1963 Green Bay Packers
Post-Season
BEARS DESERVED IT', DISAPPOINTED PACKERS CONCEDE
DEC 16 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers' reign as champion ended two days short of three years. They won the Western Division championship Dec. 17, 1960 in Los Angeles, and added two more Wests and two Worlds before giving up their coveted crown Sunday afternoon, Dec. 15, 1963. Green Bay's rule lasted for 1,093 days, but there was no day like the last one. This was the day they had to have to repeat as champion. They needed a victory by the Lions over the Bears in Chicago. Perhaps there was an indication of things to come the night before. The Packers had just beaten the 49ers 21-17 in San Francisco to produce a roaring 11-2-1 finish. Returning to Palo Alto after the game, the Packers' second bus broke down. Everybody got out and pushed. "We rocked it back and forth, trying to get the gears unlocked," Bart Starr said, adding "this was the start of something bad." The team arrived at San Francisco International Airport at 10:45 (12:45, GB time), just in time to board a commercial jet for the trip to Chicago. Shortly before 11, an announcement was made that the Packer flight would be delayed and another announcement would be made at 11:15. So what's wrong now? It was a blessing in disguise since it enabled the Bays to watch a bit of the game on TV. But this was a sweat, too, as the Bears reached the Lion 30, first down, just about the time the announcement was made that "Flight 742 was now ready for boarding." The first report on the game was the 10-7 score in the third quarter. This was good news since it showed the Lions were right in the game. It came after lunch and helped induce some snoozing. The next score, piped from the ship's captain over the PA system, was 17-7 and increased the tension. Henry Jordan, reading "to quiet my nerves," dropped his lighted cigarette in his shirt pocket. No damage to the shirt or Hank. The final score came when the big bird approached Nebraska. The "announcer" had just given the height, temperature outside and other measurements when he added: "We have a final on that game - Chicago 24 and Detroit 14." That game? Each Packer had automatically parted with a possible $6,000-plus, the winner's cut in the championship game, not to mention a full game's salary for a possible date in the All Star game. Actually, money never entered in the reaction remarks. We mentioned the green stuff to Starr, and he explained, "We'll start thinking about that in a couple of days, after losing the championship wears off." The Packers for the most part felt that the Bears would win and they weren't too surprised. They were all disappointed - when the loss became official. And they were good sports, not forgetting to salute the Bears. Coach Vince Lombardi sat quietly throughout the trip with his wife, Marie, and he declined comment when the moment of truth arrived. Reminded that the Packers still had a tremendous record - 11 wins, Vince expressed appreciation for the kind thought. Losing the championship with a record like the Pack's is the limit of irony. Green Bay had only one record better in history - the 13-1 of a year ago. The record is better than the champions of the East, the Giants, who finished with 11-3. Some of the players just stared when the news came. Others walked around. Others continued playing cards, trying to concentrate. "All my hopes went down the drain," said Willie Wood. Jordan said "we were hoping against hope, but we weren't expecting anything." Dave Hanner said, "I was not surprised. We wouldn't blow it if we were in the same position today as the Bears." Fuzzy Thurston, Lew Carpenter and Jim Ringo were of the same opinion: "They won it. They deserve it. They beat us twice." Ray Nitschke agreed with that thought and looked ahead: "We're young yet, we'll be back as champion next year, and maybe a few years after that." Hank Gremminger said, "We should have beaten them ourselves. You can't depend on someone else for help." Max McGee figured "the Bears had too much going for them to lose today."
Gary Knafelc, the former Packer who played with the 49ers, was a sort of neutral observer on the trip home. "Everybody in this league knows the best representative of the Western Division won't be in the championship game." Knafelc said, referring to the Pack's loss of the title, adding: "It's always better to be lucky than good. Green Bay has the best coaching in the league, and they have a great organization. You'll be back next year." Somebody yelled from the back of the plane. "It'll be warm in Miami Jan. 5," as snow-blanketed Chicago loomed ahead. And that turned to be another problem. Who's for the Packers' opponent in the Runnerup Bowl? Nobody knew how the Giant-Pittsburgh game came out until the team reached the O'Hare airport terminal. Then the first reaction was that the Bays would play the Steelers in Miami, but some of the folks with mathematical minds figured that Pittsburgh dropped out of sight due to the three ties. This brought the Browns to the front as the Packers' opponent in Miami. "This will be a better attraction than the championship game - Jimmy Brown, our Taylor," McGee said, quickly changing up with: "I think the Bears will beat the Giants." There was an hour and a half wait at O'Hare before the United Airlines charter started to take off for Green Bay. The plane moved 100 yards when an indicator showed that the propeller on the right outside motor was in reverse. "We can see that it isn't, but our indicator shows reverse," the captain said. A ground crew went to work on the plane to correct the "errors" and the last leg was started about 7:30 p.m. The Bays touched down at Austin Straubel about 8:30 p.m., and they were greeted by an enthusiastic group of 100 who braved below-zero temperatures. Lombardi gathered the squad together for a meeting this morning. The team likely will disband for the holidays and then report to Miami a week before the game.
'VERY INTERESTED' IN 49ER COACHING JOB, AUSTIN SAYS
DEC 16 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Packer offensive line coach Bill Austin said Sunday in San Francisco he was "very interested" in becoming head coach of the 49ers and would seriously consider the offer. Austin, an assistant to Vince Lombardi since 1959, was commenting on reports that Jack Christiansen would not be hired for the 1964 season. The reports said Austin would get the job. Austin added, "But in my opinion, Christiansen is the coach of the 49ers, and will remain so until, or if, owner Vince Morabito decides to make a change." Austin went to Wichita, Kan., Sunday.
