PRESEASON: Green Bay Packers (2-0) 31, Dallas Cowboys 7
Friday August 10th 1962 (at Dallas)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(DALLAS) - The world champion Packers are off and running. They tested their titled muscles for the first time this season on a real live pro opponent and came out with a 31 to 7 decision in the Cotton Bowl Friday night. The victims were the Dallas Cowboys, whose only touchdown was set up on an interference penalty. The Packers displayed several flashes of the form that mad them the best in major league football in 1961. Evidence of this were two back-to-back 80-yard touchdown drives in the second half. A record crowd of 54,500 saw the Packers score in each period and the crowd-pleasing champs received a good deal of applause from the Cowboy-minded audience. It was a sizzling 94 degrees at kickoff but the heat apparently didn't bother the Packers, who actually looked better in the second half. Coach Vince Lombardi substituted frequently and several of the rookies looked exceptionally good. The Packers were hitting hard and the Cowboys had proof. Three Cowboys went to the hospital for examination of injuries - Don Perkins, Don Healy and John Houser, and star quarterback Don Meredith was shaken up, forcing him out for half the game. Paul Hornung, gradually working into form, booted an 18-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. Elijah Pitts capped a 49-yard drive in the second frame for a two-yard touchdown run. They made it 17-0 on John Roach's 24-yard TD throw to Boyd Dowler to end a 50-yard drive. Dallas' lone TD came just before the half with Amos Bullocks leaping a yard on fourth down for the score. Bart Starr ended the first 80-yard drive with a nine-yard TD flip to Ron Kramer in the third period. Hornung ran five yards to finish the second 80-yard push in the fourth frame. Hornung, the league's highest scorer, finished with 13 points - four conversions, the field goal and touchdown. The Packer defense gave up only 230 yards and 13 first downs. The unit recorded two pass interceptions (Dan Currie and Bill Forester) and one fumble recovery (Ray Nitschke). The Bay offense counted 18 first downs and 343 yards. Starr completed 10 out of 14 passes and Roach had three out of five, with no interceptions. Earl Gros, on his first carry as a pro, had the only Packer fumble. The best statistic of the game was an 87-yard punt by Sam Baker. The one-time Redskin and Brown actually moved the ball 108 yards. The line of scrimmage was on his own 13-yard line, but he kicked it from the one. It stopped rolling eight yards into the opposite end zone. Willie Wood and Lew Carpenter, back to field the ball, stood dumbfounded as the ball sailed into the night. All of the rookies played but Bob Joiner, the new quarterback. One of the big surprises was Ed Blaine, who played both guard positions. Gros blocked well and even played tight end. Another time Fuzzy Thurston tried his hand at tackle. Gary Barnes made some good moves in catching two passes. The two clubs traded errors in the early part of the first quarter. The Cowboys put together three first downs after receiving the opening kickoff, but Currie ended that by intercepting Meredith's pass aimed at Dick Bielski and returned seven yards to the Packer 42. Jim Taylor and Hornung moved for a first down in three runs, but Dowler caught Starr's first pass, whirled and then fumbled. Warren Livingston recovered. The Bays got the ball right back when Nitschke caught Amos Marsh's fumble in mid-air on the Cowboy 30. Kramer had a first down on the five after five plays but dropped the ball, forcing Hornung's field goal try. The Cowboys couldn't budge again and the Pack advanced 49 yards for their first TD. Starr went to the air and hit Dowler for 10 yards, McGee for 11, Kramer for nine and Moore for 15 on a screen. Pitts scored standing up from the two. It was 10-0. Forester gave the ball right back to the Bay offense by intercepting a tipped Meredith pass and Green Bay had a touchdown in four plays from the 50 with Roach at QB. Pitts, who just reported Friday afternoon after getting his Army discharge. opened with a three-yard run and then Roach hit Barnes for a 14-yard gain. Pitts swept for nine and Roach followed with his touchdown throw to Dowler in the end zone. A 46-yard pass from Eddie LeBaron to Frank Clarke put the Cowboys in motion but they got a big assist. With a third and three on the Packer 12, Howard Williams was called for interference on Howton in the end zone and the Cowboys had an automatic first down on the two-yard line. The Packer line then threatened to shut the door, allowing one yard in three cracks before Bullocks leaped over. The Packers' first 80-yard drive included nine plays and the big key was a 43-yard throw from Starr to Don Bishop to McGee. Bishop crossed in front of Max to intercept the pass but McGee snaked his hands in front of Bishop and "stole" the ball, putting the Pack on the Cowboy 25. Hornung hurled a 17-yard pass to Kramer on the option and three plays later Kramer took Starr's pass away from Livingston for the TD. Baker then exploded his long punt and the Bays were off again - this time on the 12-play, 80-yard march. Starr threw 19 yards on a good-looking screen, hit Dowler for 23 yards up the middle and then smacked McGee for 19 yards to the 11. Taylor ripped six and then Hornung went in. Near the end, each team lost the ball on downs, the Cowboys on the Pack 29 when Meredith's
pass went incomplete and the first down was missed by inches. The Bays now have won 15 straight non-league games. They haven't lost since the Giants beat them 14-0 in Bangor, Me., in 1959. Next stop: The Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla., where they meet the Cardinals a week from tonight.
