Green Bay Packers (9-2) 28, San Francisco 49ers (2-9) 10
Sunday November 24th 1963 (at Milwaukee)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(MILWAUKEE) - The Packers rolled up an impressive 28 to 3 lead in the first half and then relaxed their way to a 28 to 10 victory over the 49ers in County Stadium Sunday afternoon. This ninth triumph - against two losses - was produced in a subdued setting because of the deep feeling of everyone for the late President Kennedy. The game was stripped of television, all commercial announcements, player introductions and all frivolity. And the huge flag in left field was flown at half staff. The big crowd of 45,905 seemed to be toned down. The fans let loose with really loud cheering only half a dozen times - when Bart Starr came onto the field with the offense at the start of the game, when the Bays scored their four touchdowns and when the scoreboard flashed a 17-14 lead for the Steelers over the Bears. The Packers actually gained a half game on the Bears, who tied the Steelers, but it means nothing unless Chicago loses one (or more) of its last three games against the Vikings, 49ers and Lions. The tie virtually rules out the need for a division playoff if the Bears should lose and the Packers win their last three. The Packers went right back to work today - normally an off day - to get ready for their annual Thanksgiving Day test against the Lions in Detroit. After the Lions, Green Bay meets the Rams and 49ers on the west coast. The Packers seemingly played two games Sunday - the first and second halves. They dominated the scene with seven points in the first quarter and 21 in the second, but then held on during the second half. The 49ers control led the ball in the last two periods but couldn't score - except via a gift in the last few seconds. The contest marked the return of Starr to the quarterback slot after an absence of four games due to a broken hand. He had no trouble passing today and to show that he didn't mind exposing his mitt to rough stuff he ran three times for 42 yards when pass situations failed to materialize. In fact, Starr turned out to be the club's leading ground gainer in the second half - with 28 yards. Starr completed 14 of 20 passes for 107 yards and one touchdown. He engineered touchdown drives of 82 yards in 13 plays, 82 yards in nine plays, 67 yards in eight plays and 27 yards in five plays. Starr threw to Boyd Dowler, who made a fine catch on the goal line, for 13 yards and the first TD in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Elijah Pitts passed 21 yards to Ron Kramer for the second TD, Jim Taylor ran 34 for the third and Pitts raced 14 for the fourth. Tom Moore injured his eye midway in the first quarter and the sprightly Pitts, shivering on the bench, came forth. He ran eight times for 38 yards, caught five passes for 21 yards, and threw a 21-yard TD pass. That's playing the role of substitute to the hilt. The Packers finished up with 365 yards, while the Bay defense held the 49ers to 235. The Bays had a 20-13 edge in first downs. Green Bay really dropped off in the second half, getting but 79 total yards, including 20 by passing on four completions in five attempts. The Bays had but 23 plays in the second half compared to the 49ers' 43. Green Bay had a 16-3 lead in first downs in the first half, while the 49ers turned the tables 10-4 in the second. The 49ers, who threatened to score four times in the second half, finally did on Lamar McHan's 11-yard pass to Lee McFarland in the last four seconds. The ball was put in place when Jerry Norton tried to make a first down by running on a punt. Taylor, who wound up with 119 yards in 15 attempts - one of his best days of the season - ran 28 yards in three trips on the Bays' first 82-yard TD drive and his rushing buddy, Moore, rolled 33 yards. Starr followed with a 14-yard scamper. Taylor ran six and Starr pitched to R. Kramer for nine. After Taylor made 13 and Starr threw to Dowler for 11, Pitts moved a few steps to his left after taking the handoff and then passed to R. Kramer, who bowled over Mike Dowdle and Abe Woodson at the goal line for 6. J.K. converted. Willie Wood tried the Bays' new-fangled kickoff again, booting a "flat" ball from the restraining line - to give it a crazy motion and also keep it away from Woodson, the loop's top returner. The 49ers got good position on Wood's next kick and moved close enough for Davis' 32-yard field goal. Herb Adderley brought the next kickoff back to the 33 and the Bays went from there to their third TD. Taylor and Pitts totaled 12 yards in two cracks, Starr threw to