Green Bay Packers (10-2-1) 31, Los Angeles Rams (5-8) 14
Sunday December 7th 1963 (at Los Angeles)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(LOS ANGELES) - The Packers defeated the dangerous Rams 31-14, with a blistering aerial attack and the power running of Jim Taylor before 52,357 in the Coliseum here Saturday afternoon. Green Bay got off the floor to score its 10th victory of the season and stay in the championship running. Faced with a 14-10 deficit at the intermission and tiring in 85-degre heat, the Packers scored two touchdowns in the third quarter and one in the fourth to win going away. Thus, the Packers spectacularly retained their hope for a fourth straight Western Division Championship and third consecutive World Title. And they put the pressure back on the Bears, who face a must-win situation against the 49ers in Chicago today. A loss for the Bears would put the Packers in first place alone. This was a clutch victory for Green Bay and a fine example of their championship mettle. They had to get along without Tom Moore in the second half and Herb Adderley from the third quarter on when he was ejected along with Red Phillips for fighting. The big job was performed by Bart Starr and Max McGee, who combined for three touchdown passes. They connected on a 25-yarder for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, a 16-yarder for a 24-14 edge in the third period and the final edge on a 13-yarder in the fourth quarter. They could have had a fourth, but the Taxi dropped the ball on the two in the third period.
TAYLOR GAINS 113
Starr wound up with 205 yards passing on 14 completions in 26 attempts - plus the three TDs. McGee had his biggest day of the year with seven catches for 105 yards. Taylor, back in mid-season form, reeled off a tremendous 40-yard touchdown run to put the Pack in front for good 17-14 in the third period. He twisted away from four different Rams on a run that started as a draw play up the middle. Taylor finished with 113 yards in 17 carries and zoomed his total for the year to within 41 yards of his fourth straight 1,000-yard season. The Bay defense never let the Rams get moving in the second half, and the Rams wound up with 229 yards, only 94 rushing. Making his first start, Dave Robinson looked strong and once made a tackle 25 yards downfield. The Bays intercepted three passes, but the heartbreaker was Adderley's due to the fight that ensued. Phillips was enraged and let fists fly. Adderley decked him for about five counts. Jerry Kramer booted a 40-yard field goal to cut the Rams' margin to 14-10 in the second quarter. But he missed from the 22 after Adderley's interception. He tried another from the 46, but it was blocked and turned into a touchdown when Jim Ringo recovered. The two clubs gave the crowd an exhibition of punting before getting down to business. Danny Villanueva led off with a 65-yard boot and then Jerry Norton kicked one 48 yards. Elijah Pitts fair caught Villanueva's next punt on the Packer 42 and from there the Bays broke the ice. Starr got the drive going himself with a 20-yard chase up the middle to the Ram 36 and then threw to McGee for 11 yards to the 25. Starr then spotted McGee behind Bobby Smith on the 15, and the fleet end crashed into the end zone for a 7-0 Packer lead at 10:37 as Jerry Kramer made the extra point. A 55-yard kickoff return by Carver Shannon, with Willie wood saving the day on the Packer 38, set the Rams up. The Rams scored in nine plays, with running by Dick Bass and Ben Wilson paving the way. Bass slammed in from the three on the second play of the second quarter. Villaneuva converted at :45. The Packers couldn't budge and the Rams displayed why they are the most improved team in the league. They rolled 74 yards in nine plays to go ahead at 8:48. The big gainers were Gabriel's 19-yard pass from Marlin
Green Bay Packers Bill Forester (71) on sidelines during game vs Los Angeles Rams (Photo by Curt Gunther /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)
McKeever and a 43-yard pass to Wilson on the Packer nine. Wilson took the ball over Jess Whittenton's head and Dave Robinson made the stop. Villanueva's kick made it 14-7. The Packers got part of it back in a hurry in a weird series in which Mike Henry was nicked 15 for roughing Taylor and Starr was caught 15 for intentionally grounding the ball. Jerry Kramer made the best of a messy situation by kicking a 40-yard field goal at 12:29. The Packers took the second half kickoff and moved 83 yards in eight plays to take a 17-14 lead. Taylor made 56 of the yards, including the last 40 for a touchdown. He led with 14 yards in two trips and then Starr ran 15 himself when he couldn't find a receiver. Three plays later Starr hit McGee for 12 to the Ram 40 from where Taylor put on his dazzler. J. Kramer converted at 3:36 and the Bays were back in front. The fiery Pack made the Rams punt in a hurry and took a 24-14 lead four minutes later. The Bays moved 19 yards in six plays, and Starr led the march off with a 25-yard toss to McGee, who bowled over three Rams enroute. Pitts, replacing Moore, ran four and then Starr threw 13 to Boyd Dowler to the 17. After Taylor made one and Starr was incomplete to McGee, Starr hurled a touchdown pass to McGee, who took the ball under the crossbar with Smith bumping him. J.K. converted at 7:44. The Bays had a good shot at another TD when Adderley intercepted Gabriel's throw to Phillips on the 30 and returned to the 15 where Adderley and Phillips started their fierce fist fight. Both teams were given cancelling roughing penalties and the battlers were ejected. The Bays gained zero on three trips and then made another nothing when J. Kramer missed a field goal shot from the 22. Villanueva and Norton exchanged punts and the Bays forced another punt by Villanueva, whose boot was fair caught by Wood on the 8. The Packers got out of the hole nicely as Taylor ran five and Starr threw to Dowler for 13 and then to Ron Kramer for 33 to the Ram 40.
RECOVER FG TRY
The drive stalled when Starr was smeared back eight yards, so J. Kramer tried a field goal from the 36. Meador blocked the boot which bounced about 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Lindon Crow touched it and Jim Ringo recovered on the Ram 25. Taylor zoomed off left tackle for 12 yards to the 13, and then Starr and McGee hooked up on their third TD pass, Maxie taking it from Shannon. J. Kramer converted at 5:25. The Rams proceeded to back the Pack up 39 yards on three Gabriel completions, but the Bays cracked the Rams back 42 yards by dumping Gabriel for losses of 8, 4 and 30 yards. Near the end, Wood made a great interception of a Gabriel pass on the 50, did an acrobatic flip and then returned 20 yards. Taylor and McGee were given polite cheers as they left the game. The Bays lost the ball on downs and on Gabriel's first pass, Hank Gremminger intercepted. Earl Gros topped off the day with a 17-yard run.
