PRESEASON: Green Bay Packers (5-0) 20, New York Giants 17
Monday September 3rd 1962 (at Green Bay)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(GREEN BAY) - The Packers turned three electrifying kick returns into a hard-fought 20 to 17 victory over the Giants in City Stadium Monday night. This was the second annual Bishop's Charities game - a sort of "replay" of the world championship battle of Dec. 31, and a sellout throng of 38,669 thrilled to the sparking long distance returns of a kickoff and two punts by Herb Adderley, Willie Wood and Elijah Pitts. It was the Packers' 18th straight preseason victory since Vince Lombardi's debut season of 1959 and the Bays' fifth consecutive win over Vince's "old" club. The last four Packer-Giant games each drew a total of 37 points. The first Bishop's Charities game in 1961 was 20-17, the league game Dec. 3 was 20-17, and the title game was 37-0. The Packers have one more preseason test left - the Redskins, fresh from a 29-28 victory over the Bears, in Columbus, Ga., Saturday night. Then, the Bays take to the fast track, meeting the Vikings in the league opener at City Stadium Sunday, Sept. 16. The Giants and Packers found themselves in a defensive tug-of-way but the kick returns (4 punt returns for 136 yards, 4 kickoff returns for 117) loosened up the crowd and helped the Bays overcome the Giants' tough defense. New York got off to a 3-0 lead shortly after recovering Paul Hornung's fumble. Adderley took the ensuing kickoff back 50 yards to the Giants 47 to set off the Bays' first TD on a Bart Starr pass to Max McGee in the first quarter. Wood was next. He hauled in a punt on the Packer 17 and swept back and forth across the field in a dazzling 58-yard jaunt to the Giant 25, thus setting up Hornung's 26-yard field goal and a 10-3 lead in the second frame. Wood directed his blockers as he ran and hoofed at least 100 yards. Pitts, with Wood getting a key block to start it, then went 72 yards, dodging Giants, down the west sidelines and then upfield to the Giants' 11. Three plays later Starr threw a touchdown pass to Hornung for a 20-10 lead in the third period. The Pack's other points came on Hornung's second field goal - a 23-yard shot that broke up a 10-up tie in the third period. The Packers offense nicked the Giants' tough defense for 333 yards, 168 by rushing and 165 by passing. New York was limited to 225 yards, including only 42 on the ground. Actually, the Packer offense had the situation in control, despite the unit's low scoring total. The Bays ran off 68 rushes and passes against New York's 53. The Giants inched closer on Y.A. Tittle's one-yard TD run in the final period but the Bays were on the Giants' 24 when the game ended. The Bays came up with a new name in the heavy part of the statistics - Earl Gros, the rookie fullback, who gained 52 yards in 10 hard-trying trips. Big Jim Taylor ripped the Giants for 83 yards in 17 attempts. Starr had 11 out of 20 for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Hornung was pretty well bottled up on the ground, but he came out with 14 points on a touchdown, two field goals and two PATs, plus three pass catches for 77 yards. The Packer defense continued to shine. This group allowed just three first downs and 77 yards total in the first half with Ralph Giglielmi at the Giant throttle. Tittle took the throttle in the second half and eked out 20 yards on the ground and 130 in the air. Chandler's 32-yard field goal gave the Giants a 3-0 lead when the game was only 2:53 old, but the Packers were quick to retaliate. Starr had the Bays right back in the lead on a 7-play, 47-yard advance, throwing to McGee for the TD. The Packers got another quick chance when Gros recovered Joe Morrison's kickoff return on the Giant 37. A Packer clipping penalty set the Bays back but Starr hurled a 39-yard pass to Hornung to the Giant 6. This seemed a sure bet but the Bays lost the ball on downs, two passes to McGee going awry. The game developed into a punting duel between Boyd Dowler and Chandler, and John Roach replaced Starr at the start of the second period. The Bays also added Gros, Tom Moore, Lee Folkins, Lew Carpenter, Ed Blaine and Gary Barnes. It took Wood to crack the punting duel, his 58-yard sparkler to the Ginat 25 setting up Hornung's 26-yard field goal and a 10-3 halftime Packer lead. The Giants took the second half kickoff and moved 63 yards in 10 plays for the tying points. The big gainer was a 30-yard Tittle to Del Shofner pass to the Packer 23. Two successive Packer offsides didn't help at this point and two plays later Tittle passed to Joe Walton 12 yards for the TD. The Packers