roaring shutout victory by the Bears over the 49ers. The whole happy business gave Green Bay (1) a 33 to 7 Packer triumph over the new Minnesota Vikings in Metropolitan Stadium here Sunday afternoon and (2) sole possession of first place in the Western Division. The Packers, defending Western Division champs, are perches atop the division with a fine 5-1 record, while the Bears and 49ers are tied a full game behind, with 4-2 marks. Green Bay must fight off the Vikings again next Sunday - this time in Milwaukee. The Bears play the Colts in Baltimore and the 49ers play the Steelers in Pittsburgh. The Packers weren't the dedicated killers they were in wiping up the Browns in Cleveland a week ago, but they stacked up 467 yards (20 less than vs. the Browns) in scoring their fifth straight victory - longest GB win skein since 1944. The largest crowd ever to view a pro football game here, 42,007, saw the spunky Vikings stay in the game until the fourth quarter when the Bays broke away with 17 points. It was 10-0 at the first quarter mark; 13-7 at the half; and 16-7 going into the last frame. The Pack's terrifying twosome of Hornung and Taylor was slowed up by injuries suffered the previous week, but Moore backed up Hornung with a glittering performance and Taylor, though he was earmarked and gang tackled every time he carried, managed a touchdown and 46 yards in 14 carries. Moore, anchored by his 69-yard scamper, finished the afternoon with 159 yards in 16 rushes, one pass completion on the option play to Ron Kramer for 20 yards, and one reception for 11 yards. Tom's rush total was one yard higher than Taylor's 158 against the Browns and ranks as the third highest one-game total in Packer history. Only others better were 161 by Taylor in San Francisco last December and 167 by Billy Grimes in 1950. Benchman Hornung, who carried 17 yards in two runs, came up with 15 points on the four three-pointers and three extra points to boost his six-game total to 92. He had 83 points at the end of six games a year ago. While the Pack scored but two TDs from offense, Starr sent the Packers on four drives, three of which produced TDs. He hurled his long scoring pass to Dowler on the Pack's first play of the game. Hornung followed that up with his first field goal of 14 yards, for a 10-0 edge. Then came drives of 68, 67 and 57 to set up Hornung field goals of 18, 13 and 16 yards leading into the early minutes of the fourth period. That made it 19-7. Starr then snapped the team 82 yards, including Moore's long run, in five plays for the second TD. As a windup, Currie stole George Shaw's pass and ran for the final TD. The Packers piled up 241 yards rushing, an average of 6.9 per play, and 226 passing, with Starr hitting 9 out of 19 - a drop off from his 15 out of 17 last Sunday. Green Bay's
defense, though nicked for 328 yards, had the pleasure of allowing only seven points. That lone TD was a one-yard plunge by rookie QB Fran Tarkenton, climaxing an 11-play, 80-yard move. The Pack defense turned the ball over to the offense nine times by intercepting four passes, recovering three fumbles and forcing two punts. These "trades" came in handy because the Vikings had the ball for 69 offensive plays against the Pack's 55. Jerry Kramer did the kicking for Hornung, whose leg injury kept him from getting any real power into the ball. Jerry's first try wasn't encouraging. The ball fell off the tee just as he advanced, but on the next try the ball hit the end line. The Vikings started by controlling the ball for 3 minutes and 55 seconds before Mercer was forced to punt after 11 plays. The Bays scored in 16 seconds, at 4:11, when Dowler took off down the sidelines all but unnoticed. Starr dropped the ball in Dowler's arms on the Viking 40 and easily outraced Mostardi to the end zone. Hornung's kick made it 7-0. The Vikes made a first down and Hugh McElhenny was on his way to another when Ray Nitschke shook the ball loose and Willie Wood recovered on the Viking 37. Hornung went 15 on a sweep to the right and then Starr passed to Ron Kramer to the nine. Dick Pesonen, Don Joyce and Rip Hawkins helped stop the Bays so Hornung made it 10-0 with a field goal from the 14. Just before the quarter ended, Bill Quinlan ended a two-first-down drive by recovering Hayes' fumble. The Packers couldn't move so Dowler, from the Pack 25, let loose with a wonderful 75-yard punt into a stiff wind, the ball rolling into the end zone. Boyd finished with three punts and a 56.3 average for the day. The Vikings went on to score from the 20 in 11 plays. The big gainer was a 41-yard spring off right tackle by McElhenny as the Bays red-dogged. Willie Davis and John Symank finally brought Hugh down on the Packer 14. Four plays later, Tarkenton scored from a foot out. Mercer kicked the Vikings' last point and it was 10-7. Minnesota looked as if it would go in again when Hawkins intercepted Starr's pass and returned 17 yards to the Packer 42. But Currie knocked down a third down pass and Mercer's field goal try was wide from the 42. Late in the second period, Starr hit three successive passes - to Kramer for 14, McGee for 18 and Kramer again for 15 to the 18. Moore lost two yards on a third and two shot so Hornung field goaled from the 18 for a 13-7 score. The Packers received the second half kickoff and went in for a field goal. Starr's passes provided the big advances, Moore catching one for 11, McGee one for 13 and then another for 22 to the Viking 5. The attack bogged down and Hornung's kick from 13 yards out made it 16-7. An interception by Nitschke, ending a Viking threat, and an exchange of punts set off Hornung's fourth field goal, which ties a Packer record for FGs in one game he set in 1960 against Pittsburgh. Moore opened on the last play of the third period with a 14 yard run. The swift back then ran to his right and pitched to Kramer for 20 yards. Taking it on the third straight play, Moore ran 18 yards off right guard to the 14. The attack stalled again and Hornung kicked his fourth three-pointer for 19-7. The Vikings got it back for one play, a pass from Tarkenton to A.D. Williams, but Wood was the receiver instead, setting off the Pack's second TD. After an incompleted pass, Moore shot off right tackle and outraced everybody but Pesonen who came across and edged Moore out of bounds on the 13, ending a 69-yard chase. After Kramer made nine on a end-around play, Taylor went in standing up from the three. Hornung's boot made it 26-7. After Nitschke recovered McElhenny's fumble and Dowler just missed the corner with his punt, Currie intercepted a pass aimed at Williams and ran 21 yards into the end zone for his first major league TD. Hornung scored his 15th point of the day on the conversion. Shaw moved the Vikings into Packer territory on three first downs but the Bays took it away on downs. Elijah Pitts and Moore ran out the clock with three four-yard gains. And the Packers, looking at the 31-0 Bears on the scoreboard, marched off the field as Western Division leaders.