GREEN BAY - 7 3 14 7 - 31
LOS ANGELES - 0 14 0 0 - 14
GREEN BAY LOS ANGELES
First Downs 19 14
Rushing-Yards-TD 32-181-1 28-94-2
Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int 26-14-205-3-0 20-10-135-0-3
Sack Yards Lost 8 59
Net Passing Yards 197 76
Total Yards 378 170
Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-0
Turnovers 0 3
Yards penalized 6-37 3-35
SCORING
1st - GB - Max McGee, 25-yard pass from Bart Starr (Jerry Kramer kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
2nd - LA - Dick Bass, 3-yard run (Danny Villanueva kick) TIED 7-7
2nd - LA - Roman Gabriel, 1-yard run (Villanueva kick) LOS ANGELES 14-7
2nd - GB - J. Kramer, 40-yard field goal LOS ANGELES 14-10
3rd - GB - Jim Taylor, 40-yard run (J. Kramer kick) GREEN BAY 17-14
3rd - GB - McGee, 16-yard pass from Starr (J. Kramer kick) GREEN BAY 24-14
4th - GB - McGee, 13-yard pass from Starr (J. Kramer kick) GREEN BAY 31-14
RUSHING
GREEN BAY - Jim Taylor 17-113 1 TD, Bart Starr 2-34, Earl Gros 6-23, Tom Moore 4-6, Elijah Pitts 3-5
LOS ANGELES - Dick Bass 14-48 1 TD, Ben Wilson 9-29, Carroll Dale 1-12, Roman Gabriel 4-5 1 TD
PASSING
GREEN BAY - Bart Starr 26-14-205 3 TD
LOS ANGELES - Roman Gabriel 20-10-135 3 INT
RECEIVING
GREEN BAY - Max McGee 7-105 3 TD, Ron Kramer 3-58, Boyd Dowler 2-26, Tom Moore 1-8, Elijah Pitts 1-8
LOS ANGELES - Ben Wilson 3-60, Marlin McKeever 3-35, Carroll Dale 3-28, Dick Bass 1-12
Los Angeles Rams Deacon Jones (75) and Merlin Olsen (74) in action vs Green Bay Packers (Photo by Curt Gunther /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
''BACK ON BEAM': VINCE; 'MEASURED HIM' ADDERLEY
DEC 8 (Los Angeles-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - "I guess I'd have to say we are back on the beam," said a beaming Vince Lombardi in the Packers' dressing room after the 31-14 victory over the Los Angeles Rams Saturday. "Starr looks just as good as ever to me. And I guess you all saw Taylor. He doesn't look sick anymore, does he?" All-pro fullback Jim Taylor gained 113 yards and averaged nearly seven yards per carry in closing in on a 1,000-yard total for the season. "I'm back in business to stay," Taylor remarked afterward...PRAISES FORESTER: Lombardi, who contentedly drained a pop bottle as reporters fired questions, was asked if he regarded the game as one of the crucials in the long season and he replied: "Big game? The only big game left for us is the one the Bears lose." Lombardi said he expected all the Packer players to be in front of television sets Sunday to watch the Chicago Bears against the San Francisco 49ers. "I'll be a little bit interested in that one, too," cracked the Packers coach. Lombardi had liberal praise for the Packers' new middle linebacker, Bill Forester. "He did a lot of blitzing out there and he did it well," said the coach...NO TRICKS: Halfback Tom Moore, a surprise starter after an early-week leg injury, carried the ball four times for a total of eight yards. "Boy, how I wanted him to be able to play full time," remarked Lombardi. "But he just couldn't do it." Lombardi said the Packers employed no tricks in their turnabout performance after the intermission. "We just played football in the second half, and we didn't in the first half." Actually, there was one victory, and there were two knockouts during the afternoon. For one, the Rams' three-game winning streak (the club's longest since 1958) was kayoed. For the other, Packer defensive back Herb Adderley landed one of the few perfect punches to the jaw ever seen on a football field. Adderley and Ram split end Red Phillips were ejected from the game midway in the third period after the sideline incident that saw Phillips fall like a tree in a one-punch fracas. "I took aim at that guy," said Adderly, "and I measured his chin. I wasn't going to mess up a chance like that by hitting his helmet." Adderley caught the Ram pass catcher squarely on the chin and he fell flat on his back. "We've been feuding for three years," said Adderley, "ever since I came in the league three years ago. He's always giving me an elbow or something." The Packers' ace defensive back explained that the incident was trigged by Phillips, moments after Adderley intercepted a pass by Roman Gabriel. "He jumped on my back trying to tackle me. He had his hand around by throat choking me. We rolled out of bounds and I said to him, 'You better learn how to tackle." That's when he kicked me." And that's when Adderley took his correct measurement to Phillip's chin...BOUND TO HAPPEN: "Something like this was
bound to happen sooner or later," Adderley said. "He's the only guy I ever have any trouble with. Some of the other good ends like Terry Barr run a good pattern against me and I congratulate them. I'm no troublemaker. Phillips is the only guy I have trouble with." Phillips refused to discuss the incident other than to say, "I was dumbfounded when they threw me out." After the punch, which was near the Packer bench, Phillips was treated by the Ram trainer and left the field without assistance. Taylor said he wasn't a bit tired from carrying the ball 17 times - tops for the game. "I feel great," he remarked. "I'm going to get that thousand yards next week." (when the packer oppose San Francisco). He is 41 yards shy of 1,000. "Bart (Starr) did a great job today, didn't he," remarked the Packer fullback. "And that line...boy, did they give me the holes. When they open it up like that, it makes it easy."...EVERYBODY TOUGHER: Ram Coach Harland Svare, who had seen his team go on a victory spree of five in the previous seven games, remarked, "We just lost our poise in the second half. Don't let anybody kid you about Green Bay being over the hill." Lombardi agreed, "I think it's a case of everybody getting tougher, not a case of us going back. This league is just getting tougher and tougher. It's too tough for only 37 players. We've got to have larger squads. We play too many games for 37 players." He said Green Bay had no new injuries Saturday. Someone asked Lombardi if he felt the pressure more this season. "There's an awful lot of it," he replied. "We keep thinking that if we lose a game and the Bears lose one, then we have blown our chance to catch up. All winter long we'll have to remember that we blew it. But if the Bears win all the rest (against San Francisco and Detroit), then we have no complaints. We just got beat out."