smashed right back with some points, going 54 yards in nine plays to set up Hornung's field goal from the 23 - and a 13-10 lead. The big gainers were two Starr passes to Dowler for 23 yards, a roughing penalty on the Giants and 10 yards by Taylor in three tries. The Giants were forced to punt quickly and Pitts then made his fine 72-yard run to the 11. Taylor reeled off two 3-yard punches and on third down Starr put a touchdown pass in Hornung's arm for a 20-10 lead. The Bays made two threats early in the fourth period. They drove 53 yards in 10 plays, but Hornung missed a field goal attempt from the 31. Taylor picked up 26 yards in four rushes and Starr threw to Hornung for 23 and McGee for 12 along the way. The Giants punted right back and again the Bays threatened, moving from their own 28 on runs by Moore and Taylor and two Starr passes for 20 yards to Dowler and Carpenter to the Giant 40. Gros then moved up the middle for six yards but fumbled and Dick Modzelewski recovered. The Giants rolled 67 yards in 10 plays for a TD. Tittle ran 11 and then threw to Walton for 14. After making a fourth and one situation with a two-yard pass to Walton, Tittle hit Webster nicely for a 33-yard pass gain to the one. Two plays later Tittle ran around end for
the TD with 2:33 left. The Packers then ran the clock out with three first downs on seven running plays, with Gros getting 29 yards in five attempts. And among the surprises: Nary a drop of rain fell. A fierce thunderstorm soaked the field around 6 o'clock but departed before game time. The field was wet and slippery.
NEW YORK - 3 0 7 7 - 17
GREEN BAY - 7 3 10 0 - 20
NEW YORK GREEN BAY
First Downs 14 20
Rushing-Yards-TD 25-42-0 43-168-0
Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int 28-14-183-1-0 27-11-165-2-0
Sack Yards Lost 28 17
Total Yards 197 316
Fumbles-lost 2-1 2-2
Turnovers 1 2
Yards penalized 1-15 3-27
SCORING
1st - NY - Don Chandler, 32-yard field goal NEW YORK 3-0
1st - GB - Max McGee, 21-yard pass from Bart Starr (Paul Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 7-3
2nd - GB - Hornung, 26-yard field goal GREEN BAY 10-3
3rd - NY - Joe Walton, 11-yard pass from Y.A. Tittle (Chandler kick) TIED 10-10
3rd - GB - Hornung, 23-yard field goal GREEN BAY 13-10
3rd - GB - Hornung, 5-yard pass from Starr (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 20-10
4th - NY - Tittle, 1-yard run (Chandler kick) GREEN BAY 20-17
RUSHING
GREEN BAY - Jim Taylor 17-83, Earl Gros 12-52, Tom Moore 6-17, Paul Hornung 7-9, Bart Starr 1-7
NEW YORK - Alex Webster 8-29, Y.A. Tittle 2-12 1 TD, Phil King 3-4, Bob Gaiters 1-3, Johnny Counts 4-1, Ralph Guglielmi 1-0, Frank Gifford 6-(-7)
PASSING
GREEN BAY - Bart Starr 20-11-165 2 TD, John Roach 6-0-0, Paul Hornung 1-0-0
NEW YORK - Y.A. Tittle 17-10-128 1 TD, Ralph Guglielmi 11-4-55
RECEIVING
GREEN BAY - Boyd Dowler 5-44, Paul Hornung 3-77 1 TD, Max McGee 2-33 1 TD, Lew Carpenter 1-11
NEW YORK - Joe Walton 6-53 1 TD, Del Shofner 2-36, Joe Morrison 2-35, Alex Webster 1-33, Frank Gifford 1-10, Bob Gaiters 1-9, Phil King 1-7
CUBAN LAD WINS PACKERLAND HEARTS
SEPT 4 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The bronzed, saucer-eyed youngster sat in one of the lower rows just behind the Packer bench. His coal-colored hair was perfectly combed and it glinted in the half-light. He sat stiff as a plank so as not wrinkle his sharply-pressed brown suit. Oscar Pichardo, 11-year-old Cuban refugee, was a distinguished man Monday night. Not only was he one of a record 38,669 fans in attendance at the second annual Bishop's Charities football game, but he represented the charities and part of his official duties was to throw out the first ball in place of Bishop Stanislaus V. Bona, who is recuperating from an operation. Oscar handled his duties so well that he captivated the collective heart of his audience and scored a propaganda touchdown for Uncle Sam at the same time. Issuing a statement in pregame ceremonies, Oscar rattled off a string of Spanish and then followed with an interpretation. He said: "I could not be in my home in Havana, Cuba, because Castro is there. Because Castro is in my home in Havana, I am happy to be here. Viva los Packers!" He then marched smartly up to Giant kicker Don Chandler to give him the game ball for the kickoff. His huge eyes were filled with tears for several moments thereafter. Oscar has been living at St. Joseph's Home for Children in Green Bay since arriving in the United States from Cuba about a year ago. His parents are in Massachusetts. Extremely polite and friendly, Oscar may not have known all the mechanics of what was taking place before him on the field, but nobody enjoyed it more. That sharp press and perfect comb didn't last all night as he occasionally forgot his poise to bounce up and cheer. After all, he grinned widely, "I hope thee Packers ween. I see them on thee TV and I see a practice game here and like it very much." Ah yes, "Viva los Packers."