Pitts for eight and Taylor slammed four to the 49er 43. After Pitts lost seven running left end and gained 21 on a short pass from Starr, Taylor shot off right tackle, broke from a group of 49ers just past the line of scrimmage and then received a strong block from R. Kramer to set him free on a 34-yard TD run. J.K. converted at 9:34 and less than two minutes later the Bays had their fourth TD. This time Wood's kick really paid off. It was short to Cooper, who touched the skittering ball. Frank Mestnik touched the ball before it went out of bounds and the Bays had possession on the 49er 27. After a defensive holding penalty on the 49ers, the Bays got a break when Dowdle dropped an interception of a Starr pass on the five. The Packers said "thank you" and Pitts, behind a good block by Fuzzy Thurston, shot off right tackle for the TD at 11:19. The 49ers started to play keep the ball in the third quarter, taking the kickoff and moving 58 yards before the Bays took it away on downs on the Packer 27. Lisbon and Smith gained most of the yardage with short thrusts. The 49ers had two fourth downs. Gary Knafelc was offside on the first and then, on the replay, McHan's pass to Bernie Casey was kayoed by Hank Gremminger. After an exchange of punts, Jerry Kramer tried a field goal from the 25, but the ball was low and slammed into the line of scrimmage. The 49ers put on another drive going into the fourth quarter, but the Bays toughened and took
Quarterback Bart Starr and the Green Bay Packers beat the 49ers 28-10 on Nov. 24, 1963. The NFL decided its games would go on even though the nation was still in mourning when President Kennedy was assassinated just two days earlier.
the ball on downs on the seven. Old Joe Perry had a touchdown going, but dropped McHan's pass on the five. A 21-yard pass from Starr to Dowler and some good runs by Earl Gros, replacing Taylor, helped the Bays move but a couple of penalties stopped them and Norton barely got off a punt as the 49ers poured in. The 49ers were forced to punt back and the Bays finally took over on their own eight. After Gros made nine yards, Gros and Pitts lost 10 on two carries, setting up Norton's ill-fated run off punt formation.
SAN FRANCISCO - 0 3 0 7 - 10
GREEN BAY - 7 21 0 0 - 28
SAN FRANCISCO GREEN BAY
First Downs 13 20
Rushing-Yards-TD 35-155-0 35-246-2
Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int 23-9-86-1-0 21-15-128-2-0
Sack Yards Lost 6 9
Net Passing Yards 80 119
Total Yards 235 365
Fumbles-lost 1-1 0-0
Turnovers 1 0
Yards penalized 4-39 7-69
SCORING
1st - GB - Boyd Dowler, 11-yard pass from Starr (J. Kramer kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
2nd - GB - Ron Kramer, 21-yard pass from Elijah Pitts (J. Kramer kick) GREEN BAY 14-0
2nd - SF - Tommy Davis, 32-yard field goal GREEN BAY 14-3
2nd - GB - Jim Taylor, 34-yard run (J. Kramer kick) GREEN BAY 21-3
2nd - GB - Pitts, 14-yard run (J. Kramer kick) GREEN BAY 28-3
4th - SF - Kay McFarland, 11-yard pass from Lamar McHan (Davis kick) GREEN BAY 28-10
RUSHING
GREEN BAY - Jim Taylor 15-119 1 TD, Bart Starr 3-42, Elijah Pitts 8-38 1 TD, Tom Moore 4-28, Earl Gros 4-15, Jerry Norton 1-4
SAN FRANCISCO - Don Lisbon 10-56, J.D. Smith 14-46, Joe Perry 5-18, Mike Lind 5-17, Lamar McHan 1-16
PASSING
GREEN BAY - Bart Starr 20-14-107 1 TD, Elijah Pitts 1-1-21 1 TD
SAN FRANCISCO - Lamar McHan 21-9-86 1 TD, Don Lisbon 1-0-0, Tommy Davis 1-0-0
RECEIVING
GREEN BAY - Elijah Pitts 5-21, Ron Kramer 4-48 1 TD, Boyd Dowler 3-43 1 TD, Jim Taylor 2-9, Tom Moore 1-7
SAN FRANCISCO - Bernie Casey 2-37, Gary Knafelc 2-15, Don Lisbon 2-12, Kay McFarland 1-11 1 TD, J.D. Smith 1-6, Mike Lind 1-5
FIRST HALF 'SHARP AS I'VE SEEN,' VINCE
NOV 25 (Milwaukee-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Patently puzzled, Vince Lombardi admitted his Packers presented a study in startling contrasts en route to Sunday's 28-10 victory. Unable to explain this sudden turnabout, the Packers' somber headmaster declared, "I thought we were as sharp as I've ever seen us in the first half." The second, he indicated by obvious omission, had been another matter. Asked about it, he rapped, "We never had the ball. How are you going to score if you don't have the ball?" Did he feel there had been an "unconscious" letdown, triggered by the feeing the situation was well in hand, following intermission? With an eloquent shrug, Lombardi replied, "I suppose so, it's hard to say. The longer I'm in this game, the less I feel I know about it." Asked if he felt the assassination of President Kennedy had affected the team, "Sure," came the answer without hesitation, "everybody was