BEARS LOOKED RIPE, PACK LAMENTS
DEC 9 (Palo Alto, CA-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers had the 49ers on their mind today. In more ways than one. First off, of course, the Bays started preparing today for their 1963 league windup against the Niners in San Francisco Saturday. Second, this Green Bay camp was exactly pleased with the effort the 49ers put forth in losing to the Bears 27-7 in Chicago Sunday. The Packers watched the entire show via television, and it was disturbing to say the least. It was suggested to Coach Phil Bengtson that the Vikings had more steam and zip against the Bears the previous week than the 49ers did. It was like saying night is dark. "Why, of course, they did," Phil said. The weather might have stunned the 49ers, but they appeared slow and sluggish. The Bears looked like they were ripe for a loss. Bill Forester just shook his head, "It's a shame they weren't playing somebody better. They were ready to lose." Chicago had a few benefits along the way, chiefly two interceptions on deflected passes, which could have been caught very easily. But enough of this cry baby stuff - and, besides, the 49ers did fight back pretty well after going into such a deep (14-0) hole. And there's always Detroit against the Bears next Sunday. A Lion victory Sunday combined with a Packer win would make the Packers Western Division champs. For a division tie, the Bears would have to lose and the Packers would have to play a tie. Don't bet on it. "But we can't be thinking about the Lions," Coach Vince Lombardi said Sunday. "We've got th4e 49ers to worry about. That's the thing we've got to do - beat the 49ers." But the Packers won't be in such good shape for San Francisco. "We'll probably have seven or eight out Sunday - Moore, Taylor..." He discontinued with a straight face, but added with a twinkle, "I may have to play myself. Wouldn't that be something." That sure would, folks. And it's a good thing Dr. Gene Brusky is on hand. The Packers did take quite a few bumps and bruises. Moore, who hurt his knee in practice the other day, re-injured it and retired after the third quarter in favor of Elijah Pitts. Taylor came up with a back injury, but he'll probably be ready come Sunday. The big fullback played a whale of a game against the Rams, picking up 113 yards. He now has 959 yards, and is just
41 yards short of his fourth straight 1,00-yard season...PLEASED WITH CHARGE: Lombardi, following an inspection of films of the 31-14 victory over the Rams, said: "It was one of our best games of the year." He said he was pleased with the way the team charged back in the second half. He complimented several players for good work and included Dave Robinson, the rookie who went the route at right linebacker. "In fact," Vince said, "Robinson did very well." The Rams didn't seem to be making a special point of aiming their offense at Robinson. They kept him busy, however, and certainly he got a good test. Forester, who also played a fine game, was right at home at middle linebacker for Ray Nitschke, out for the season with a broken arm. Robinson was in Forester's normal spot. Bart Starr, who threw three touchdown passes to Max McGee, said the offensive line "moved those big elephants and we were able to run against them." The Rams' defensive line is the biggest in the league and few teams run it. The Packers gained 378 yards, including 181 rushing. "Wasn't that something," tackle Bob Skoronski marveled after the game, adding: "The middle of the line all made good blocks on Taylor's 40-yard touchdown run." Jim shot through on a draw play and then evaded three groups of Rams on his scamper. It was too bad McGee dropped a sure touchdown pass in the third quarter since he likely would have finished with four touchdowns for the day. The ball bounced out of his mitts on the one-yard line, and he would have been in. "When Max came back to the huddle, he broke us all up," Starr said, "because he told us that I could say the sun got in my eyes."...'WE WANTED IT': Max said later that "the one I dropped was easier than the first one (first quarter) when Smith grabbed me and I hardly saw the ball. I just turned and it was there. I had my eye on the ball I dropped all the way." What were the Packers fed during the half which ended with the Rams in front 14-10? "Nothing," Starr said, "we just realized that we had this thing in our hands - if we wanted it. We wanted it. It would have been all over if we had lost." The Packers will practice this week at a Stanford University field. They are headquartering at Rickey's Hyatt-House.
GEORGE WHITNEY CALHOUN - 1890-1963
DEC 9 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - George Whitney Calhoun joined the editorial staff of the Press-Gazette in 1917 and retired in 1957. Thus for 40 years he wrote and edited copy for the Press-Gazette. In the beginning, he held the title of sports editor and telegraph editor. Later he held the title of telegraph editor for several years. Mr. Calhoun was a very fine copy reader. With that talent, he made a real contribution to the news page of the Press-Gazette during the 40 years he spent in the office. However, his first love was sports. He had in his high school and college days played both hockey and football with outstanding success. As sports editor of the Press-Gazette, he encouraged the young people of the community to engage in all sports and often gave them special guidance and coaching in the two sports in which had been proficient. When the Green Bay Packer football team was organized, Calhoun was an important member of the original committee and later served on the board of directors and as secretary of the club. For many years, he traveled with the club on its out of town trips representing both the Press-Gazette and the Packer club. As publicity representative of the Packers, he became well known in the sports departments of newspapers in all of the League cities. Very early in the history of the Green Bay Packers, Cal began the practice of preserving newspaper reports of all Packer games and box scores of all the NFL games. The result was that he soon had a record of the activities of the NFL unequalled elsewhere. With his excellent memory and with the use of his compete records, Calhoun was able to provide information on almost any activity relating to the games in the NFL from the beginning down to the present day. A great many magazine writers and authors of football encyclopedias and yearbooks have profited greatly through the cooperation of Calhoun in their work. Because Mr. Calhoun was burdened with the crippling effects of arthritis through most of his adult lifetime, he was unable to participate in sports directly. Likewise he was ineligible for military service in World War I. This fact appeared to give him a great respect for the activities of veterans organizations and patriotic societies. Likewise he was not a religious man in the ordinary church going sense of the term but he was nevertheless a genuinely religious person. This was evident to his fellow workers through the manner in which he showed respect for religious groups and services and also in his careful handling of religious news. For the people at the Press-Gazette, the passing of Calhoun marks the end of an era.