GREEN BAY - 3 14 7 7 - 31
DALLAS - 0 0 7 0 - 7
GREEN BAY DALLAS
First Downs 18 13
Rushing-Yards-TD 33-110-2 30-129-1
Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int 20-15-233-2-0 25-10-143-0-2
Sack Yards Lost 0 27
Total Yards 343 245
Fumbles-lost 2-2 2-1
Turnovers 2 3
Yards penalized 5-41 5-45
SCORING
1st - GB - Paul Hornung, 18-yard field goal GREEN BAY 3-0
2nd - GB - Elijah Pitts, 2-yard run (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 10-0
2nd - GB - Boyd Dowler, 24-yard pass from John Roach (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 17-0
2nd - DAL - Amos Bullocks, 1-yard run (Sam Baker kick) GREEN BAY 17-7
3rd - GB - Ron Kramer, 8-yard pass from Bart Starr (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 24-7
4th - GB - Hornung, 5-yard run (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 31-7
RUSHING
GREEN BAY - Jim Taylor 10-42, Paul Hornung 9-33 1 TD, Elijah Pitts 4-18 1 TD, Earl Gros 3-6, Lew Carpenter 1-4, Tom Moore 2-4, Ernie Green 3-3, Bart Starr 1-0
DALLAS - Don Meredith 3-31, L.G. Dupre 7-30, Lloyd Winston 3-22, Don Perkins 7-14, Amos Marsh 5-13, J.W. Lockett 2-9, Eddie LeBaron 2-9, Amos Bullocks 2-1 1 TD
PASSING
GREEN BAY - Bart Starr 14-10-164 1 TD, John Roach 5-3-52 1 TD, Paul Hornung 1-1-17
DALLAS - Don Meredith 20-9-97, Eddie LeBaron 5-1-46
RECEIVING
GREEN BAY - Boyd Dowler 5-66 1 TD, Max McGee 3-74, Ron Kramer 3-35 1 TD, Gary Barnes 2-23, Tom Moore 1-15, Jim Taylor 1-15
DALLAS - Billy Howton 4-41, Frank Clarke 2-52, Sonny Davis 1-17, Dick Bielski 1-16, Pettis Norman 1-14, L.G. Dupre 1-3
LOMBARDI TERMS PACK LISTLESS; HEAT CAUSE?
AUG 12 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers' play in defeating the Cowboys 31 to 7 in the Cotton Bowl Friday was "listless" with a question mark. Coach Vince Lombardi used that eight-letter word Saturday in describing the Pack's performance. But he quickly added: "I really can't tell until I see the pictures. It might have been the heat." The temperature stood at an official 94 at kickoff time and, as Lombardi pointed out, "that's too hot to tell anything." Lombardi was generally well pleased with the victory but, pressed for a comparison with the Packers of August, 1961, the coach felt that "it's too early for a comparison." In the Packers' trip here last year, they downed the Cowboys 30-7. Vince said "we discovered two good football players," but declined to name names, noting that "the pictures will show us more about them." He announced that there will be no personnel cuts this week but added that "there may be some trades. That possibility always exists." Lombardi and Cowboy Coach Tom Landry were chinning quite frequently during an outdoor barbecue for sponsors of the game and coaches Thursday night. Later Landry laughed, "That Lombardi is a hard man to do business with." The Packers presently have 45 players, including 10 rookies. Landry was highly impressed with the Packers. "They seem to be in excellent form and should take up where they left off last year. Our team looked better that it did last year at this time. We have more rookies looking better, including that George Andrie of Marquette." The Cowboy coach figured his team was in good shape until Max McGee made the play on Don Bishop. The Packers went on to a 24-7 lead and the Cowboys never rebounded. Bishop cut in front of McGee to make what looked like an interception of a Bart Starr pass in the third quarter. McGee couldn't quite explain it, pointing out "I think it bounced off his chest and I just grabbed it." Bishop said, "I had it in my hands for just a second but before I could come down McGee reached right over my shoulder and snatched it. It was a real fine play." The pass gained 43 yards to the Cowboy 25. All of the Packers rookies played except QB Bob Joiner and perhaps the busiest was Ed Blaine, the offensive guard. He played both guard spots and excelled, indicating that he may be one of the aforementioned two. The Pack's powerful offensive line gave Starr and John Roach excellent protection, but Lombardi said the front wall was not getting off as a balanced unit yet, at least as well as it did in 1961. This is expected to improve as the non-league season progresses. Most of the players felt like "thin men" after the game despite frequent substitutions. One of them, Boyd Dowler, said he never noticed the heat. "Once the game started, it was like any other weather," Dowler said. Bllly Howton, the onetime Packer, went the distance and said he lost 15 pounds. Howton felt that the Cowboys will have a "good team once we settle down and the new men break in." Billy led the Cowboys with four catches. Starr wore a sweat band on his wrist for a short time. This was to catch the sweat rolling down his arm and keep the ball from getting slippery. The most unusual Packer in camp turned out to be the hard-nosed little Elijah Pitts, who now has scored two touchdowns with only two days of practice. He reported from Army duty two days before the All-Star game and scored on a sweep. He then returned for Fort Leonard Wood to get his separation last week and reported a few hours before the Cowboy game.