affected by it, the players and coaches. I think the 49ers were, too. If you have any kind of feeling, you have to be affected." Did he think the game should have been postponed? "If it had been an official day of mourning, it wouldn't have been played," Lombardi said. "But since it wasn't, I don't think the game should have been called off." "Knowing what the President stood for, I'm sure he would have been the last one to want it called off." Earlier, another question had brought an emphatic affirmative. The return to duty of quarterback Bart Starr, out since Oct. 20 when he suffered a fracture of the right hand in a 30-7 victory at St. Louis, "made a tremendous difference," Lombardi said. He quickly appended, however, "The other boy (John Roach, who presided in Starr's absence) won three games, you know. Don't write him off. He wasn't exactly a nothing." Had he been concerned that Starr might be reinjured when he seized several opportunities to run? "You can't worry about that," Vince observed dryly, "or you can no longer play football." The status of Tom Moore, who was injured in the first quarter, and did not return, was not a cause for alarm. he revealed. "He's all right. He just got a finger in his eye." Despite the fact that the Pack had barged to a
plush 28-3 lead early in the day, the forthright Fordham alumnus evinced respect for the 49ers, declaring, "They played a real good ball game." "Yes," he added in reply to another question, "we purposely kicked the ball flat off the tee to keep it way from Woodson (the 49ers' ace, the league's kickoff return leader)." The conversations turned to Thursday's rapidly approaching rematch with the Lions in Detroit. Any special plans? "What can we do," Vice returned the question, "in two days?"..."If we could get our ball club to play a full game as we did in the second half today." Personable Jack Christiansen, articulate young 49er head coach, whose problem was just the reverse of Lombardi's on this occasion, didn't finish the foregoing but the inference was obvious. "That game against the Bears (a 20-14 49er upset victory) was about the only game we did. We took the kickoff and went right down and scored, just like the Packers did against us today. I think it took steam out of the Bears. And, if we had done that today, instead of the Packers, it would have been a completely different ball game." "I'm not saying we would have won," Christiansen added realistically, "because we don't have that kind of personnel, but it would have been a different game." Starr's presence had been largely responsible for quick Packer getaway, he was convinced. "When you've got a quarterback like that, it gives you a big lift," said Christiansen. "He's probably the most underrated quarterback in the league - and he may be the best in the league." This led him to compare the Packers with their prime rivals for the NFL's Western Division title, the presently pacesetting Bears. "On the days we've played 'em, I think the Packers are a much better ball club than the Bears," the ex-Detroit Lion defensive ace asserted. Asked if he felt the President's death had affected his player, Christiansen said, "I would rather not comment on it. Whatever I would say probably would come up sounding wrong." He did observe, however, "I don't think it affects a man when he goes on the field to play. He goes out to do his job as best he can. When it's over and he has time to think, it probably affects him. But if he thinks about it during the game, he shouldn't be out there." The Pack's "avoidance" of Abe Woodson, the 49ers' mercurial kickoff return specialist, was mentioned, causing Christiansen to note with a wry smile, "Everybody doesn't want Woodson to run against 'em." "Last year, he became the first man to gain over a thousand yards running back kicks, and he had 826 going into today's game, which mean that he had a good chance to go over a thousand yards again. Last week, the Giants laid the ball down 6 out of 7 times and it was every time today." "It's kind of like walking Roger Maris," he smiled, "when you know he had a chance to break a record." "What do I think of it?" he said, echoing a question. "I think it's rotten but," Christiansen smiled, "that's because I have Woodson. If I were Lombardi, I might do the same thing he did." "I don't think, though, that we were ever that scared of people in pro football. I think by doing it they're depriving the fans of what they're paying money for. But I guess he's not interested in the fans," Jack shrugged. "He's interested in winning football games."