...Oscar and his 38,668 fellow fans formed the largest crowd to ever watch an exhibition game in Green Bay. The throng is also a record for the Bishop's game, topping the mark of 33,542 who saw last year's baptismal affair. That crowd was also the previous high for any non-championship game. The sellout followed closely on the heels of a sellout of 44,326 at the Shrine Charity game in Milwaukee just over a week ago, making a total of 82,994 for the two "home" games. Bishop's Game chairman Ed Gagnon described his feelings simply, "It's a perfect night, not an empty seat in the house."...In the absence of Bishop Bona, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Grellinger welcomed the people to the game and diplomatically wished "the breaks to the deserving team."...Packers Bill Forester and Tom Moore were presented with large plaques as the outstanding defensive and offensive players of the 1961 game in pregame ceremonies. The outstanding players of this year's game, as judged by the Mike and Pen Sports Club of Green Bay for the game committee, will be announced Wednesday.
"WE GAVE AWAY THE RUNBACKS,' SHERMAN
SEPT 4 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Somewhat less disenchanted than on his last visit to pro football's current capital, the New York Giants' articulate Allie Sherman Monday night faced up to a fourth straight disappointment at Packer hands with understandable equanimity. Needless to say, the affable little sophomore headmaster found a respectable 20-17 reversal infinitely more palatable than that thunderous 37-0 decimation on the same City Stadium sod last New Year's Eve afternoon, a bitter pill for both himself and his proud Eastern Division champions. This he made abundantly clear by asserting with a deprecatory grin, "We made a ball game of it." As on that frigid December occasion, Allie had no alibis for this latest setback - but he was not without an explanation. "I thought we gave away those runbacks," he said matter-of-factly. He had reference, of course, to spectacular sorties by Herb Adderley, Willie Wood and Elijah Pitts, a collection which added up to 179 yards - and, ultimately, 17 Packer points. "You can't do that against these good clubs," the former Philadelphia Eagle quarterback declared. "They hurt us a lot - put a lot of pressure on us. This is not an alibi, however - it was our fault, and we paid the price." Almost in the same breath, Allie insisted, "Our defensive people should get a lot of credit. They contained the Packers pretty well most of the way. And we had to play a couple of rookies in there. Of course, the Packers marched on us when they were in there but that couldn't be helped. We don't have 22 solid positions, we have to play those kids - we have to find out about them." Because it has been a question mark, Sherman found the Giants' offense even more gratifying. "We feel that in the second half we started to come offensively," Allie imparted with a smile, explaining, "We are not so concerned about what they would do to us (an obvious vote of confidence for the Giant defensive platoon) but about what we can do." All of which prompted one New York scribe to question the performance of Ralph Guglielmi, the Giants' starting quarterback. Sherman, however, would find no fault when the ex-Notre Dame field general's efforts, which produced a 10-3 deficit. "Guglielmi's doing well," 1961's AP coach of the year asserted. "I agree he has been better but I have full faith in him. Yat (Y.A. Tittle, who held forth in the second half) was playing a little stronger game tonight but I have every confidence in both my quarterbacks." Allie also said he feels the multi-talented Frank Gifford, back for another fling after a one-year layoff, "is coming. That was tough footing but there tonight, you know." Sherman, one of football's finest gentlemen, had kind words, too, for a new member of the Giants' defensive corps, former Packer Dick Pesonen. "He's doing all right," Allie said. "And he did all right tonight with Boyd Dowler." The youthful head man did not restrict his bouquets to the Giant cast, observing at one point with considerable fervor, "That Taylor is a great ball player - there's no fullback any better." Returning to his favorite subject, Sherman noted, "We'll have Erich Barnes and Dick Lynch (veteran defensive backs who have been hobbled by injuries) back for Saturday night's game with the Eagles and then we'll know about us."