JEERED AS PUNK, WILLIAMS NOW AN ASPIRING PACKER
AUG 12 (Dallas-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Howard Williams played football in the first place because the school's star halfback called him a a punk. And he really didn't plan to play pro football at all. In fact, this 25-year-old Packer rookie explains that "it's hard to define my exact reasons for signing to play pro ball. I like the best - big ideas, and probably if it had been anybody but the champion Packers I might not have played. At least if I don't make the Packers, I can't feel so bad." Williams in an interesting story. He's just nine hours removed from a degree in electrical engineering. He spent four years in the Air Force, mostly as an aerial photographer. He's always had a secret ambition to sing - probably a "neurotic impulse," he says. And he's a retired brick-laying champion. Williams was a brilliant student at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He twice won the Mordecai Johnson trophy and once won the John Burr Award - both for combined excellent in athletics and academics. He had a 3.1 grade average. Packer players make reports on their opponents after each game. Williams wrote on Lance Alworth, the College All Sar end who was tracked down by Williams when he replaced Jess Whittenton. Coach Vince Lombardi marveled at the report, noting its completeness, punctuation, grammar, etc. There's a feeling that Williams might make the team. It's early yet. Norb Hecker, coach of the defense backfield, feels that Williams has considerable ability. He picks things up in a hurry. Williams was born in Spartanburg, S.C., in December of 1936. He attended Carver High School there and never gave athletics a tumble until his senior year. He played the trumpet in the school band. He was walking down the street one day with his girlfriend when the school's star halfback "called me a punk. He was a big bully anyway, I told him I'd take his position away from him in football. I did, too, in my senior year and he became a good buddy of mine." Williams didn't have the means to attend college so he signed up in the Air Force for four years. He was stationed mostly in Japan, and that's where he met and married Toyoda Oda. They now have an eight-month-old son, Gardner Oda. He discovered that he could sing in Japan, too. "I used to sing to her and she liked it. I was always just a shower-room singer," Williams smiled. Williams played two years of football in service, a halfback on offense and defense. He wanted to go to Howard University. "I always associated the school with myself. I suppose because the school's name was my name, too. I wanted to go to medical school there but my wife and mother were dependent on me so I chose electrical engineering, a four-year course. I can get my degree in half a semester." Williams was a football star at the university, leading the team in scoring and ground gaining for four years. His coach, Robert White, felt that his star player could make the pros and he contacted Lou Anderson, the Packers' East Coast scout who had watched him play. Thus, Williams was signed as a free agent. Williams confesses that he likes pro football - "I like it, definitely, but as to making the Packers I never doubt my ability as long as I can maintain my physical assets. The game of football as played by the pros is the same in the fundamentals of blocking and tackling. The difference is that the emphasis in pro football is on more accuracy and precision." The new back is going all out to make the Pack. As he puts it, "I don't like to do anything half way." Brick-layer? "During high school I earned a good deal of money as a brick layer. I entered the Southern regional brick laying contest and I won it." Right now, Williams' future as an electrical engineer or a singer must wait. He's all wrapped up in making the champions. But he keeps in practice singing like all of rookies during the Packers' dinner hour.
FORMER PACKER KICKER DESCHAINE TO CHIEFS
AUG 12 (Manitowoc-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Coach Hal Haberman of the Manitowoc County Chiefs Saturday announced that Dick Deschaine, the former Green Bay Packer punting star, is expected to report to the Chiefs Monday night. Deschaine, the Marinette native who was grabbed by the Packers after gaining punting fame with the amateur Marinette-Menonimee Hornets of the Wisconsin State League, also has experience as an offensive end. Deschaine is a Green Bay car salesman. Haberman sent his charges through a light scrimmage Saturday afternoon and called it "very disappointing." The brief scrimmage was the first of preseason drills, and Haberman said that too much success could not be expected at this stage. A heavy scrimmage will be held Tuesday night. The Chiefs, who have more talent in camp now that at this time last season, also announced they would hold their intra-squad game on Saturday night, Aug. 25. It will be the first night intra-squad tilt in the 27 years of post-school football in Manitowoc. They open Central States League play at home Sept. 9 against Elmhurst, Ill. Reporting the Chiefs last week was Ron Dart of Green Bay, the former Algoma High athlete who played as a regular in the defensive backfield in Manty's 1961 championship year.