PACKERS SIGN FRESNO QB
DEC 16 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Beau Carter, who shattered 14 Fresno State pass and total offense records in his three seasons as a quarterback, said in Fresno, Calif., Sunday he had signed with the Packers as a free agent. Carter was passed over in both the NFL and AFL drafts.
MORRIS IN TUG-OF-WAR BETWEEN PACKERS, PATS
DEC 17 (Worcester, MA) - Three weeks ago, Jon Morris wasn't sure he wanted any part of professional football. Now the big Holy Cross center is in a pleasant quandary - which way to turn in a tug-of-war between the Green Bay Packers and Boston Patriots to secure his services. The decision this 225-pounder from Chevy Chase, Md., faces is a typical result of the high pressure National-American League war to sign top draftees. The NFL has the big jump, so far. About a month ago, Morris was approached by a pro scout who asked Jon's sentiments about playing for pay after college. "I don't know," Morris replied. "I haven't really given it any thought." Later Morris revealed to a friend: "I really didn't think I was that good." And he wasn't sure he wanted to delay his entry into law school. Come the drafts. The Packers picked Morris in the second round. Boston named him the third time around after surrendering two rounds in exchange for a chance to land Boston College quarterback Jack Concannon, who chose the Philadelphia Eagles instead. Now Morris' doubts are reduced to which team he should play for. "Jon has a good offer from the Packers," said Patriots Coach Mike Holovak after visiting the boy here. "He wants time to make his decision." "It's up to Jon. We're not going into bidding matches that are out of line. That's why Concannon went to the Eagles. I think I have a fair sense of values. I wish Jack good luck." "I've heard the National League this year has gone on a draft-choice program, the word being to give no-cut contracts to the first five choices. It's easy to believe. The NFL clubs are signing players on no-cuts and are willing to put them on the taxi squad, working out and available if regulars are hurt. Incidentally, the values have changed. I talked to Pete Pedro, the Lynn boy at West Texas State. He hasn't been drafted by anybody yet, yet he wants a lot of money. He was sensational a year ago, but he had bad knees this season. He's small, I know he can run. At any rate, I told him what we'd give him. I haven't heard from him. On the other hand, Buck Garrett of Grambling signed without bargaining. He's about the same size as our Larry Garron, going around 190, and he can fly."
PACK'S 1963 SEASON HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL, EVEN SANS TITLE
DEC 17 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers had a highly successful 1963 season. Anyone who has any gripes about the year should have his (or her) head examined. How can you argue with an 11 win, 2 loss, 1 tie finish? It was just a few years ago that we would have been tremendously happy with four wins. It's a little early to take the past campaign apart - game by game. Let's get the Christmas shopping out of the way first - plus the interesting test vs. J. Brown & Co. in Miami. The Packers are disappointed over not winning the championship. So is Gus Phan. It would have been nice to have a championship game here Dec. 29, and that's the understatement of the year. But, as Coach Vince Lombardi noted today, "There's just so much to a lollypop. It's got to end sometime." Lombardi was referring to the sweetness of winning the championship. The Bays have had three in a row, 1960, 1961 and 1962. They gave it a bloody go in '63. Vince, who has now finished five seasons as coach and general manager of the Pack, was asked if he thought the season was successful. "I should say so," he smiled, "the record indicates this." In looking back over the '63 season, everything seems to boil right down to the two losses to the Bears. A real realist and not one to ever second guess himself, Lombardi said he has accepted the two losses as part of what happened during the season and pointed out that they were the only losses. If there was an "unfortunate" about the season, it was merely that the Packers didn't get another crack at the Bears. George Halas' men beat Green Bay 10-3 here and 26-7 in Chicago. The two clubs came close to engaging in a playoff. Most of the players agreed that they'd like to get a crack at them - "with Starr." Bart Starr was out with a broken hand for the second Bear game. There will always be speculation on what the loss of Paul Hornung meant to the Pack last season. Would Green Bay have won the title with Paul? Tom Moore did a great job. You can't argue with that. The question might be reworked: Would the Packers have won one of the Bear games with Paul?...The Packers scattered after a meeting with the coaches Monday morning. They will report to Miami Saturday, Dec. 28, and hold their first practice the next day. The team will headquarter at the Ivanhoe Hotel. For obvious reasons, Lombardi wants no part of a discussion on the loss of Hornung, etc. That's something for us sportswriters to chew on. But where does it get you? No place. We still only lost two games. Which is a wonderful record. Since taking over the Pack in '59, Lombardi has coached Green Bay to 50 league wins against only 15 losses and one tie in five years. He has lost only three games in the last two year and six in the last three seasons. The Packers have averaged 10 wins and 3 losses in Vince's five years. In the previous 11 years (to '59), the record average was just about reversed, 3 wins and 10 losses. In the five years, the Packers beat their opponents by an average score of 26.5 to 15.4 - just about four touchdowns to two. The Bays scored 1,755 points, the enemy 1,032. The Packers engaged in three championship games and after losing to the Eagles in 1960, 17-13, beat the Giants twice, 37-0 and 16-7. In addition, the Lombardimen have lost only three exhibitions in five years - two in his first year (to the Bears and Giants) and one in '63 (to the All Stars).