NEW P-G SCRIBE RAY NITSCHKE SEE PACKER, LION VICTORIES
DEC 10 (Palo Alto, CA-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The boss doesn't know it back home, but the Press-Gazette has an addition to the sports staff. His name is Ray Nitschke, onetime journalist student at the University of Illinois. Ray played football on the side to further his career in the manly art of typewriter punching. In order to pursue his urge for proper placement of printed words - once out of the Halls of Learning, Ray signed on with the Packers...FATE INTERFERED: Nitschke never had much time for journalism, being occupied in Prof. Vince Lombardi's football classes. Until the wheels of fate interfered Thanksgiving Day. Ray broke his arm. He is now on the sidelines carrying a cast, which is a good place on which to write his notes. We told Ray at Monday's light drill that he was our first broken-arm "assistant" since Steve Meilinger broke his arm four years ago. Steve was quite a talker and kept us well informed. There have been others down through the years - Tony Canadeo, Bob Forte, Nolan Luhn, Dick Wildung, Andy Cvercko, to mention a few...KICKED IN CALF: Ray promised to be a worthy successor. And here's his story for the day with or without continuity: "Look it, Ringo's running behind the team. He got kicked in the calf and this is only Tuesday. I mean Monday, because we play the 49ers in San Francisco Saturday."...TERRIBLE TIME: "Ringo will be all right. Wait'll tomorrow. All of us will be okay by Sunday. Taylor's running pretty good today and that a way to go Moore. Did you see him catch that pass? Like nothing happened to him. Had a terrible time on the sidelines in Los Angeles. You can't see anything. That's an awful place to be. How about me coming up to the press box next time? I made a few tackles in Los Angeles. Every time the Rams ran up the middle I grabbed some air. I must have looked like a nut on the sidelines. Jumping around like that. We're sure of two things around here. We're going to beat the 49ers for sure. It won't be easy because this is their last chance, but it's also our last chance. We just know the Lions will beat the Bears. You just wait and see. The Lions never had it easy in Chicago. The last time they won there was in 1957 when Meadows knocked out Layne. Rote went to lead the Lions to the title."...LIONS CAN HELP: "How about this? Last year, the Bears beat the Lions 3 to 0, and we didn't have to win our last game out in Los Angeles. We did anyway. This year, it's the other way around. The Lions can help us by beating the Bears. That Eastern finish looks like excitement. That Steeler offensive line is great, I know. They'll give the Giants trouble Sunday. The Steelers beat New York 35 to 0 in the first game, and the Giants didn't have Tittle. But I hear the Steelers were so hot that day that Tittle wouldn't have made any difference. I really don't care who we play in the championship game in Green Bay. This was a good practice for a starter this week. They're all finished now. That's thirty for today."...If we can get a few cents worth in here, we'd like to report that Jerry Kramer is slimming down to tight end size. "Yes, I'm 18 pounds under the weight I played at last year. I'm only 240 now and once I got down to 238," the cat-like guard explained, adding: "I decided to cut my weight down this season, and it worked out well earlier, but now I'm not so sure. Those tackles (Jerry blocks the tackles most times) keep getting bigger and maybe I need that weight. Did you know that Merlin Olsen (the Rams' star defensive tackle) weighed 296 in the Pro Bowl last January. And he's about 275 now."...WONDERFUL GUY: "That Olsen is a wonderful guy. He got a deep cut over his Saturday when he caught my heel in some line action. I told him I was sorry it happened after the game, but he just said, 'That's all right. You got to expect to get knocked around a little in this game.' I felt bad about it." Sitting in another corner of the Packer dressing room after the Monday drill were Jess Whittenton and Hank Gremminger. Hank reminded: "Don't forget, just spell it G-r-e-m-m-i-n-g-e-r, with two m's." Jess went one name further: "My name goes J-e-s-s-e W-h-i-t-t-e-n-t-o-n." And so the first work day practice went. Lots of help.
NFL MAY STUDY PERCENT SYSTEM; REJECTS AFL
DEC 10 (New York) - The NFL wonders whether it should be keep playing percentage. Commissioner Pete Rozelle disclosed Monday the league's method of computing its standings may be placed on the agenda of next month's meeting in Miami Beach, Fla., "if any club is enough concerned to feel that it merits discussion."...30-YEARS-OLD: Attention has been turned to the standings because of the possibility that the Pittsburgh Steelers may win the Eastern Division title with two less victories than the New York Giants. The Steelers have played three ties so far this season and should they beat the Giants Sunday they would wound up with an 8-3-3 record and a .727 percentage that would top New York's 10-4 record for .714. "This method was set up 30 years ago and it have never caused much interest until this season," Rozelle said. Under the NFL system, a team which finished the season with one victory and 13 ties would own the same 1.000 percentage as a team which had 12 victories and two ties and a division playoff would be necessary....Earlier Monday, Rozelle rejected a proposal made by Commissioner Joe Foss of the American League for a "World Series" in 1964 between the AFL and NFL. Both the challenge and the answer hit familiar notes. Foss, in a letter to Rozelle, said he believed the time had arrived to inaugurate a game between the two league winners, and "I re-issued an official challenge to the NFL for the first game to be played at the conclusion of the 1964 season." Foss said that would be the fifth year of operation for the AFL. He pointed out that the Cleveland Browns, in their fifth year, came from the bankrupt All-America Conference and won the NFL title. Foss said, however, "any argument as to which team would win the initial AFL-NFL game is of secondary importance." He said a "World Series of professional football is necessary to the continued progress of our game if we're to be true sportsmen and not merely businessmen in sports."...'DEAR JOE' LETTER: Rozelle, contacted for his response, sent the following "Dear Joe" reply: "I understand that you intend to write me for the purpose of suggesting a championship playoff game between the NFL and the AFL in 1964. As I have said on a number of occasions recently, when queried by news media concerning similar requests made by you, we have no plans for such a game." The AFL has pressed for a championship game for several seasons. Much of the time the NFL has responded by pointing out the new league had filed a suit charging the old league with restraint of trade. The AFL lost the suit, but the NFL, riding the crest of pro football popularity, has shown no signs of wanting to end the pro football war. The two league are currently bidding against each other for college players drafted separately.
SELECT HUBBARD, GRAY FOR NAIA HALL OF FAME
DEC 10 (Kansas City) - The election of Cal Hubbard, former NFL star for the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants, to the NAIA Hall of Fame was announced today by executive secretary A.O. Duer. Hubbard starred as a tackle at Geneva College in Pennsylvania in the mid-1920s. He later played with the Packers and the Giants and is a charter member of the NFL Hall of Fame. Former NAIA college athletes who were named were J.D. Smith, North Carolina A&T, and now of the San Francisco 49ers, and Ken Gray, Howard Payne College of Texas, a Packer draftee now of the St. Louis Cardinals.
STEVE MEILINGER SWORN IN AS DEPUTY MARSHAL
DEC 10 (Lexington, KY) - Steve Meilinger, former football star at the University of Kentucky and three NFL teams, was sworn in Monday as deputy U.S. marshal for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Meilinger was named as an end of the Southeastern Conference team of the 1950-59 decade, selected for Associated Press by 65 leading sportswriters and sportscasters of the South. He later played two years with the Washington Redskins, three years with the Green Bay Packers, and one half-season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, all of the professional NFL. He has been with the Kentucky Department of Commerce at Frankfort for the past two years.