SCHAAP CAPTURES HORNUNG PERSONALITY
AUG 12 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - What Paul Hornung does with a football, Dick Schaap does with a typewriter. Hornung scores. And so does Schaap, particularly when he writes about Hornung, as he does in the 13th volume of Sport Magazine's pocketbook library. Billed as an original life story, "Paul Horning, Pro Football Golden Boy," is a highly entertaining production, largely because of the witty insight the author has of what he describes as Hornung's "Corvette personality." Schaap, associate editor of Newsweek, spent several weeks with the Packers and Hornung last season and his stay was well worth it. He turned it into a sparkling story for his magazine and then converted that story into the pocketbook biography which is due to hit the newsstands shortly. Although he liberally quotes the stories of other writers, many of which have already been read by Hornung's legions of fans, Schaap has much a deft and sometimes almost acid touch with words and sentences, that the book is sure to bring chuckles from its readers while still getting across the story. A glance at some of the chapter headings gives an indication of what is inside. Among these are things like "Is There a Paul Hornung," "Jeer, Jeer for Old Notre Dame," West De Pereward, Ho," "Paul Brown's Body," and "Marching Through Sherman." Inside the chapters, Hornung is described as a Greek God, braggart, con man, lover and heartbreaker, idol and "miracle, a minor miracle perhaps, but still a miracle." The Horn's escapades, some rumor and some fact, are all there and a cluster of new ones are thrown in. Only when he gets bogged down in the sands of detail, as many (of us) sportswriters often do because of the multitude of
statistics available, does author Schaap lose interest. This takes place in the middle of the book when he launches into a near game-by-game rehash of Hornung's collegiate triumphs. This can be excused, though, in the overall excellence of the book. In general, however, the book is not only the story of Hornung, but also the story of the Packers' sudden rise to prominence once again. And who can argue that this rise wasn't spawned by the Golden Boy.
PACK DEALS GREEN TO BROWNS, PRIME FOR CARD TEST SATURDAY
AUG 13 (Dallas-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Big Ernie Green, a fine running back prospect, left the Packers camp today for Cleveland where he'll replace another Ernie, All-American Davis, who is out of football this year with a serious blood disease. Coach Vince Lombardi announced the trade of Green to the Browns for an undisclosed draft choice Sunday night. Green, a 210-pounder who was the Packers' 14th draft choice, blocked good in his brief Packer career but he was the club's sixth running back behind Paul Hornung, Jim Taylor, Tom Moore, Elijah Pitts and Earl Gros...PITTS TAKES PLAY: There promises to be some spirited competition for starterhood among this fivesome and, ironically, the fourth back a year ago, Pitts, has taken the play away from his famed running back teammates. And there's a story here because Pitts has actually had only two days of drills with the club before the last two games. Yet he scored a touchdown in each game and ran at midseason form after reporting from six months of Army duty. The secret of Pitts' cold-off-the-street conditioning is out. He explained it this way: "I was on the fort's track team (Fort Leonard Wood) and got a start on conditioning that way. But when the season is over, I ran as hard as I could every day. I ran with my heavy army boots on and when I got to the Packers those football shoes were light as paper." Pitts is a sort of rugged Willie Galimore. He gives the Packers amazing outside speed. At the moment, he's the No. 2 running back in camp, ranking behind Jim Taylor. Elijah, who scored the winning touchdown in the league windup against the Rams last December with a dazzling 24-yard run, came to Dallas Friday afternoon and sought out backfield coach Red Cochran for the game's assignments. He absorbed them in nothing flat and gained 18 yards in four carries for the best rushing average. Pitts is freshly married and he already has his own home in Little Rock. In fact, he bought that house a year ago - "just in case I get married." But that's not all. "I bought (that championship money) an old theater in Little Rock and I'm going to make a nice supper club out of it. It's run down but it's a good building. Maybe I can get Willie (Davis) and Herb (Adderley) to go in with me. We still have segregation in Little Rock and there's no
run down but it's a good building. Maybe I can get Willie (Davis) and Herb (Adderley) to go in with me. We still have segregation in Little Rock and there's no really nice place for Negroes to go. They can go go to some of the other places but they must sit separately. Our place will be for everybody."...TEMPERATURE HITS 101: Bur right now the restaurant business will have to wait. Pitts is concentrating on perfecting himself for the Packers' challenge ahead, a third straight western championship and the second world crown. The Packers worked Sunday under a blistering Texas sun that shot the temperature up to 101 - the eighth straight day that Dallas has passed the century mark. The drill was shifted from the SMU field to Glencoe Park since the Methodist school had a rule against athletic activities on Sunday on its grounds. The team used the SMU dressing rooms and will work there this week. The Bays will leave Friday for Jacksonville, Fla., where they'll play the Cardinals Saturday night. The first busload of Packers witnessed an accident as they left the campus. Two motorcycles, riding side by side, hooked handlebars and both drivers went sprawling. The bus was stopped and the players were ready to assist but the cyclists got up smiling...BRIEFS: Lombardi said pictures of the Pack's 31-7 win over the Cowboys showed that "we were a little slipshod." And as to the two rookies who looked like good football players, Lombardi laughed and explained, "We'll have to wait and see after another game." Mmm. With Green gone, the Packers are down to nine rookies - Gary Barnes, Ed Blaine, Dick Davis, Oscar Donahue, Paul Dudley, Earl Gros, Bob Joiner, Howard Williams and Ron Gassert. There are 34 veterans - not counting Ben Agajanian, the 43-year old kicking marvel who is serving in somewhat of a kicker coaching capacity...The Packers have agreed to play in the Salesmanship Club game next year, making Green Bay's third straight appearance. The contest might be played later next year to avoid the heat.