...A taciturn Vince Lombardi, conceding that his defense "played well" summed up a successful evening with "I thought we played well all the way around." Commenting on the significant role Packer runbacks had played in the proceedings, he said cryptically, "That's all part of the game," simultaneously noting "they (the Giants) returned as much as we did." How had he found the Giants? "About the same," Lombardi replied. "The defense is about on a par with last year's." In reply to another query, the Packer major-domo agreed, "The Giants moved better with Tittle in there." Rookie fullback Earl Gros, he also admitted, "did a nice job. He's okay." Chided about "getting in a rut" (this was the fourth straight time the Packer-Giant point production has totaled 37 points), Lombardi smiled and said: "It looks that way." Drawn into a discussion of City Stadium's turf in the wake of Monday evening's pregame cloudburst and the subsequent traffic over John Proski's lush carpet, Lombardi declared, "It just ruined a beautiful field, but I think it can be fixed if we get at it while it's still soft."...The principals in the Pack's most productive pyrotechnics, eel-like Willie Wood and the mercurial Elijah Pitts, both were convinced they should have gone all the way. "I thought I was going to," Wood confessed with a shy grin, "but I kind of ran out of gas. There was one guy hanging back there and I tripped over his arm. I was burning out, anyway, though - I guess I had about 30 more yards to go. If my legs were strong enough, I think I might have made it." The soft-spoken Pitts was even more positive. "I should have gone all the way," he insisted, although Philander T. Smith's most distinguished alumnus admitted. "My leg (he is still suffering from a "slight pull" in a bandaged right thigh) gave me a little trouble." Elijah, who limped back to the bench ("the leg tightened up on me") after his 72-yard spectacular, added with somber appreciation, "I had great blocking on that one." As Wood wended his way shower-ward, he chanced to pass the locker of Paul Hornung, who quipped, "I understand you ran 110 yards on that one." To which Willie replied with a wide grin, "It sure felt like it." Hornung, who had exhibited flashes of his '61 form, declared, "I'm a long way off, I can't hit that hole," he confided. "It'll be a couple of more weeks. I'll just have to work a little harder." Diagonally across the room, drawling Jess Whittenton was happy to report, "It was my left leg, not the one I pulled a muscle in a couple of years ago."...'LOW, NOT HIGH': "This shouldn't take too long," he added with a reassuring smile. "It's low, not high - something you'll get on a wet, soggy field." It came as Jess pursued the Giants' Del Shofner, intended target of a Tittle bomb, late in the third quarter. So confident is Whittenton of his early return to combat that he predicted, "I'll be ready by the 16th (date of the Packers' home league opener against the Minnesota Vikings)."...'BLUE NOTE': Although like all good Packer fans, they were delighted with the outcome, the Blue Notes of distant Ishpeming, Mich., could not be blamed if they were not entirely happy with last night's proceedings. A drum and bugle corps, the Blue Notes bused 165 miles to entertain during the intermission but the youthful marchers were unable to deliver so much as a hemidemisemiquaver when halftime ceremonies were cancelled because of the field's condition. The Packer Lumberjack ban filled the void with a tuneful program from their customary station along the sidelines. The Lumberjacks, mellower than ever under the baton of Director Wilner Burke, formally opened their 24th season as the Packers' official musical organization...REAL DEVOTION: Clem Collard, veteran pressbox custodian, observed his 28th wedding anniversary Monday night in (you guessed it) the pressbox where he supervised the care and feeding of no less than 108 members of the fourth estate...TIME OUT?: Pat Fears, 10-year-old son of Packer End Coach Tom Fears, serves as one of Trainer Bud Jorgensen's "assistants" and unofficial team mascot. Normally cheering at the top of his voice, Pat was strangely silent late in the fourth quarter - and with good reason. Seated near the south end of the bench with his hate over his eyes and his head lolling back, he was fast asleep...STATISTICAL 'WARMUP': Ribbed about two successive bloopers over the pressbox P.A. system, longtime statistician Hank Zeutzius was not at a loss for words, firing back, "That's what exhibition games are for."
