Green Bay Packers (6-1) 28, Minnesota Vikings (1-6) 10
Sunday October 29th 1961 (at Milwaukee)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(MILWAUKEE) - The Packers won in County Stadium Sunday afternoon, and they lost. They whipped the Minnesota Vikings 28 to 10 for their sixth straight win and thus remained alone in first place in the Western Division race, but they lost Jerry Kramer with a badly injured ankle - possibly for several games. Two other Packers were injured, another was lost to the Army service for the rest of the season, and still another was given a delay in reporting for Army duty. Ron Kramer suffered a sprained ankle and Paul Hornung received a shoulder injury - that pinched nerve which undoubtedly will keep him out of service. He reported to Great Lakes this morning for an additional exam. Boyd Dowler, due to report with Ray Nitschke at Fort Lewis, Wash., next Friday, was given the extension. A spirited crowd of 44,112 saw the Packers establish their record at 6-1 at the halfway mark in the rugged NFL race. The Packers now invade Baltimore to battle the Colts, who lost 21-20 to the Bears. The Colts have 3-4, the Bears 5-2. Jerry K was hurt on the game's opening kickoff, Hornung followed him to the kickoff line, and after Paul was hurt Willie Wood delighted the crowd by booting the final kickoff two yards behind the goal line. This was as bizarre tough to a thrilling afternoon of football that saw the Packers lose three fumbles, one on the fly into the end zone; gain nearly 500 yards for the third straight game; and permit the hard-socking Vikings just one touchdown drive all afternoon. The Packers jumped off to a 14-0 lead the first two times they had their hands on the ball in the first quarter. They exchanged TDs in the second quarter for a 21-7 halftime score. The Vikings added a field goal in the third period and the Pack closed with a TD in the fourth. Despite bad flying weather (it rained shortly before the opening kickoff and then quit until the last minute when it poured), the Bays produced 321 yards and three of the four touchdowns in the air. Bart Starr, engineering the Bays' longest aerial total this season, pitched two TD passes and Hornung passed for another TDer and rushed for one himself. Starr kept the Vikings guessing with 18 completions in 24 tries and worked up 157 yards rushing. Horning, who figured before the game he could operate at only 60 percent efficiency because of a muscle pull, led the Bays in rushing with 70 yards in 12 trips, caught one pass, hurled a touchdown strike to Ron Kramer, and kicked off three times. Paul scored 10 points to give him 102 for seven games. Starr, with Kenny Iman operating at J. Kramer's vacated guard spot, moved the Bays on drives of 67, 70 and 69 yards for the first three touchdowns. The fourth TD came on a 33-yard push in six plays. The defense held the Vikings to one first down until the last two minutes of the first half, when the Vikings went on a 82-yard touchdown drive. The Vikings put together five first downs for their only touchdown - a 19-yard pass from George Shaw to Jerry Reichow. The second half turned into quite a dog fight, with the Bays allowing only a 13-yard field goal by Mike Mercer. The Pack lost the ball three times on fumbles and the Vikings used them to threaten. The Pack recovered one fumble and made it pay off. Dan Currie grabbed a boot by Hugh McElhenny on the Viking 33 and six plays later Starr passed 22 yards to Max McGee for the fourth TD. The Army possible all stood out in what appeared to be their last game. Hornung produced 81 yards and 10 points; Dowler caught five passes for 121 yards to set up the first three TDs; and Nitschke delivered a number of jarring tackles. Loss of J. Kramer left the Packers with virtually no field goal replacement for Hornung at the start. Jerry was hurt going down for the tackle and four plays later was receiving a ride off the field on a stretcher while the audience cheered him. Thanks to a key tackle by Willie Davis and three others, the Vikings had to punt right away and the Bays promptly moved 67 yards in six plays for the 7-0 edge. R. Kramer carried on an end around on the Pack's first play for two yards. After Hornung made 18 in two trips, Dowler reached high for Starr's pass for a 21-yard gain. Hornung then lofted a high shot to McGee who was interfered with inside the five. The penalty made it a first down on the two and on the first play Hornung cracked over left guard for the TD. Hornung added the point and it was 7-0 at 4:27. Another Viking punt and another Packer TD followed. Taylor and Hornung started from their own 30 with 15 yards in three tries. Then in quick order Starr passed to McGee for 11 and to Dowler for 20. Hornung passed a shortie of 10 yards to R. Kramer for the touchdown. Hornung made his 100th point on the kick to make it 14-0. The Packers were off and going early in the second quarter, reaching the Viking 29 chiefly on a 30-yard Starr pass to Kramer. But in three plays, the Packers received two 15-yard penalties and Starr was thrown for an 11-yard loss by Ed Culpepper to give the Bays an unusual third down and 53 yards to go situation. After this exchange of punts, the Bays went on the scoring rampage again. Starting from their own 31, Taylor and Moore picked up 11 yards in two trips. Then Starr wheeled a pass straight down the alley to Dowler for a 48-yard gain to the Viking 10. After Taylor ran right end for two, Starr, unable to pass to somebody in the end zone, flipped the ball to "safety" receiver Taylor off to the left and Jim roared in for the TD. Hornung made it 21-0. Shaw, who had replaced starter Tarkenton in the second quarter, then produced his TD drive. He opened with a 19-yard pass to Middleton and after Mayberry gained 13 Shaw ran 19 yards to the Packer 31. Shaw then completed three straight passes for the TD, including a 19-yard shot to Reichow in the corner of the end zone. The Packers settled for one first down after receiving the secod half kickoff and the Vikings went into action. With Shaw throwing and Mason running, they reached the Packer 28 - chiefly on Mayberry's 23-yard catch - and Wood saved the day. He went high to "glove" a Shaw pass aimed at Smith in the end zone and returned seven yards to the 9. The Bays looked like they were in business when McGee took Starr's 27-yard pass (McGee was the top receiver of the game with six for 102 yards) to the Packer 44. But Hornung was hit hard by Rip Hawkins at midfield and Morris recovered his fumble. Hornung was helped from the field. The ageless McElhenny, who finished with 99 yards in 12 carries, zipped 30 yards to the Packer 13 but the Bays stiffened and Mercer kicked a 13-yard field goal for a close 21-10 score as the third period ended. At this point the two clubs really put on a fumbling show before the Bays made sure. Marshall recovered a fumble by Taylor who attempted to take a lateral from McGee after catching a Starr pass. This set up a field goal try by Mercer from the Bay 26, but the pass back sailed over the kicker's head and Hank Gremminger chased down Tarkenton, who was holding the ball, back on the Packer 49. Now the Packers really moved...but. Taylor gained two and Starr tossed to Dowler for 17 to the Viking 32. Moore than banged off right tackle for 10 yards. Moore tried it again and shot through the middle to the eight where the ball popped out of his hands and into the end zone. Morris recovered for a touchback. On a third and five situation, McElhenny tried a reverse and fumbled, with Currie recovering on the Viking 33. This seemed easy but the Bays were nicked for a holding penalty, setting the drive off from the Packer 43. Starr first pitched to Taylor for 12 and then to Kramer for 23. Kramer fought like blazes and just made the long-distance first down but was hurt when he was hit on the 22. Two plays later McGee juked Dick Pesonen and took Starr's sharp pass into the end zone. Hornung kicked and it was a healthy
28-10. When the gun ended the game, the Packers were on their way in for another sevener. Starr had passed to McGee for 29 yards after the Vikings gave up the ball on fourth down. But time ran out with the ball on the Viking six. The two clubs left the field in a driving rain.