W L T .PCT PS OP
1959 7 5 0 .583 248 246
1960 8 4 0 .667 332 209
1961 11 3 0 .786 391 223
1962 13 1 0 .929 415 148
1963 11 3 0 .786 369 206
TOTAL 50 15 1 .769 1755 1032
FIVE PACKERS MAKE UPI'S ALL-NFL
DEC 17 (New York) - Jimmy Brown of the Cleveland Browns, pro football's greatest running back, regained his place on the United Press International's 1963 NFL all-star team today by unanimous acclaim. The Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and New York Giants each placed five men on the 22-man, two-platoon team; the St. Louis Cardinals had three representatives; the Detroit Lions two, and the Browns and Minnesota Vikings one each. Brown, who set an NFL rushing record of 1,863 yards this season, was the only player to receive the votes of every one of the 42 regular league writers who selected this team for UPI. The panel was made up of three writers from each league city. The 230-pound Cleveland fullback thus won back the first team all-star berth he lost in 1962 because of a so-so season. Prior to 1962, Brown had made the UPI first team in each of his first five seasons as a pro...THREE PACKERS REPEAT: Roosevelt Brown, 255-pound Giants' offensive tackle, was honored for the eighth consecutive season; center Jim Ringo of the Packers for the fifth straight year; and offensive tackle Forrest Gregg and linebacker Bill Forester of Green Bay and defense back Dick (Night Train) Lane of Detroit each for the fourth year in a row. Jimmy Brown was chosen for the backfield that included quarterback Y.A. Tittle of the Giants, halfback Tommy Mason of the Vikings and flanker Bobby Joe Conrad of the Cardinals. Del Shofner of the Giants was selected as the split end; Mike Ditka of the Bears as tight end; Rosey Brown and Gregg at tackles; Jery Kramer of Green Bay and Ken Gray of St. Louis at guards, and Ringo at center. Four members of the Bears won places on the defensive team. They were end Doug Atkins, linebackers Joe Fortunato and Bill George, and safetyman Rich Petitbon...OTHERS PICKED: The other defensive players honored were end Jim Katcavage of the Giants; tackles Henry Jordan of Green Bay and Roger Brown of Detroit; Forester at linebacker; Dick Lynch of the Giants and Lane at corner halfbacks; and Petitbon and Larry Wilson of the Cards at safety. The repeaters from last year's first team included seven players on offense but only five on defense. The offensive players also honored last year were Tittle, Shofner, Ditka, Gregg, Rosey Brown, Jerry Kramer and Ringo. The defensive repeaters were Katcavage, Jordan, Roger Brown, Forester and Lane. Next to Jimmy Brown in popularity came Ditka and Gregg, each with 37 of a possible 42 votes, and Tittle with 36. Fortunato's 32 votes were the largest total received by a defensive player.
8 PACKERS NAMED TO PRO BOWL SQUAD, TAYLOR FINISHES 2ND
DEC 18 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Pro Bowl and statistics. They go together like beer and apple pie, but that's what the news wires coughed up this day. Eight Packers were named to the Western Division team for the Pro Bowl game in Los Angeles Jan. 12. And, as usual, the selectors could or should have picked at least eight more Packers. We're a little prejudiced, you know. Named to the offensive team were Forrest Gregg, tackle; Jerry Kramer, guard; Jim Ringo, center, and Jim Taylor, fullback. Named to the defensive squad were Willie Davis, end; Henry Jordan, tackle; and Herb Adderley and Jess Whittenton, cornerbackers. Conspicuous by their absence are Bart Starr and Bill Forester. Chosen at QB instead of Starr were John Unitas of the Colts and Bill Wade of the Bear. Bart shared the spot with Unitas the last two years and we don't feel he dropped off that much this year. Despite a broken hand that kept him out four games, Starr finished fast and leaped from 12th place to seventh in passing - ahead of Wade, who was eighth. Unitas was second. Wade's selling points, of course, are noticeable. His team won the West and he's an old favorite in Los Angeles, having grown up with the Rams. The overlooking of Forester is nothing short of horrible. When the news reaches Dave Hanner in West Memphis, Ark., the wires will burn to somebody. Hanner was mighty disappointed about Bill not making a wire service all-pro team. "He'd better be selected on the Pro Bowl team or there'll be trouble," Hanner chawed on the way home from the west coast Sunday. Linebackers chosen were Joe Fortunato of the Bears, Joe Schmidt and Wayne Walker of the Lions and Rip Hawkins of the Vikings. And how come the Lions got two linebackers going? Schmidt missed a few games with injuries. The Pro Bowl Packers will have to do some hustling. The Bays will be in the Runnerup Bowl in Miami Sunday, Jan.
5, and the selectees will fly out right after the game for LA to join the Wet team. The National League put out final statistics today and the Packers' highest finish was a second in rushing - by Taylor, who garnered 1,018 yards on 249 carries for an average of 4.1. Jim was making a "comeback" from hepatitis, which floored him just before the Pro Bowl last January, and the figures indicate that his recovery was complete. Herb Adderley was third in kickoff returns with an average of 29.9, while Jerry Kramer was fourth in scoring with 91 points. Jerry Norton was sixth in punting with an average of 44.7. Tom Moore, taking over for the departed Paul Hornung, wound up eighth in rushing with a five-yard average of 658 yards in 132 carries. Starr roared back fiercely. He hurled five touchdown passes in the last two games and didn't have an interception since before he was hurt in the Cardinal game. He wound up with only 10 interceptions, lowest and best figure in the league. He hit for 15 touchdown passes and had a completion percentage of 54.1. The Bays came up with a bit of a statistical surprise - a representative among the top 10 in pass receiving. That would be Boyd Dowler, who ranked ninth with his 53 catches for 901 yards. Normally, the Bays' receiving is well divided between Dowler, Max McGee and Ron Kramer. Dowler caught 19 passes in his last three games. including nine vs. Detroit and two at Los Angeles, and eight at San Francisco. McGee, who finished with 39 catches, nabbed 18 in his last three games, including 12 on the west coast, 7 in LA and 5 in SF. R. Kramer closed out with 32 receptions. Willie Wood posted a 10th in punt returning with an average of 8.9 yards per return.