PACKERS TRADE DUDLEY TO NEW YORK
SEPT 4 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Packer rookie halfback Paul Dudley has been traded to the Giants for an undisclosed draft choice, it was announced Monday night by Coach Vince Lombardi. Dudley, former University of Arkansas, was drafted fourth as a junior eligible in 1960. He had been used on defense but the Giants plan to try him as an offensive back. The squad was reduced to 38 with Ben Agajanian, Dick Davis and Bob Joiner being put on the waiver list and Howard Williams being placed on the injured wavier list.
PACKERS TRADE FOLKINS TO DALLAS, BEEF UP DRAFT LIST
SEPT 5 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers traded another player today, and, in the process, (1) crept within one player of the final limit of 36 and (2) increased their 1963 college draft by almost one-third. Latest to depart is Lee Folkins, the sophomore end who went to the Cowboys of Dallas in exchange for an undisclosed draft choice. Coach Vince Lombardi now has reduced the squad to 37 players - one above the league-game total, which must be in effect next Tuesday. One other player was traded Tuesday and three were waived, one because of injury. Paul Dudley, the rookie defensive back, was traded to the Giants for a draft choice and Ben Agajanian, the ageless booter, quarterback Bob Joiner and tackle Dick Davis were put on waivers. Placed on the injured waiver list was halfback Howard Williams. Folkins will replace Dick Bielski at tight end and the promising prospect stands a chance of stepping into early action. Lanky Lee represents the sixth draft choice obtained by Lombardi via the trading marts. This means that the Packers will come out of the next draft with 26 players - six above the limit. Departing the Packer scene in trades were Tom Bettis, Steelers; John Sutro, Cowboys; Ernie Green, Browns; Ben Davidson, Redskins; Dudley, Giants, and Folkins, Cowboys...SUTRO WAS WAIVED: All but Sutro stand a good chance of sticking with their new clubs. Sutro was waived by the Cowboys and the 49ers then took a look at him. They also waived him. The Packers will get a look at Big Ben and a couple of other ex-Packers, Dale Hackbart and Bobby Freeman, when they meet the Redskins in Columbus, Ga., Saturday night. The Packers' player business leaves the club with five rookies, a large group for a world championship team. The simon-pures are offensive ends Gary Barnes and Oscar Donahue, defensive lineman Ron Gassert, guard Ed Blaine and fullback Earl Gros...The coaches looked at movies of the Pack's 20-17 victory over the Giants and Lombardi noted Tuesday that the Bays looked "very good." He put this stamp on both the offense and defense...Y.A. Tittle is usually referred to as a passing quarterback. And the Bishop's Charities game proved it. Here was the situation: The Giants had third and one on the Packer 36 early in the fourth quarter with the score 20-10, GB. Tittle promptly threw a long pass but it was incomplete in the end zone. Now it's fourth and one. Surely Alex Webster must be eager. Tittle, however, threw a short slant to Joe Walton to the left for two yards and the first down. Y.A. threw the ball roughly 15 yard to gain the two. The Giants went on to score, ending a 67-yard, 10-play drive. Oh yes, the first eight plays were passes or pass attempts. Tittle started the drive with an 11-yard run when he couldn't pass and finished it with a one-yard sweep around end for the TD...Agajanian will make somebody a good kicker. "Vinnie's training camp is tough," he said a couple of weeks ago," but I'm in the best shape I've ever been in and I'll be a good kicker for somebody." Ben leaves our town with "your handball championship. I got lucky and beat John Bartmann." Agajanian played handball almost every afternoon at the YMCA and one of his regular opponents was Bartmann, the Y's physical education director and one of the top players in town...The crowd made with the "aw shucks" yell when Willie Wood called for a fair catch of a punt in the second quarter Monday night. The Giants punted right back and Wood returned the boot 58 yards in a dazzling run. "Yeah, I heard 'em yell the first time but that didn't have anything to do with returning the second. We return 'em if we have the running room," Wood said after the game. The big gathering cheered when the Packers didn't go for a field goal in the first quarter. The Bays, ahead 7-3, had fourth and three to go for the touchdown when Bart Starr's pass to Max McGee in the end zone went incomplete. Lombardi, second-guessing himself for fun, likened the situation to the championship game in Philadelphia. "If we had gone for the field goal (the Bays lost the ball on downs deep in Eagle territory right at the start), we could have won with a field goal later on. But if we had...." he trailed off with a chuckle.