...Out of respect to the memory of President Kennedy, the capacity crowd of 45,905 spectators stood in somber silence for one minute before the opening kickoff. The Star Spangled Banner which followed was the only music to be heard. Members of the Packer Band, which played the national anthem, put aside their instruments and watched in quiet for the rest of the afternoon. All regular halftime entertainment was also eliminated. The only activity during that period was the divisional Punt, Pass & Kick contest, in which Green Bay's 9-year-old Roger Georgia was a participant. Also competing for the right to enter the national contest Dec. 29 was Greg Schofield, 11, of Antigo; Jack McGinn, 10, of Ft. Atkinson; and Peter Brockhurst, 8, of Milwaukee...BUSMAN'S HOLIDAY: Although there was no television of the game, announcers Ray Scott and Tony Canadeo were present in the press box as observers, Scott flying in from his Minneapolis home...HANK'S HAPPY: Braves slugger Henry Aaron, a press box guest, is a former football player - and he's "very glad" that such is the case. Henry, who once played halfback in high school, confided with a sly grin, "This is as close as I want to get to that game."...INJURY PRONE?: NFL officials are hardly to be blamed if they start avoiding Milwaukee. Two weeks ago, Field Judge Mike Lisetski suffered a heel injury, which subsequently required surgery, in the fourth quarter of the Packer-Steeler game. And yesterday, Headlinesman Jack McLain sprained his ankle when felled while the Pack's Frank Mestnik was lunging to recover a fumble in the second quarter. Taped up on the field by Packer Trainer Carl (Bud) Jorgensen, shortly, McLain returned to duty.
'HAND FELT REAL GOOD,' STARR SMILES
NOV 25 (Milwaukee-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - "I was pretty bad in the second half." Always the perfectionist, Bart Starr was critical of his winning performance against San Francisco's 49ers in County Stadium Sunday, the erstwhile Alabaman's first since being shelved by a broken hand in a now famous collision with the Cardinals' Jimmy Hill at St. Louis Oct. 20. He was happy to report, however, that "the hand felt fine - real good." Starr, who said the hand in question "gave me no trouble at all," admitted he "felt funny" in returning to action for the first time in five weeks. "I was quite nervous, truthfully." Commended for his "broken field" running on several timely occasions, the Packers' field engineer observed with an apologetic grin, "Well, that's not good offense - you can't get the first down when you do that." "When a quarterback has to run 25 yards for a first down," Bart chuckled dryly, "it's like trying to fly to the moon." Assessing those successful sorties, he explained, "Sometimes the middle opens up and they over-rush you. Maybe I should have waited, but it was so wide open." Had the memory of that St. Louis injury returned to haunt him on these occasions? "Those things (injuries) happen," Bart replied with a philosophical shrug of the shoulders. "I never gave it a thought." Another recent casualty, burly Ron Kramer, smilingly reported, "It's good to be back among the healthy." "This was a good win - we've got a chance now," he continued. "Just got to keep the pressure on 'em (the Bears), that's the important thing." Returning to the subject at hand, the all-pro end observed, "I expected them (the 49ers) to thrown in the second half. But they sort of ate up the clock for us." Elsewhere in the Packers' County Stadium quarters, Elijah Pitt was sporting a shy grin over what for him had been a large afternoon. Reconstructing his 14-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, Philander T. Smith's most distinguished alumnus reported, "I saw Fuzzy (Thurston) take the first man real good - the line was blocking real well on that side - and the safety man coming over. I knew it was up to me to shake him." Pitts, who also fired a scoring pass to Ron Kramer, explained, "The 49er defense had a slant or something to the outside, so I had to pull up short. So Ron was showing real well," he smiled, "by the time I was ready to throw. He was wide open." Another breakaway author, muscleman Jim Taylor, grinned and confided, "Yeah, I got lucky and broke off one of those stinkers. I got a chance to bump that safety man. Once you do, you're on your way."