FINAL NFL STATISTICS GIVE BEARS EDGE ON PACK, TOO
DEC 19 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers and Bears...here we go again! This isn't for serious. It's just that the team figures are off the NFL's drawing boards today, and it's human nature to compare the Pack's statistics with those of the Bears. It's easy to prove - figurewise, of course - that our Packers are better than the Bears, but don't believe it. Two facts remain: The Bears beat Green Bay twice and the Bears are in the championship game. You can believe it. Generally speaking, the batch of figures below (they should last some of you statistical bugs all winter) can be boiled down to this oft-used proverb: The name of the game is defense! The Bears came up with the best defensive performance of the season. They allowed just 144 points, which is an average of 10.2 per game. They permitted the Packers just 10 points in two games (ain't that something?) - 3 on Jerry Kramer's 41-yard field goal on the last play of the first quarter on Sept. 15, 6 on Tom Moore's 11-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter on Nov. 17, and 1 on J. Kramer's extra point kick after said TD. The Bears had three games in which they allowed nary a TD, giving the Pack and Colts three points each and the Rams zero. They pitched a 7-point defense against the Vikings, Eagles, Colts, Packers and 49ers. We could stop right here, since this is the GREEN BAY Press-Gazette, but those Chicago debbils must be given their due. The Bears led in 10 defense departments, the Packers 3. It was just about reversed a year ago when the Bays allowed 148 points. The 1963 Packers ranked second to the Bears just about right down the line on defense. The Bays led in fewest first downs allowed 193 (the Bears 196), fewest first downs passing 87 (Bears 96), and the fewest touchdowns allowed passing 9 (Bears 10). The Bears gave up 3,176 total years for best in the league, while the Bays were second on 3,599. The big difference in the Packers and Bears this year is in offense and this is where we shine. The Bays scored 369 points (the Bears 301) to rank second in the league behind the Tittlemen from New York who scored 448. The Packers rolled up 4,781 total yards against the Bears' 4,172. Our boys maintained their fine rushing reputation with 2,248 yard, which is second in the league only to the great Jim Brown and the Browns. The Browns rushed for 2,639 yards. The Bears' rush boys collected but 1,679 yards which ranks eighth. Green Bay scored the most touchdowns rushing, 24, while the Bears had 19. The Packers produced a total of 46 touchdowns - 11 behind the leading Giants and nine more than the Bears. You're on your own with the rest of those figures below. One note. The Bays, or rather Jerry Norton, came out with 44.7 punting average. That's a new Packer record. The best previous average was Boyd Dowler's 44.1 in 1961. Boyd punted only 37 times while Norton delivered 51.
RESTLESS ROTE NAMED AFL'S MOST VALUABLE
DEC 19 (New York) - Tobin Rote, a restless man who had played in three pro leagues, was named Most Valuable Player in the AFL Thursday for the job of directing the San Diego Chargers close to a championship. The 35-year-old former Green Bay, Detroit and Toronto quarterback received 15 of the votes cast by a panel of 24 sportswriters and sportscasters for the Associated Press. Each city was represented by three voters. Way back in 1950, Rote broke in the NFL at Green Bay. That was the year Y.A. Tittle also played his first NFL ball with Baltimore after two years in the All-America Conference. In 1957 he took over at quarterback for the Detroit Lions after Bobby Layne had suffered a broken leg in a late season game and led the Lions in a 59-14 rout of the Cleveland Browns in the NFL title game. Rote threw four TD passes, including one on a fake field goal, and also scored once on a plunge. The former Rice star moved to Toronto in 1960 after playing out his option in the NFL. He played out his option in Canada, too, where he was reportedly getting $32,000 and came to San Diego this season at $30,000 a year. Although Rote was troubled by bursitis in late season and trouble throwing the long ball, he was the big man for Sid Gillman's Chargers, who need only one more victory to clinch the Western Division title. Rote's 1963 figures show 163 completions in 270 attempts for 2,401 yards and 19 touchdowns. "I don't have to run anymore," he said recently. "I've got too many good runners to hand the ball to on this club." Lance Alworth, an exceptionally fine flanker back and top receiver of Rote's passes at San Diego, drew four MVP votes.