MINNESOTA - 0 7 3 0 - 10
GREEN BAY - 14 7 0 7 - 28
MINNESOTA GREEN BAY
First Downs 13 24
Rushing-Yards-TD 27-142-0 38-157-1
Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int 24-10-138-1-1 25-19-321-3-0
Sack Yards Lost 2-17 1-11
Total Yards 263 467
Fumbles-lost 2-1 3-3
Turnovers 2 3
Yards penalized 2-49 5-77
SCORING
1st - GB - Paul Hornung, 1-yard run (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
1st - GB - Ron Kramer, 10-yard pass from Hornung (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 14-0
2nd - GB - Jim Taylor, 8-yard pass from Bart Starr (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 21-0
2nd - MIN - Jerry Reichow, 19-yd pass from George Shaw (Mike Mercer kick) GREEN BAY 21-7
3rd - MINN - Mercer, 13-yard field goal GREEN BAY 21-10
4th - GB - Max McGee, 23-yard pass from Starr (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 28-10
RUSHING
GREEN BAY - Paul Hornung 12-70 1 TD, Jim Taylor 16-54, Tom Moore 7-35, Ron Kramer 1-2, Elijah Pitts 2-(-4)
MINNESOTA - Hugh McElhenny 12-99, Doug Mayberry 5-26, George Shaw 3-25, Fran Tarkenton 1-13, Tommy Mason 3-12, Ray Hayes 2-(1-), Mike Mercer 1-(-32)
PASSING
GREEN BAY - Bart Starr 24-18-311 2 TD, Paul Hornung 1-1-10 1 TD
MINNESOTA - George Shaw 18-9-119 1 TD 1 INT, Fran Tarkenton 6-1-19
RECEIVING
GREEN BAY - Max McGee 6-102 1 TD, Boyd Dowler 5-121, Ron Kramer 4-71 1 TD, Jim Taylor 2-20 1 TD, Tom Moore 1-6, Paul Hornung 1-1
MINNESOTA - Jerry Reichow 4-52 1 TD, Gordie Smith 2-38, Dave Middleton 2-36, Tommy Mason 1-7, Doug Mayberry 1-5
'I'LL BE BACK': JERRY KRAMER; VIKE DEFENSE GREAT, PAUL
OCT 30 (Milwaukee-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Mountainous Jerry Kramer, not one given to idle chatter, vowed in his own quiet way, "If I can walk, I'll be back." His huge hands cradling a pair of crutches in a cluttered corner of the Packer dressing room, the NFL's premier offensive right guard was discussing the status of his left leg damaged on the opening kickoff in competition with the Minnesota Vikings earlier Sunday afternoon. "No, I don't know how long I'll be out," Jerry said, "and I won't until they x-ray. If it's a small bone, it may be only three weeks to a month. If it's the big one" - he shrugged eloquently - "that's it." Hastening to reassure his listeners, Kramer added, "If I can walk, I'll be back." This led him to quip, "They ought to give me a short pair of crutches so I can get down in my stance." How did it happen? "I got hit from the side and back at the same time. The guy behind me laid on the leg and one in front pushed me over backwards. I couldn't go both ways at once," Jerry joked with a wry smile. Waxing philosophically, the 255-pound blockbuster borrowed an
old baseball bromide to sum it up: "Some you win, some you lose, and some you get rained out. I got rained out today." Jerry's simply proportioned running mate, Fuzzy Thurston, is convinced Kramer won't be "rained out" long. "I feel real bad about it," Fuzzy admitted, "but he'll be back. He's big and strong and, if it's a small bone and I think it is, he'll be back by Thanksgiving," Thurston insisted. Old pro Em Tunnell, who had a similar experience in 1954, is of a like mind. "I broke a bone in my leg four weeks before th4 season started and played in the league opener," Em pointed out. "You can come back and play if you really want to. It isn't the fracture itself that bothers you so much - it's the layoff. You can get out of shape and it's hard to get back into playing condition." Asked how Kramer's absence might affect him, Thurston said, "It won't change my job any but it will affect Iman, Gregg and Skoronski. They'll be working over there and playing out of position." Another Kramer, Ron, also a casualty, dismissed his aching right leg with "I don't think it's anything serious. It's the kind of thing the coach says we've just got to forget about and go out and play football. It's just a sprained ankle, at least that's what we think it is. We won't know until we see the x-rays tomorrow," Kramer added, plunging his heavily taped ankle into a tub of ice water at the Packers' Green Bay-bound bus rolled homeward. Kramer, who caught four passes for 71 yards and a touchdown, acquired this "twist" while barging to a first down with several Vikings clinging to his anatomy. A third casualty, Paul Hornung, reported, "I just jammed my neck. It's the first time I let myself get hit that way this year," he growled. Paul, frequently troubled with similar injuries in his record-breaking 1960 season, explained, "I should have kept my head back." Hornung, despite the pain in the neck (aggravated by the hot breath of Uncle Sam), was more concerned at the moment with what his colleagues had accomplished. Scanning the statistics sheet, he asked, "How did Max do? He caught six. That's beautiful. And Kramer caught four for 71. Beautiful." Somebody mentioned the Vikings and Hornung declared, with feeling, "They've got a great defense - they hit." Hard rock Jim Taylor agreed. "They were playing it pretty tough - tougher than they did last week." Another echo came from Ken Iman, thrust into the gap on the first play when Jerry Kramer was sidelined, "It was kinda hairy," the dejected sophomore said, "I did real bad - I know I did."