PACKERS LAND 5 ON ALL-PRO
DEC 11 (New York) - The defense-minded Chicago Bears, Green Bay's ground troops and the pass-happy New York Giants dominated the NFL All-Star team announced Wednesday by the Associated Press. The Bears placed six players on the 22-man first offensive units, Green Bay had five and New York four. Y.A. Tittle, the Giants' superb passer, was a near unanimous choice for quarterback, and Jimmy Brown, Cleveland's record-breaking ground gainer, received all but two votes for fullback. Mike Ditka, fine tight end of the Chicago Bears, also polled all but two of the 42 votes cast. The selections were made by a committee of three sportswriters and broadcasters from each of the 14 league cities. Ditka was the Bears' only representative on the offensive team, but the fine defensive club placed five men on the first unit. They were 6-foot-8 end Doug Atkins, linebackers Bill George and Joe Fortunato and the two ball-hawking safetymen, Richie Petitbon and Roosevelt Taylor. Only nine of the 22 men selected last year repeated - six on offense and three on defense. They were Del Shofner, New York Giants' split end; tackle Forrest Gregg of Green Bay; guards Jerry Kramer of Green Bay and Jim Parker of Baltimore; center Jim Ringo of Green Bay and Tittle of the 1962 offensive team. The defensive repeaters were tackles Roger Brown of Detroit and Henry Jordan of Green Bay and cornerback Herb Adderley of Green Bay. Shofner and Ditka were picked for the two end jobs with Gregg and Dick Schafrath of Cleveland at tackles and Kramer and Parker at guard with Ringo at center. Tommy Mason of the Minnesota Vikings was named the running back to air with fullback Brown. Bobby Joe Conrad, Charlie Johnson's favorite target at St. Louis, was picked as flanker back. The Giants placed end Jim Katcavage and cornerback Dick Lynch on the defensive team with the five Bears. Jack Pardee of the Los Angeles Rams gained a linebacker berth and Brown, Jordan and Adderley repeated. Ray Nitschke of Green Bay, Joe Schmidt of Detroit, Dale Meinert of St. Louis and Sam Huff of New York, all middle linebackers, received solid support in a wide battle for the linebacking jobs. Rosey Brown of New York and Charlie Bradshaw of Pittsburgh were close on the heels of the first two offensive tackles, and Darrell Dess of the Giants and Ken Gray of St. Louis were just a shade behind Kramer and Parker. Bob DeMarco of St. Louis received solid support behind Ringo at center, and Chicago's Mike Pyle also had strong backing. Mason had the edge on the Packers' Tom Moore for the running back job, and Conrad grabbed the flanker post over competition from Terry Barr of Detroti and Bobby Mitchell of Washington.
CAB SQUAD SWEATS, SUFFERS, WIN AND LOSES WITH PACKERS
DEC 11 (Palo Alto, CA-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Cab fares in this university town went up just last week. Instead of 10 cents per one-fourth mile, it is now 10 cents per one-fifth mile - which makes a meter really sing. We thought you'd like to know, and, besides, it points up the high cost of operating a cab squad in the NFL. The Packers have a three-man cab squad composed of Gary Kroner, Terry Zang and Doug Hart. By tradition, these fellers are supposed to ride in a cab, which means it would cost $1,000 each to make the 2,000 mile trip out here. The cab nickname originated in Cleveland back in the early 1950's when the owner of the Browns sent his "extra" players (those not on the roster but kept around just in case of injuries) to practice in a cab. It so happened the owner owned a fleet of cans. The NFL doesn't frown on carrying cabmen any longer, and Coach Vince Lombardi rewards his faithful unknowns by taking them on trips. This is a real treat - especially on the trip out here. "We appreciate that," Kroner, Zang and Hart chimed in during a group interview Tuesday. These three went the route this year on the cab team, but they were four just a few short days ago, Ed Holler was put on the active list after Ray Nitschke broke his arm Thanksgiving Day. The cabsters have the same chore to perform as the regulars - except suit up for the game. They sit on the bench during the game and act as observers. Hart works as a defensive back and quarterback Zang is a far piece behind since the Bays have three veteran signal callers - Bart Starr, John Roach and Zeke Bratkowski. Kroner had been shifted to defense, but recently he was shifted to fullback to spell Lew Carpenter - or any pass receiver who needs help. Their duties are all confined to practice, you understand. Kroner, the former Premontre and Wisconsin star, also stands ready as a kicking specialist. "Smiling Jack" is an excellent field goal and extra point kicker. How do these three feel about their jobs? Can they help the Packers win the championship? What goes with them? "It is beyond us helping the team other than to act as relief in practice. They are actually helping us more by just being here," Zang explained. Hart called it a "wonderful opportunity for us," while Kroner said "we're getting the experience of the pros and that's most important. Next year, we'll be rookies again, but we'll have a year's jump on the other new ones." Zang, the QB via Marquette and Drake, said "maybe you could call us deep reserves." The three said they all felt that "we are definitely part of the team." Kroner said "we suffer right with all of them when we lost those two games. We have the same feelings during the week." "Yeah," added Kroner, "we sweat and get nervous just before the game, too." "And we're happy as the oldest veteran after winning," Zang added. Will the Packers win the championship? "That's up to the Lions," Kroner said, "and we all feel that Detroit can do it. And we can beat the 49ers." The three cabmen - plus Holler - ran 50-yard time trials after practice Tuesday. The coaches merely wanted to get a record of their speed. Zang ran only once since he pulled a muscle in his leg about 10 yards from the finish line. he had hurt his leg a couple of weeks ago. The runners were timed by four clocks - Coaches Tom Fears and Red Cochran at the finish line and Phil Bengston and Norb Hecker about 10 yards from the finish...BRIEFS: Holler, who wears No. 65, and Ken Iman, reserve center, worked at linebacker Tuesday. Holler would be the first replacement in case of injury. Holler also did some punting along with Jerry Norton and Boyd Dowler. Since he played linebacker in a punch last year when Dan Currie and Nelson Toburen were hurt, Iman has been called "Sam" after the Giant linebacker Sam Huff. The nickname has caught on pretty well, and Iman noted: "Did you notice that I scored a touchdown last Sunday," referring to Huff's 40-yard runback and TD against the Redskins...Max McGee was dropping a few passes during yesterday's drill and Lombardi yelled, "Get some of that spray out here." The Taxi looked to the sidelines and yipped, "Get some spray, Jurgie." This is a stickum for slippery fingered pass catchers, but Trainer Bud Jorgensen hasn't got a patent on his concoction yet... End Lionel Aldridge broke through on a defensive play and dropped an easy interception - just as he did Thanksgiving Day. And Vince Lombardi barked, "You better put an 80 on him." Lionel wears a 60-number, which is for guards, while the 80-numbers are for ends, including people who are supposed to catch the ball...Lew Carpenter's face looks
as if it went through a meat grinder - he was racked up on an early kickoff in the Ram game and "I never knew what happened until the half."
PROBABLE '64 SHAKEUP MAY STIR UP 49ERS IN GREEN BAY GAME
DEC 11 (Redwood City, CA) - It would be appropriate for signs from the goal posts Saturday when the Californians meet the Green Bay Packers in the NFL final for both teams. For they will not only be out to upset the Packers, but also will be playing for their jobs. If the Packers lose, they will be knocked out of any chance of tying for the Western Division title. No 49er team officials are saying so, but it's apparent that there will be a major shakeup in 1964 on the San Francisco squad. As many as a dozen of the present 37-man 49er squad may not be around next season. Six key players - quarterback John Brodie, halfback Bill Kilmer, defensive lineman Charley Krueger, Jerry Mertens, one of the team's most experienced defensive backs; Floy Dean, who was hurt early in his rookie year this season - were out nearly all season and will return in 1964. Dave Baker, star defensive back until he entered the Army two years ago, also is scheduled to return. And there are the rookies and probable trades.