...STRICTLY ACCIDENTAL: Jerry Norton's ill-fated flight from punt formation (the 49ers took over on the Packers' 8-yard line and scored their lone touchdown on the next play) in the last two minutes was strictly accidental, the diminutive punting ace let it be known. "The pass was a little high and I didn't think I had time to get it off," Jerry said, "so I ran for it. As it turned out, I did have enough time, but it didn't look like it when i decided to run." Chided for fitting a goal post in his "pattern" on a first quarter touchdown grab, lofty Boyd Dowler indicated he doesn't expect to make it a regular route. "Not really," he said with a rueful grin. "I'd just as soon stay as far away as I can - it just doesn't move." The towering flanker was just as surprised as were 45,905 of the faithful when his progress was abruptly arrested by the post, he said. "I didn't think I was that deep," Dowler explained. "It was a different kind of defense, so I had to come in a little bit deeper than I expected." At this point, somebody nearby said, "Pittsburgh and the Bears 17-17." "Seventeen-seventeen final?" asked Fuzzy Thurston anxiously. The reply was in the affirmative and both he and Dowler groaned, a sound which soon was echoing throughout the dressing room. Over in the 49ers' quiet quarters, ex-Packer Lamar McHan volunteered, "They're still a tough football team." "I see they're back to the thick of it," he added. "I want to beat 'em on the coast, of course, but otherwise I wish 'em the best of luck." Hollywood handsome Gary Knafelc, now one of McHan's favorite targets, but still a Green Bay resident, admitted, "It was kind of weird playing against the old boys." He hadn't noticed any change, he concluded. "They're just like they've always been," he said, " a tough ball club."
URBAN HENRY'S PACKER TEAMMATES CALL HIM POOR MAN'S REMBRANDT
NOV 25 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The world of art has its Michaelangelos and Picassos, but the Green Bay Packers are making another contribution in the name of Urban Henry. Known in Green Bay as a defensive tackle for the Packers, the 6-4, 265 pounder is known to his teammates as a Poor Man's Rembrandt because of his remarkable talent, namely, painting with oils on velvet. Henry started his interesting hobby about four years ago when he was looking for something to do for relaxation before football games. Being tired of sitting in movie houses, after football hours, he changed from the pigskin to the paintbrush with great ease. Starting on canvas, he got the idea for velvet from the famous Tahisian painter, Leteg. Formal lessons? Nary a one! "I believe that anyone can draw who will the time and patience to do it!" A mechanical engineering drawing course at Georgia Tech gave him perspective which he feels is most important. As far as techniques in painting, Henry has picked up what he knows by visiting art galleries and asking questions. "I find it embarrassing to talk to other painters as I'm not familiar with many terms and honestly don't know the finer points," he says humbly. whether he knows them or now, he certainly applies them well on the canvas! Although many artists find it difficult to paint on velvet, Henry enjoys it. He prefers working on darker colors as they give the finished picture a 3-D effect and truer colors. In painting portraits, of which he has done about 30, he feels the eyes to be the most important. "If you don't get the eyes right, the picture is lost." "He's too big to kid." So says teammate Jerry Norton about the expected teasing which Henry takes. Also called a Dumb Football Rembrandt, a familiar threat coming from the line of scrimmage is "Be still or he'll paint you." Henry has other hobbies which would seem more suitable for a pro football player. He's a big hunting fan and goes
hunting as often as possible. He also finds cameras and music interesting, his favorites of the latter being contemporary jazz, folk music and motion picture tracks. Coming from Morgan City, La., Henry makes regular trips back to visit with his parents. He describes his father as "an old sea captain, the roughhouse straw-boss type" who didn't seem particularly pleased about his son becoming a painter. "But," Henry says, "now he gets a bigger kick out of it than I do and will spend hours watching me." Henry has sold all of the many paintings he has done in the past few years. Some for quite a good price. And has had many displayed in art galleries. His finished work is very realistic, showing a remarkable talent for painting what he sees. When asked how he felt about abstract art, Henry agreed that some of it is good, but most is done by "the guy who can't do anything else." Currently working on a portrait of Susie Lombardi on her horse, Henry seems definitely headed for a career in the art world. His success in the short time in which he has been painting predicts only the best for his future.