KRAMER'S ANKLES NOT BROKEN
OCT 30 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - X-rays revealed no breaks in the ankles of the Packers' Ron and Jerry Kramer, Coach Vince Lombardi announced today following word from Dr. Jim Nellen, team physician. Both were hurt in the Packer-Viking game Sunday. J. Kramer's injury was diagnosed as a "badly stretched ligament." How long the injury will keep him out is unknown at the present time. It will depend some on how the injury responds to treatment. R. Kramer suffered a sprained ankle and likely will be ready for next Sunday's game.
DOWLER GETS EXTENSION; VAN BROCKLIN BLASTS OFFICIALS
OCT 30 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The methodical Packers had just dispatched the Minnesota Vikings for the second time within a week but, strange to say, it seemed incidental. The harsh albeit necessary demands of Uncle Sam, an alarming casualty list and their combined bearing on the Packers' immediate NFL future, not this latest success, overshadowed all else at Vince Lombardi's crisp postgame press conference. Anticipating question No. 1, Lombardi announced forthwith: "Jerry Kramer has a break above the ankle in his left leg. And Ron Kramer has a sprained ankle. At least we think it's sprained, it doesn't appear to be broken but we won't be sure until we see the x-rays tomorrow." (While this was the immediate diagnosis, x-rays of J. Kramer's ankle showed today no break. Dr. Jim Nellen, Packer physician, diagnosed the injury as a badly stretched ligament. No breaks were found in R. Kramer's ankle, but it was diagnosed as a sprain.) What about Hornung? Shrugging his shoulders with resignation, Vince replied, "Hornung jammed his neck again." This, of course, triggered a query concerning Peerless Paul's service status, a hot national topic these days. "He's leaving here in a few minutes for Great Lakes and a re-examination," Lombardi said. "I don't really know how long they'll keep him." Did he think Hornung might be granted permission to play with the Packers at Baltimore next weekend? "I don't really know whether they will give him permission." This last prompted him to volunteer: "Boyd Dowler got an extension. I don't know how long it will be - they originally gave him 10 days. At least," Vince appended with a visible sigh of relief, "he won't be gone next weekend. I think the only reason he received an extension because they felt he hadn't been given enough time. I think he got his orders only last Monday or Tuesday." Lombardi, observing that linebacker Ray Nitschke will report for Army duty with the 32nd Division Friday, added with something akin to pride, "They're all ready and willing to go." The game? Oh yes, the game. The Packers, Vince conceded in response to the first question on this point, "moved the ball pretty well in the first half." At this juncture, somebody mentioned the Packers' rare "third down and 53" situation in the second period. Proving he hasn't lost his sense of humor, despite recent developments, Vince chuckled, "Starr looked over at me and I ducked. I didn't know what to tell him." The Vikings were "not too bad," it was suggested. "You damn right they're not," Lombardi ejaculated. "They hit like hell. They're going to win some ball games." Willie Wood's surprising 62-yard debut as a kickoff specialist was noted. "He kicked off in practice every day," Vince explained. "Willie kicked off with a soft shoe, too, by the way." Quickly switching to another topic (he is one of the coaching fraternity's most devout figure filberts), the erstwhile Fordham Block of Granite pointed out, "We had the fewest fumbles in the league until today - we must have had a lot of 'em this afternoon." The conversation swung to Jerry Kramer. Vince grinned and quipped, "He'll be ready in two weeks." Before the fourth estate's collective gasp died away, Vince recalled, "Em Tunnell had a break four weeks before the season opened in 1954 - and he played in the opening game." Who will replace the strapping Idaho alumnus in the interim? "We're going to use both Forrest Gregg and Ken Iman in there." He did all right - he's just not as big a man as Jerry. That extra 30 pounds or so makes a difference, I can tell you." Should Hornung leave, who will kick field goals? "Jim Taylor will be our field goal kicker - with Jerry out. He was our second man." And who will replace Dowler when he leaves? "I won't talk about that until Dowler goes," Vince said. "Bettis will be in Nitschke's place, of course." Then he asked a question of his own - with a wry smile: "Think we can do anything with three front line players gone?" There was no answer...Outspoken Norm Van Brocklin, the Vikings' forthright young headmaster, who had wielded both axe and tongue in the wake of last Sunday's 33-7 loss to the Packers, was well satisfied with his hireling's artistry on this occasion - but not so with the officiating. "That was the worst officiated game in years in the history of the NFL," the former Ram and Eagle mastermind declared in disgust. Did he have any specific complaint? "Yeah," he responded with alacrity, "I can name you three of 'em right quick - that interference call on us right off the bat, that ruling on the field goal attempt and the one where our guy (Charlie Sumner) had an interception and McGee knocked him flat. That one on the field goal (on which the Packers wound up with the ball after a bad pass from center chased kicker Mike Mercer back to midfield) was about the worst call I've seen in my 13 years in the NFL. The whole Packer team's offside," Van Brocklin snorted, "and they call us." "It cost the Vikings dearly," he added. "That loused up the game for us," Norm said. "We were only behind 21-10, it's early in the fourth quarter and we have a chance to kick a field goal. I repeat - that was the worst officiated game I've seen in 13 years. They call a losing coach sour grapes for saying that," Van Brocklin noted with a half-smile, "but that's the way I feel." He was considerably more complimentary to his operatives: "The kids hit 'em, didn't they? We kind of knocked 'em out of the Western Division, didn't we? Anytime you knock 'em loose from the ball (the Packers fumbled three times)," the Dutchman grinned, "you're hitting. Green Bay knew they were hit." Speaking of "hitting," rookie linebacker Rip Hawkins has been highly proficient in this department, hadn't he? "Hawkins is starting to come," Van understated. "He's going to be a good one." This reminded him that another rookie, fullback Doug Mayberry, "goes into the Army tomorrow. We haven't got a Senator Wiley going for us," he said with a sly grin. "I think he just louses it up for the Packers, though." How does Green Bay's future look to him? "It doesn't look good," came the frank and abrupt reply. "If they lose those three guys to service, and a couple with broken or bad legs...It doesn't look good."...HEAVY TOUCH: Paul Hornung, a deceptively bruising runner, "hardly touched" Viking linebacker Jim Leo on an end sweep in the second quarter, but that worthy slumped to the turf and had to be helped from the field...THIS IS A SWITCH: Hornung was involved in another second quarter "incident". Running a sweep to the left, Hornung encountered a rousing reception, quickly turned and pitched at Bart Starr, a "safety valve" off to the right. Peerless Paul's quick cogitation went for naught, however - the pass sailed over Starr's head...WILLIE WOWS 'EM: Daredevil Willie Wood, already a big favorite with Green Bay partisans, is even wowing Milwaukee's customarily phlegmatic patrons. He was greeted with a thunderous cheer and a deafening chorus of whistles when he lined up to kickoff for the injured Paul Hornung and/or Jerry Kramer in the fourth quarter. Ray Nitschke also received a boisterous ovation when he was introduced in the starting defensive lineup...REBUTTAL: Max McGee took exception to Van Brocklin's allegation he was guilty of offensive interference in the fourth quarter. "He's crazy," the drawling Tulane alumnus insisted. "I was just reaching over Sumner to get the ball."
