top of page

Preseason: Green Bay Packers (1-0) 44, New York Giants 7

Saturday August 14th 1965 (at Green Bay)

GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)

(GREEN BAY) - The Packers - the new Packers, that is - hammered the Giants with six touchdowns and a field goal before a record smashing crowd of 50,837 in Lambeau Field Saturday night. The final score was 44 to 7 and, especially significant for the future, 38 of the points were scored by first and second year men. The Packers were organized and eager compared to the Giants and the visiting New Yorks never got on the board until the last two minutes. Scoringwise, it wasn't a thriller, but the largest crowd ever to see a pro game in Wisconsin came to see the Packers win and they didn't disappoint. The previous gate mark was 48,066 at the Browns game in Milwaukee last year. The Packer onslaught was capped by one of the longest runs in Packer history - a 92-yard punt return of a punt by Tom Brown in the fourth quarter to make it 44-0. The Packer TDs were scored by Carroll Dale, Bob Long, Ron Heller. Paul Hornung, Junior Coffey and Brown - and the field goal and five of the extra points (another was blocked) were kicked by Don Chandler. Thus, only Hornung had represented the "Old Guard" on the scoreboard. The Packers ripped up the Giants with 379 yards, including 206 on the passing of Bart Starr (10 for 13 for 153 yards), Dennis Claridge (1 for 3 for 47) and Zeke Bratkowski (3 for 4 for 30). Starr hit two for TDs. The Giants picked up 169 yards and never really threatened until the final minutes. The Packer defense, with Bob Jeter opening for the departed Jess Whittenton and Dave Robinson for Dan Currie, was strong all night - especially against passes. The Giants settled for 22 yards throwing and 12 first downs. Coach Vince Lombardi cleared the Packer bench, and he didn't wait long. Claridge was in at QB after it was 14-0 and from then on all sorts of combinations operated. Especially heartwarming was the appearance of big Jerry Kramer, who battled surgery and hospital life for nearly a year. He was in and out all night. The Currie-Dale trade looked 

like a million early in the first quarter. The speedy Dale went south on the west sideline, took Starr's pass over his shoulder and went in for the first TD, completing a 51-yard score. Starr worked with Elijah Pitts and Tom Moore (Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung started) at the set backs for the second quarter. The drive covered 76 yards in nine plays and Starr passed to sophomore Bob Long for eight yards and a 14-0 lead. Claridge engineered the next TD - a 57-yard march in six plays. The big move was a 47-yard pass to Pitts to the Giant 7, and three plays later Heller smashed over behind Steve Wright for the TD. Chandler's kick was blocked by Dick Lynch, but it was 20-0.

SCREEN TO TAYLOR

Taylor, Hornung, Starr and Co. went to work to start the second half and moved 50 yards in eight plays for a TD. Hornung and Taylor gunned it all the way, with the exception of a Starr to Taylor screen pass for 25 yards, and Hornung smashed over from two yards out for the 27-0 edge. After Chandler booted a 36-yard field goal late in the third period, the Bays scored their fifth TD after Ron Kostelnik recovered a fumble by New York. Claridge produced in three plays, with Hornung hitting for seven, Coffey five and Coffey one for the 37-0 score. Brown's return of Frank Lambert's punt was pretty straight-away other than a few Giants near midfield and two Packers eliminated them. Torok's 40-yard pass to Joe Morrison set up the Giants' lone TD - a four-yard smash by Tucker Frederickson. The Packers employed six ball carriers, and Moore led the parade with 40 yards. Taylor and Coffey each picked up 31. Marv Fleming, making his first appearance as Ron Kramer's successor, grabbed off six passes for 59 yards. The game opened with an exchange of first downs and mistakes. Starr completed a 12-yard pass to Fleming on the game's first play, but three plays later Fleming's fumble was recovered by Henry Carr. The Giants put together a first down by Wheelwright and Thurlow but Tom Brown corrected that situation by intercepting Gary Wood's pass and returning 20 yards to the Packer 49. The huge crowd hardly finished cheering when Starr and Dale uncorked their long touchdown strike. Chandler made his debut on the extra point and it was barely good. He got a chance to punt for the first time a few minutes later and got off a 16-yard shot as a Giant almost broke in. The game developed a punting duel until after the Giants put together two first downs and missed a field goal from 45 yards on the second play of the second quarter. Willie Wood returned the short punt from the 1 to the 24, and the Packers went on a 76-yard scoring march. Moore and Pitts were at the running backs, Bob Long was at the flanker, and Kramer and Thurston were at the guards at the start. Moore opened with 15 yards on a reverse and Starr passed 11 yards to Boyd Dowler to midfield. Starr hit Dowler again for 11 and Pitts added another before Starr hurled 18 to Fleming to the Giant 16. Moore hit the right side for four, Starr passed to Fleming for four and then hit Long in the end zone for the TD. Chandler got off a solid extra point and it was 14-0. The teams went back to punting again before the Bays got a start with Claridge at quarterback from the Packer 43. On third and seven, Claridge, off balance, hit Pitts with a bullet for a 47-yard gain to the Giant 7. Pitts hit twice to the two and from there Heller banged over, going behind Steve Wright. Chandler's kick was blocked by Dick Lynch and the score stood at 20-0 at the half. The "Old Guard" went to work with real zip to start the second half. Adderley set off the offense by intercepting Wood's third down (and two) pass on the 50. Hornung opened with five and Taylor added 11 to the 34. Then, the Big Bays got a handicap - a 14-yard loss when Starr was trapped back attempting to pass, making it second and 24. Starr came up with a screen, and it was a beauty. He hesitated before going back, sucking in the Giants, and then hurled to Taylor on the left. Dan Grimm put down a good block and Jim rambled 25 yards to the 23. In quick order, Hornung hit for 6, Taylor 2, Taylor 12 and Hornung 2 for the TD. Chandler's kick made it 27-0. Zeke Bratkowski worked up a field goal in his first appearance, setting it up with Moore's 14-yard run and a 12-yard pass to Dowler. Chandler booted a knuckler from the 36 and it sailed over for a 30-0 edge.