PACKERS ON DOUBLE FOR 'TURKEY FINALE
NOV 26 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers worked at double-time today in preparation for their final Thanksgiving Day game at Detroit. The Lions will start hosting teams in the league in the traditional Turkey Dy feature starting next year on a revolving basis. This will be the Pack's 13th straight Thanksgiving Day visit in a series that started in 1951. The Packers are going into Detroit on the run while the Lions are going in on the mad. The Bays trimmed the 49ers 28-10 in Milwaukee Sunday while the Lions were beaten in the last few minutes at Minnesota 34-31. The Packers held no practice Monday - the day players reserve for mending their wounds. The Packers held their only concentrated outdoor drill of the week today. They'll drill lightly Wednesday morning before flying to Detroit. The Bays held a brief meeting and observed the national day of mourning for the late President Kennedy. The Packers went right to work on the Detroit game and Coach Vince Lombardi, who normally looks at films of the previous game on Mondays, said he had no comment on the 28-10 victory over the 49ers. 'I didn't look at the pictures," he said. As to upcoming race with the Bears, Lombardi was asked about the Bears' tie with the Steelers, and he noted that "we still have to win our last three." After Detroit, the Bays play at the Rams Dec. 7 and at the 49ers Dec. 14. It is interesting to note that the Bears will have to "sleep on" the Packers' last three decisions since this one is a Thursday game and the other two are on Saturdays. If the Packers can win, they can create a sort of "overnight" pressure on the Bears. Normally, the games are on Sundays and the contender is too occupied with the opponent to think about what the other is doing. This isn't the case when the Bears host the Vikings Sunday, the 49ers Dec. 8 and the Lions Dec. 15. The pressure will be built in. The Lions' loss eliminated Detroit from their fourth straight trip to the Playoff Bowl in Miami Jan. 5, but the Fordmen now find themselves in the middle of the races in the Eastern and Western Divisions. The Lions play the Packers next, and then host the Browns, before closing against the Bears in Chicago.
A three-game sweep for Detroit would make the Bears champions of the West and virtually eliminate the Browns from the Eastern chase. It is hoped in these parts, of course, that the Lions save their best until the last - in Wrigley Field...ABOUT THAT TIE: There has been some confusion among the faithful over the Bears' tie in the standings. Ties don't count in the percentage - only the wins and losses. Thus, if the Bears tied the rest of their games and finished with 9-1-4 while the Packers won their last three and closed with 12-2, the Bears would still win with a percentage of .900 against the Packers' .857. If the Packers won their last three and the Bears lost one of their final three, the Packers would win with a percentage of .857 on 12-2 against the Bears' .846 on 11-2-1. This is how the tie could hurt the Bears. Lombardi said the squad is in good shape for the Lions and that includes Tom Moore who got a finger in the eye vs. the 49ers. Tom spent Sunday night in the hospital and left Monday. He'll be ready to play Thursday.