TAYLOR STILL LEADS
OCT 30 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Packer fullback Jim Taylor held onto his league rushing lead Sunday as he added 54 yards to his previous 564 for 618 yards in 111 carries. Cleveland's Jimmy Brown jumped to within 12 yards of Taylor by adding 105 yards Sunday to his previous 501 yards for 606 yards in 153 attempts.
SECOND HALF 'LOOMS' FOR PACKERS
OCT 31 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers officially opened the second half of the 1961 NFL season at 9:30 this morning when Coach Vince Lombardi pounded the gavel for order in the dressing room, counted noses and started the moving picture machine. Green Bay finished the first half with a rush - six straight victories for a Western Division-leading 6-1 record, plus a one-game lead on the Bears. Now, the second looms and seven straight mean and nasty opponents - the Colts, Bears, Rams, Lions, Giants, 49ers and Rams, in that order. How does this strike the coach? "Everybody's in it," Lombardi exclaimed today. "We won six straight. Somebody could go out and win seven in a row." The immediate problems on hand are next Sunday's foes - the Colts in Baltimore, and the shrinkage in players. Three famous faces were missing this morning - Paul Hornung, Ray Nitschke and Jerry Kramer. Hornung is at Great Lakes Naval Training Base, where he underwent an Army-ordered physical examination Monday. Results of the exam, according to a spokesman at Great Lakes, probably won't be known for 10 days but he may have to remain at the hospital only for three or four days. Thus, he could be available for the Colt game. Nitschke left the squad at least for the duration of the current season after Sunday's 28-10 victory over the Vikings in Milwaukee. He'll report to the 32nd Division at Fort Lewis, Wash., Friday. Ray said his sad goodbyes at a squad meeting before this morning's workouts. Kramer, who suffered a badly stretched ligament in his ankle on the opening kickoff Sunday, was recuperating in the hospital today. Lombardi said he figured Kramer would be out for three or four games. The ankle is in a cast. The other Kramer, Ron, is okay. He suffered an ankle sprain Sunday but will be ready for the Colts. There is no change in the status of Boyd Dowler who was ordered to Fort Lewis along with Nitschke. However, Boyd was given an extension since he had received his orders just last week. He may be available for a couple more games...Lombardi, who viewed pictured of Win No. 6 with Staffmen Phil Bengtson, Norb Hecker, Bill Austin and Red Cochran Monday, found that "we looked all right but not when you consider that the Vikings are a new team." Vince had high praise for the play of the Vikings after the game. The coach warned today that the opposition will get much tougher...Willie Davis was feeling better today after relaxing Monday with headaches and some dizziness. The Bays' defensive end received several belts Sunday and once found himself staggering around the Vikings' backfield. Ben Davidson came in to replace him, but Davis would not leave, explaining that he felt okay. Davidson, along with Herb Adderley, got some extra work this morning. A reserve member of the defensive line, Davidson worked with Offensive Line Coach Bill Austin and Adderley worked with Backfield Coach Red Cochran after the regular practice was completed. Leaving the field, Austin quipped, "He (Davidson) could be the biggest guard in the league." Big Ben is 6-7, 270 pounds...BRIEFS: "Almost had a field goal," Tom Moore laughed after the game, referring to his fumble. The ball popped out of his hand and into the air like it came out of a cannon. It was
pounds...BRIEFS: "Almost had a field goal," Tom Moore laughed after the game, referring to his fumble. The ball popped out of his hand and into the air like it came out of a cannon. It was recovered in the end zone between the uprights...The attendance Sunday, 44,112, was just a few short of the all-time Packer record in Wisconsin of 44,307 set for the league opener with the Lions Sept. 17. The Packers' man in Milwaukee, Col. Ockie Krueger, was beaming all over the place Sunday. With that kind of attendance, he had a reason for doing some. The Bays have one more game left in Milwaukee - the Giants Dec. 3, and one in Green Bay - the Rams Nov. 19.