PITTS A SWITCH HITTER! GETS SHOT AT DEFENSE
SEPT 6 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers have added a switch hitter. His name is Elijah Pitts. He'll hit from both sides of the scrimmage plate - offense and defense. Pitts, the sophomore from Philander Smith College, worked with the defense during Wednesday's drill for the first time. He was stationed at right cornerback. Standing a few yards behind him and low-voicing instructions and suggestions was Jess Whittenton, the rightful owner of the right cornerback spot, and Norb Hecker, coach of the secondary. Whittenton has an injured leg and he's staying out of the defensive drills. And maybe his injury in the Giant game, a pulled muscle legging it after Del Shofner, was a blessing in disguise. The Bays won't get caught short as they were late in the 1961 season. Herb Adderley was shifted from offense to defense when the squad was hit by colds, flu, Army problems and little injuries shortly before the Detroit game Thanksgiving Day. Coach Vince Lombardi was eyeing aides Bill Austin, Red Cochran and Hecker for combat duty. Like magic, Hank Gremming drew an injury and Adderley, despite little practice at the spot, filled in the position nobly. Pitt now ranks as the sixth defensive back and the third offensive halfback. He also stands right alongside the league's defending punt return champion, Willie Wood. The Pack's defensive secondary has a solid five in John Symank, Adderley, Gremminger, Whittenton and Wood. Adderley is the newcomer, having started the current season on defense. He figures to open at left corner with Gremminger back to left safety. Ironically, Pitts is the fastest among the offensive running backs but the Pack's attack is based on heft and power. Thus he ranks behind Paul Hornung and Tom Moore at left half. But Pitts furnishes the Pack offense with an unusual change of pace. He dazzled a couple of the early foes in the preseason drive. And against the big Rams in Los Angeles last year, Pitts zipped 24 yards for the winning TD. Pitts may not have to wait long before getting a real live test on defense. With Whittenton a question mark (to make sure he's ready for the league opener Sept. 16), Elijah stands a chance of getting into the preseason windup vs. the Redskins in Columbus, Ga., Saturday night. You can bet Elijah will be ready if called. "I'll know my plays," he told Hecker after Wednesday's drill. The Redskins are fresh from a surprise victory over the Bears, and thus should provide the Packers with some tooth-sharpening action. That win ended the Redskins' 18-game losing streak, and they undoubtedly will be anxious to knock off the champs - like everybody else. The Bays will fly to Columbus at 8 o'clock Friday morning in a chartered United Airliner. They'll headquarter at nearby Fort Benning.