TRADES GIVE PACKERS 3 EXTRAS IN DRAFT
NOV 26 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers will receive three extra picks in the NFL's 29th annual draft in Chicago next Monday. Green Bay is one of five clubs getting more than the permitted 20 selections. The Bears will get four extras, the Rams two and Lions and 49ers one each. Dallas, New York and St. Louis are scheduled to get the normal 20, while Cleveland will get 19, Minnesota 19, Philadelphia 19, Baltimore 18, Pittsburgh 17 and Washington 17. The increases in picks and/or the drops resulted from trading among the clubs. All clubs retained their first choices. The Packers traded Bill Quinlan, John Symnak and Gary Banes for choices since the 1962 season. The annual draft session will start at 9 a.m. in the Sheraton-Chicago hotel and will continue until 20 rounds are completed, generally about 3 a.m. the next morning. The teams will select players in the inverse order of the combine conference standings after all games of Sunday, Dec. 1. Any ties will be resolved by a flip of the coin before the start of the meeting on Dec. 2. When two teams are tied, the winner of the flip will draft ahead of the loser in odd-numbered rounds. The loser will draft ahead of the winner in the even-numbered rounds. Most of the players drafted will be college seniors, but players who matriculated at a recognize college or university in 1960 are eligible for this year's draft. Drafted players cannot play in the NFL until after their class which with they entered college is graduated. This is a self-imposed rule of the NFL and has been a part of the league's constitution since 1926. From a closed season gathering of no more than a few dozen representatives at the first draft on Feb. 8, 1936, in Philadelphia, the annual selection has grown to the extent that at this year's (the 1964) draft the 14 clubs have installed a total of 23 direct line telephones plus two teletype circuits. Sixty-four players who have been competing in college this season have previously been drafted by the NFL under the four-year rule.
DIVISION PLAYOFF HERE - IF PACKER, BEARS TIE
NOV 27 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers face a sizzling quarterback in their bid to keep the pressure on the Bears in Briggs Stadium Thanksgiving Day. This will be the Packers' 13th and final Turkey Day invasion - at least for several years - because starting next year the Lions' opponents will come in on a revolving basis. The holiday feature has never been a picnic for the Packers since the defending champions have won only three of the last 12 games here - in 1956, 1959 and 1961. Kickoff Thursday is 11:06 a.m. Thursday's fracas offers no comfort what with a hot Earl Morrall leading the unhappy Lions, who were figured to battle it out with Green Bay for the 1963 championship. The Detroits are now out of the second place running but they can have some real fun because they close against three straight contenders - the Pack, Browns and Bears. The Packers must win Thursday and make it necessary for the Bears to beat the Vikings in Chicago Sunday. A Packer win and a Bear loss would put Green Bay in first place alone. The Bays then would have 10-2, the Bears 9-2-1. It's a real long shot but if the Packers and Bears should finish in a tie for the Western Division lead, the playoff would be held in Green Bay. To create such a game, the Packers would have to play a tie and win two while the Bears would have to lose one and win two. The Packers won the right to host a division playoff in a coin-flipping session conducted by Commissioner Pete Rozelle in the league office via telephone Tuesday. The situation in the West is actually uncomplicated compared with the East where the Giants, Browns and Cardinals are in a three-way tie for first place. The Packers aren't ever in the mood to play a tie and come to think of it the Bays have never played a knot since Coach Vince Lombardi came upon the scene in 1959. The last tie Green Bay played, incidentally, was against the Lions in Green Bay in 1958 - Scooter McLean's lone year as coach of the Bays. McLean, now a Lion assistant, is seriously ill in University Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich., and some of the Packers may get over to see him tonight. Scooter would welcome word, cards or letters from his many friends in Green Bay. Morrall is the hottest quarterback in the league right now. The former Spartan leaped from 12 to second place in the loop's passing standings, and he now has hurled 14 touchdown passes in the last five games. He has completed 130 out of 242 passes for 2,014 yards and has a total of 21 TD passes. He ranks right behind Y.A. Tittle. Ironically, the Lions have been scoring well in their last few games - what with Morrall's passing, but they've been hurt something fierce on defense. At one stretch, they tried Terry Barr, Ollie Matson and Dick Compton on defense to replace Yale Lary and Night Train Lane. The Lions have healed some, and, as might be expected, Lary and Lane could be back for the Packer game. Also returning is the great Joe Schmidt, who saw some action in the loss at Minnesota.