GREEN BAY - 10 3 3 17 - 33
MINNESOTA - 0 7 0 0 - 7
GREEN BAY MINNESOTA
First Downs 22 18
Rushing-Yards-TD 35-241-1 34-149-1
Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int 20-10-226-1-1 35-19-179-0-4
Sack Yards Lost 0-0 0-0
Total Yards 467 328
Fumbles-lost 0-0 4-3
Turnovers 1 7
Yards penalized 8-47 3-43
SCORING
1st - GB - Boyd Dowler, 78-yard pass from Bart Starr (Paul Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
1st - GB - Hornung, 14-yard field goal GREEN BAY 10-0
2nd - MINN - Fran Tarkenton, 1-yard run (Mike Mercer kick) GREEN BAY 10-7
2nd - GB - Hornung, 18-yard field goal GREEN BAY 13-7
3rd - GB - Hornung, 13-yard field goal GREEN BAY 16-7
4th - GB - Hornung, 16-yard field goal GREEN BAY 19-7
4th - GB - Jim Taylor, 3-yard run (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 26-7
4th - GB - Dan Currie, 21-yard interception return (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 33-7
RUSHING
GREEN BAY - Tom Moore 16-159, Jim Taylor 14-46 1 TD, Paul Hornung 2-17, Ron Kramer 1-10, Elijah Pitts 2-9
MINNESOTA - Hugh McElhenny 11-57, Ray Hayes 13-51, Fran Tarkenton 6-22 1 TD, George Shaw 1-16, Doug Mayberry 3-3
PASSING
GREEN BAY - Bart Starr 19-9-206 1 TD 1 INT, Tom Moore 1-1-20
MINNESOTA - Fran Tarkenton 24-15-130 3 INT, George Shaw 11-4-49 1 INT
RECEIVING
GREEN BAY - Ron Kramer 4-62, Max McGee 3-53, Boyd Dowler 2-100 1 TD, Tom Moore 1-11
MINNESOTA - Hugh McElhenny 6-41, Jerry Reichow 5-50, Ray Hayes 4-17, Gordie Smith 1-29, Dick Haley 1-22, Tommy Mason 1-12, Bob Schnelker 1-8
'THEY JUST NICKEL AND DIME YOU TO DEATH' - VAN BROCKLIN
OCT 23 (Minneapolis-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Greeks may not have a word for it - but a Dutchman named Van Brocklin had a few well chosen. The rookie coach of the Minnesota Vikings, who has a flair for such things, tilted back his close-cropped head, studied the light blue ceiling in his commodious office, and pinpointed the Packer formula thusly: "Lombardi doesn't try to be cute. He just keeps hitting you and pretty soon something comes out. It's as simple as that." This, the battered by unbowed Dutchman intimated, is what has befallen his embryonic Vikings (now 1-5) before the first full house in Metropolitan Stadium's first pro football history here Sunday afternoon. "The Packers aren't an explosive team," Van Brocklin observed. "Very seldom will they get the long ball, very seldom. They just nickel and dime you to death." Although his highly combative Minnesotans had been "nickeled and dimed to death," they had not left him without a modicum of solace, Van imparted. "We did a good job on Taylor. We tried to take their weak side running away from 'em - and we did a pretty good job," he said, with the faintest trace of a smile. "In fact, the only run Jim Taylor made was from the strong side." Some killjoy than had to mention Bob Schnelker's drop of a "touchdown" pass from George Shaw in the fourth quarter. "The ball game was over for him," the erstwhile Philadelphia Eagle field general said dryly. "But there's no excuse for that. It was a perfect pass." As an old quarterback, had he been satisfied with the conduct of his prize rookie, Fran Tarkenton? "I was satisfied to the extent that he made the club move," Dutch replied, "and because he carried out our plan better than we have had it done up to this point." "He didn't throw too well (despite a 13-for-20 completion record in the first half), but he gained some experience,
which he has to have," Van Brocklin said matter-of-factly. The Viking's youthful headmaster rated the skittish freshman from Georgia, "a scrambler type - like Tittle. He'll be a pretty good ball player but he's got to have some work, that's for sure." On another subject, Van Brocklin said he has no misgivings about playing the Packers again within the space of seven days. "I'd just as soon play them next week as three weeks from now," he declared, without hesitation. "This way, we don't have to prepare for another club," he pointed out with unassailable logic. "We may see something in the films - and that's all we need." Around the corner, a disgruntled Tarkenton didn't agree with Van Brocklin's estimate of his performance. Head hanging, he said with a wry drawl, "I can't have had too much worse a day than I had in the second half. I hope I'm not that bad every day." Waste of opportunities had undermined the Vikings, he added. "We should have scored on them more than we did," the crew cut minister's son complained. "We didn't take advantage of our opportunities."...The victor, Vincent Thomas Lombardi, felt his Packers "could have played better" but was nonetheless impressed with the enemy. "The Vikings were aroused, I think," he confided with a chuckle as he lolled back on a chair in front of his locker. "They played very good ball in the first half, especially defensive." They hadn't been too passive offensively, either, he noted. Pointing to Dave Hanner, peeling off his togs a few feet away, Vince observed. "Look at this guy with four stitches in his knee (from which Hawg was then stripping a blood-stained bandage). He must have lost a quart of blood." "Shucks, it's nothing," Hawg protested, displaying a deeply crimson left leg. "It's just skinned." Lombardi grinned appreciably, and, turning back to strategy, volunteered, "You could tell they were out to stop Taylor - and they did a pretty good job." "They play very spirited ball," he added. "They are going to be a good ball club." Then perhaps remembering he must play these same Vikings again next Sunday, he appended with a grin, "they have a good one now. Certainly, they're much finer than Dallas was a year ago." How had he found Tarkenton? "He gave us a lot of trouble pulling the ball - pulling the ball down and running with it. He must have made a hundred yards, didn't he?" What had forced Paul Hornung's early withdrawal? "He re-injured his leg," Vince informed. "He had a pulled muscle before the game and he re-pulled it early in the first quarter." All of which prompted the inevitable: What of Hornung's military status (it was announced last week he has been called up for Army service Oct. 30)? And who will kick field goals when he leaves? "We're not worried about it yet," Lombardi said. "We'll worry about that if and when he goes." Asked if he thought Peerless Paul might be deferred to finish the NFL season, Vince dismissed the query with dispatch. "I don't know," he said, "and I'm not going to talk about it." Another question, asking his reaction to the Bear's defusing of San Francisco's shot gun, brought abrupt change, Vince grinned and declared, "I'm glad. It proves that damn thing can be stopped. Everybody was worried about it." This moved somebody to interject the now traditional "it's a tough league" platitude. It drew an immediate and fervent "amen" from Signor Lombardi. "Every week it's a dog fight," he rapped. "If you're not ready to play, you're going to get licked." "Too many games," he added with a sigh. "Fourteen is too many games. This (the Packers had just played their sixth) should be half the season and it's only a third."...PROPHETIC: "Now look out," somebody muttered in the press box as the Packers went on offense for the fist time in the opening quarter. Seconds later, Boyd Dowler gathered in a Bart Starr bomb and ankled into the Viking end zone...CAPTAIN DICK: Dick Wildung, the former Minnesota All-American who went up to become captain of the Packers and an all-pro tackle, was among the 40,000-odd witnesses. Now a resident of Redwood Falls, Minn., where he sells heavy highway equipment, he found his 1961 Packers "quite a football team." "They were a little off their feet today," Dick admitted, "but that was to be expected after what they did to the Browns last week. You can see they've got it." The father of four children, two sons and two daughters, Wildung has one offspring carrying on the family football game. A junior, "he plays end for Redwood Falls High School," Dick reported, adding with a grin, "he's real tall and skinny."...ADDED SUPPORT: At least one temporary St. Paul resident was yelling for the Packers yesterday. That would be Vince Lombardi, Jr., presently holding forth at fullback for St. Thomas College, who sat on the Packer bench...BUDDIES?: Lee Folkins, the towering rookie end from Washington, is sporting a somewhat enlarged proboscis, souvenir of a collision with teammate Lew Carpenter when they crisscrossed to scissor the Vikings' Tommy Mason on a kickoff. Carpenter was also knocked sill on the play. Mason? "I guess he got away from us," Lee said ruefully, "I don't know how. We were tackling Mason - then the next thing I knew I was on the sidelines walking around."