SKORONSKI, KOSTELNIK READY FOR REDSKINS
SEPT 7 (Columbus, GA-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Friday Perch, even though it's hard to find down here: Bob Skoronski has recovered from the flu and will be back fighting Norm Masters for left offensive tackle when the Packers battle the Redskins here Saturday night. Skoronski was a sick puppy during the Giant game Monday night. He got out of bed to get dressed for the game and then hit the sack immediately thereafter. And that reminds me: Do you know the reward the Packers received for winning the Shrine game in Milwaukee? "We gave 'em flu shots right after the game. That was their reward for winning," Coach Vince Lombardi laughed the other day. The Bays have another recoveree - tackle Ron Gassert, who holds the distinction of being the only rookie with the defensive unit. Gasser injured his knee in practice two weeks ago and missed the last two games. Gassert expects to see some action at end behind Willie Davis and/or Bill Quinlan. Ron Kostelnik, who suffered a dislocated shoulder in the Shrine game, figures to get in some contact, too. He was held out of the New York game. The Bays have one other hurtee - Jess Whittenton, who pulled a muscle in the NY test. Jess probably won't play to make sure he's ready for the league opener vs. Minnesota Sept. 16...The Packers, in winning, have been able to stay "hungry" as the saying goes. But Philosopher Paul Hornung is wondering: "What are we going to do about Whittenton and Thurston. They both run restaurants." And so it goes, the jabbering among the players on the training table, that is...Big Ben Davidson, the nicest 6-foot-6, 280-pounder we ever knew, is proving a big factor in the Redskins' defensive line. He played a whale of a game in the club's 29-28 victory over the Bears last Saturday. Davidson is one of four ex-Packers with the Redskins. The others are Dale Hackbart, who went to Washington for a draft
choice a year ago; Bobby Freeman, who went there via Philadelphia, and Jack Nisby, who went to Washington via Pittsburgh...The Packers and Redskins are headquartering at Fort Benning for the game. This enables both clubs to stay together. The Negro boys on both clubs would have to live separately in Columbus. This is the first year the Redskins have Negro players. The Packers will fly home right after the game, arriving at Austin Straubel Field about 3 o'clock Sunday morning...The Packers' league game in Philadelphia Nov. 11 has been sold out, the Eagles announced the other day. The Eagles have sold more than 40,000 season tickets. Philly fans are figuring on a re-run of the 1960 championship game. They'll be sorry!...The Redskin game will give Lombardi a last chance to give his five rookies a good test. The squad is one player over the limit of 36, which must be reached by next Tuesday. The remaining freshmen are Earl Gros, Gary Barnes, Ed Blaine, Oscar Donahue and Gassert. Oddly enough, three of them are ends - Barnes and Donahue on offense and Gassert on defense. Gros is a fullback and Blaine a guard.
WILLIE DAVIS HAS OWN IDEAS ON PLAYING HIS POSITION
SEPT 7 (AP-Green Bay) - Willie Davis, the 6-3 defensive end of the Green Bay Packers, has developed his own plan and program in playing his position. He tries to learn the habits - particularly the bad ones - of the men who are playing against him in the rough, tough NFL. Davis took time out Thursday after a rugged workout in preparation for the Packers' final exhibition game against the Washington Redskins at Columbus, Ga., to discuss his trade. "Defense," he said, "is not just brute strength. It is not playing recklessly. Defense is 11 men welded together as a unit, each player trusted with a definite responsibility." Concentration on the offensive tackle is of prime importance, Davis said, adding that he first has to look for his opening move by the tackle. "I watch how he takes his position, then how he sets his body when the ball is snapped," he added. "Players have habits, you don't forget them." The hard-hitting Davis said that with the aid of game films, scouting reports and past experience, defensive players seek the tip-off, the small telltale motion or attitude which will indicate where the play is going...WEAKNESS DISCOVERED: When a weakness is discovered, Davis, and the other players, take advantage of it. Davis said that the one man who gives him trouble is the tackle who gives ground at the initial charge and then stays with his rush because of great agility. "I'll try to ride with his first popping block like a boxer," he said, "but if he's anything like Forrest Gregg (Green Bay Packer tackle), he's going to be tough to outmaneuver." Davis, a 1956 graduate of Grambling, La., University, joined the Cleveland Browns in 1957 and was traded to the Packers in 1960.