HALL OF FAME MEET TO EXPLORE SPECIAL PLAYER CATEGORIES
DEC 20 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The board of selectors of the national professional football hall of fame will meet in Chicago Saturday, Dec. 28. Representatives from each league city meet annually the day before the world title game to discuss, hammer out and possibly admit new members to the Hall of Fame in Canton. The meeting is always held in the championship game city. The beautiful Hall of Fame building was dedicated last September when 17 charter members were installed. The charter group was selected at a meeting of the board in New York the day before the Packer-Giant championship game. Admitted in the first round were Sammy Baugh, Bert Bell, Joe Carr, Dutch Clark, Red Grange, George Halas, Mel Hein, Fats Henry, Cal Hubbard, Don Hutson, Curly Lambeau, Tim Mara, George Marshall, Johnny Blood, Bronko Nagurski, Ernie Nevers and Jim Thorpe. With a foundation of 17 members, the selectors now will explore more specific categories - such as linemen of the early days or backs or officials of the same periods. The board likely will keep the number of entrants well below the initial group. Dick McCann is still on the hunt for any "relics" of pro football, and he'd quit smoking if he could find an old Acme Packing Company jersey. Some of the records kept faithfully down through the years by the late George W. Calhoun, the Packers' first secretary and publicity director, will be given to the Hall of Fame by the Press-Gazette. Other records will be kept by the P-G. Calhoun, who died Dec. 6, gave some of his mementos to the hall last spring...NFL publicity chief Jim Kensil says that all working press credentials for the Giant-Bear championship game have been exhausted. Approximately 400 writers, photographers, TV, radio and newsreel credentials, biggest press coverage in Wrigley Field history for a football game, have been accounted for, said Jim, adding: "We could use another park just to accommodate all the coverage."...Marge Abrams, the Green Bay gal who handles public relations for the Sheraton-Chicago Hotel, is a real Packer diehard, but the close finish in the Western Division left little Margie with mixed emotions. She wanted the Pack to win, of course, since her heart is still in Green Bay, but if the Bears won, it would mean almost a full week of business for her hotel. The press, radio, TV, league and all other connections with the game are at the Sheraton. Marge wouldn't have been too unhappy if the whole shebang had been at the Northland Hotel in Green Bay...Remember Bill Hughes? Bill was the Packers' shepherd when they flew Capital Airlines (since merged with United) for eight years starting in 1948. Hughes now operates his own travel service in Milwaukee and he's running a tour to the Packer-Brown game in the Orange Bowl Jan. 5. Details: Leave Milwaukee by plane at 11 a.m. Jan 2, stay at Carrillon Hotel, game, return after game, arrive Milwaukee 10 p.m. Jan. 5...Tobin Rote, the gallant Texan who was named most valuable player in the AFL the other day, remarked that "I don't have to run anymore. I've got too many good runners to hand the ball to on this club (San Diego)." This reminded of his days (1950-56) with the Packers when he had to run for his very life. He ran so much one year that he led the team in rushing, which is no mean feat for a QB. That was in 1952, when he gained 313 yards in 58 carries, while Fred Cone was second with 276 and Bobby Jack Floyd third with 236. Rote still rates as the Pack's fifth highest yardage maker by rushing. He piled up 2,202 in 419 attempts. And about half of the rushes probably started out to be passes. Do you realize how much times have changed? Jim Taylor gained 1,018 yards last season and that's 193 yards more than Rote, Cone and Floyd gained together.
PACK'S MAURO 'GOOD PRO PROSPECT'
DEC 22 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - St. Norbert and Northern Michigan University were socking each other around with bruising spirit on the Minahan Stadium gridiron last fall when Northern Coach Frosty Ferzacca became a bit concerned with the regularity at which the Knights were penetrating the middle of his defensive line. There was only one logical move to be made. Ferzacca called for bull-shouldered Jack Mauro and the 6-2, 235-pound bundle of muscle hobbled into the game on his injured ankle. "He had that bad ankle and we still couldn't move him," St. Norbert Coach Howie (Chick) Kolstad said in recalling the game, which Northern eventually won, 24-20, thanks largely to the effective defensive work of Mr. Mauro. Green Bay fans who missed Mauro's first appearance in this area will have ample opportunity to form their own opinion of his football prowess when the Saginaw native reported to the Packer training camp in July. Drafted 13th by the Packers, Mauro signed his pro contract with Packer Business Manager Verne Lewellen, an event he views as "an honor. I'm really proud to sign with the Packers," he said. "I'm excited, anyone would be. They're about the best team in the league, you know," he added. The Packers also selected Len St. Jean, the 240-pound Wildcat defensive end, in the 17th round, but the Newberry native had already sold his services to the Boston Patriots of the rival AFL. Prior to the news of his selection by the Packers, St. Jean had planned to sign with the Pats immediately. But the NFL draft put a somewhat different light on the situation and St. Jean, who admits he was "surprised at being picked by the Packers," spent some time in reconsideration. One of the big things that eventually influenced him to ink the Boston pact was the presence of another former Northern Michigan grid ace, halfback Tom Neumann of Peshtigo, on the Patriots' roster. Neumann was a starting offensive back for the Pats much of this year. "The ice has already been broken there," St. Jean said. Described by the Northern Michigan press guide as a "tiger on defense, a real scrapper, a tenacious competitor," Mauro is considered a "good pro prospect" by Ferzacca, the former Green Bay West High School coach who also served in the Packers organization for a brief time. A bridegroom of less than a month, Mauro will graduate from Northern with a B.S. degree in physical education in June. And Kolstad, among others, is "glad to see him go." Discussing Mauro and St. Jean, both of whom were selected on the Knights' all-opponent team, Kolstad calls them "awful strong...just as strong as anybody. And they're rough, tough and hard football players." Although he earned berths on the All-NAIA defensive team, two All-Michigan teams and honorable mention on the Associated Press Little All-American squad in 1962, Mauro's injury slowed him down a bit this past season. He is reported completely recovered from it now, however. Besides, he wasn't slowed too much. Just ask Coach Kolstad.