HORNUNG PRAISES MOORE; 'HAD MY NUMBER,' TAYLOR
OCT 23 (Minneapolis-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - "It's a good thing I'm going into service." The speaker was Paul Hornung, swinging into the Packers' airport-bound bus just outside Metropolitan Stadium Sunday afternoon, and the beaming recipient of this indirect bouquet was Tom Moore, the rugged, high-stepping sophomore from little old Goodletsville, Tenn. It was a high compliment, considering the author, who has been ordered to Army duty Oct. 30, is ranked by football's most knowledgeable as the greatest all-around performer in the game today. But deserved, nonetheless. The strapping (6-2, 215) Vanderbilt alumnus leaped into the breach seconds after Hornung re-pulled a muscle in his left leg in the first quarter - and the results were sufficient to allay most fears over the quality of Green Bay's "infantry" division should Hornung be required to trade moleskin for khaki. One of the first to take note for this was Viking Coach Norm Van Brocklin. "That's quite a drop from Hornung to Moore," he said ironically in the wake of Tom's electrifying 159-yard performance. "He's just as big - and just as strong." Moore, who scored five touchdowns last year as a rookie despite infrequent employment (then as now, he played behind Hornung and Jim Taylor), amassed 69 of those yards in a single fourth quarter sortie, the longest run of his young pro career. "There was a big hole," he explained with customary modesty. "After I broke through and to the outside, Dowler got in front of me. There was a guy coming across and I kept motioning to Boyd to take him - and he did - but Dick Pesonen (a 1960 teammate) came up the field from the inside and knocked me out of bounds." Those 159, incidentally, were the most yards the talented Tennessean ever accumulated in a single afternoon - despite the fact he churned for 1,606 in three Vanderbilt seasons to break the school's all-time rushing record set by Herb Rich. "I think I had 130 once when I was in school against Alabama," said Tom as he leafed through a magazine at the airport newsstand, adding with typical unconcern for such items, "or maybe it was Virginia." His ball carrying colleague, Jim Taylor, who has somewhat less success on this occasion, noted with a sardonic grin, "It looked like they had my number - they were waiting in the holes. Do you think," he grinned again, "they looked at the Cleveland pictures?" Dowler, relaxing on airport steps as he awaited the plane's departure, reported Viking defensive back Rich Mostardi "had a shot at me" on that picture play collaboration with Bart Starr in the first quarter. "When I caught the ball, he was farther downfield than I was," Boyd said. "I guess maybe he thought I was going to do something. But when he did commit himself, I was away." How did he explain his other first period spectacular, a 75-yard punt into the wind? "The ball was going end to end, not spiraling diagonally as it usually does," the ex-Colorado quarterback said. "And I think it might have been riding the wind - it looked that way." Asked about his brief altercation with the Vikes' Jerry Reichow, Willie Wood revealed, "That happened on Gremminger's interception. I went up to block and Reichow took a swing at me - just like this. He missed and his arm came around and hooked my helmet off," Willie, still a little miffed over the incident, added, "I wanted to hit him but it wouldn't have been worth it. We'd have gotten a penalty and I would have been thrown out of the game and fined." The seldom off-key Starr, who had been below his dazzling 61.7 passing percentage for the afternoon, refused to alibi. "I'd like to blame it on the wind (it reached 26 miles per hour), but I can't," Bart insisted. "I couldn't hit anything today. And it wasn't because of the pass protection - it was terrific." His colleagues, asked about Fran Tarkenton, Starr's opposite number with the Vikings, were unanimous in the opinion that the Viking freshman is courting disaster with his penchant for deserting the "pocket." "You can't catch him," big Bill Quinlan conceded. "He runs like a beaver. We don't know if he can pass - he's always running. But you always catch up with a guy like that." Bruising, barrel-chested Ray Nitschke, like Hornung recently ordered to report for Army duty ten days hence, wasn't entirely satisfied with his performance, which included an interception and recovery of a fumble - plus an assortment of crushing tackles. "I overran McElhenny that one time," he said with a shake of his massive head. "Other than that, I guess I had a pretty good day. We were down, of course, after beating the Browns that way - but we'll be ready next week. We're a better defensive team than we showed today." Asked if he had attempted to arrange a deferment, he responded with a philosophical grin, "No, I didn't. When you've got to go, you've got to go." He added wistfully, "I really hate to, though I know it's a long season and a lot can happen but things have been looking good. I've been waiting to play in a world championship in Green Bay ever since I've been here - I like Green Bay."