DAZZLING RUN

The Bays scored twice late in the fourth quarter. After Hornung's pass aimed at Long was intercepted by Childs, Ron Kostelnik recovered Torok's fumble on the Giant 13. Claridge worked a TD in three plays. Hornung slammed for seven, surviving a complete flip in the air, and Coffey rammed to the one. From there, Coffey crashed over and Chandler made it 37-0, reminding the folks of the 1961 title game here. Brown's dazzling run, helped by key blocks by Lee Roy Caffey and Tommy Crutcher, closed the Packer scoring. The Giants moved 71 yards in the final three minutes to avert complete disaster. The big play was a 40-yard pass from Torok to Morrison and Frederickson pounded it over from the four.

NEW YORK  -  0  0  0  7 -  7

GREEN BAY -  7 13 10 14 - 44

                       NEW YORK     GREEN BAY

First Downs                  12            21

Rushing-Yards-TD       35-147-1      33-163-3

Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int  19-5-76-0-2 22-14-230-2-1

Sack Yards Lost            3-54          1-14

Net Passing Yards            22           216

Total Yards                 169           379

Fumbles-lost                2-1           1-1

Turnovers                     3             2

Yards penalized            4-28          4-32

SCORING

1st - GB - Carroll Dale, 51-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick) GREEN BAY 7-0

2nd - GB - Bob Long, 8-yard pass from Starr (Chandler kick) GREEN BAY 14-0

2nd - GB - Ron Heller, 1-yard run (Chandler kick blocked) GREEN BAY 20-0

3rd - GB - Paul Hornung, 2-yard run (Chandler kick) GREEN BAY 27-0

3rd - GB - Chandler, 36-yard field goal GREEN BAY 30-0

4th - GB - Junior Coffey, 1-yard run (Chandler kick) GREEN BAY 37-0

4th - GB - Tom Brown, 92-yard punt return (Chandler kick) GREEN BAY 44-0

4th - NY - Tucker Frederickson, 3-yard run (Gary Timberlake kick) GREEN BAY 44-7

RUSHING

GREEN BAY - Tom Moore 8-40, Junior Coffey 5-31 1 TD, Jim Taylor 6-31, Paul Hornung 6-22 1 TD, Elijah Pitts 4-21, Allen Jacobs 2-12, Ron Heller 2-6 1 TD

NEW YORK - Tucker Frederickson 9-57 1 TD, Ernie Wheelwright 9-42, Steve Thurlow 9-27, Ernie Koy 5-11, Smith Reed 1-9, Gary Wood 2-1

PASSING

GREEN BAY - Bart Starr 13-10-153 2 TD, Dennis Claridge 3-1-47, Zeke Bratkowski 4-3-30, Tom Moore 1-0-0, Paul Hornung 1-0-0 1 INT

NEW YORK - Gary Wood 12-3-38 2 INT, John Torok 6-2-38, Steve Thurlow 1-0-0

RECEIVING

GREEN BAY - Marv Fleming 6-59, Boyd Dowler 3-33, Jim Taylor 2-22, Carroll Dale 1-51 1 TD, Elijah Pitts 1-47, Bob Long 1-8 1 TD

NEW YORK - Joe Morrison 1-40, Bobby Crespino 1-17, Steve Thurlow 1-14, Del Shofner 1-7, Ernie Koy 1-(-2)

ROZELLE CITES CHARTY GAME, LAUDS GREEN BAY

AUG 15 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, who delivered his annual lecture to the players Saturday afternoon, was a surprise starters during pregame ceremonies - at his own request. Rozelle, introduced by Packer President Dominic Olejniczak, told the capacity house, "This Bishop's Charities Game and the Shrine game in Milwaukee will be major factors in the production of one and a half million dollars for charity by NFL exhibitions this year." The commissioner, who earlier noted "The Packers' office and quarters are the envy of the entire NFL," concluded, "This full stadium tonight is additional evidence that Green Bay is truly a major league city." Bishop Stanislaus V. Bona expressed his thanks to the record throng and subsequently threw out the "first ball." He was introduced by the Rev. Peter Klauck, Director of Diocesan Apostolate Services. Edward M. Gagnon, retiring general chairman of the Bishop's Game, also was presented with a plaque by Bishop Bona "for his unselfish efforts in behalf of charity from 1961 through 1965." Jim Irwin presided as master of ceremonies...Allen Brown, freshman tight end prospect from Ole Miss, viewed the proceedings from the Packer bench with his left arm in a sling. Brown, the Pack's No. 3 choice in last fall's draft, is recuperating from surgery on his shoulder, dislocated while in training with the College All-Stars three weeks ago. "It's still a little stiff, but it's fine now," the red-haired Mississippian said. "I don't know when I'll be able to start working out. The doctor hasn't told me anything yet." It originally was informally estimated that Brown would not be available until midseason...The sixth official, listed as "Line Judge," made his Green Bay debut in Saturday night's match, but Ronald Gibbs, veteran observer of officials for the NFL, predicted his presence will tend to reduce 