PERRY, NOMELLINI GREAT - HANNER
DEC 22 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - It takes an old pro to recognize an old pro. So it wasn't surprising when Dave Hanner shifted his chaw of tobacco around for more comfort and taste and drawled: "We saw the end of
two great ones out there - old Perry and Nomellini." Hanner was relaxing on the Packers' jet ride home from San Francisco last Sunday when he noted that the 49ers' Joe Perry and Leo Nomellini had played in their last game vs. the Packers the previous day. Joe and Leo each played 14 seasons. Perry is 36, Nomellini 39. "Do you know how fast that Perry was. The quarterback would have to hold the ball out ahead of him or he'd be gone without it. That's how fast he was getting off the mark." Hanner said, adding: "He'd never holler if you mussed him up. Maybe he'd laugh some or say 'you guys are hitting' hard' or something like that." Dan Currie, tuning in on Papa Hanner, recalled: "I got a good shot at old Joe one time and he was jolted pretty good. Do you know what he said under the pile? 'Hi, Dan,' and he got up." "Yes, sir," Hanner pointed, "those two guys are a great credit to all of us in pro football. You never hear that Nomellini cry about anything. He just goes ahead and plays his steady game. I got to know old Leo when were on the same team in the Pro Bowl a few times." Perry carried 10 times in his finale and gained 47 yards. He rushed nearly 2,000 times in his pro career, a league record. He has gained nearly 8,500 yards in 14 years. His lifetime average gain is 4.83, which is just under Jim Brown's 4.98. Nomellini has played in 174 consecutive league game, a league record. Despite their long service, the two old pros never played in a championship game. The closest they came was in 1957 when they lost to Detroit 31-27 in a division playoff.
PACK SIGNS 10; FALCK RETIRES
DEC 23 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers have a 10-3 won-lost record in the College Player Signing League, the real opponent being clubs in the AFL. Five 1963 draft choices, two junior eligibles selected a year ago and three free agents have been signed thus far, Coach Vince Lombardi announced today. Three players have been lost - Jon Morris, the center from Holy Cross, the 2nd pick, and 17th choice Len St. Jean, end from Northern Michigan, both of whom signed with the Boston Patriots; and Ode Burrell, halfback from Mississippi State and No. 3 pick obtained in a trade with Baltimore, who signed with Houston. And on the home front, Earl Falck, ticket director since 1957 when the Bays moved into new City Stadium, announced that he will retire at the end of 1963. He has been associated with Packer ticket affairs since the early 1920s and became a full-time Packer employee in 1942. The top signee is Bob Long, the highly touted end from Wichita, who made all-Missouri Valley Conference honors despite the fact that he didn't play football until he was a senior. He went to Wichita on a basketball scholarship, but as a footballer he caught 42 passes for nine touchdowns. Long was a fourth choice obtained in a trade with the Eagles. Other 1963 draftees signed are Tom Crutcher, fullback from TCU, No. 3 pick; Ken Bowman, center from Wisconsin, No. 8; Jack Mauro, tackle from Northern Michigan, No. 13; John Baker, end from Virginia State College, 19th choice. Junior eligibles signed are Turnley Todd, center from Virginia, No. 7; Joe Breen, tackle from VPI, No. 15. The free agents are Earl (Beau) Carter, Fresno State defense back; Larry Hunter, halfback from Grambling; and Dave Crossan, center-guard from Maryland who was the Eagles' eighth choice a year ago. Falck will be succeeded by Merrill Knowlton, who began work as Falck's assistant in 1957. "We are sorry to lose Earl," Lombardi said, "he has been a very loyal employee over these many years." Falck was one of the original stockholders in the old Green Bay Football Co. He took part in the Thanksgiving Day benefit for the Packers in 1949 when the club was all but broke. The intra-squad game, held in near-zero weather, raised $45,000 and helped the club pay off its bills. The stock drive followed later that winter. "My work with the Packers has been very interesting," Falck said, "and it has been my whole life. I plan to go to Arizona for the winter and then spend some time in Green Bay and at my cottage north of Shawano in the summer." There was some confusion over Burrell's signing Saturday night. The Oilers announced they had signed him and then denied it. Later, they said Burrell finally signed. Burrell played in the Liberty Bowl in Philadelphia Saturday and was pursued by Pat Peppler, the Pack's talent director. It developed that Burrell had signed before he played in the game. Other than a token contract, the Packers don't hound the college selections if they are in a bowl game. Their top pick, Nebraska's Lloyd Voss, is in the Orange Bowl.
DESPITE PACKERS, CLARIDGE PUTS MONEY WHERE MOUTH IS
DEC 25 (Miami Herald) - After two years of waiting to sign Dennis Claridge, the Green Bay Packers are likely to find it's like pulling teeth to get the Nebraska quarterback's signature on a contract. That's because the husky Cornhusker says he prefers pulling teeth to playing football for pay. Drafted as Green Bay's No. 3 choice last year when his original class reached senior status, Claridge tells himself he will say "no thanks" when the Packers dangle a bonus bundle in front of his contact lens after the Orange Bowl game with Auburn. "I don't believe I'll even try pro football," the 6-3 1/4, 222-pounder said Tuesday morning following Nebraska's spirited two-hour workout at the University of Miami. Amid raised eyebrows, the foremost aerial artist in Cornhusker football history spelled out his reasons. "I'm in dental school," he said, "and I think there's be more of a future for me in the long run in dentistry. If I went into pro ball, there's always a chance of an injury that would delay my education." Fully aware that recruiters from the Oakland Raiders are likely to try and elbow Green Bay agents aside to make their own cash offers, Claridge left a wedge in the door. "I'll always listen when money talks, but I don't think I'll sign." As a junior, Denny passed for 829 yards, bettering the Nebraska record of 706 yards set by Fran Nagle in 1950. He was a strong-armed whiz in guiding Nebraska to a 36-34 victory over Miami in a thrill-a-minute Gotham Bowl last December. Grounded for three games by a leg injury during the recent season, Claridge attempted only 66 passes and included just one touchdown among his 31 completions for 440 yards. "I was criticized by some people for not throwing more," Claridge said, a powerful rollout runner. "But we were able to move on the ground against practically everybody we played. So why risk putting the ball in the air unnecessarily?" When, and if, the ruddy giant does pass against Auburn's Tigers on Jan. 1, his primary target probably will be right end Tony Jeter, the younger brother of Bob Jeter, the former Iowa speed boy who now runs for the Chicago Bears. The 6-3, 203-pound wingman is the only sophomore in Coach Bob Devaney's starting lineup. He caught nine regular semester passes for 151 yards.