TAYLOR TALE: WHEELCHAIR TO 1,000 YARDS
DEC 12 (Palo Alto, CA- Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Jim Taylor patted his tummy after last Friday's drill in the Los Angeles Coliseum. "I was a sick puppy right here last January - a few days before the Pro Bowl," Taylor recalled, emphasizing with a groan, "I was so sick." The Bays' big fullback had come down with hepatitis, but, as he explained, "I didn't know what was wrong right then. They found out in the hospital, and then flew me home in a hurry. They wouldn't even let me walk when I got home (New Orleans). They put me in a wheelchair and took me to the hospital." Can you imagine rough, tough Jim Taylor in a wheelchair? Or better yet, can you imagine anyone in his profession snapping back as he has from such a strength-sapping disease as hepatitis? Jim says it never bothers him. But when those yards come hard and when those tacklers look eight feet tall, the memory of nearly three months on his back must be haunting. It hasn't been easy for Taylor this season. The muscular athlete certainly misses Paul Hornung, who removed some of the defense's emphasis from Taylor. Tom Moore has done an excellent job in Hornung's spot, but the enemy has had his sights zeroed in on Taylor most of the season. In addition, Jim has been plagued by a groin pull and a knee injury. Yet, Taylor today is just 41 yards short of his fourth straight 1,000-yard season. He should reach and pass the milestone against the 49ers in San Francisco Saturday. Taylor has gained 959 yards in 255 attempts thus far for an average of 4.2 per try and the No. 2 spot in the league behind Jim Brown. He closed in on the four-figure mark with 113 yards in 17 tries against the giant Rams last Saturday. Taylor, now in his sixth Packer season, broke into the 1,000-yard class with 1,101 stripes in 230 attempts in 1960. He upped his total to 1,307 in 243 attempts in 1961, and then reached another all-time Packer high with 1,474 yards in 272 attempts in 1962. Taylor averaged 4.8 yards per carry in
1960 and '61 and then hit a peak of 5.4 in '62. Jarrin' Jim now has rushed 1,142 times in his Packer career for 5,540 yards - both all-time Packer records. Taylor holds all Packer rushing records except one - number of attempts in career. Clarke Hinkle rushed the most times in Packer history - 1,180. Taylor would have to carry 39 times vs. the 49rs to grab the record. He undoubtedly will have to wait until '64 to set that mark. Despite the fact that he missed four games, Moore ranks among the top 10 rushers in the league. Tom now has 615 yards in 122 attempts - an average of 5 per carry. For his four-year career, the first three as a substitute for Hornung, Moore has carried 340 times for 1,531 yards and an average of 4.5. Moore has leaped from 14th to 10th among all-time Packer rushers. Hornung is fourth with 2,798 yards in 625 attempts and Taylor is first. Coach Vince Lombardi was concerned that Moore might not be fully recovered from a knee injury for the 49er game. But he started running well Tuesday and showed improvement Wednesday. Taylor has shaken off a neck and back injury and should be in top form. Lombardi was enthused after Wednesday's drill, calling it "one of the best this year." It has become obvious that the Bays have no intention of stumbling in San Francisco.
PACKERS INK UW BOWMAN
DEC 12 (Madison) - University of Wisconsin co-captain and center Ken Bowman said he had signed a contract Wednesday with the Green Bay Packers. Bowman, who will be 21 on Saturday, was the eighth draft choice of the Packers. A three-letter winner in football, Bowman is 6-foot-3, 235 pounds. He's from Rock Island, Ill.
NOMELLINI RETIRING
DEC 12 (San Francisco) - One of pro football's toughest performers, Leo Nomellini, whose age was listed as 28 three years ago, will play the last time for the San Francisco 49ers in Saturday's game with the Green Bay Packers. The 39-year-old Nomellini, a tackle for the 49ers, will be playing in his 174th consecutive NFL game as the teams close the season. "It's definite," said the former All-America from Minnesota when asked about retirement. Over his 14-year career in the NFL, Nomellini missed only two exhibition games. Never shy about a game, Nomellini began to show some reaction to his age in 1960 when he was 36. He suggested the program might give him the benefit of a couple of years. So, in the program for the game with traditional rival Los Angeles, his age was listed as 28.
PACK CLOSES LOOP SEASON VS. 49ER SATURDAY, THEN WAITS
DEC 13 (Palo Alto, CA-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers play two games this weekend. One on the ground and the other 38,000 feet in the air. They close the regulation league season against the 49ers in Kezar Stadium Saturday afternoon. That's game 1. Game 2 is the Lion-Bear game in Chicago Sunday afternoon. The Packers will leave for home by jet at 1:15 p.m. Sunday, 10 minutes after the Bear-Lion game starts. They'll play it all the way to Chicago via the airliner's captain, who will get reports by radio from the various cities below. When the Bays land in Chicago about 4:45 (Central Time) to catch a charter for Green Bay, they'll be Western Division champions for the fourth straight season. Or ex-champs. Kickoff Saturday is set for 3:36 and a live crowd of around 31,000 and a national television audience of 40 million will witness the action. The 49ers will be going for the upset of the year and a chance to salvage something from a dismal season. San Francisco must be respected by the Packers because the Gold Diggers handed the Bears their only defeat. The Bears, you know, beat our boys twice. The 49ers' only other win was over Dallas. The Packers close out five fabulous league seasons under Coach Vince Lombardi tomorrow. And win or lose the '63 championship, Vince has a flock of miracles behind him. The Lombardi men have lost only six games in the last three years - against a whopping 33 victories. In the five years the Packers compiled a league game record of 48 victories, 15 losses and one tie - not to mention three Western Division titles and two world championships. What's more, the Bays lost only three exhibitions during Vince's regime - two in '59 and one in '63. The Packers are favored by 17 points to beat the 49ers and thus score their 49th league triumph under Lombardi. While the Lion-Bear game seems of staggering importance, it doesn't amount to a darn unless the Packers beat San Francisco. The Bays have responded with a good tough week of practice, and they should be razor sharp Saturday. Lombardi has impressed upon his charges that "we have only one objective - beating the 49ers. The rest is up to the Lions." The Packers go into action in good physical condition, considering the injuries suffered in the 31-14 victory over the Rams in Los Angeles last Saturday. Tom Moore, who left the Ram game in the third quarter with a knee injury, and Jim Taylor, rapidly recovering from a neck injury, will start at the running back spots. Taylor needs only 41 yards to produce his fourth straight 1,000-yard season. The only other injuree is Bob Jeter, who hurt his shoulder vs. LA. The 49ers are pretty well banged up and one of their number will miss the game. That would be Matt Hazeltine, the club's captain, who hurt his leg in the Bear game last Sunday. Hazeltine thus breaks a string of 113 games he has played in nine 49er years. Coach Jack Christiansen said that oldtimers Leo Nomellini and Joe Perry will serve as honorary co-captains for the final. Nomellini and Perry, whose combined pro service reaches almost 30 years, will be playing their final games. Both have announced their retirements. Perry will start the game at a running back spot. The Packers have one serious retirement possibility - Bill Forester, the defending captain who is finishing up 11 seasons. Forester has pretty well decided to put away the moleskins after this season, though a championship might make Bill reconsider. The Bays have five other players in the 30-year bracket - Lew Carpenter, John Roach, Max McGee, Jim Ringo and Dave Hanner. The closest retirement possible in this group is Roach. The other four are figuring on returning...BRIEFS: Lamar McHan, who will try to beat his former teammates from the quarterback slot, and Green Bayite Gary Knafelc visited some of their old buddies in the Packer camp the other day. They practice at nearby Redwood City...The Packers will have at least 50 backers in the stands Saturday. They are members of Dick Peal's Triple-A tour which opened with the Ram game. The group stayed in the sunny and warm Los Angeles area most of the week and came north to chilly San Francisco Thursday...Boyd Dowler leads Packer receivers with 45 catches, while Max McGee is second with 34 and Ron Kramer, who missed two games, is next with 32.