MOOD MUSIC: J. KRAMER PLAYS 'TAPS' - FOR SELF
OCT 31 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Kramers Two occupied the rear lounge seat in the rear of Greyhound Bus 1637 on the trip home from Milwaukee Sunday. This was the Packers' hospital section but there were other sound effects. Jerry Kramer had suffered what everybody thought was a broken ankle in the Pack's 28-10 victory over the Vikings. Ron (no relation) Kramer sprained his ankle. Jerry was stretched across the seat and his ankle, in a quick-made cast, was propped up on two flat overnight cases. Ron was seated in the other corner with his injured foot in a bucket of ice. They were both hurting but not moaning. Jerry, flat on his back, was playing a foot-long harmonica. "Never played one before in my life, but I'm going to learn. I'll have lots of time now," he laughed. Jerry played it soft and slow, not quite sure of the tune. Finally, the notes sound familiar. "Hey listen," he yelled, "I can play the taps." It was sort of an end to Jerry's 1961 season - taps, yet. Before the bus reached the outskirts of Milwaukee, Jerry yelled for a glass of something to "swallow this pill (to deaden the pain) with." Nobody had any water and there wasn't a beer in the place. Norm Masters seemed to have solved the problem by suggesting: "Let's make a pill stop." That brought laughter but no stop. Nobody checked how Jerry ever got the pill down but he kept on playing the harmonica and the only tune he knew: "Taps." Ron didn't have much to say - at least nothing printable as he moved his taped foot in and out of the bucket over the seat ahead of him, and back again. Feeling pretty well "trapped," Ron made a couple of trips up and down the bus, checked out a few things out with Trainer Bud Jorgensen and finally settled down with John Symank's portable radio. Symank is a music lover and that portable is always on. And so it went on the way home after Win No. 6. Most of the folks swept but there was grunting and talk and music in the back of "1637." There was this cheer, too. Symank and Hank Gremminger, a couple of Texans, who share that portable when they don't loan it out to the injured, had just heard the scores. Said the announcer: Dallas 17, New York 16. "Yeah, the Cowboys won," John and Hank yelled with pride. The rest of the scores verified what had been heard earlier. The Bears had beaten the Colts. Nuff said...Reminders from the play-by-play book on Sunday's game...COACHES MEET: Vince Lombardi and Norm Van Brocklin conferred briefly on the sidelines shortly before the kickoff. The two clubs are on the same side of the field in Milwaukee - as they were in Minneapolis the week before...HEAD DOWN LIKE FULLBACK: After Boyd Dowler caught a pass along the sidelines, he put his head down and drove into Defenseman Jack Morris. It seemed strange to see six-six Dowler run like burly Jim Taylor...TWO RECEIVERS: Bart Starr had a choice of two receivers on one play in the second quarter. Bart fired out to his left and faded back several yards when he fired a 29-yard pass to Ron Kramer. Dowler was running alongside Kramer and probably could have caught the ball, too...TOUGH BREAK: Jim Taylor is having a tough time keeping ahead of Jim Brown in the league's rushing race - especially the way the Vikings have been defensing him. So it was rough when his 22-yard gallop was called back by a penalty early in the fourth quarter. Worse still, the offside penalty set up a fumble as it were. Three plays later, Taylor fumbled a lateral from Max McGee...BETTIS BACK: Tom Bettis, who will take over middle guard what with Ray Nitschke going into service this week, found himself officially "back" when Viking Mayberry started swatting Tom in the fourth quarter. Bettis had red-dogged and Mayberry didn't like the treatment. Davis caught passer Shaw for a 17-yard loss.
STARR GOING LIKE SIXTY; TOPS NFL WITH .620 PASSING MARK
NOV 1 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Bart Starr is going like sixty. Which could somehow rhyme with the Packers' six wins. It was just three short years ago that Starr, now in his sixth year, had the fortune of winning his first game. That was a 21-0 shutout victory over the Redskins here in '59. He won the next and final three that year. Starr won the big three to bag the title at the end of the 1960 campaign and then lost two tough 17-13 verdicts in a row - the title game in Philly last December and the '61 league opener in Milwaukee in September. Now, Vince Lombardi's Prize Quarterback Project has a six-game winning skein going. And a blistering completion percentage of 62.0 after the first seven games. He completed 93 of his 150 attempts. No other quarterback is in the 60 percent bracket, according to individual statistics released by the NFL today. Closest are three 58's - Milt Plum of Cleveland with 58.1, Sonny Jurgensen of Philadelphia with 58.1 and Rudy Bukich of Pittsburgh with 58.2. Starr's passes gained 1,391 yards, which figured out to 9.27 yards every time he threw the ball. He has thrown eight TD passes and seven interceptions - an average of one game. On a game basis, Starr has averaged nearly 200 yards on 13 completions in 21 attempts. And that reminds us of Starr's pitching in Baltimore's Municipal Stadium, where the Packers play the Colts Sunday. Bart has never won a game there, despite some heroic deeds. The Packers last won there in 1957. Starr had 'em beat 17 to 14 with his pinpoint passing that led up two TDs by Paul Hornung. With a few minutes left, the Colts went ahead 21-17 and then in the final seconds Babe Parilli came off the bench and threw a 75-yard TD pass to Bill Howton for the win. Starr was victimized along with everybody else in the 56-0 shellacking there in '58. Lamar McHan handled the QB'ing in the 38-21 loss there in '59...COLTS INTERCEPT FOUR: The Packers lost there a year ago 38-24 when an injury to Jess Whittenton broke apart the Pack's defense but Starr had an especially yardy passing day. He attempted 33 and completed 24 for 275 yards. However, the Colts intercepted four, stopping the Bay offense at some key moments. Elsewhere along the statistical front, Jim Taylor held only an eight-yard lead on Jim Brown in the rushing race. Hornung is 36 points in front of Lenny Moore. Max McGee is in a tie for fourth in pass catching with two others, including Moore. Willie wood tops the punt returners and Tom Moore if fourth among the kickoff runbackers. John Symank, with four, is fourth in interceptions. Boyd Dowler dropped a few notches in the punt race, with his 44.6 average...BRIEFS: The Packers are awaiting word on Hornung. He's presently at Great Lakes finishing off a physical examination. The chances are he'll be available for duty Sunday in Baltimore...Wally Cruice, the Pack's eyewitness scout, gave his weekly address in the Packers dressing room Tuesday noon...Ray Nitschke expects to stop in Chicago today before heading for Fort Lewis, Wash., and Army duty with the 32nd Division.