LOMBARDI'S CONTRACT EXTENDED TO JAN. 31, 1969
DEC 26 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Vince Lombardi's contract as head coach and general manager of the Packers has been extended to Jan. 31, 1969. This was announced today by Dominic Olejniczak, president of Green Bay Packers, Inc. Lombardi, who has blossomed into the nation's leading football coach in Green Bay, signed a five-year pact when he took over the then-lowly Packers in January of 1959. That contract was ripped up in July of 1961 when he signed a new five-year pact, running until Jan. 31, 1966. The extended contract is for three years, which covers the seasons of 1966, 1967 and 1968. Olejniczak said today the "continuation of Coach Lombardi's contract assures us of good sound football for the future. We are very pleased to have the outstanding coach of the nation right here in Green Bay." No terms were announced - in line with Packer policy. Lombardi said he was "real happy" with the extended contract. The pact put to rest talk of Vince leaving to coach elsewhere. In answer to those reports during the past four years, Vince always said he had a contract to live up to in Green Bay. Today, Vince laughed when reminded of some of those old rumors and noted, "that contract is for a little longer." Oddly enough, Lombardi wasn't here a year when the New York press had him practically signed and sealed for the Giant job. He was then ticketed to take over the Rams in 1962 and several month ago he was mentioned in connection with the 49ers' possible change. Lombardi's amazing job with the Packers, of course, had made him an extremely enviable property. But the extension of his contract indicates that Vince can proceed with the building of an unforgettable dynasty of his own making in Green Bay. Lombardi has guided the Packers to three Western Division championships and two world titles in three of his five years here. In league competition, his record stands at 52 wins, 15 losses and 1 tie. He lost five games his first year, four his second, three his third, one his fourth and two his fifth. He has a 2-1 record in championship game competition, losing to the Eagles and then beating the Giants twice. The past season was a particularly trying one for Lombardi. He had lost his ace, Paul Hornung, last spring when the versatile star was suspended for gambling. Then came the loss to the All Stars in the first game. But the Bays came through with 11 big wins, only two losses and the tie to narrowly miss another championship. The only losses were to the Bears, who had to have a fantastic season of their own to beat out Green Bay. The 1963 season may have been Lombardi's greatest coaching job, even though there was no title. The Hornung thing was the real shocker, of course, but for the first time here Vince had lost his "mind" on the field, his quarterback, That was Bart Starr, whose broken hand kept him out of four games. The Bays won three of those with John Roach, but the lone loss was to the Bears. Starr might have made a difference in Wrigley Field. Besides bringing success to the Pack, Lombardi has put the "foot" back in pro football. Several other teams have copied his "big back" offense, which emphasized rushing. The offense is based on power, the giant guards and the third tackle, known as the tight end. Other clubs have shifted their larger offensive linemen to guard and hunted up a "giant" pass catcher. Outside of the actual playing football, Lombardi has
left his growth mark. The seating capacity of the stadium has been increased from 32,000-plus to over 42,000, a new administration building has been constructed, and sellouts in Green Bay and Milwaukee have become the rule - in his five years.
NO TRUTH TO TRADE RUMORS, LOMBARDI SAYS
DEC 26 (Green Bay) - Green Bay Coach Vince Lombardi said Wednesday night there was no truth to reports that a three-cornered NFL deal would send suspended Packer halfback Paul Hornung to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The rumors started in Pittsburgh, growing out of the grumbling by fans over the trade that sent the Steelers' ace pass catching end, Buddy Dial, to the Dallas Cowboys. In exchange, the Steelers got draft rights to All-America tackle Scott Appleton of Texas. The Steeler fans feel they got skinned and many of them, as well as sportscasters and sportswriters, think that if there isn't more to the deal there should be...WHEN COMPLETED: The rumors hold that as soon as Hornung's indefinite suspension for gambling on league game is completed, he will be traded to Pittsburgh. "There's no truth to it," said Lombardi. "I don't know what the rumors are in Pittsburgh, but there is no truth to that story on this end." Steeler Coach Buddy Parker said the same, and insisted the Dial-Appleton trade was a straight player transaction. "I don't know who made that one up (about Hornung)," Parker said. "We traded Dial solely for a defensive lineman - Appleton." Hornung was suspended last year, and NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle says it will be February at the earlier before the case is reviewed. According to the Pittsburgh reports, the reinstatement of Hornung is expected in April and would clear the way for a deal going something like this: In exchange for Hornung, the Packers would receive from the Steelers kicking star and defensive end Lou Michaels and standout flanker Frank Clarke from Dallas. The Cowboys would get another player from either Pittsburgh or Green Bay in addition to Dial. The Steeler backers can't believe that Parker would give up one of the best receivers in the league for an untested, even though highly rated, collegian who may not ever sign with Pittsburgh.