ADDERLEY FORCING FIRST PACK LINEUP CHANGE
AUG 14 (Dallas-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The first change in the alignment of the world champion Packers of 1961 is in progress. This is in the club's defensive secondary which last year was composed of Jess Whittenton and Hank Gremminger at cornerbacker and Willie Wood and John Symank as safetymen. Jess and Hank were on the right side, Willie and John on the left. Each of the gents intercepted five passes in the process of helping the club win the world title. But that was a year ago. Since the fourth quarter of the College All Star game, sophomore Herb Adderley has moved into left cornerback and Gremminger in turn shifted back into Symank's position. The change was made after the All Stars scored one aerial touchdown and completed two passes through John's area. The changed foursome went most of the way against the Cowboys, exchanging with a unit composed of Adderley and Howard Williams at the corners and Symank and Paul Dudley at safety. Symank is back at right safety in this group, where he played in 1960. Symank, accepting the change with his usual quiet determination, noted with a grin, "It's early yet." Which means that if he is beaten out of a starting job it won't be without a fight. Symank has played regularly for all but one of his previous five seasons. He intercepted nine passes as a rookie working across from Bobby Dillon in 1957. He relieved both Dillon and Em Tunnell in 1959 and then beat Em out in 1960. Gremminger finds the safety spot to "my liking. It's harder to play the corner because there's more traffic." Hank never played safety with the Packers. The former Baylor ace came into pro football in 1956 as an offensive end but was switched to defense as a rookie. He had been the club's regular cornerbacker the last five years. Gremminger says he doesn't care where he plays, pointing out, "I just want to play." Adderley was something of an overnight sensation on defense. Coach Vince Lombardi often explained last winter, "I was too stubborn to switch him to defense," but during a siege of colds and injuries late in the past season Lombardi consented to having Adderley moved from flanker back to defense behind Gremminger. Sure enough in the crucial game at Detroit last Thanksgiving Day, Gremminger was hurt and Adderley, with only a few days practice, went in and played the spot skillfully. He made an interception that set up the Pack's winning touchdown. Herb said he never played "that particular position" until he came to Green Bay. "We played three deep in school and I was the middle safety. It's hard up there at the corner. You only have two or three seconds to make up your mind whether to come up and make a tackle or go back for the pass." Norb Hecker, coach of the defensive backfield, said the new combination gives the secondary more speed...WILL GET STERN TEST: The foursome will receive a stern test the next time out when the Packers meet the Cardinals in Jacksonville, Fla., Saturday night. Gremminger and Adderley will be looking at Sonny Randle, one of the league's top receivers, and Bobby Joe Conrad most of the night. And Adderley will be tackling powerful John Crow just about the time he's getting up a head of steam. Hank Stram, coach of the Dallas Texans of the rival AFL, watched the Packers practice Monday and chatted with Lombardi after the morning workout. Incidentally, Packer drills were switched to the morning to escape the afternoon heat. The Texans, who are conducting "spring" training here, work late in the afternoon. Stram, asked how his team (the rival Cowboys drill at Marquette, Mich.) takes the heat, felt that "it's not bad after you get used to it. We don't have any complaints and it does the squad a lot of good training in their home city." Rumors had popped recently about the Texans moving to New Orleans but Stram said that "many cities would like a good pro football franchise. It's not good having two teams in Dallas. The fans will decide which team they want here. The team that has the best attendance in the next few years will stay here; the other have to move." The Packers slowed down traffic on busy Mockingbird Lane during their drill on the SMU field. More than 300 curious gathered to watch the champs in action. And the Bays almost lost two footballs in a tree. Dudley punted the ball in a tree and it set in the branches. Coach Red Cochran threw a ball up trying to knock it down and that stuck up in the tree. Dudley then punted a direct hit and three footballs came tumbling down.
CARDS HIT AIR GAME
AUG 14 (Lake Forest, IL) - The St. Louis Cardinals went to work on their passing game Monday following a 21-21 exhibition tie with the New York Giants Saturday night. No serious injuries were reported, although Pat Fischer, Taz Anderson and Frank Mestnik all came up with muscle ailments. All will be back in action Tuesday. Rookie end Chuck Bryant of Ohio State, who suffered an ankle injury in the College All-Star game, took limited practice. Coach Wally Lemm said he hoped to use Bryant in Saturday's game against the Green Bay Packers.