rather than increase the number of violations. "I think the fact that he's there (opposite the headlinesman on the line of scrimmage) may cut down on the calls," Gibbs said, pointing out, "We tried three officials (instead of the customary two) in basketball, and we found we had fewer fouls. The pros are pretty smart, and if they don't get caught, they'll try things," he added. "But if they know they've got an extra man watching them, they'll be more careful. Of course, we don't want a lot of flag throwing either - it spoils the game. The main thing, though, is that the game isn't won or lost because a call wasn't made and the sixth official should help in that area - he's the guardian of the sideline and the clock." Reminiscing for the moment, Gibbs said, "I remember when I worked with three officials, then with four and then with five. Now that we have six, I thought I should come back," he chuckled, "but they decided I shouldn't. When you get over 60, they think you should retire."...Em Tunnell, a valued member of the Packer secondary in 1959-60-61, returned to Lambeau Field as a member of the enemy intelligence. Now defensive backfield coach of the Giants, he worked the field telephone from the press box for Allie Sherman. Ever the philosopher, Em viewed his new duties with typical aplomb. "You win a few and you lose a few, baby," quoth the NFL's all-time interception leader. Bill Wightkin and George J. Halas, the Bears' two premier diagnosticians, were on hand to analyze the Pack with an eye to next Saturday's nationally TV'd Shrine collision between the two immemorial enemies in Milwaukee County Stadium. Also diagramming the action were the Detroit Lions' Gene Cronin, Paul Bixler of the world champion Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers' Will Walls...A delayed telecast of the game will be presented over Channel 2 at 1 o'clock this afternoon, with Al Sampson and Tony Canadeo at the microphone.

'MUST BE SATISFIED,...OR CRAZY': VINCE

AUG 15 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - "I've got to say I'm satisfied because of the score - if I didn't, you'd think I was crazy." Proceeding with his evaluation of the Packers' 44-7 decimation of New York's rebuilding Giants in a sultry, humid competitive baptism of Lambeau Field Saturday night, a pleased but pensive Vince Lombardi further volunteered, "I thought they all played well, but I'll have to see the pictures to accurately evaluate how we did. We had a great deal of hustle - outside of the kickoff coverage," Vince added with a chuckle. "The kickoffs (by Don Chandler) were all high and long - we've never had better, but we didn't cover them very well." Finding another flaw, the Packer major-domo noted, "We didn't block well on punts, either. He (Chandler) couldn't even get a punt away." "Of course," he conceded, "we neglected to work on those things in practice, so we'll have to concentrate on them this week." Turning again to the plus side, Lombardi observed, "We've got a lot of boys who want to play - they're fighting like hell for jobs." Would he say the Giants are not the Giants of old? Vince paused only briefly, then replied, "It's not for me to say - I'm never going to say that." The lopsided score, while not expected, had come as no great surprise, he added. "It happens all the time - a fumble on the 6-yard line, or an interception. That's 14 points right there." At this juncture, ex-Giant star Frank Gifford, a former Lombardi pupil and now TV colorcaster for the New Yorkers, stepped into Lombardi's inner sanctum to interject a congratulatory handshake and the observation, "You've got a ball club, coach." Resuming his analysis, the Packer headmaster headed off burgeoning optimism by declaring, "Let's not get excited - we've got a long way to go. The timing doesn't look good - and there's no polish. We do have one thing, however - we've got boys who like to hit. The rest will come. This is the first time since I've been here, by the way, that I've been able to use everybody in the first game. The only one who didn't play were Dick Herzing, Hank Gremminger, and Max McGee, who are out with injuries, and McGee could have played." Rookie Bill Symons, injured in the second quarter punt return, "has a pulled muscle," Lombardi reported. "He pulled it running it back - if he hadn't, he probably would have been away. It's the only reason he stopped."...Elsewhere in the jaunty Packer quarters, an exuberant Jerry Kramer exclaimed, "I feel excellent. I had no problems at all." "The worst part of it was taking the tape off after the game," pro football's most celebrated convalescent added with a puckish grin. "I wasn't completely satisfied with my performance," he admitted. "I had some good blocks, but I had some where I didn't sustain my feet as well as I should have." "But," Jerry beamed, "I didn't get tired at all - and I must have played about half the game. Every time I looked like I might be getting tired, Forrest (Gregg) would come in and, as a result, I never did get really tired. I kept waiting for something to happen - a pair or a twinge, but nothing has." A few feet away, Tom Brown's angular features were wreathed in a shy smile. "I don't know who those two boys were with me when I broke away, but they did a good job," said the stringbean sophomore, who cruised 92 yards for a touchdown with a fourth quarter Giant punt. "As I turned the corner, I slipped past the outside man and nobody touched me after that, but I had no idea at that point that I would go all the way." "It was very surprising," Tom smiled, "to see that open field ahead of me - it was a good experience." Carroll Dale, who registered the Packers' first touchdown on a 51-yard collaboration with Bart Starr, reported, "It was a perfect toss. Those are the hard ones to catch. It scared me to death. I had a little trouble with the ball - I didn't catch it cleanly - otherwise I would have stepped on in."...Accepting the one-sided decision matter of factly, Allie Sherman cheerfully volunteered, "That's the kind of a ball club we are. We could do anything from win to tie, to lose by a small margin or lose by a big score. We felt we could win, and we knew very well we might lose. But we have to look at the individuals in our situation and see what we've got and where the pieces will fall into place. Some of our new boys did well. Koy (Ernie, 235-pound rookie back from Texas) played well, we thought. So did Wheelwright and Thurlow. We weren't able to use Tucker Frederickson too much because he caught a virus in the All-Star camp and sat out most of the time there. Certain of our offensive linemen did well, although there were some breakdowns. And, of course, we couldn't pass the ball," Allie pointed out. "And in this league, you have to pass the ball. I'm not criticizing our quarterbacks, but I know that they can do better than that. I really mean that. Defensively, Green Bay had trouble moving the ball against us for a quarter and a half," he was pleased to note. "But you've got to move the ball against Green Bay - you can't give 'em the ball where we did. They're too good."