PACKERS SIGN TOM CRUTCHER
DEC 13 (Palo Alto, CA-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Green Bay Packers announced today the signing of Texas Christian fullback Tommy Crutcher, their No. 3 draft choice. Crutcher, 6-3 and 220 pounds, played fullback exclusively at TCU, but the Packers plan to use him at both fullback and linebacker. He was the 11th round draft choice of the Kansas City Chiefs of the AFL. He is their second high draft choice already signed. Earlier, the defending NFL champions signed Wisconsin linebacker Ken Bowman. Both Crutcher and Bowman will play in the East-West game later this month.
LOMBARDI DENIES HE WILL COACH IRISH
DEC 14 (Rochester, NY-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Packer Coach Vince Lombardi today denied a report out of Rochester, N.Y., that he had signed to become head football coach at Notre Dame. Contacted by Press-Gazette Sports Editor Art Daley just before leaving for Kezar Stadium and the Packers' season finale against the 49ers in San Francisco, Lombardi's answer to the question as "NO" - a reply he repeated twice. Earlier, Packer Vice President Dick Bourguignon said, "I doubt it very much. I think it (the report) is strictly unfounded. Those rumors come up every year about this time from the West Coast," he added, pointing out: "Coach Lombardi still has two years to go on his contract and Ole (Olejniczak) hasn't said anything to indicate the coach would be leaving." The report follows: Vince Lombardi, coach of the professional Green Bay Packers, has signed as Notre Dame coach, the Rochester Times-Union reported Saturday. At the same time, the South Bend, Ind., Tribune, in a copyrighted story, said Ara Parseghian of Northwestern would be named to the Notre Dame job. Dick Notebart, a Notre dame student and summer employee of the Rochester newspaper, quoted an unidentified priest assigned to the Notre Dame administrative office as saying he has seen a contract bearing Lombardi's signature. The priest said Lombardi would be paid from $32,000 to $40,000 annually, Notebart said in his bylined story. The announcement of Lombardi's signing was expected to be made after Green Bay's game with San Francisco Saturday, the newspaper said. The story also said: Hugh Devore, Notre Dame's present coach, may be moved up to the post of athletic director to succeed Ed (Moose) Krause, who would be given a newly created position. If Devore did not become athletic director, he probably would return to his former position of freshman football coach. Devore's 1963 team won two games and lost seven. Lombardi played college ball at Fordham University. He served as backfield coach for the New York Giants before becoming head coach of the Packers in 1959. The South Bend paper's story said Notre Dame officials were meeting Saturday and were expected to announce Parseghian as the new coach later. It added that Devore, interim coach of the 1963 season as Joe Kuharich's successor, would be kept on the Notre Dame staff.
RETIREMENT FEVER STRIKING PACK? VORIS DEFENDS BAY OFFENSE
DEC 14 (San Francisco-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The scene is the Packers' dressing room at Stanford University. The Packers had just finished their final tuneup Friday. "Hey, Art," Forrest Gregg yelled, "got a scoop for you." "Yes, Forrest, what is it?" "Not now. In about a week, I'll have a big announcement. Maybe Bill has something hot off the griddle." "That's right," Bill Forester said, "you can make the announcement right now. I'm retiring. I've made up my mind. It doesn't make any difference whether we win or lose." Dave Hanner, the daddy of the playing Packers with 12 seasons under his belt, added under his breath: "I guess he means it. You know it's a shame he (Forester) didn't make all-pro again this year. He's still the best linebacker in this league. I'd put Forester, Joe Schmidt and Larry Morris on my all-pro team." The retirement fever caught on. "Hey," said Max McGee, "you can announce mine, too." And Willie Davis, right at the height of his career, laughed: "Put me down, too. I've got a hot job going for me." We figured it was about time to leave before the whole roomful retired. But there was a retirement prospect in the hall - one John Roach. "Me retire?" John asked and answered. "Naw, I've got to see what happens. I'll know for sure next summer." 'I'm just a lad of 31," Roach grinned when we reminded him that quarterbacks have been going until almost 40. Seriously, Forester looms as the only retiree from the '63 team...Speaking of quarterbacks, Tobin Rote, the 35-year-old signal caller with the San Diego Chargers who came up with the Packers away back in 1950, made some interesting observations about the strength of the NFL and the AFL here the other day. Asked by Frisco scribe Jack McDonald if the AFL was in the National League's class, Rote said that the AFL lacks depth and quality in three departments - pass receiving, linebacking and quarterbacking. It takes longer to develop these specialists, Tobin said. Rote didn't go into detail about the quarterbacking since AFL clubs are just about all led by ex-NFLers, Rote, Babe Parilli, George Blanda, Len Dawson, Jack Kemp, and others. "When I say the AFL doesn't have great receivers in depth, I don't mean it is totally without them. Our flanker man, Lance Alworth, is going to be the best in the pros. Don't forget I used to throw the ball to Bill Howton, when he came into the NFL as a Packer rookie. But Howton never saw the day he was as fast as this Alworth. Bill has moves Alworth hasn't learned yet, but when Lance does learn 'em nobody in this league will be able to cover him," Rote said...The Packers' attack has often been labeled "stereotyped" and other nonsense from various quarters - a charge that we have ripped from time to time. Former Packer Dick Voris and Gary Knafelc, both with the 49ers, came to Green Bay's rescue the other day. "The Packer offense is a lot more complicated than most people think. They line up in basic formations, like other teams, but they can run 20 different plays off of each alignment. It's not a simple offense," Voris said. Knafelc said that "about 60 percent of the Packers' plays are audibles (changed at the line of scrimmage). That way, they can really take advantage of defensive weaknesses."...The Packers will hold their annual players party at Rickey's Hyatt-House after the game tonight. The party is financed by money collected for fines during the season. The Bays will fly out of San Francisco International at 1:15 (Wisconsin Time) Sunday afternoon. They will learn whether they are champions or ex-champions somewhere over Iowa and 38,000 feet up. The Packers will win or lose a shot at roughly $8,000 per man (including the All-Star game next August) or around $336,000 for the 37 players and five coaches. All this in the jet stream...When you're listening to Ray Scott and Tony Canadeo on the Bear-Lion telecast Sunday, give this a thought. Mr. Scott, who headquarters in Minneapolis (he does the TV on the Twins' games, too) has regularly for breakfast one glass of orange juice, one large scoop of ice cream and one glass of iced tea. Now a 10-year veteran with the Pack, Scott mixes it up at times. He puts a little of that ice cream in the orange juice. So don't complain if the eggs aren't hot... The Packer party, and especially this writer, is anxious to get home. Snow, zero weather or whatever you have waiting back there.