LOMBARDI SHRUGS OFF 'INJURY' IN SLED MISHAP, LAUDS 'BEST' PRACTICE
AUG 15 (Dallas-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Vince Lombardi suffered pain on the practice field Tuesday. But after the workout he said "that's the best drill we've had yet." The Packer coach's pain was strictly personal and it could have been serious. Vince was riding on the seven-man charging sled during the team's usual boot with the giant "back breaker." When Lombardi figured the drill was finished he stepped off the sled and turned away. At the same time, the last group of seven crashed into the sled and the coach was flipped to the ground. The group automatically snapped back and forward for a second charge when Ray Nitschke let out a scream as he saw Lombardi, stopping the sled just as it hit Lombardi's foot.
as he saw Lombardi, stopping the sled just as it hit Lombardi's foot. Vince leaped to his feet, brushed himself off and went back to work. He came out with a bruised foot and a skinned knee, but he very easily could have suffered a broken leg. Lombardi rides herd on the sled himself, and insists on each group making its charge in unison. The spirited and successful practice, witnessed by over 700 people on the SMU football field, was topped off with relay sprints. The individual races between two squads produced several dead heats and one oddity: The two veteran quarterbacks, Bart Starr and John roach, fumbled the handoff of the pigskin "baton." The visitors included, besides members of the Dallas Texan squad, the team's owners. That would be Lamar Hunt, who virtually started the AFL himself. He asked about Ben Davidson's weight, noting that "we were interested in him before he went to the Giants." Hunt issued an invitation to "come out and watch our team practice."...Hank Jordan thinks the world of the Pack's offense and the all-pro defensive tackles sighed after practice, "Boy, have we got a pretty passing attack. For once in my life, I don't have to hold my breath when the ball's in their air."...Paul Hornung got a laugh when he opened his mail Monday morning. "I got a letter from the public information officer at Fort Riley. He said somebody sent him that headline on Lombardi telling Hornung the picnic's over. The officer wrote he had some pull and he could get my old job back again," Paul roared...The coaches learned that Tom Bettis is going right well with the Steelers. The former Packer, traded recently, is playing outside linebacker...The Cowboys ran off more plays than the Pack in the Bays' 31-7 victory here Friday night. The Cowboys had 56, the Bays 53. The big difference was in the yards gained per play, Green Bay averaging 6.5 against the Cowboys' 4.1. The Cowboys averaged 3.7 yards on each of their 31 rushes; the Bays 3.3 on their 33 trips. The Pack's rushing game will get a much sterner test when Taylor and Co. beef up against the Cardinals in Jacksonville, Fla., Saturday night...The Packers' nine rookies are divided as evenly as possible on offense and defense. Five are on the offense team - Earl Gros, Oscar Donahue, Bob Joiner, Ed Blaine and Gary Barnes. Those on defense are Paul Dudley, Richard Davis, Howard Williams and Ron Gassert...We commented to Lombardi that "our screen passes looked very good in the two games thus far." The coach smiled modestly and reminded that "it's hard to defense against them this early in the season."...PS - It cooled off to 98 Tuesday from 105 but 100-plus weather was predicted for today. Like Trainer Bud Jorgensen observed, "You get heat prostration outside and pneumonia in the room." But most everybody is getting acclimated.
DOWLER IN ROARING START; SEES TOUGH ROAD
AUG 16 (Dallas-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Boyish Boyd Dowler knelt aside the giant cocktail table in the main lobby of the Ramada Hotel, and played jacks. Other Packers lounged around, watching this expert in awe. So did a lot of civilians who probably haven't seen a jacks game since they were kids. It was fantastic how Dowler deftly snapped up the jacks - first the ones, the twos, etc. Finally, he reached the nines. He flipped the ball up and it hit the edge of the table. He scooped up the jacks and then lunged to make a one-handed snare of the ball but it got away. "Bad bounce," he snarled and the audience roared. Fred Thurston shook his head in amazement while Dowler grabbed the jacks. "What wonderful hands he's got. What a touch," Thurston whispered and then in the next breath added: "He's going to have a terrific year. You just watch. Nobody can stop him with that speed and those hands. I'll bet he makes the Pro Bowl." Dowler is off to a roaring start in this his "senior" year. He nailed 11 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns in the first two games. But the 6-5 string bean with the deceptive speed isn't doing hand-springs over the record. Sure the figures look good but as Boyd shrugged the other day, "I played against a couple of rookies. It will be tougher." The All Star boys couldn't stay near him and Cornell Green, the first-year Cowboy, got the lesson of his life in the Pack's 31-7 victory here. This may be the year Dowler steps out and wins some of the recognition due him. He had had to take back seat the last two years to Lenny Moore, the Colts' fine flanker. And speaking of good hands and pass receiving, Ron Kramer has picked up where he left off last year. But one thing has been bugging Kramer: The pass he dropped in the Cowboy game. "I don't know how it happened," Ron said in disbelief. It can happen to anybody but Kramer has been moaning about it. It came on a third down situation, four yards to go on the Cowboy 11. He dropped it on the five. This brought forth Paul Hornung for a field goal and he made good from 18 yards...Vince Lombardi was back Wednesday riding the seven-man charging sled - sore foot and all. The coach shared the sled with Coach Phil Bengtson during the workout at SMU. Lombardi is limping a wee bit, the result of the Tuesday accident. But there was another casualty Wednesday during the charging