The Lions have already lost Carl Brettschneider, linebacker, and Pat Studstill. Detroit has had 25 players miss a game or more thus far. Detroit has been going with a defensive backfield composed of Dick LeBeau, Tom Hall, Larry Vargo and Bruce Maher. The Packers are in good shape for their big test. Tom Moore suffered an eye injury in the win over the 49ers last week, but he's back running. The Packers haven't forgotten their 26-14 loss to the Lions here a year ago. Bart Starr was thrown for losses totaling 110 yards, and, as Jerry Kramer put it, "the offensive line was ripped apart pretty good. It was done before 60 million people and we've got to prove to those same people Thursday that we're not that bad." Starr will be making his second start since returning after breaking his hand.
MORE HASH THAN TURKEY FOR PACKERS IN DETROIT SERIES
NOV 28 (Detroit-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers came out of this town with more hash than turkey in the past 12 Thanksgiving Days. Today's game is the 13th and final in the colorful Turkey Day series for the
Green Bay Packers offensive guard Jerry Kramer and coach Vince Lombardi watch the Packers' defense against the San Francisco 49ers. (AP Photo/File)
n a photo from the Packers-49ers game on November 24, 1963 at Milwaukee County Stadium, running back Tom Moore (#25) fights for yardage. This game was played despite some feeling it was inappropriate to proceed as usual in the wake of President Kennedy’s assassination the previous Friday. (Source: Packerville USA)
Packers. Starting next year, teams will go into Tiger Stadium on this day on a revolving basis. The Packers have won only three Thanksgiving Day struggles while the Lions captured nine, including the first five. Green Bay won in 1956 by 24-20; in 1959 by 24-17; and in 1961 by 17-9...UPSET IN 1956: All three were memorable occasions. The Packers knocked the Lions out of the championship by winning the 1956 game and put the Bears in. The 1959 game, with Vince Lombardi in his first year, was the Pack's fifth victory - already quite a feat considering the 1-10-1 of the previous year. The 1961 victory put the Bays one step toward their second Western title. They won it in the next game - vs. the Giants in Milwaukee. Oddly enough, the first game in the series in 1951 survived the next 11 as the wildest and highest scoring. The Lions won the tennis-neck match 52 to 35, a total of 87 points. Stretch Elliott scored two touchdowns for the Pack and Tobin Rote, Dom Moselle and Ray Pelfry one each. Bob Hoernschmeyer, Leon Hart and Jack Christiansen each scored two for Detroit and Doak Walker one. Christiansen, now head coach of the 49ers, had a field day returning punts, galloping back four for 175 yards and two TDs. The 1956 game was a real upset and it helped to establish the Packers in the eyes of millions of TV viewers. This was the Packers' first good showing on national television. Rote ran for one touchdown and threw touchdown passes to Fred Cone and one to Billy Howton. Cone kicked a 12-yard field goal. For Detroit, Bobby Layne kicked two field goals, hurled a TD pass to Dave Middleton and rushed Hart for the other TD...HORNUNG'S DAY: The Packers kept the Lions on their heels with short swing passes all afternoon. Present Packers who played in that game were Dave Hanner, Bob Skoronski, Forrest Gregg, Bill Forester and Jim Ringo. The Packers scored 17 points in the first quarter of the 1959 game and then held on. The final score was 24-17 was at the half already and the two clubs fought a stalemate in the second half. Paul Hornung scored 18 points on two touchdowns, a field goal and three extra points. Hornung was hurt in the first half and remained out. The 1961 game was a real crucial one since the Lions were still in the running, but the Packers were murder this day. It was played in mud and rain and Hornung, then an Army private, was flown in from his camp in Kansas. Jim Taylor scored the two Packer TDs and Hornung kicked a victory-convincing field goal near the end. The winning TD was set up by an interception by Herb Adderley, then a rookie. And so it went. It's going to be nice next Thanksgiving Day to watch somebody else work on the holiday!