PACK'S 2,623 YARDS SETTING PACE IN NFL
NOV 2 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers, who have amassed nearly 1,500 yards in their last three outings, lead the NFL in total offense for the second straight week, according to official figures released today. Far out front in this department, the Packers have mustered 1,344 yards passing and 1,279 rushing for a grand total of 2,623, nearly 300 more than the runnerup Philadelphia Eagles, defending world champions. Their rushing aggregate also is tops in the NFL, as is their overall passing percentage, a spectacular 60.5, achieved through the efforts of Bart Starr, who leads the league in this category with a mark of 62 percent. Vince Lombardi's reigning Western Division champions likewise are out in front in touchdowns rushing with 18, in points with 222 and in field goas with 11, thanks to Paul Hornung's educated toe. The Eagles, leading the
Eastern Division as are the Packers in the West, have collected 2,393 yards in their seven games. Of this, only 748 has resulted from running, the remaining 1,644 from passing. Philadelphia, whose Sonny Jurgensen tops all NFL passers, is the league's passing pacesetter. San Francisco's 49ers rank third overall with 2,358 yards, followed by the Dallas Cowboys with 2,299 and the Cleveland Browns with 2,272. Although beaten twice in a row, the 49ers boast the league's best defense statistically. They have yielded 1,578 yards, 722 rushing and 856 passing. The St. Louis Cardinals are No. 2 with a total yield of 1,761 followed by the New York Giants (1,832) and Cleveland Browns (1,873) and the Packers (1,924). The Packers have given up 958 yards rushing and 966 passing. Defensively, the Packers lead in interceptions with 20 and in yards interceptions returned with 311. Also, and this is important, they've allowed the fewest points, 68.
HORNUNG BACK - FOR 2 WEEKS; SHIFT IN LINE
NOV 2 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - It makes your heart sink. At least it did at Wednesday's pre-practice warmup. These Packers are defending Western Division champions and they are leading the West with a 6-1 record. But look around. There's no Paul Hornung, no Jerry Kramer, no Ray Nitschke. Just like three empty seats at the supper table in a family of 36. "Here it is in the middle of the season and there are new placekickers, new kickoff men, and new...," Coach Vince Lombardi surveyed before he called the squad together for calisthenics. Instead of Hornung and Kramer on the field goal practice line, there were two comparative strangers - Jim Taylor and Willie Wood. They looked good, at times, hitting from 30 and 35 yards out. Makes you feel better. You miss the big galoot of a Nitschke. He's usually clowning around during this period with the other linebackers. Ray will miss football; just as the Packers will miss him. Once Lombardi calls the family together, that feeling of "losses" disappears. The good morale of the club takes over and the task of the week becomes the only thing - in this case the job of preparing for the Colt game in Baltimore Sunday. There was a lot of cheering yesterday. Norm Masters, filling in at right guard along with Ken Iman for the injured J. Kramer, was given a big ovation when he pulled out and blocked well on a particular play. The big linemen conversed frequently among themselves and with Offense Line Coach Bill Austin who is juggling the giants in an effort to relieve the loss of Kramer...DAVIDSON TESTED: Also set for some right guard duty is Forrest Gregg, the Bays' staunch right tackle. Other than Kramer, the offensive line is healthy - Jim Ringo, Fuzzy Thurston, Bob Skoronski, Gregg, Masters and Iman. The unit has gained a new members - one Ben Davidson, the giant defensive lineman who presently is being tested as a tackle. While the offense went through plays, Davidson tried some of his offensive blocking movements on Ron Kostelnik, the big rookie defensive lineman, off by themselves. There also were yells for Tom Moore who runs in Hornung's spot. And you can't help but note the speed of Elijah Pitts. Tom Bettis has received a new life at middle linebacker with the departure of Nitschke. And it couldn't have come at a better time since Bettis has had some interesting times against the Colts in Baltimore, including a scuffle with John Unitas. The same three faces were missing today from the practice field, but one of them will return to the scene Friday. That would be Hornung, who was scheduled to be discharged from Great Lakes Hospital this morning. Paul was given the go-ahead sign to play football for the next two weeks, pending Wednesday evening results of a special examination to determine if he is physically fit for the Army. He is now scheduled to report for assignment to the 896th Engineer Co., at Fort Riley, Kan., on Nov. 14 providing he is found physically qualified. Results of the test will be made between now and the 14th. Hornung suffers from a chronic pinched neck nerve which has sidelined him on occasions, including part of the Viking game last Sunday. Lombardi feels that the condition of his pinched nerve will determine whether he can play against Baltimore. In addition, he has missed three practice days. The Packers now have two players who will be around for two more games. Besides Hornung, Boyd Dowler has been given an extension on his reporting time at Fort Lewis, Wash., where he'll join the 32nd Division. Nitschke reports to the same unit Friday...Austin will like this. The Packers finished their practice and clubhouse meetings about 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. What was Masters doing one hour later. "Just looking over these new plays," Norm said when he picked up the phone about 3. Masters said it was his first shot at guard but explained that "it won't
be such a big change. We run next to each other (Norm works some at right tackle), and we do pull at tackle, too, but not as much. It's the same type of action." The right guard will look at Artie Donovan most of the time Sunday while Gregg come up against Gino Marchetti. Masters packs 248 pounds, which is about two less than J. Kramer, who is presently recuperating from a stretched ligament in his ankle.
MARCHETTI ACE AT 34 BECAUSE OF GRID'S 'FUN'
NOV 2 (Baltimore) - The Baltimore Colts' crack defensive end, Gino Marchetti, has continued to glitter in a season that has thus far held its share of disappointments. The veteran pro, now in his 10th campaign, is crashing into the opposition's backfield as fiercely as ever while spearheading a Blue and White forward wall that has had considerable success in cutting down the efficiency of the enemy's air arm. How come at the age of 34 he's still behaving like the All-Pro selection he's been for the past fie years? "Football remains a lot of fun for me," stated Gino. "I eagerly look forward to each Sunday's action. There's no one phase of the game that I don't enjoy as much as I did ten years ago. That even goes for training camp. It feels good to work into playing condition every summer and to rejoin my teammates to get ready for the big effort. Money? I could probably make out better if I devoted all of my time to my business. It will be time to quit playing and go to work when I can no longer handle the man in front of me." The 6-4, 242-pound Californians has been belting passers with customary abandon this fall and has caused his coach, Weeb Ewbank, to exclaim, "We've had come bad breaks this year but none can be attributed to Gino. He's a player who practices as hard as he plays on Sunday - a true pro. On the field he thinks of nothing but football." Among Marchetti's more spectacular accomplishments this autumn was the safety he registered in dumping Detroit quarterback Jim Ninowski in his end zone to give the Colts a 5-3 lead in a contest they eventually lost, 16-15. "Fortunately," explained Gino, "I've never had any weight problem. As a matter of fact, I'm about eight pounds below my top previous weight. And I think I've actually picked up some speed, too. At any rate, my clocking in training camp this past summer was faster than it had been in the last three or four years." The Colts' demon defender has been getting the double-team treatment for more autumns than he cares to remember. And it's not unusual to find the opposition assigning three blockers to keep his paws off their passer. Through constant contact he has become familiar with most of the offensive right tackles and fullbacks in the Western Conference. And when the foes force him to wade through three blockers he also make the acquaintance of the center.