GIANTS' WINTER QUITS: 'NO FUN'

AUG 15 (Green Bay) - Linebacker Bill Winter of the New York Giants is quitting professional football because, he says, it "is no longer fun to play." Winter, 25, a high school English teacher during the offseason, announced his decision through a team spokesman Saturday before the Giant-Packer exhibition game here. The 1962 Giant rookie of the year started at linebacker in two NFL championship games, 1962 and 1963.
NOT ALL WERE GIANT 'HATERS'

AUG 15 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Lambeau Field held 50,837 fans Saturday night. In all probability, all but sux of these were cheering for the Packers. The "Daniels" in the lion's den, while maybe not wholeheartedly rooting for the New Yorkers, were undoubtedly pulling for one Giant in particular. The object of this limited affection was rookie Dave Powless, a 6-foot-3, 248-pound offensive tackle. His fans were his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Melville Powless, Rock Island, Ill., his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Powless, 2584 Indian Hill Road, and brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Ron Powless, Green Lake. The gridder's father is a former resident of Oneida.

PACKERS CUT HELLER, JACOBAZZI, HERZING; POINT FOR BEAR GAME

AUG 16 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Their baptismal now a pleasant memory, the Packer today reduced their magic number to 50 before settling down to the rigors of 1965's first "Bear Week." Ron Heller, rookie halfback from Southern Cal who registered one of the Pack's six touchdowns in that 44-7 blitz of the Giants before a record house, and defensive tackles Roger Jacobazzi, late of Wisconsin, and Dick Herzing of Drake were placed on waivers by Coach Vince Lombardi. Their departure leaves 38 veterans and 12 rookies, the latter now including just three offensive backs - Bill Symons (Colorado), who was injured on a punt return Saturday night, Junior Coffey (Washington), recent arrival from the College All-Star camp, and Allen Jacobs (Utah). Their remaining fellow freshman are flanker Jerry Roberts (Baldwin-Wallace), center Bill Curry, guard Eli Strand, center-tackle Rich Koeper (Oregon State), tight ends Jim Thibert (Toledo) and John Housel (Wofford), defensive tackle Rich Marshall and defensive backs Wally Mahle and Donnie Davis. The Packers now are only three over the figure that must reach by the first of this year's cutdown deadlines, which is Aug. 31. Those remaining recruits, presumably, will be retested in Saturday afternoon's national televised Shrine classic against the Bears in Milwaukee County Stadium, although Lombardi is likely to enjoy less freedom to substitute than he did in the Pack's easy inaugural. The Bruins, like the Bays, will go into action with a 1-0 record, having shaded the Redskins, 31-30, in their debut last Thursday night. Lombardi, who devoted Sunday's "day of rest" to studying the film of Saturday night's match in company with his aides, said he found it "just about the game as I evaluated it Saturday night - we need some polish." And Jerry Kramer? The Packer headmaster said the amazingly resilient veteran "looked as well as might be expected after a one-year layoff." Massive Marv Fleming, who made his debut as successor to Ron Kramer at tight end, "looked fine," Lombardi reported, but he had no comment on the respective performances of Bob Jeter and Doug Hart, contending for the retired Jesse Whittenton's right cornerback post. "They didn't have a chance to do much," he explained...The Packers, who have leaned toward the "grind it out" approach in the Lombardi era, evinced a surprising penchant for the long ball en route to spreadeagling the Giants. It figured in the production of four of their six touchdowns, the feature item, of course, being Tom Brown's electrifying 92-yard scamper with an Ernie Koy punt for the Packers' final points. The ubiquitous Brown, standing in for the injured defensive Capt. Hank Gremminger, earlier had triggered Green Bay's first bomb by waylaying a Gary Wood pass and returning 20 yards to the 49. Bart Starr lofted a perfect pitch to Carroll Dale, a step in the van of New York's Erich Barnes, on the next play."...FAIRLY ROUTINE: TD No. 2 was fairly routine, although Starr and Fleming worked an 18-yard collaboration before Bart capped a 9-play drive with an 8-yard strike to the ascendant sophomore, Bob Long, but Dennis Claridge got into the "big play" act in forging No. 3, hurling a 47-yard liner to Elijah Pitts. Rookie Ron Heller burst over from the one three plays later. Starr, decked for a 14-yard loss on the preceding play, executed the slickest maneuver of the evening in fashioning No. 4 Hesitating before retreating, thus luring the unwary Giants out of position, he flipped a "screen" to Jim Taylor, who rambled 25 yards to the Giants' 23. Taylor and Hornung then alternated the rest of the way, Paul diving over from the two on a fourth assault. The Pack's highly workmanlike performance also indicated the ground game, the NFL's most productive last season, has not deteriorated. Green Bay's favorite sons, with seven hands figuring in the total, averaged nearly five yards per rush (4.94) in amassing 163 in 33 attempts. Ever reliable Tom Moore emerged as the overall leader with 40 yards in 8 thrusts, a 5.0 average, while rookie Junior Coffey compiled the best average, 6.2, with 31 in 5 tries.