PACKERS AHEAD OF 1960 PACE
OCT 24 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - So the Packers have played six games. A year ago, we could say the season was half over. But times have changed and the Packers are now faced with a 14-game schedule; they have eight more rough games coming up, starting with the Vikings in Milwaukee Sunday. Since the six-game mark was a sort of cross in the road for so many years, let's compare the progress thus far this year with the six-game figures in the Pack's Western Championship year of 1960: We're happy to report that the Packers are riding ahead of their '60 pace in the three departments which mean the most: (1) wins-losses, (2) points scored and (3) points allowed. This, then, shows a definite improvement over a year ago. So let us rejoice this day but remember: There are eight tomorrows. The current Packers are leading the Western Division with a 5-1 record. The six-game record a year ago was 4-2. The Pack's first six foes in '60 were, in order: Bears, Lions, Colts, 49ers, Steelers and Colts. The Bays lost to the Bears, won the next four, and then lost to the Colts. The present Packers lost to the Lions and then won the next five. Pointage? The 1961 Packers, leading the league in points scored and allowed, are producing an average game score of 32.2 to 9.6. That's right healthy. A year ago after six, the average was 26.8 to 18.6. Strictly on the basis of those figures, the Pack defense is twice as tough as it was a year ago and the offense has improved by about one touchdown. The Pack's biggest explosion occurred in the last three games when they outscored the Colts, Browns and Vikings by 127 to 31 - an average score of 42.3 to 10.3. The current Packers have scored 194 points and allowed 58. A year ago, after six, the Pack scored 161 and permitted 112. The toughest road for the Pack is ahead. They are now in the midst of a five-game travel card, although the Bays will wear the home uniforms next Sunday. After Milwaukee, the Bays play at Baltimore and Chicago before spending a Saturday night at home, which would precede the Ram game here. Then, it's the Lions in Detroit (Thanksgiving Day), the Giants in Milwaukee, and the two on the coast...The Packers' victory over the Vikings - a comedown from the win over the Browns but still mighty refreshing - was viewed by Coach Vince Lombardi and Aides Phil Bengtson, Red Cochran, Norb Hecker and Bill Austin Monday and then again by the staff and the players this morning. With the same foe coming up, the Packers and the films served as their own scouts - a unique situation and the only one like it in the league this year. The pictures, Cochran said, showed the Packers did not have a peak performance "but it's always nice to win." The Packers were faced with a highly-keyed Viking team - a circumstance they can expect from all opponents from now on. The question today is the condition of the Bays' noted backfield combo of Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor. Hornung re-pulled a muscle in his leg and left the game early. Tom Moore replaced him and put on a terrific performance, rushing for 159 yards, throwing a pass for 20 yards, catching one for 11, and returning two kickoffs for 52 yards. Taylor had back and leg hurts going in Sunday's battle, the result of a peak showing against the Browns, and had some trouble in Minneapolis. On top of that, the Vikings stacked everything in front of him. Taylor wound up with 46 yards in 14 carries to give him 564 yards in 95 attempts for an average of 5.9. After six games a year ago, he had 540 yards in 128 attempts. Lombardi, in preparing for the longer schedule, said earlier that he hoped to level off some on the number of carries for Taylor and Hornung. Jim has averaged about 15 trips per game against 21 in the first six games last year. Hornung has carried 53 times for 296 yards thus far this year against 79 trips for 378 yards in the first six games last year, although the injuries cut him down to two carries Sunday.
QUINLAN WOULD LIKE AN INTERCEPTION OR RECOVERY
OCT 24 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Interceptions are hard to come by for defensive linemen. So it's no wonder that the Packers' Bill Quinlan feels he was robbed when the official scorer ruled a fumble recovery for Ray Nitschke in the fourth quarter at Minneapolis Sunday. "I had it right in my hands; it was an interception or my recovery," Quinlan winked. And Dave Hanner added: "You'd better check into it." It's okay with Nitschke, "Do what you want with it. I had it for awhile, and then lost it. Give it to anybody," said the big linebacker. It was sort of a billiard shot and a valuable on since the Bays took the ball away at midfield. The Vikings had a billiard shot of their own in the first quarter and it precipitated a brief complaint from the Pack. Fran Tarkenton blazed a strike up the middle to Bob Schnelker. The ball sailed off Schnelker's fingertips and 10 yards downfield into the arms of Gerry Reichow for a total gain of 29 yards. That's illegal unless a member of the opposing team touched the ball en route from the first receiver. The official ruled that a Packer touched it before the final Viking receiver. The rule is designed to prevent receivers from tipping from tipping the receiver to each other. Here are some reminders out of Sunday's game notebook: RON KRAMER AND 24-54-22: The strong, silent offensive end who's built like a tackle this year caught a Starr pass and tan 14 yards with these three numbered Vikings trying to pull him down. Kramer dragged the three of them five yards before getting downed. Getting the free ride in first quarter were Ric Mostardi, 24, Karl Rubke, 54, and Dick Pesonen, 22...CIGARS, BIRTH: Somebody from the Viking management passed out cigars in the press box during the game. Setting in the corner of the cigar box was a Viking figurine. The blessed event, of course, was the birth of the Vikings...DOWNFIELD SPEED: When Hugh McElhenny got away for a 41-yard chase in the second quarter, he was caught from behind on the Packer 14 by Johnny Symank, and, of all people, Willie Davis. That's a long dash for a defensive end and comes under the heading of "pursuit."...VOLLEYBALL: Big Dan Currie made like a spiker in a volleyball match when he reached up high and batted down a pass by Fran Tarkenton in the second quarter. It was a third down save and forced a punt...IMPACT, J. KRAMER: Tom Moore is a mighty fast back and he sometimes gets out in front of his guards before turning the corner. On a third and two situation in the second quarter. Moore went around his own left end and sliced inside Jerry Kramer. Tom got the full impact of a hard tackle by Rip Hawkins - and lost two yards...CHEER FOR HAYES: The crowd gave a well-deserved cheer for the big rookie fullback, Raymond Hayes, when he displayed so much effort and drive on a five-yard gain in the third quarter. It was a third down play and it took four Packers to bring him down. Hayes wound up with 51 yards in 13 trips.
PACK OVER HALF WAY TO 'THEFT' GOAL
OCT 25 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers had set a goal of 30 interceptions for the 14-game 1961 schedule. They already have stolen 19 enemy passes in the first six games, leaving them only 11 short of the target. The 19 steals tops the league. The Rams are next with 15 and three clubs have 14 each, Giants, Steelers and Cowboys. Defense backfield coach Norb Hecker feels that "it will be tougher to intercept passes as the season wears on. We're off to a good start but the other team have been throwing the ball more because they've been behind. But our whole defense has improved and that has helped make interceptions. We'd like to get 30 for the season - a little over two a game. Just remember, the team that leads the league in interceptions generally wins the championship." The Packers returned their 19 interceptions 304 yards - a figure that also tops the league. Incidentally, the Pack holds the league record for the most interceptions in one season - 42 in 1943, with Irv Comp and Don Hutson intercepting 10 and 8, respectively. The 1952 Rams, with Hecker as one of the defense backs, hold the mark for most yards with interceptions, 712 with 38 interceptions. "That's the year Night Train (Lane) set the record with 14 and it's still standing," Hecker said, adding: "But Sample's got eight already and he could break it." Johnny Sample, shifted with Big Daddy Lipscomb by the Colts to Pittsburgh, returned his eight 114 yards. The Packers' interceptions are well distributed, with Johnny Symank getting four and Jess Whittenton, Dan Currie and Hank Gremminger three each. Ray Nitschke and Willie Wood each intercepted two and Bill Forester and Dave Hanner have one apiece. Thus, the secondarymen stole 12, the linebackers 6 and lineman Hanner 1. One has been turned into a touchdown, Currie's 21-yard runback last
Sunday, but Hanner was robbed of a TD on a quick whistle in the Colt game. The Packers are fast approaching their 12-game total for the 1960 season when they intercepted 22 passes and returned them 358 yards. Offensively, official figures also revealed today that the Packers have taken over as the total offense yardage leaders in the league. Green Bay moved nearly 1,000 yards in the last two games, including 487 against the Browns and 467 vs. the Vikings, to produce a total of 2,156 in five games. San Francisco is slightly back with 2,142. The Bays also emerged as the rushing kings at the six-game mark, with 1,122 yards, and that figure attests to the power running of Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung, and now Tom Moore. Taylor carried 95 times for 594 yards. Hornung 53 for 299 and Moore 33 for 214. Only one other team exceeded 1,000 yards in rushing - the 49ers with 1,087. The Packers are averaging 5.7 yards per carry, the 49ers 5.1. The Pack average tops the league...BRIEFS: The Packers heard no scout report after Tuesday's usually light drill since they play the Vikings again in Milwaukee Sunday. "We were our own scouts," said Bill Forester. Scout Wally Cruice usually gives his report to the team on Tuesday noon. Coach Vince Lombardi and aides Phil Bengtson, Bill Austin, Red Cochran and Hecker stayed on yesterday to work on the upcoming game...Former Packer Dick Pesonen, who played right corner for the Vikings Sunday, says Moore "gets those knees up. He's a tough man to bring down." Pesonen caught up with Moore when Tom scooted 69 yards to set up the Pack's second TD early in the fourth quarter.