MCGEE OFF TO BEST START; 'NEW' PACK HB - CARPENTER
NOV 3 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - In case you haven't noticed, Max McGee is having quite a year. The Bays' left end has caught 30 passes in seven games - which is just eight less than he nailed all last year in a dozen games. After seven games in '60, McGee has 20 receptions. Maxie is eight catches behind leader Red Phillips of the Rams. Each nailed three for touchdowns. McGee's best year on catches was in '60 when he caught 38. He picked off 36 as a rookie in 1954, including nine for TDs, and then followed with 17 in '57 after two years in the Air Force, 37 in '58 and 30 in '59...The Packers displayed a "new" halfback in practice Thursday - Lew Carpenter. Easily one of the top offensive handymen in the league, Carpenter had been working mostly as an offensive end and flanker until Paul Hornung was hurt last Sunday. With a possible shortage looming at the running backs, Carpenter worked there yesterday. He drew applause from his teammates on some of the plays. And Coach Vince Lombardi boomed one word when Lew ran: "Versatile."...The Packers will see at least two changes in the Colts in the re-run in Baltimore Sunday. Gary Glick will open at right half on defense in place of the departed Carl Tassef and Bill Pellington will start at middle linebacker. His left corner spot will be filled by Jackie Burnett. Tassef's place on the roster has been filled by Tom Matte, the former Ohio State star who had been injured. A running and passing halfback, Matte may get a good shot. He'll play behind Alex Hawkins...The Colts will present their 10th straight sellout crowd Sunday. The game was sold out, all 57,641 seats, Thursday night, Colt Publicist Harry Hulmes reported today. The final five league games in '60 were sellouts and now the first five this year. Asked about injuries, Hulmes displayed a note of humor. "Well, Unitas' finger hurts worse when he has a pass intercepted." Seriously, he added, the squad is in good physical condition...Jerry Kramer, foot in a cast, watched his teammates practice this morning. He left the hospital Thursday. The stretched ligament is giving him some pain. The Colt game will break a string of 36 straight starts for the big right guard. Jerry started the last five games as a rookie in '58 and then started opening every game in 1959-60 and the first seven this year. The seventh game was just for the kickoff; he was hurt after booting the ball. Jerry has missed a game or two in his football career "but in all my days in high school and college and pro, this is the first time I've missed a practice."...One of the big individual battles of the Packer-Colt game will be the fight between the Pack's Forrest Gregg and the Colts' Gino Marchetti. It's like a 20-game pitcher working against the league's leading home run hitter. Marchetti has been having a great year but Gregg will be out to prove that he, too, is having a great year. In the balance will the good hide of Bart Starr. Gregg probably won't see much action at right guard, what with Marchetti snorting. J. Kramer's shoes likely will be filled chiefly by Norm Masters, with Ken Iman backing him up...The Packers will leave for Baltimore via United Airlines charter at 9 o'clock Saturday morning. They'll drill at Municipal Stadium in the afternoon upon arrival and then head for headquarters, the Hotel Belvidere...Paul Hornung reported for practice this morning and started getting ready in a hurry. He was discharged from Great Lakes Hospital Thursday noon after receiving a physical examination. He was ordered to report for military service Nov. 14 unless the exam reveals he is unfit for service. At any rate Paul will be available for the next two games. How much he plays depends on that pinched nerve in his shoulder, although he'll be able to kick...One of the visitors at Thursday's practice was John Bromfield, the TV western star who headlines the rodeo opening at the Arena tonight. Bromfield, the "Sheriff of Cochise" and "U.S. Marshal" on TV, played high school and college football.
ARMY FINDS HORNUNG FIT; LEAVES NOV. 14
NOV 4 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Paul Hornung has been declared fit for active Army service in what appeared today as a "reverse" of an earlier diagnosis of his physical condition. The Packers' gifted halfback has been ordered to report for duty with the 896th Army Engineers at Fort Riley, Kan., Tuesday, Nov. 14. Thus, Hornung will be available for the Packers' next two games - the Colts in Baltimore Sunday and the Bears in Chicago Nov. 12. He left with the team for Baltimore today. Fifth Army Headquarters in Chicago made the announcement at 4 o'clock Friday afternoon as follows: "The physical examination this week at Great Lakes Naval Training Station Hospital established that Paul Hornung is qualified for active duty." Hornung made a statement Friday afternoon to clear up the public controversy that resulted from his call-up and physical examinations. Several congressmen and senators had commented and, as a result, the star player became what amounted to a "test case." Hornung revealed that he was "disqualified" after taking a physical examination in Milwaukee due to a jammed nerve in his neck. Paul added: "One day later I voluntarily agreed to take a more thorough physical at the request of the Army at Great Lakes Hospital. Because of the physical, I was given a 10-day delay in reporting - not a deferment. After an extensive physical at Great Lakes, the medical board of directors have decided I am physically fit for active duty and will report to Fort Riley, Kan., on Nov. 14." In addition, he stated: "The doctors at Great Lakes report I have a definite pinched nerve in my vertebrae and should not be playing football." Hornung also stated that "at no time did I or any member of the Packers make a request for a deferment through any congressman or anyone else connected in politics." The high-scoring back said, "I hate leaving the best football team in America, but I have no regrets. I have a duty to the United States which is above all interest." Hornung is one of three star players the Packers will lose to the service this year. Boyd Dowler is scheduled to report to Fort Lewis Nov. 18 and Ray Nitschke started his tour of duty at Fort Lewis Friday. Coach Vince Lombardi noted today that "we have accepted the fact that we will lose the players to the armed services," adding in regard to the loss of Hornung: "It certainly is a tough loss, but it hasn't broken us in spirit or our determination to win." Hornung suffered a shoulder injury (that pinched nerve) in the victory over the Vikings last Sunday, but is expected to be ready to play some against the Colts. Hornung will definitely handle the field goal and placekicking duties. Whether he runs will depend on how he looks in the pregame workout in Baltimore this
afternoon. He missed three days of practice this week and his spot was handled chiefly by Tom Moore. Tom Bettis is ready to step in Nitschke's shoes at middle linebacker. The departure of Nitschke cut the roster to 35. An additional player could be put on the list today. Lombardi said today he was undecided on the starting right guard in place in the injured Jerry Kramer. He said it would be Norm Master, Ken Iman or Forrest Gregg. The Packers left Austin Straubel Field this morning at 9 o'clock via United Airlines charter. They were to arrive at
Jim Taylor rumbles against the Vikings
12:45 (EST) and then go directly to Municipal Stadium for a drill. The team is headquartering at the Sheraton Belevidere.