PACKER WOUNDED RECOVERING; EYE BEAR GAME

AUG 17 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Everything's coming up roses with the Packers - even in the convalescent ward. The Pack, still luxuriating ever so slightly in the glow of that 44-7 bruising of the Giants, was in receipt of glowing reports from the ranks of the walking wounded today. ITEM ONE: Defensive Capt. Hank Gremminger Monday took his regular practice turn in the deep secondary for the first time since he became incapacitated Aug. 2 and following said exercise reported, "I still favor it (right knee) a little bit, but it's coming fine." ITEM TWO: An openly exuberant Jerry Kramer, who underwent his first competitive test in nearly a year Saturday night, happily announced, "No, no problems - I can go to work now. I can't fluff off any more," he added with a grin. "I've got myself in a hole - now I've got to produce." ITEM THREE: Halfback Bill Symons, the highly impressive freshman from Colorado, worked his gimpy right leg with surprising vigor and reported, "It feels pretty good - should be all right in a couple of days." Symons, who appeared en route to a touchdown when he suddenly pulled a muscle in the second quarter, wryly noted, "What a time to get it." ITEM FOUR: William M. McGee, catching passes with the customary aplomb, revealed the damaged finger on his left hand "is drawing back together again, anyway." McGee jammed the digit against the ball, requiring six stiches, when a defender bumped his elbow in practice last Thursday. Barring further complications or aggravations, all four are expected to be available for combat in Saturday afternoon's annual Shrine collision with the Bears in Milwaukee County Stadium. Two of them, McGee and Gremminger, will be making their '65 bows, since both were held out of the Giant affair. The nationally televised production also may provide the faithful with a longer look at Junior Coffey, the multi-muscled 220-pound rookie halfback from the University of Washington, who caught the fancy of the capacity Bishop's Charities house with his power running, including one crunching 19-yard sortie. Coffey, who is still absorbing the Packers' offense because he missed the 15 days of practice as a College All Star, emerged as the game's leading rusher on an average basis, fashioning a 6.2 ration on five carries for 31 yards...PACKER PATTER: Symons, a forthright citizen, declined for quick thinking in his impromptu pass-off to Willie Wood when injured on that punt return Saturday night. A maneuver which resulted in an additional 11 yards. "Willie saw me limping and he gave me one of these (Bill made a reaching gesture with his hands). So I threw it back to him. It was his thinking, not mine."...Forrest Gregg served as "watchdog" for fellow all-pro Jerry Kramer in the Giant match. Before the game, Coach Vince Lombardi told Forrest, "I don't want him in there for any more than four or five plays at a time." During the course of the game, Lombardi would ask, "Forrest, how many plays?" If Gregg replied, "Four, coach," Lombardi would rejoin, "One more and he comes out, got that?" Kramer thus never toiled for more than five plays at a stretch and, he later reported, "I never got tired as a result."...Lee Roy Caffey and Tommy Crutcher, identified as Tom Brown's "escorts" in that dazzling 92-yard punt return touchdown, dismissed their efforts with, "We just happened to be there and get in the way." Caffey added, "There were only two Giants left - Tommy took one and I took one."...The Packers henceforth will dress and disrobe in their commodious Lambeau Field quarters to the strain of music. The players have purchased a stereo phonograph, which has been installed in the dressing room, along with two large speakers. "We proposed it to Coach Lombardi, and he thought it was a good idea," Offense Capt. Bob Skoronski explained, pointing out, "The idea is to give the boys a little relaxation - we spend a lot of time out here." Turning to Willie Davis, throttling down across the way, as the melodic beguine, "Yours," was wafted through the room, Skoronski jested, "May I have this dance?" Equipment manager Dad Braisher added zest to the occasion by donning a ghoulish rubber mask and rendering a spirited solo on the "pogo-cello," a wondrous contraption fashioned from a pole, piano wire, a covered cake tin filled with BB shot, a horn and cymbals and played with a notched "bow." This will not be a regular feature, however, Braisher announcing that he will perform "just on special occasions."

MILWAUKEEANS WAIT 12 HOURS FOR PACKER TICKETS

AUG 17 (Milwaukee) - The first woman got in line 12 1/2 hours before the ticket windows opened for sale of about 5,000 single tickets for Green Bay Packer games in Milwaukee Monday. She got three - and all tickets were gone by evening. Col. O.C. Krueger, in charge of Milwaukee operations for the Packers, said 1,200 tickets for the game Sept. 26 were gone by 3 p.m. By the time the windows closed at 5:15 p.m., about 1,800 tickets each for games against Dallas Oct. 24 and Los Angeles Nov. 14 were gone.