PACKERS SHOOT FOR PERFECT RECORD VS. REDSKINS TONIGHT
SEPT 8 (Columbus, GA-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers will go for their third straight unbeaten preseason campaign when they meet the Redskins in a non-league game in Memorial Stadium tonight. Green Bay swept the non-championship board in 1960 and 1961 and followed with Western Division titles - not to mention the world crown last year. A victory tonight would be the 19th straight non-looper starting with the last two in 1959, which was Vince Lombardi's debut season as head coach; six in 1960, five in 1961, and five thus far this season. More than 15,000 fans are expected for the charity affair sponsored by the Boys Club of Columbus. Packerland can hear it via WJPG at 8 o'clock. The Redskins, who snapped an 18-game losing streak by whipping the Bears a week ago, will provide the Packers with their last chance to test rookie personnel. Lombardi announced Friday that Oscar Donahue will start at right halfback in place of the regular flanker, Boyd Dowler. "And maybe we'll start Barnes, too. Donahue hasn't played yet," Lombardi said. Donahue and Gary Barnes, who plays left end behind Max McGee, are two of the four rookies on offense. The others are fullback Earl Gros and guard Ed Blaine, both of whom will see plenty of action. The fifth rookie, Ron Gassert, will work behind Bill Quinlan and Willie Davis at defensive end. The Packers can expect exceptionally stiff resistance tonight, which will be the case throughout the season. The Redskins are quartered in the same officers' quarters with the Packers at Fort Benning and the eastern doormats look mighty grim. Washington's victory over the Bears has given the team a tremendous lift and Bill McPeak's is expected to cut loose with everything. In fact, big Ben Davidson, who was traded to the Redskins a week ago, told some of the Bays that "we'll win some games this season." Elijah Pitts answered this way, "Well, I hope you don't start against us." And that explains how the Packers feel about this game of football. The Redskins have three other former Packers - Jack Nisby, Bobby Freeman and Dale Hackbart. Nisby will open at offensive left guard and Freeman and Hackbart will start at the safety spots. Davidson plats defensive tackle and hopes to start. One of the Packers' big problems will be Bobby Mitchell, the former Brown great. Mitchell
plays flanker and shares the pass catching load with ends Fred Dugan and Bill Anderson. Veteran Dick James backs up Mitchell. The Redskins feel they finally have top-flight running backs in Billy Barnes and Don Bosseler. Sophomore quarterback Norman Snead is passing over 50 percent and has three TD passes...JESS WHITTENTON OUT: The Packers will have to get along with Jess Whittenton, the regular cornerback who has a leg injury. Herb Adderley may work in his spot, shifting over from left corner. Hank Gremminger will be at left corner and John Symank and Willie Wood at the safety spots. The Packers worked out at Fort Benning Friday afternoon to the delight of a flock of infantrymen and members of the post football team, the Doughboys. The Bays will fly out right after the game, arriving at their Austin Straubel Field about 3 o'clock Sunday morning in their United Airlines charter.
RUMOR UNFOUNDED: FERGIE NOT BLIND
SEPT 8 (Columbus, GA-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - There has been a rumor going around for some time that Howie Ferguson had gone blind. Fred Cone, here for the game while on a scouting tour for Clemson, had heard it again. So let's nail this thing down. Howie, the former Packers fullback who as Vince Lombardi once said "shakes the ground when he runs," was reached in New Iberia, La., by telephone Friday morning. But we got a scare when Fergie said he had just left the hospital Friday morning. "That story had been going around," Howie explained, "but it isn't true. After my last year (San Diego), I had an operation on my right eye for a detached retina. It was a success because I have some sight in the eye. I don't have to wear glasses but they help when I read. My other eye is as good as ever." What's with the hospital? "I'd been in a couple of weeks with hepatitis, but I feel fine now. I was laying there with tears in my eyes this morning when I picked up that magazine and read about the Packers. They got a big spread - Jim and the boys. Hope they win it again. No foolin'. Tears just came to my eyes. I'm happy for everybody up there," Howie said. Ferguson hated to quit football, but injuries, especially a bum shoulder, caught up with him. When he left for a try with Pittsburgh, he put his arm around Jim Taylor and said, "I don't mind leaving because that's a good man to take my place." Before that goodbye, Fergie yelled, "Give my regards to the people back there and give my love to Goat Shoulders." Mr. G.S. is very likeable Mr. Paul Hornung. Ferguson is working for an oil company...The aforementioned Cone was waiting at the Benning airport when the Packers arrived. He, too, passed along his hello to Green Bay and asked to be remembered to Tom Hearden, former Packer defense coach...Before going out to practice, the Packers watched recruit paratroopers being dropped off the 250-foot jump tower.