VIKINGS ADD DEAN DERBY
OCT 25 (Minneapolis-St. Paul) - The Minnesota Vikings put veteran end Bob Schnelker and halfback Dick Haley on waivers today and claimed Dean Derby of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Schnelker and Haley were snapped up by Pittsburgh. Bert Rose, general manager of the Vikings, said the swap among the NFL teams would be completed tomorrow. Viking coach Van Brocklin said Derby, a five-year veteran and an all-pro selection in 1959, would start at left safety in Sunday's replay with the Green Bay Packers in Milwaukee.
SEN. WILEY URGES HORNUNG, NITSCHKE SEEK DEFERMENT
OCT 25 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Sen. Alexander Wiley today asked the Defense Dept. to give consideration to the deferment of Paul Hornung and Ray Nitschke, Green Bay Packer football players, for the balance of the current season. Wiley stated he is aware of the need for additional manpower in the armed forces, but also cited the need to maintain high morale among civilians. Hornung and Nitschke have orders to report for active service following this Sunday's game in Milwaukee with the Minnesota Vikings. Wiley said the callup of Hornung and Nitschke has evoked protests from persons in many walks of life.
DOWLER CALLED; TEAM MORALE 'GOOD'
OCT 26 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Paul Hornung, Ray Nitschke...and now Boyd Dowler. They are three of the Packers' 22 offensive and defensive starters, and, barring possible changes in orders, they'll be playing their last game of the 1961 season against the Vikings in Milwaukee Sunday. Nitschke and Dowler have been ordered to report to the 32nd Army Division at Fort Lewis, Wash., next week Friday, and Hornung is ordered to Fort Riley, Kan., Monday. All three are front-liners. And, as Coach Vince Lombardi said today: "You can't lose three front line players like Hornung, Dowler and Nitschke and note expect to get hurt. There's bound to be a drop off." Vince, faced with probably the severest mid-season loss in major league sports, noted that "the morale of the team is good." The three players haven't departed yet and all good Packer Backers are hoping these days that they can still remain over for the rest of the season - a matter of two months. Hornung could be deferred because of a pinched nerve in his shoulder. It has bothered him some in the last few years. He underwent a physical examination at the Army's recruiting center in Milwaukee and the results were forwarded to the 5th Army Surgeon General in Chicago. Lombardi said he had no idea when a decision would be received. He could get word ever after reporting to Fort Riley. Army officials in Milwaukee indicated that a decision might be due in 48 hours. However, in some cases, examinations are forwarded to Washington. Normally, Hornung would receive his physical at Fort Riley, but any reserve member has a right to request a physical exam nearer home if he has reason to believe he may have a disability. Hornung had considerable trouble with the pinched nerve last season and missed part of the championship game. The Packers thus approach the turning point of the season facing the possible loss of the trio. Sunday's battle is the halfway mark. A victory would give Green Bay a fine 6-1 record - a vital necessity - in case. Dowler, the Packers' flanker back for three straight years, noted the switching of Dean Derby from the Steelers to the Vikings with interest. "They're going to put him at left safety, which is against me," Dowler said, adding: "When we played Pittsburgh last year, Derby was at the left corner." Dowler caught four passes for 54 yards against Pitt, including a spectacular grab that set up the winning touchdown in the last few seconds. Boyd picked off two for 100 yards from Bart Starr against the Vikings in Minneapolis, including a 79-yard touchdowner on the first play of the game. Rich Mostardi was "on" Dowler for the Vikings but he'll probably be benched in favor of Derby. After Sunday? Dowler, just starting to come into his own as a punter, would be replaced at flanker by Lew Carpenter and/or Herb Adderley. The versatile Carpenter plays all the end spots, while Adderley has been drilled at flanker...TUNE OF 159 YARDS: Tom Moore would step into Hornung's halfback shoes, as he did to the tune of 159 yards last Sunday, while Tom Bettis is the likely replacement for Nitschke. Two of the three hold "best performances" for the season thus far in the league's individual statistics. Dowler entered the charmed circle with a 75-yard punt against the Vikings - longest in the league this year, and finished with a 56-yard average for three punts. The big Sunday moved him into third place with an average of 4.5.5 behind Yale Lary and Bobby Green. Hornung's "best performance" was his 33-point splurge in the victory over the Colts here. Hornung holds a 32-point lead over Lenny Moore in the league scoring race. Hornung and Lou Groza are tied in field goals, with 11 apiece. Starr, with nine completions in 19 attempts last Sunday, moved into second place among the passers. Sonny Jurgensen is rated first and Milt Plum third. The Vikings' Fran Tarkenton is rated 10th....TAYLOR REMAINED IN FIRST: Jim Taylor remained in first place in his duel with Cleveland's Jim Brown for the league's rushing title. Brown reeled off 114 yards against Pittsburgh while Taylor was held to 46 by the Vikings. Thus, Taylor has a 63-yard lead on Brown. The Packer FB has 30 less carries, 125 to 95, and holds a handsome average of 5.9 against Brown's 4.0. In other departments, Max McGee is six catches behind the leader, with 24, while Willie Wood tops the punt returners with his 25.1 average. Kickoff return is the only department the Packers are unrepresented, but nobody's complaining. It means that the Bays are scoring the touchdowns and kicking off to the other teams.