BUKICH TO START

AUG 17 (Rensselaer, IN) - Chicago coach George Halas says his Bears haven't recovered yet for their 1964 skid from championship heights, but he says it won't be long until they do. And Halas, 70, would greet the resurgence with glee should it come in Saturday's preseason exhibition in Milwaukee against the archrival Green Bay Packers. "We experienced a mighty quick drop from our title in '63 to sixth place last year," said Halas, "but we anticipate an equally quick recovery." Halas said Rudy Bukich would start at quarterback against the Packers in place of veteran Bear signal caller Bill Wade. Bukich completed 13 of 19 passes, three of them for touchdowns, as the Bears edged Washington 31-30 in their first warmup last week. Halas said an impressive rookie crop to complement his veteran crew that was riddled with injuries last year. He netted Illinois' 240-pound linebacker Dick Butkus and breakaway back Gale Sayers of Kansas, along with Wisconsin's Jimmy Jones, who's battling for a starting berth at split end. Jones hurt his shoulder last week, but Halas said he will be ready for action against the Packers. Missing from the lineup, however, will be veteran end Mike Ditka, who shed the cast from his injured foot only Monday.
FOUR NFL RACES IN '67

AUG 17 (Milwaukee) - By 1967, the NFL will have four championship races going on simultaneously. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle said Monday night expansion to a 16-team league would result in splitting the eastern and western conferences each in half. Then the two division winners in each conference would play with the survivors meeting in the title game. Rozelle said this was the plan he has set up for 1967 when the 14-team NFL, with seven clubs now in each conference, adds a 16th team to go with the new franchise it has already awarded Atlanta. Rozelle had no specific hints to offer as to which city would win the extra franchise. He was interviewed on a local television sports panel program.

JUST HAVE TO PUT BEST EFFORT FORWARD - COFFEY

AUG 18 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Junior Coffey, the Packers' multi-muscled freshman halfback, is a football egghead. Ordinarily, athletes who report from the College All-Star camp - as he did just nine days ago - are far behind their rookie colleagues, on hand from the start, particularly if they be assigned to offense. And often this disparity in exposure of the intricacies of a team's attack has spelled the difference between professional employment and return to the more mundane workaday world. The quick-witted Coffey, however, has been a striking exception to the proverbial rule. He not only has absorbed the Packers' offense, once described as an example of "complex simplicity" by the fourth estate's Tim Cohane, with startling ease but seldom has failed to execute an assignment precisely as diagrammed - a remarkable record considering even the most accomplish pros err quite occasionally. After his first three days of practice, one awed Packers aide was moved to declare, "He's the smartest rookie back I've ever seen come up to camp since I've been in pro football. He hasn't made a mistake yet." And, as indicated, Junior is hardly an anemic bookworm. At a relatively svelte 220, he is the most substantial back on the Packer scene and has explosive power to match, as attested by his 6.2 average in five thrusts at the New York Giants' defensive wall in last Saturday night's 44-7 laugher. Coffey, a native of Dimmitt, Tex., (pop. 5,000) is mildly apologetic about the 2.5 average he compiled at the University of Washington, where he earned All-American honors as a sophomore, soberly pointing out, "In college, football takes a lot of your time, so I didn't get a chance to study as much as I wanted to." Despite his impressive performance to date, Junior is not overly optimistic about his chances of making the professional grade. "I hope I can make it, but I realize they have such a number of outstanding backs who have two or three years' experience. There are 38 veterans here and it's an awful big decision to let veterans go for rookies," he added. "So I'll just have to put my best effort forward and hope that I can make a contribution later." He is scheduled to get his second competitive test in Saturday afternoon's nationally televised Shrine set-to with the Bears in Milwaukee County Stadium, temporary home of the National Baseball League's temporary leaders. Green Bay's seventh choice in last December's draft, the classically hewn Texan, is delighted to be a Packer, noting, "For the running back, particularly, this is one of the most outstanding setups in the league. I mean as far as techniques on blocking are concerned - the linemen are taught every day. And it's one of the most basic formations - the Packers run so much and they pass so much." If you are wondering why Coffey's apparently awesome credentials were not selected earlier in the draft, there is a ready explanation. "I broke the fifth metatarsal in my left foot when I was a junior and I didn't play much, so I guess they sort of forgot about me as a senior," he confided with a dry smile...AVERAGED PLUSH 5.2: A serious young citizen, Junior added, "The foot didn't bother me last season at all." His record eloquently underscores his point, it might be added, since he averaged a plush 5.2 per carry in amassing 628 yards en route to winning all-West Coast Conference honors for a third straight year. Oddly enough, with a "sure fire" surname like Coffey, Junior has failed to collect a nickname. "Everybody calls me Junior Lee - Junior is my right name - everybody thinks it's funny," he reported. "They kid me about it."...PACKER PATTER: The first "active" appearance of Allen Brown, the Pack's rookie tight end from Ole Miss, was a highlight of Tuesday's South Oneida Street session. Brown, donning sweat clothes for the first time, limited his exercise to light running and playing catch with training room aides along the sidelines. His left arm is still in a sling, following surgery for a shoulder dislocation sustained in the All-Star camp...The Pack worked both offensive and defensive units against the plays and alignments they expect to see in Saturday afternoon's match in Milwaukee. Kicking specialist Don Chandler climaxed the lengthy workout by drilling two successive 47-yard field goals home under heavy defensive pressure.