'UNFORTUNATE,' IVY
NOV 4 (St. Louis) - St. Louis Cardinals coach Frank (Pop) Ivy said tonight it was "unfortunate" for Coach Vince Lombardi "to lose a player like Paul Hornung." Ivy, who lost two players to the military, and expects to lose tackle Dale Memmelar, said, "For one thing, the Packers have a capable replacement in Tom Moore." "Imagine how we felt, when we lost (halfback John) Crow," Ivy said. Crow has been sidelines with a bad ankle, and will miss the game at Dallas Sunday. The Cardinals have also lost to the military Bob DeMarco and Ernie McMillan.
SEN. WILEY'S PETARD
NOV 5 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Now that the smoke has cleared away, it appears that an over-eager publicity man in Senator Wiley's office in Washington started the political furor over the reserve call-up of three Packer players. Two local Packer fans who are personal friends of the Senator wrote him originally about the matter when Ray Nitschke and Paul Hornung received their call-up notices. Senator Wiley was here in Wisconsin at the time, but the letter went to his Washington office, where the staff sent it to the Defense Department. But the Senator's office also put out a press release saying that he was asking consideration for the two players. The implication was that he was interceding for them. And it appeared to many that Senator Wiley was seeking publicity from the matter. The Senator explained later that his office merely forwarded the letter as it has done in many cases of servicemen seeking deferments. But in the meantime his original announcement started quite a political controversy over the whole subject, which certainly didn't help the Packer players' chances.
PACKER BATTLE COLTS, TAKE AIM FOR 'NUMBER SEVEN'
NOV 5 (Baltimore-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Shouts of "number seven" echoed through Memorial Stadium Saturday as the Packers polished their muscles and thoughts for today's struggle against the charged-up Colts. Co-Captains Jim Ringo and Bill Forester started the "seven" chant when they led the spirited Bays in calisthenics. The Packers will going for their seventh straight victory - after that opening game loss, in their drive to repeat as Western Division champions. This is a critical game since after today the Bays have one more game in which they'll all be together. After next Sunday's battle against the Bears in Chicago, Paul Hornung and Boyd Dowler will go into service and the Bays will still be without injured Jerry Kramer and, of course, Ray Nitschke, who already is in the service. The feeling among the Packers is just this: "We've got to win the next two." Such an accomplishment would give the Pack an 8-1 record, with five games to go. A sellout of 57,641 (and tickets are being scalped for one hundred bucks a copy) will watch what the folks here think will be an upset victory for the Colts. Kickoff is set for 1:06, Packerland time. The experts rate the Pack a six-point choice. The effects of injuries and the Army callup will be noticeable in today's starting lineups, with the departure of J. Kramer and Nitschke. Coach Vince Lombardi announced Saturday night that Norm Masters, quickly converted from tackle, will open at offensive right guard in place of J. Kramer. Tom Bettis will be in Nitschke's hole at middle guard on defense. Ken Iman and Forrest Gregg will back up Masters and Nelson Toburen is now the fourth linebacker. Lombardi said he would decide shortly before game time on starting Hornung or Tom Moore at the key left halfback spot...PAUL LOOKS STRONG: Hornung, who was notified Friday afternoon that he was physically fit for Army service, is recovering from a shoulder injury, plus a pulled leg muscle, suffered in last Sunday's game. In addition, Hornung missed three days of "Colt practice" last week. Hornung looked strong in Saturday's drill, kicking, running, passing and receiving, but the all-around star rarely shows his injuries. Hornung will be a marked man today. The Colts have had the "Stop Hornung" sign out all week since Peerless Paul scored a record 33 points in a tremendous performance in the Pack's 45-7 win over the Colts in Green Bay, Oct. 8...NEED OFFENSIVE GUNS: The Packers will need all the offensive guns they can muster today since the Colts, according to Coach Weeb Ewbank, feel they must score aplenty to beat the Packers. And by the same token, the Packer defense is looking for John Unitas to explode his offense. No team has scored three touchdowns on the Packers yet this year but the up-to-now-dormant Colt offense could do it with such guns as Unitas, Lenny Moore, Raymond Berry and a healthy Jimmy Orr plus the option back Tom Matte. Orr saw only brief action at Green Bay and Matte was re-activated for today's game. This could be a battle of ball control and that puts the matter up to Bart Starr, the Bays' signalist who will be striving for his first victory here. Starr is engineering a 30-point offense and it seems that the Packers will have to score that many to make sure. The Packers offense received considerable help from the defense in the first meeting, benefiting from six interceptions, including one by Dave Hanner not to mention a touchdown runback of a punt by Willie Wood. Since then, however, Starr has averaged 40 strictly-offensive points a game and led the offense on numerous 60 to 80-yard touchdown drives. With Jim Taylor healed and the air force ready to be launched, Starr is hopeful of garnering four touchdowns or whatever's necessary. The Colts undoubtedly will be trying to make life miserable for Masters and they hope to find a route to Starr through him. Gregg, who will have to keep out Gino Marchetti, also will keep an eye on Masters...Colt fans held a public rally and parade starting at Memorial Stadium Saturday night. Colts corral Nos. 1, 2 and 3 were called into action earlier in the week and members hope to key up the team with a giant parade. They were scheduled to parade down 20 different streets...The Packers will fly out right after the game on United Airlines charter. They are due to arrive at Austin Straubel Field at 8:20 tonight. The last time Green Bay won seven in a row was 20 years ago. The 1941 Packers won the first two, lost No. 3, and then won the last eight - only to lose in a divisional playoff with the Bears...The Packers will likely play under the player limit of 36. With the departure of Nitschke, a player could be placed on the active list today if the coach desired.