'UNMENTIONABLE' PLAYOFF BOOSTS BENEFIT PLAN
DEC 30 (Miami-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Before the championships and/or second places are decided in the NFL, the Playoff Bowl here receives all sort of names, mostly unprintable. Nobody wants to come down here - at least once the championship fights are on. Miami was a dirty work in the Packer camp the last third of the season and it wasn't until the two-game windup on the west coast that the alternative (second place and Miami) could be mentioned without loss of head and shoulders. When the Packers receive the news - enroute home from 'Frisco - that the Lions didn't beat the Bears in the Chicago windup, playing in Miami was finally accepted. In fact, Max McGee, who worked for a time in Miami, told his fellow cribbage players that "the weather's fine in Miami in January." McGee's crack erased some of the unhappiness of losing a fourth straight Western Division title. And broke the Florida ice. Actually, the Playoff Bowl is a huge benefit for players of the NFL. Net proceeds of the game go to the Bert Bell NFL Player Benefit Plan covering major medical, sickness and accident expenses for all NFL players, their wives and children; group life insurance; and future retirement benefits. The Playoff Bowl is the second largest revenue producer for the players' pension plan, rating only back of the monies from TV. The Packers and the Browns will be playing in the fourth annual Playoff game in the Orange Bowl. Attendance at the pro production was low and the league was skeptical about continuing - until after last year's game. The gate was 28,362 in 1961, 25,612 in 1962, and 36,284 in 1963. The crowd last January put some $70,000 into the player fund and the figure could soar to close to $200,000 after the game next Sunday. A crowd of 50,000 or better is expected for the Green Bay-Cleveland collision. This estimate is based on advance ticket sales, according to Johnny Wilson, playoff bowl publicist. The Orange Bowl has a seating capacity of 72,880. Each member of the winning team receives $600, each loser $400. The Lions won the first three Playoff Bowls, beating Cleveland 17-16 in '61, Philadelphia 38-10 in 1962, and Pittsburgh 17-10 in 1963. Detroit became the Miami Lions, thanks to finishing second to Green Bay for three straight years. It's nice to be here, say the Packers, but the rewards are much better in the championship game. Come snow, ice or zero temperatures.
OFFER GREGG COACHING JOB
DEC 30 (Nashville) - Green Bay Packer tackle Forrest Gregg has been offered a job as offensive line coach at the University of Tennessee, the Nashville Tennessean said Saturday. The newspaper said that Doug Dickey, Tennessee's new coach, had sought out Gregg for the job. The 30-year-old Gregg, a perennial all-league choice, has been with the Packers since 1956. Gregg could not be reached for comment. He apparently was enroute from his home in Dallas to Miami, where the Packers will meet the Cleveland Browns in the Playoff Bowl next Sunday.
PACKER MACHINE WHEEZING AFTER LENGTHY LAYOFF
DEC 31 (Miami-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers went back to work Monday. And it wasn't easy. The finely-tuned Green Bay machine, which lost but two games during the past season, had set idle for 16 days. There was coughing, sneezing, wheezing and puffing, but Coach Vince Lombardi got his boys a moving in a full-scale practice at Miami University field and then topped the drill off with those dreaded spirits. Sprints require great effort - even during the season, but coming after a 16-day holiday layoff they were murder. You could just feel the Christmas sweets and spirits disappear. "We found ourselves all out of breath," Fuzzy Thurston remarked. "But some of us had trouble with our legs tightening up. We'll be all right by Sunday." This Playoff Bowl, of course, is a new experience for the Packers, and it's also a comedown after having been in three straight championship games. Coach Lombardi discovered that all hands reported in walking and running condition and remarked that "we plan to go through with a regular practice week for this game." Then, with a chuckle, Vince added, "We might have the drill a little later on New Year's Day." The Packers' drill Monday, you'll be happy to know in Green Bay, was held in a steady rain. The temperature was 71 but it rained all day - and far into the night. The atmosphere surrounding the team is relaxed, although it's a bit early to chew on the palm trees. And that's the same feeling up the avenue a piece where the Browns are headquartering. The Packers are staying at the Ivanhoe Hotel, which is in Bal Harbour, but the practice is in Coral Gables, which is about a 45-minute drive across Miami. It's a long haul and requires a good navigator. The Packers are all present and accounted for. Johnny Proski has joined the group to assist equipment manager Dad Braisher. There's a bit of big business coming up New Year's Day. Two of the Pack's most widely heralded draft choices are here with Nebraska - right in the Ivanhoe Hotel. Nebraska plays Auburn in the Orange Bowl Wednesday. They would be tackle Lloyd Voss, this year's first draft choice, and quarterback Dennis Claridge, who was chosen as a future last year. Voss and Claridge will be "eligible" to sign a pro contract as soon as the Orange Bowl game is over. The Packers don't plan to have a representative waiting under the goal post, but a meeting likely will be held after the game. Voss met a number of the Packers in the lobby Monday and he's a real giant. "He'll play at 265," said Defense Coach Phil Bengtson, who is drooling a bit over the good-looking prospect. Claridge said, "I saw Bart Starr in the elevator Sunday, but I didn't say anything to him. He's a fine quarterback." The Nebraska QB, a big strapper at 205, said he's debating a future as a dentist against playing pro football. Asked if he wanted to play pro football, Claridge said readily, "I sure do. That's the dream of every boy football player." It would seem likely that something could be worked out to combine Claridge's dental and pro football intentions. Both Claridge and Voss have fiancées and they both want to talk it over with said fiancées. PS - Most of the Packers plan to spend a quiet New Year's Eve, tonight, although the 11 p.m. doesn't go into effect until Wednesday night.