VAN BROCKLIN LAYS DOWN LAW TO VIKES
OCT 26 (Minneapolis-St. Paul) - Minnesota Coach Norm Van Brocklin, who has listened to five weeks of condolences after Vikings' losses, decided to crack down on his fledgling squad this week. After releasing veteran end Bob Schnelker and flanker Dick Haley via the waiver route Tuesday, the first-year coach warned his squad that any man "not willing to pay the price of playing 60 minutes of football" is in danger of losing his job. "We don't have to keep 42 men on the squad," Van Brocklin barked. "We don't even have to keep 36 men. Anyone who is just playing out his contract will go." Van Brocklin said neither Schnelker, a veteran of nine years in the NFL, nor Haley, a second-year man, "have been doing the job for us." Both were immediately picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers. To fill the void, Van Brocklin picked up defensive safety Dean Derby from the Steelers and brought defensive corner Justin Rowland off the taxi squad. "We have to strengthen our defensive secondary," said Van Brocklin, explaining why he switched two offensive players for a pair of defensive men. "After all, we're last in the league in defense." Van Brocklin said Fred Murphy and rookie Gordon Smith of Missouri would handle the tight end slot, while defensive back Will Sherman will get a shot at the flanker position. Another possible lineup switch may result from Frank Youso's operation Tuesday for four fractures of the right cheekbone. If Youso cannot play, either guard Bob Denton or Paul Dickson will start in his offensive tackle slot. Van Brocklin feels he has a good football team, "good enough to win some ball games. I'm sick and tired of people telling me what an entertaining game we played after we lose. I'll never be satisfied when we lose." The Minnesota coach says his team can beat Green Bay Sunday, "but only if everyone puts out 100 percent and works together as a team."
STATE LOVES PACK - FIGURES PROVE IT
OCT 27 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - They love the Packers in Wisconsin. The 1961 Packers have played six games thus far, including four league battles, and drew a total of 236,326 fans for an average of 39,387. The four league games pulled 160,314 - an average of 40,078. The two non-leaguers pulled 76,012, or an average of 38,006. The Packers play the Vikings in Milwaukee County Stadium Sunday and the attendance may reach 44,000, thus pulling the Pack's average over the magic 40,000 mark. With more seats in Green Bay, the big crowds in Milwaukee, and one more league game, the Packers are a shoo-in to break the record of 205,423 set last year for six home league games. In fact, that mark will just about fall Sunday. After Sunday, the Packers have two more scheduled home battles - the Rams in Green Bay Nov. 19 and the Giants in Milwaukee Dec. 3...Paul Hornung has been directed to report Monday to the U.S. Navy Hospital in Great Lakes, Ill., for further examination and an evaluation of his condition. Headquarters of the Firth Army in Chicago issued this statement today: "Paul Hornung of the Green Bay Packers has orders to report to the U.S. Navy Hospital at Great Lakes, Ill., on Monday morning, Oct. 30, for examination and evaluation of his physical condition. It is expected that results of this evaluation will not be available for about 10 days." Originally, Hornung had been ordered to report to Fort Lewis, Wash., Nov. 3...The Packers have now accepted the fact that the three
players will be lost. "We'll have to get along without them," Coach Vince Lombardi noted today as the Packers tapered off in their workouts for the Vikings. Everybody had held out some hope that the three players would be allowed to finish out their five-month employment. Vince said he hadn't heard anything new "so I suppose they are all going."...The problems of opening a new franchise in the NFL are many. Everybody needs a little training, including the sportswriters. Usually, the hometown writers don't like to make nasty and/or saucy remarks about the opposition for fear they'll wind up on the bulletin board in the dressing rooms and thus inspire the foe. Brother Don Riley of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, after viewing the Packers' 33-7 victory over the Vikings in Minneapolis, wrote the following paragraph: "Starr Sparks Packers - Here's a lucky guy, Bart Starr can't run much. Throws like an old maid paying a nightclub tab. And is about as inspirational as a tour through the city dump. But he's walking, talking proof that a quarterback doesn't necessarily make a football team. Green Bay's great in spite of Starr; not because of him. The Packers' running power and defense do the job and Starr gets a free ride to the bank." Riley, you said the wrong thing...The Packers will try the train this weekend. They'll leave for Milwaukee on the 7:50 North Western Saturday morning and then drill at County Stadium after arrival. Headquarters will be at Astor Hotel. The return trip will be made by bus from the Stadium right after the game...The Vikings have added five players and dropped three for Sunday's game. Gene Johnson, Rich Mostardi and LeBaron Shields won't suit up. Their places on the roster will be taken by Dave Middleton, Charley Sumner and Fred Murphy. Replacing Bob Schnelker and Dick Haley, who were traded, are Justin Rowland and Dean Derby. Three changes will be made in the starting defensive lineup. Derby and Sumner will start in the secondary and Jim Leo will open at left end in place of Shields.
PACK LINE ONE OF BEST OF ALL TIME: CURLY
OCT 27 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The founder and first coach of the Green Bay Packers believes the offensive line of the 1961 Packer team one of the best of all time. Earl (Curly) Lambeau, who coached the Packers to six NFL championships, paid a glowing tribute Thursday night to the current squad. Lambeau directed the Packers from the time they were organized in 1919 to 1949. He spoke at a testimonial dinner for Charles (Buckets) Goldenberg, one of his players from 1935 through 1941. Lambeau said: "Never in my life have I seen an offensive line like the one operating for the Packers this year. That front line, especially from tackle to tackle, is really big and can move. This club is a powerhouse, with unusual talent. Unless some unforeseen misfortune befalls this team, it should go all the way. Of course, much depends, too, on how many players Uncle Sam takes away from Vince Lombardi, a great coach, by the way." Others who paid tribute to Goldenberg were Johnny Blood, another former Packer great; Clarence Shutes, who coached Buckets at West Division High School; George Lamphear, of the University of Wisconsin, and Vern Woodward, assistant Wisconsin football coach. Judge Robert C. Cannon was master of ceremonies. About 300 persons attended the dinner at which Goldenberg was presented a plaque.
SPECIAL HELMET ALLOWS VIKES' YOUSO TO PLAY
OCT 27 (Minneapolis-St. Paul) - Frank Youso, equipped with a special bracing helmet to prevent his helmet from squeezing his cheekbone, was pronounced ready to go today as the Minnesota Vikings continued preparations for Sunday's game with Green Bay. Youso, whose cheekbone was cracked in last week's loss to the Packers, underwent an operation Tuesday, but was back in uniform Thursday. He is expected to start, with former guard Bob Denton ready to back him up. Coach Norm Van Brocklin also announced several other changes in his lineup, including instatement of newcomer Dean Derby at one safety slot and the return to action of offensive end Dave Middleton, out two weeks with a knee injury. Another move finds corner man Juston Rowland being brought up to the playing squad to help out in the defensive secondary. Van Brocklin said he will again start quarterback Fran Tarkenton and fullback Ray Hayes, both rookies. The two started last week, being inserted, Van Brocklin said, to operate a running and short passing game. Players not making the trip this week include safeties Rich Mostardi and Gene Johnson and defensive end Lebron Shields. All are suffering from minor injuries.