'OLDEST PACKER' PASSES ON
DEC 14 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The death last week of George Whitney Calhoun snapped one of the few remaining threads still binding the proud Green Bay Packers to their humble, sandlot origins. Cal, with Curly Lambeau, was one of the founders of the football team that has made this city famous wherever sports fans gather. The Packers were Cal's great love, and on their success he lavished a fervent loyalty and the best years of his lonely life. It may come as a shock, but Cal was only 29 when, as a result of a casual street corner conversation, he and Curly launched the team. He was 73 when he dies, yet his loyalty was as strong and fresh as in the days when he was barely keeping the club alive by passing the hat around old Hagemeister Park. Through the years, Lambeau has been given the lion's share of the credit for founding and building the Packers into one of the great sports traditions of America. It is taking nothing from him, however, and Curly would be the first to admit it, to say that without the selfless efforts of George Whitney Calhoun, the Packers would never have progressed beyond their small town beginnings. Calhoun was sports and telegraph editor of the Press-Gazette in 1919. He was a close friend of Lambeau, whose career at East High and for
Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr (15) flings a pass downfield with Los Angeles Rams Hall of Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen (74) charging towards him (Photo by Vic Stein/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Rams Merlin Olsen (74) on field during game vs Green Bay Packers (Photo by Curt Gunther /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
one season at Notre Dame, he had watched closely and affectionately...STREET CORNER MEETING: Lambeau had to drop out of college after his freshman year, but he still wanted to play football. Thus it was that, one late August afternoon in 1919, he and Cal stood on a downtown street corner bemoaning fate. Nothing was more natural than the conclusion that if Curly wanted to keep on playing football he'd have to organize his own team. Once the decision had been made the two enthusiasts wasted no time. They talked officials of the Acme Packing Co., Curly's employers, into putting up some money for equipment, thus insuring both the establishment of the club and its now famous name. A few weeks later, at a meeting in the old Press-Gazette editorial offices on Cherry Street, the Packers were launched...BEAT DRUMS LOUDLY: Cal had been a football player in his youth and a good one, but the game had given him the injury that crippled him for life. A sentimental softy beneath his irascible exterior, Cal still loved football, and the Packers gave him the chance to enjoy it second hand. From the beginnings, he beat the drums loudly, creating interest in the team and eventually backing Lambeau's ambitions to put it into the fledgling NFL. Once in, he devoted most of his energy to keeping the club there. With Nate Abrams, Lambeau and Joe Ordenz, Cal was one of the club's original incorporators in 1922. When, following a rough year that almost saw the experiment pile up on the financial rocks, A.B. Turnbull became interested and gathered the "Hungry Five," Cal remained an officer and member of the board of directors for many years. In fact, he was still a director, although inactive, to the day he died. When the present corporation was formed in 1923, Cal was named traveling secretary and publicity director. He held the former post until 1940 and, with the exception of four years between 1946 and 1950, was publicity director until 1954. As traveling secretary and chief tub thumper, Cal accompanied the team on all its trips until 1944. Most of that time he also covered the out-of-town games for the Press-Gazette. He wrote his last Packer story either in 1940 or 1941 (Cal himself was never quite sure of the date)...HAD OWN SYSTEM: For someone who couldn't get around very well, Cal worked up plenty of ink wherever the Pack moved. He had his own way of accomplishing the trick, too. Unlike run-of-the-mill publicity men, who haunt newspaper offices, Cal used the system of making the sportswriters come to him. Arriving in another city, Cal would get a hotel room, fill the bathtub with ice and beer and then call the papers to let the sportswriters know where he was. They all came flocking, too. The best of their day, from John Kieran of the New York Times to Pat Gannon and Bill McGeehan of the New York Herald Tribune, all rallied around. Most of the resulting ink went to Curly, but Cal didn't mind. In fact, he preferred it that way. Among his traveling secretary duties, Cal took over the guardianship of the pass gate, where he earned his greatest fame as the toughest man to get by in the country. To him trying to see the Packers play for nothing always was the most heinous form of treason, and he could spot a free-loader as far as he could see one. Over the years, only one group consistently beat Cal at the game of getting by him. That was the Packer Lumberjack Band, which developed a system against which Cal, although he suspected what was going on, never quite figured a defense. His best-known nickname was "Gates Ajar" Calhoun, a title which, ironically, stemmed from the only time he ever abandoned his vigilance. That was the day in City Stadium Don Hutson began his spectacular career with the historic first play touchdown against the Chicago Bears. Cal knew the play was coming and slipped away from the pass gate just before the kickoff. He missed the kickoff - as he missed every kickoff for many years - but reached the sidelines in time to see the Herber-Hutson play click, then went happily back to the gate...'GATES AJAR': When Howard Purser, then sports editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel, heard about it, he promptly dubbed Cal "Gates Ajar." Cal flaunted the title proudly the rest of his life. From the first sandlot game in 1919 until the last game in old City Stadium Cal never missed a Packer home game. When the new stadium was opened, Cal had a lifetime pass but didn't figure he could negotiate the park's steep ramps and steps and was too proud to accept help. Thereafter he followed his club via radio and television. As a sports editor and writer, Calhoun had a great respect for statistics. The outcome was, over a period of more than 40 years, one of the most complete collections of statistics and records of professional football in existence. Nearly every book on the game written in the past 30 years had the benefit of Cal's knowledge. He was always going to write one himself. It would have been a priceless account of the Pack's early days, full of stories Cal and a few others knew, but he never got around to it.