PERSONALITY PARADE

AUG 18 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - A boisterous cheer resounded through newly rechristened Lambeau Field as public address announcer Gary Knafelc declaimed, "Stopped by Dave Hanner." The ovation was out of proportion to the amiable Arkansan's contribution, since only 3 1/2 minutes remaining to play in Saturday night's Packer inaugural against the New York Giants, and the home forces were blithely cruising with a 44-0 bulge. It was vocal evidence, however, of the esteem in which the 14-year veteran, currently pondering the advisability of calling it a career, is held by the Packer faithful. The massive 35-year-old defensive tackle, now doubling as a member of the coaching staff this season for the first time, has become the Pack's "do or die for old Green Bay" symbol, and not without reason. In good times and in bad - and there have been liberal portions of both in a Packer career dating back to 1952 - he has never given less than his best, which is considerable. In fact, fellow tackle Hank Jordan recently paid him the compliment supreme, asserting, "Dave is the finest diagnostician of plays I've ever seen." At the moment, Joel David Hanner is wrestling with the professional athlete's inevitable problem - if and when to retire. The Packer patriarch, who has been giving the matter deep thought in recent days, says, "It will depend on how everything goes in the next two or three weeks." "Rich Marshall (275-pound rookie from Stephen F. Austin in Texas) is coming along real good - he's improving every day," Dave volunteered in this connection, this indicating if the mountainous freshman continues to develop, it presumably will have considerable influence upon his decision. The canny veteran, who has been permitted to set his own training pace by Coach Vince Lombardi, worked only the last two series in his '65 bow against the Giants. "It felt good in one way, and in another it didn't," Hawg reported. "I hadn't worked enough to be doing things right. You realize what you're doing wrong, but you're just a step away." Characteristically, he will not take the easy way out, the ruddy-cheeked West Memphis, Ark., native let it be known. "I'm going to start getting in a little more work in practice," he declared, adding, "I feel real good - I'm just a few pounds over my playing weight but I expect to be down to it by next week."...ISN'T TOO MUCH TIME: "I hope to play more against the Bears in Milwaukee Saturday. How much I play will depend on several things, of course I'd like to play more but when you want to look at all of them," said Dave, donning his coaching cap for a moment, "there isn't too much time." And how does he find brain trusting? "I like it real well - it's a great experience," he replied, a slow smile spreading over his deceptively cherubic features. "I learn something new every day. I didn't realize I knew so little." Dave, a devoted father of five now in the process of moving his family to Green Bay, is facing the retirement issue realistically. "I sometimes get a twinge when I face up to the thought of hanging it up, but you can't play always," he confessed in the faint Arkansas drawl that never has completely deserted him. "But, not quite ready to make that poignant decision," Dave imparted with a smile, "I'll be ready if needed."

TIGHT END HOUSEL CUT BY PACKERS

AUG 19 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - John Housel, a rookie tight end from Wofford, was placed on waivers today by the Green Bay Packers, reducing the roster to 50 players. Bill Anderson, a tight end acquired from the Washington Redskins in a trade Wednesday, is expected to report tonight.

PACKERS TO BEAT BROWNS FOR NFL TITLE, LOOK SAYS

AUG 19 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers will bet the Browns for the NFL championship, predicted Look Magazine today. The prediction noted that the Packers have a fierce running game plus quarterback Bart Starr, who "calls plays impeccably." The Browns, the team to beat in the East, "most nearly match the Packers in overall strength," declared Look. "The only shortage seems to be in defensive reserves." In the AFL, the forecast picked the Buffalo Bills, last year's champions, to repeat by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs, "a well-rounded crew, should break the San Diego Chargers' hold on the Western Division title," said Look.

PACKERS OBTAIN VETERAN END BILL ANDERSON

AUG 19 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Vince Lombardi, perhaps pro football's most provident planner, is not inclined to gamble. Particularly in the wake of 1964's traumatic experience, when illness struck down Jerry Kramer and injury sidelined fellow guard Fuzzy Thurston, thus forcing an extensive shuffle of the Packers' offensive line. Such calamitous circumstances are not likely to strike soon again, but, now that this situation has been shored up with the return to health of both "Guardian Angels," Lombardi has warily turned his attention to other potential trouble spots. Said survey already has produced positive action - in the form of Wednesday's deal for the Washington Redskins' recent repatriate, Bill Anderson, acquired as tight end insurance for Marv Fleming. Ron Kramer having transferred his services to the Detroit Lions, the herculean Fleming has been the only experienced TE on the scene, although rookie Jim Thibert saw some action there with Edmonton's Eskimos in the Canadian Football League last season. Thibert, incidentally, has been performing very acceptably and is not being bypassed. The 6-3, 240-pound University of Toledo alumnus is expected to give Anderson a stirring battle for the backup berth, possibly right down to the final cut. The Packers staff is not overly familiar with the ex-Redskin, since they have no recent competitive contact with Washington, but End Coach Tom Fears reported, "We understand Anderson is a real tough kid with good speed and a lot of effort." A seven-year veteran, he has been attempting a comeback with the 'Skins after

serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee, last year. Anderson, 6-3 and 220, broke in with the Washingtons in 1958, but was transferred to split end in the third game, then to the closed position in 1961, where he promptly set an all-time Redskin record for most catches in one game, spearing 10 passes for 168 yards against the Cowboys in the Dallas Cotton Bowl Nov. 19, 1961. Acquired by Washington Dec. 27, 1957 from the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Al Dorow and the Redskins' No. 3 draft choice of 1958, he also is behind only Hugh (Bones) Taylor for most career receptions and yards by a Redskin. Anderson, chosen "Redskins' Rookie of the Year" in 1958 and "Redskins' Player of the Year" in 1959, was named to the Eastern Division's Pro Bowl squad in both 1960 and '61. The 29-year-old Hendersonville, N.C., native (he's now a resident of Oneco, Fla.) was expected to join the Packers today and may see spot action in Saturday afternoon's nationally televised Shrine game with the Bears in Milwaukee County Stadium...PACKER PATTER: Sophomore safety Tom Brown sparkled in Wednesday morning's rain-spattered workout, waylaying two "Bear" passes in the defensive unit's drill against the Bruin attack, as exemplified by a yellow-shirted Packer offense. One of them came on the very first "play."...Steve Wright, another second-year athlete tabbed as the successor to the retired Norm Masters at right tackle, earned plaudits for his blocking. Wright, incidentally, also impressed the New York Giants' Jim Katcavage no little in last Saturday night's Bishop's Charities game. Chewed out by Coach Allie Sherman for lack of application along the sidelines during a third quarter respite from action, Katcavage shot back, "I don't care what you say, coach, I can't move that big kid."...Convalescents Bill Symons (pulled muscle) and Allen Brown (recovering from shoulder surgery) trotted about in sweat clothes yesterday, but were withheld from action, confining themselves to fielding the ball for placekickers Don Chandler and Paul Hornung, and an occasional job.

IS PACK'S HONEYMOON OVER? BEARS BIG TEST

AUG 20 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Is the honeymoon over for the Pack? The answer to this loaded question should come in capacious Milwaukee County Stadium Saturday afternoon when Vince Lombardi exposes his athletes to the tender mercies of Chicago's renascent Bears before a capacity house and a nationwide television audience. Kickoffs for the 7th renewal of the immemorial enemies' Shrine series, which will find the home of the Braves SRO for the first time since the Packer last gaboled there against Cleveland's eventual world champion Browns in November, is set for 1 o'clock (WJPG, Channel 2). The Packers barged through a highly spartan but almost idyllic training grind with a verve reminiscent of the palmy (1960-61-62) years, moving the customarily conservative Lombardi to declare, "This is the best camp and these are the best players I've ever had." As if to document his point, Green Bay's NFL standard bearers proceeded to all but obliterate a somewhat inept troupe of New York Giants in last Saturday night's exhibition inaugural in Lambeau Field, 44-7. Tomorrow's guests figure to be considerably more anti-social, however. The Bears, venerable but vital George Halas insists, "We intend to come a long way back this year - perhaps not all the way, but a long way." Evidence that this is more than mere propaganda came last week when the regrouping Bruins squeezed past Washington's suddenly formidable Redskins, 31-30. And there is more here than meets the eye, veteran Packer game scout Wally Cruice points out. Cruice, who diagrammed the Bear-Redskin affair in Washington's D.C. Stadium, noted, "You have to remember the Redskins had one game under their belts, and it was the Bears' opener. One game's experience make a lot of difference - you can see a lot things." Also disquieting is the longtime analyst's observation that "physically, they look a lot better than I've ever seen them look. And they have good spirit, with all the new guys they're working to their lineup." Chief among the "new guys," of course, is hulking Dick Butkus, everybody's All-America at Illinois last autumn, who reportedly has been installed at middle linebacker. The Bruin brain trust also is slightly smug about recruits Jimmy Jones of Wisconsin and Michigan State's Dick Gordon, who are expected to stabilize the Bears' aerial game, according to publicist Dan Desmond. "In recent years, our opponents have concentrated on our right side (where diminutive Johnny Morris and the awesome Mike Ditka are stationed), because we were 

TRADE HAS ANDERSON 'TICKLED TO DEATH'

AUG 21 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - "I'm tickled to death to be here." So says quiet, crew cut Bill Anderson, newest member of the 50-man Packer cast which today deployed against the Chicago Bears in Milwaukee County Stadium's seventh annual Shrine classic. Although he didn't leave Washington's Redskins without a slight twinge ("it was kind of a home to me after six years"), the 6-3, 225-pound tight end emphasized, "I'm certainly happy to be in Green Bay. I'm certainly impressed with the way things are done here," Bill, who joined the Pack Thursday afternoon, added. "They sure are organized." Anderson, acquired Wednesday in return for a high draft choice, indicated he was well aware he had been traded to a title contender, fervently observed. "I'll be tickled to death if I can stay here." Bill, a Pro Bowl selection in both 1960 and 1961 with the Redskins, will be contending with rookie Jim Thibert for the right to back up Marv Fleming at tight end, where Marvelous Marv has succeeded the departed Ron Kramer. Anderson, who launched his pro career at split end for the Washingtons, says he has no preference, observing with a slight smile, "I don't care at all - just so I can play somewhere." The Hendersonville, N.C., native is essaying a comeback this season after a one-year hiatus during which he served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee. And what had changed his mind? "I missed playing," was the disarmingly simple and forthright explanation. There is a possibility, it develops, that Anderson merely has transferred from one contender to another. Queried about the Redskins' potential, he declared, "I think Washington will have the best team they have had in quite a while - they have a lot more depth than at any time that I can remember." Did he think they could go all the way? "Yes, I do," he replied with hesitation. Awed by the Packers' physical facilities, particularly the dressing room, he surveyed the spacious Lambeau Field quarters Friday and said, "I'm really impressed with things here. Wall-to-wall carpeting - I've never seen anything like this." Now an offseason resident of Knoxville, Tenn., he is still a highly eligible bachelor at 29. Responding to the inevitable question, he grinned and said, "Just lucky, I guess."

bottom of page