COUNTY STADIUM JINXY? PACKERS LOST FOUR OF FIVE THERE
OCT 28 (Milwaukee-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - There doesn't seem to be anything jinxy about County Stadium. Nobody had to sweep out any black cats when the Packers drilled there this morning. But the Packers have had a rough time winning in the Braves' ballpark since Vince Lombardi came upon the Packer scene in 1959. Before Vince's arrival, the Pack had trouble winning anywhere. The Packers have played 30 league games thus far under Lombardi, and, hurrah, they've won 20 of them. Five games were played in County Stadium and the Bays lost four of them. The other six losses were distributed as follows: One in Green Bay (out of 11) and five outside the provinces of Wisconsin (out of 14). In 1959, the Packers won three straight in Green Bay and then ran into the Rams in Milwaukee. LA put out the stumbling block, 45-6. In the nightcap there, the Colts downed the Pack 28-24 in a thriller. Green Bay won its only game here in 1960, whaling the 49ers, 41 to 14, but then lost a heart-stopper to the Rams 33-31 for a split of the two-game card. The Milwaukee card for 1961 contains three games and, alas, the Pack has lost one of them, that 17-13 business in the league opener with Detroit. Two more games are left in County Stadium and the Bays hope to get back on the Milwaukee winning track. First sends the Pack against the Vikings Sunday and the final is against the Giants Dec. 3. Sunday's game will draw a sellout of close to 44,000 fans. Kickoff is set for 1:06. Three Packers may be playing their last game of 1961 - Paul Hornung, Ray Nitschke and Boyd Dowler. Nitschke and Dowler are scheduled to report for Army service at Fort Lewis, Wash., next Friday. Hornung, originally called to Fort Riley, Kan., will got to the Great Lakes Naval Training Base to undergo an additional physical examination. Hornung had been examined in Milwaukee last week and the results were forwarded to Fifth Army headquarters at Chicago. The Bays are staying at the Astor Hotel here.
BYRNES SAYS: SET NATIONAL POLICY ON DRAFT OF GRID STARS
OCT 28 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Army should set a national policy to consider deferring professional football players until the end of the season, Rep. John Byrnes said here this morning. "Whatever the policy is, it should be uniform," he went on. Byrnes said he had encouraged Army officials in Washington to set down a policy which would apply to every man in the NFL. "This is a league matter, and should be handled by the league," Byrnes said. "I understand there has been at least one deferment," said the Eighth Dist. representative, referring to former Packer Lamar McHan, now with the Baltimore Colts. "Other than encouraging a national policy, I'm not going to get involved. But I do think the Army should consider deferring the players until the end of the season, which is only about 45 days," he concluded. Sen. Alexander Wiley (R-Wis) said earlier this week that fans of the Green Bay Packers had requested help from him to seek deferments until the end of the season for three players called to active military duty, including halfback Paul Hornung, linebacker Ray Nitschke and slotback Boyd Dowler. Wiley complied, and Friday two Republican congressmen from the state were down his back. Rep. Alvin E. O'Konski said "chaos" would result if military deferments were given to entertainment figures such as professional football stars. "I am not in favor of selecting individual football stars for deferment," said Rep. Melvin Laird, "This is certainly not in the national interest." Hornung was scheduled to report to Ft. Riley, Kan., Oct. 30, but obtained a temporary stay when he was ordered into a Navy hospital for a 10-day, thorough physical...REPORT NOV. 3: Nitschke and Dowler are due to report at Ft. Lewis, Wash., Nov. 3, for a year's active duty with Wisconsin's 32nd National Guard Division. O'Konski, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said deferments to the football players "would be an insult to the gallant sacrifices made by members of the 32nd Division." Laird said "fathers with 11 children, fathers with brain tumors and broken legs and arms have not asked for deferments. Entire families of three boys have been called up. Many who have so willingly responded have lost homes, families and businesses."
PACKERS SHOOT FOR 6TH STRAIGHT WIN VS. VIKINGS
OCT 29 (Milwaukee-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers shoot for their sixth straight victory in County Stadium this afternoon at the expense of the highly-chagrined Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are smarting from two whippings - a 33 to 7 loss to the Pack in Minneapolis last Sunday and a tongue lashing from Coach Norm Van Brocklin during the week. Today's game ends the first half of the 1961 NFL season and ranks as a key factor in the Pack's chances of repeating as Western Division champions. More than 40,000 fans, close to 44 if predicted rain holds off, will watch what looms as a game to remember since it might be the final action this season for three Green Bay stars - Paul Hornung, Ray Nitschke and Boyd Dowler. Nitschke and Dowler will join the Army at Ft. Lewis, Wash., next Friday and Hornung is scheduled to report to Great Lakes Monday for additional physical tests and an evaluation of an earlier exam, which revealed a pinched shoulder nerve. As of Saturday, all three still held out some hope of possibly remaining for the rest of the season. Bill Forester put it this way: "If the Colts can get Lamar McHan deferred until the end of the season because of seasonal occupation, there's no reason why we can't get our three deferred for the same reason." Hornung, scheduled originally to report to Ft. Riley, Kan., Monday, isn't likely to pass the earlier examination and the additional test is merely to "verify" the final exam. Regardless of what happens, the three players have tuned up for what they hope will be a fine farewell - if it must be. Hornung, bothered with a pulled muscle in is left leg, was running good in Saturday's light drill in County Stadium and he'll start across from jarrin' Jim Taylor. Hornung and boot partner Jerry Kramer were both hitting well on field goals. Dowler and Nitschke have no physical problems and they'll be especially anxious for action. Nitschke said Saturday, "I just can't believe I'm going to miss the rest of the season." Oddly enough, Hornung "replaces" a back who gained 159 yards rushing, threw one pass and caught one pass last Sunday. That would be the amazing and talented Tom Moore, who backs up both Hornung and Taylor. It will be interesting to see how the Vikings defense the Bays' big ground guns - Taylor, Hornung and Moore. Last Sunday, the Vikings zeroed in on Taylor, who had gained 158 yards and scored four TDs the previous Sabbath in Cleveland. They held Jim to 46 yards in 14 trips. "They hurt my ego a little," Taylor drawled. And the way he was galloping in the warmup, the Vikings were in for a
headache. If the Vikings try to seal off the inside for Taylor, they run the risk of Hornung or Moore running wild outside. The Vikings toughened up their defense some by adding Dean Derby, the tough little defense back from the Steelers. What's more, Charlie Sumner is recovered from injuries and will join Derby at safety. This will toughen the task for Bart Starr, who completed nine out of 19 last Sunday, including a 79-yard TD strike to Dowler on the first play of the game. Rich Mostardi, who trailed Dowler unsuccessfully last Sunday, won't be on the active list for today. He's been replaced by Derby. Other than Hornung, the Packers are in good physical condition. In addition, they seem to be high mentally. Everybody wants to make doubly sure they go into Baltimore a week from today with a 6-1 record. The Vikings will open again with Fran Tarkenton, their highly-prized rookie at quarterback, and the 230-pound rookie at fullback, Raymond Hayes. A major change on offense likely will be the use of Dave Middleton at left end or flanker. They could also play Hugh McElhenny at flanker and install Mel Triplett as a running back alongside Hayes. At any rate, the Pack defense, which has allowed an average of only nine-plus points in the last six games, will be ready for anything. The Vikes were dressed down last week by Van Brocklin for letting up at times in the first Packer game.