drills. This time Jim Taylor cut the forefinger on his right hand on a piece of glass, forcing him to wear a bandage. "I guess I won't be able to throw the option pass," Jim winked after practice. The Bays put in considerable work on their aerial game in preparation for the non-league game against the Cardinals in Jacksonville, Fla., Saturday night. The drill was topped off with a long session on defense and the usual "two-minutes-to-score" drill. The offense took the ball on its own 40 and set sail - but not very far. A fourth down situation developed so, with only seconds left, Paul Hornung kicked a field goal of almost 50 yards - with distance to spare. Incidentally, Hornung has improved his speed each day in practice. His weight is down and he's cutting loose. The league's all-time high scorer and most valuable player could flash his 1961 form against the Cardinals...It seemed like old home week at yesterday's drills. Among the 1,000 spectators was Don McIlhenny, the former Packer back who announced his retirement from the 49ers earlier in the week; Bob Burris, who tried out with the Pack in 1957-58; Doyle Nix, the ex-Bay defense back who later played with the Redskins - plus Chuck Tanner, the ex-Brave who is now with Louisville and Max Boydston, the former Cardinal end. Louisville is here for a series with Dallas-Fort Worth. Burris said he was "so happy that Ray Nitschke made the Packers," adding: "I remember one time at a squad meeting Scooter (McLean, the head coach) asked each player how many tickets he wanted for one of the games. We were allowed only four. Ray got up and well went quiet. 'Coach,' he said, 'I'd like 20 tickets because this may be the last game my friends get a chance to see me play.' I always liked him."...The Packers will fly out of Dallas after Friday morning's drill for Jacksonville in their chartered United Airlines plane.
PACK WILL RUN INTO SELVES VS. CARDS
AUG 17 (Jacksonville-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers will run into themselves when they meet the Cardinals in the Gator Bowl Saturday night. This will be the Pack's first real stiff test along the preseason trail since the Cards have been tabbed as one of three favorites to win the Eastern Division championship. Coach Vince Lombardi has always rated the Cards as a title threat and now he feels the St. Louis club has a good chance to win in 1962. The Packers play the Cards in their second league game - in Milwaukee Sept. 23. The Cardinals were oddballs the last few years in that they used Pop Ivy's strange-looking double wing formation.
Wally Lemm is the Cards' new coach and he has installed the T-formation. In fact, Packer coaches learned from scout reports and films that Lemm's offense is the same as used by the Packers. He patterned it after the stuff used by the Packers in their rout of the Giants in the championship game. Ironically, Ivy took Lemm's place as head coach of the Houston Oilers of the AFL and Hank Stram, coach of the Dallas Texans who attended all Packer drills in Dallas, has been wondering how to defense it. Lemm has the Packer-type of offensive personnel - especially at running back where the two big guns average 216 pounds, like Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung. John Crow goes a little over 220 and he's certainly the largest halfback in the league - and Packer coaches think one of the best. Frank Mestnik, ex-Marquette ace, is the fullback - at 200. The secret of the Cards' success is QB Sam Etcheverry, who was cut down by injuries last year. The one-time Canadian star is finding Lemm's system more to his liking. His main receivers are Sonny Randle, Taz Anderson and Bobby Joe Conrad. The Bays spent a good deal of the time defending the Card offense in Thursday's workout and certainly the left side of the Bay defense will get a good workout since Anderson and Conrad are on the Cards' right side. Randle will be a problem for Jesse Whittenton and Willie Wood. Boyd Dowler, who has displayed great form for this early in the campaign, will be guarded chiefly by the Cards' finest defensive back, Billy Stacy. The Pack's offensive line will be subjected to extreme pressure and, as usual, holds the key to Green Bay's offensive success...TIMED STARR, MEREDITH: As Val Joe Walker pointed out at Thursday's drill, "We timed the time Starr and Meredith had to pass Friday night. Meredith got only three seconds most of the time and Starr had 11 seconds to pass. A defensive back doesn't have a chance if the line can hold up that long." Walker, the one-time Pack defense back, attended the Packer-Cowboy game with some high school coaches. Val Joe is traveling around the world for a machine equipment company out of Oklahoma City and had just returned from Africa. The Packers worked out lightly in Dallas Friday morning and then flew to Florida in their chartered United Airlines plane. They are headquartered at the George Washington Hotel...AGAJANIAN AT BEST: Ben Agajanian, kicker and kicking coach, left the squad in Dallas and headed for his home and business interests in Long Beach, Calif. He will rejoin the team in Green Bay. Ben has been working with Hornung and Taylor on field goals and Willie Wood on kickoffs. Hornung has been getting off some tremendous boots. Agajanian, the 43-year old wonder, says he's in "the best condition I've ever been in. I was with the club right from the start and Vinnie ran me through the mill. I'll make somebody a good kicker."...BUDDY GATEWOOD VISITS: The Packers have 43 players without Aggie. The roster includes nine rookies, all of whom will get a test vs. the Cards, except maybe QB Bob Joiner. One of the visitors at the Thursday drill was Buddy Gatewood, a Packer center in the 1940s. He's in the oil business in Texas - "the same job I quit when I was still young, only 26, after the 1947 season." Gatewood recalled the rugged '47 season in which the Packers lost four games by nine points. "My favorite player was Larry Craig, and we named our two boys after him. One is named Larry and the other is Craig," Buddy said.
PACKERS EXPECT 'GOOD TEST' AGAINST CARDINALS TONIGHT
AUG 18 (Jacksonville-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers are expecting a "good contest" in the Gator Bowl tonight. Not to mention stretching of their championship muscle. A record crowd of over 30,000 is expected. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 o'clock, Packerland time. This will be the eighth annual Jacksonville Charities pro game. The game will be broadcast on station WJPG, Green Bay. Two of the Packers' finest, Dave Hanner and Hank Jordan, sounded the keynote of tonight's struggle on the air trip from Dallas Friday. "This will be a good contest all right and we'll have to be at our best," Jordan said. "They just tied the Giants and they feel pretty good about that. We're the ones they want to beat. The Cardinals would win it in the east," Hanner opined. For the umpteenth time, it can be stated that preseason games don't really count but no organized team likes to lose anything even though both clubs will give their rookies a test. Abe Stuber, the former Packer aide now on the Cardinal staff, says, "We have 50-some players and we'd like to try them all." By comparison, the titled Packers have 43 stalwarts, including nine rookies, and Coach Vince Lombardi figures on using everybody. The Packers will lead off with their proven best, though there will be a starting switch in the offensive line. Norm Masters, who normally shares left tackle with Bob Skoronski, will open at right tackle in place of Forrest Gregg. The tackles then will alternate throughout the game. With Skoronski and Masters on such a par, the Packers have what seems like a 12-man starting offensive team. When Jerry Kramer was hurt last year, Masters played right tackle and Gregg moved over to
right guard. Otherwise, the Packers will line up with Kramer and Fuzzy Thurston at the guards, Jim Ringo at center, Max McGee and Ron Kramer at ends and Bart Starr, Boyd Dowler, Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung in the backfield. The Cards will open with a backfield of Sam Etcheverry at quarterback, Frank Mestnik and John Crow at the running backs and Bob Conrad at right half. The ends will be Taz Anderson and the great Sonny Randle. Defensively, the Packers will continue experimenting with the new secondary setup which has Hank Gremminger at left safety and Herb Adderley at left corner and Jess Whittenton and Willie Wood on the other side. John Symank, former left safety, will be at right safety in another group which also included Adderley and rookies Howard Williams and Paul Dudley. Other defensive starters are Willie Davis, Bill Quinlan, Jordan and Hanner in the line and Bill Forester, Ray Nitschke and Dan Currie at linebacker. Ron Gassert and Ed Blaine are among the Packer rookies due for a major test - as well as Earl Gros, Gary Barnes, Oscar Donahue, Richard Davis, Williams and Dudley. The Cardinals are the home team since they have played here some in the last few years, but the presence of the colorful Packers has produced a large advance sale. This indicates the Packers might be the people's choice...The Packers' six Negro players, Willie Davis, Herb Adderley, Willie Wood, Elijah Pitts, Howard Williams and Oscar Donhaue, weren't allowed to stay with their teammates in the George Washington Hotel due to segregation "laws" here. They headquartered at the Fiesta Hotel. They left the squad at the airport and Coach Lombardi huddled with the group before they departed. The rest of the squad watched silently from the bus. This is the first such experience the Packers had since they played in New Orleans in 1960. Lombardi took the team to Fort Benning rather than separate them in Columbus, Ga., last year. The Bays will stay at the Fort, right outside Columbus, again when they play the Redskins Sept. 8...BRIEFS: Waiting for the Packers at the hotel here was Tex Hinte, a Packer in 1942, who reminded this writer that "we were rookie together 20 years ago."...Dave Barclay, United Airlines agent who guides the Pack on their air trips, said the trip from Green Bay to Dallas to Jacksonville to Green Bay is within 100 mile of being a perfect triangle. It's about 1,000 miles on each leg...Hank Gremminger bought himself a crew cut last week in his hometown, Dallas...The Pack will have one died-in-the-wool backer tonight. That would be Kenny Niedl, the Green Bay native who is operating his roller derby here this week.