VIKINGS NEW BUT HAUGSRUD PIONEER
OCT 29 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Minnesota Vikings may be NFL freshmen but they have a pioneer in the front office. That would be Ole Haugsrud, big, energetic chairman of the Vikings' board of directors, who will be a proud and interested spectator in today's Packer-Viking rematch in spacious Milwaukee County Stadium. And with good reason. It may not be common knowledge but the hardy Scandinavian, who was instrumental in bringing the Vikings to Minnesota, introduced pro football to the Gopher State way back in 1922 when he and the immortal Ernie Nevers collaborated in forming the Duluth Eskimos. Ole and Nevers subsequently migrated to Chicago where they took over the Cardinals' franchise. They dissolved their partnership and left the Windy City in the early 30's and Ole, who has been yearning for another opening every since, returned to his native Duluth. Authority for the foregoing is the Packers' original publicity director, George W. Calhoun, who vividly recalls the Pack's first encounter with Haugsrud, a candy manufacturer in private life, and the Eskimos. "Ole was the manager of the team and Nevers was everything else - coach, captain and star," Cal says with a reminiscent grin. "We played up there and Duluth beat us, 6-0. That same season, we had a return game scheduled with Duluth here and, come Sunday morning, it was raining pitchforks and hammer handles. The Belgian (Curly Lambeau) and I were thinking of calling it off but A.B. Turnbull, who had just taken over as president of the club, told us to play it - that he would back us. So we played in the rain and beat the Eskimos, 10-0," Cal remembers with relish. "That game, and the decision to play it, was the making of pro football in Green Bay, no doubt about it." It also was the beginning of a brief but bruising "friendship." The Packers and Eskimos collided annually, except for 1925, until 1928 when Duluth gave up its franchise. "Nevers and Haugsrud went to Chicago and took over the Cardinal franchise," Calhoun said. "Haugsrud was the general manager and Nevers the coach, captain and everything else. They had some great days there. In 1929, Nevers' first year in Chicago, the Cards beat the Bears 40-0 and Ernie scored all the points. That's a record that still stands. Nevers and Ole pulled out of there a few years later and Haugsrud has been looking for another franchise ever since," Cal added. He finally made it this year and he's just like a kid with a new toy. "I saw a picture in one of the Twin Cities papers last month which showed some fans throwing their hats in the air after the Vikings beat the Bears in their opener. And Haugsrud," he chuckled, "was one of them."
VAN: PACKERS COULD WIN ALL THE REST
OCT 29 (Minneapolis Star-Tribune) - Norman Van Brocklin, coach of the Minnesota Vikings, says that his opponents today, the Green Bay Packers, could win all the rest of their games. "Sure, we hope to knock them off," said Van. "But they are a solid team all the way. They are less apt to be upset than any team in the NFL. The loss of Paul Hornung, Ray Nitschke and Boyd Dowler won't hurt them physically. The only danger is the
Green Bay Packers receiver Max McGee is tackled by Minnesota Vikings cornerback Dick Pesonen (22) and defensive back Will Sherman (43) (Credit: Green Bay Press-Gazette Media Archives)
Green Bay Packers halfback Tom Moore (25) tries to elude Minnesota Vikings linebacker Clancy Osborne (31) after catching a short pass from Bart Starr (Credit: Green Bay Press-Gazette Media Archives)
Green Bay Packers halfback Tom Moore (25) heads upfield on a 69-yard run against the Minnesota Vikings (Credit: Green Bay Press-Gazette Media Archives)
mental damage it might do to the club. I'm sure they are more solid than the Eagles I played with last year and the Eagle team of this year. No, I'm not surprised to see the Eagles doing well without me. They have a good quarterback in Sonny Jurgensen. But the season is still young and anything could happen."
'NEW' VIKINGS INVADE PACKER LAIR
OCT 29 (Minneapolis Star-Tribune) - Green Bay masses the full strength of pro football's most powerful team for the last time today - barring a military reprieve - against Minnesota's defeat-stricken but remodeled Vikings. Into the battle line for the Vikings will go major defensive replacements. Tackle Bill Bishop and end Jim Leo move up front, and Charlie Sumner and newly-arrived Dean Derby will play in the secondary. The record says these should not be enough to avert a a sixth straight loss for Minnesota against a Packer squad that may want to make this a sentimental show of power. "I don't care what the record says," muttered Norm Van Brocklin. "We can beat this team. We could have done it last week. There are no supermen in the NFL. There's nothing complicated about Green Bay. We've had all the preparation we need. It's now just a matter of whether we want to blast with them." Van Brocklin will never accept that his team can be done in by class alone. He came close this week to being brutal in his rebuke to "45-minute football players." For Green Bay, this presumably is the final game of the season for Army-bound Ray Nitschke, the middle linebacker, flanker Boyd Dowler and possible halfback Paul Hornung. Hornung will get extra time to undergo another physical next week but he will miss the Baltimore game, and all the rest if he passes. Green Bay, leading the Western Conference, is 5-1 and looking for its sixth straight win. The presence of Don Joyce, Bishop, Leo and Ed Culpepper on the defensive line is calculated to toughen the Vikings against the Packers' running game, but it does expose them to risks through the air. All are rough, huge and properly ornery, but none is famous for his pass rushing ability. The Vikings therefore will need held in the secondary and Sumner and Derby are there for that purpose. Sumner, a canny and hard-tacking veteran for four season with the Bars, was the Vikings' strongest defensive back until an injury forced him to miss last week's Green Bay game, won by the Packers 33-7. Derby, an all-pro two years ago, will be Sumner's partner at the other safety. The ex-Washington sprinter was acquired this week from Pittsburgh in exchange for Bob Schnelker and Dick Haley. The holdover cornerbacks are Dick Pesonen and Jack Morris, with Justin Rowland in reserve. Leo, a 245-pounder with punishing power but not much experience, was promoted to slow the Packer ground strikes that gained 139 yards through one hole along in the left side of the Viking line. The Vikings' other defensive weakness, and this has been chronic all season, was the secondary where Packer quarterback Bart Starr was able to hurt them on tosses to Dowler, Ron Kramer and Max McGee despite an off day as a passer.
