MAKING PACK MONUMENTAL CHALLENGE TO HATHCOCK

AUG 9 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - If dogged Dave Hathcock crashes the Packers' championship roster, it will be an unalloyed triumph for determination and desire. Making the Green Bay grade is no small achievement these days, but for this genial southern gentleman, it looms as a monumental challenge. The compact Tennessean, battling for a berth in the Packers' defensive outfield, is operating at a distinct disadvantage in the NFL's fastest company, having played only one year of college football, varsity variety. A track star, he whirled through four action-packed years as a decathlon-type performer at Memphis State before taking a fling at football. "I played freshman football," he explained in discounting that experience. "But all you are is dummies. All I did was play defense." Why had he waited so long? "I went to college on a track scholarship - I was Tennessee state decathlon champion as a senior in high school - and I had a pretty good year in track as a freshman at Memphis State, so I decided to stick with it." Hathcock, a native of Memphis, amassed 244 track points as a junior, despite missing two meets because of a pulled muscle. "I was more of a decathlon man than anything else," he said. "In my junior year, I was in eight events - shot put, discus, javelin, broad jump, triple jump, high hurdles, intermediate hurdles and the high jump. In my last meet, against Mississippi State, I won five firsts and two thirds for 27 points. That was the best day of my career." "My senior year," Dave added, "was kind of a letdown. I was in tremendous shape, but I pulled a muscle two days before our first meet and I was only able to complete in one all season." What prompted his second fling at football? "I needed another year of school, and since I still had three years of eligibility left for football, I thought I'd give it a try. Since I would not have to play spring football, I figured if I could get a scholarship, it would take me through that last year of school. I talked to the coach and he said he'd give me a full scholarship if I still liked to hit. That was fair enough, because I had been away from it three or four years in track, where there's no contact." "I said it was all right with me," Hathcock said, appending with a wry smile, "the first day I hurt my ribs. As I was walking off the field later, next to a bunch of guys who towered over me, I said to myself, 'What in the world am I doing out here?' I thought they'd put me on defense, but they started me at tailback. When I came back the following Monday, after the injury, they put me at wingback, and later at split end. I learned all three positions. Later they switched me to defense after the second game. I was a monster man. It's nothing more than an outside linebacker - you go to the strong side on every play." His selection by the Packers in last December's draft "was a complete surprise," says Hathcock, who still shakes his head over the wonder of it all. "When my mother said I had a telegram from Western Union to that effect, I couldn't believe it. I called Western Union myself and made 'em read off the message before I'd believe. It instructed me to call Pat Peppler (Packer personnel director). I did, and when Pat told me I was drafted 17th, I still couldn't believe it. I had no idea of playing professional football." "It was a great honor," he smiled, "particularly to be drafted by the world champions. When you get up here, you can tell why they're world champions. They're all real nice fellows." As might be expected, the 6-foot, 195-pound freshman finds pro football somewhat of a change. "You're more on your own there than you are in college football. You have more responsibility, as far as doing your job is concerned. In track, you're on your own. But in a team sport, you're depending on someone else and someone is depending on you. That's my greatest worry," he said soberly, "that I'll let somebody down." Hathcock, who obviously enjoys what he is doing, further noted with a grin, "It's a kind of hard to believe you get paid for doing something that you really like." How does he assess his chances? "It's really hard to say. You don't know when you're going to be leaving. I've had some good days and I've had some real bad days. If I don't get hurt, and if I keep my head, I think I've got a chance. I have so much to learn - I've missed so much that the other boys have had."...PACKER PATTER: A thunderstorm abbreviated the Packers' Monday practice, their first practice in preparation for Friday's date with the Bears. They toiled through 15 minutes of pelting rain but, at the first flash of lightning in the area, Coach Vince Lombardi ordered a cease-fire...Donny Anderson, injured in last Friday night's All Star game, ran with more ease than expected. Fellow bonus baby Jim Grabowski, a well-soaked citizen who also has just undergone his first Packer workout, observed with a rueful grin, "There's no such thing as slowing down is there? It's enough to scare out a poor rookie like me."

VANDERSEA, SYMONS SHIFTED TO DEFENSE

AUG 10 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - "I like it. At least, I'm still here - that's all that matters." The exponent of this practice approach was Phil Vandersea, a recent fullback who suddenly finds himself at linebacker, a strange position, in the Packers' fast moving training camp. A realist, he is fully aware of the reason for his transfer. "Coach Bengtson (Defense Coach Phil Bengston) called me down over the weekend and told me I'd be switched to linebacker. I figured it was because of Grabowski (Jim) coming in. They would have too many fullbacks, since they already had Jim Taylor and Allen Jacobs there, in addition to me." The burly blond, 16th choice as a future in the 1965 draft, added, "I've never played there, but it's all right with me. At least I'm here." "I've been getting quite a bit of hep. Coach Bengtson and the other linebackers have been helping me. It's quite a bit different than playing fullback, of course. There's more reaction, and you have to know your keys well. Also, being in the right place at the right time is very important." "Once I learn my keys, I'll be alright," the impressively built easterner observed. "But," he smiled and added, "it'll be a long time before I learn what I need to know. My size (he is 6-3, 234) is all right for the position, but I think they want me a little heavier. Coach Hanner (defensive line coach Dave) told me it would be better if I weighed about 240. All our linebackers," he added by way of explanation, "are big here." Vandersea, a native of Whitinsville, Mass., here noted with a slow smile. "I feel about 5-11 around here. Everybody's so big. It's a funny thing - everybody is so big, everybody seems small after a while." Soberly evaluating his chances at a position where the talented Tommy Joe Crutcher and Bill Curry already are available behind starters Ray Nitschke, LeRoy Caffey and Dave Robinson, he admits, "It looks tough right now. I'll just keep trying and see what happens. I like linebacking and I think I can play there." Phil is the second member of his family to take a whirl at professional football, it develops. "My brother, Howard, tried out with the Bears in '63," he revealed. "He was cut in the second to last cut - that was the year they won the championship. He was supposed to go back with them the following year, but he had to go into the Army." Vandersea's shift was the second move occasioned by the arrival of Donny Anderson and Grabowski from the College All Star camp. Bill Symons, a running back who was a member of the 1965 taxi squad, also has been transferred to defensive halfback. This is now, however, an unfamiliar role for the hustling University of Colorado product. Symons was transferred to defense early in the training period, then was moved back to offense late in July when Elijah Pitts left for a two week tour of Army duty. Pitts since has returned, producing congestion at running back dictating Symons's re-transfer. "These are the world champions, and we are going to be surrender that title very hard - if we do surrender it," Coach Vince Lombardi declaimed in introducing members of his 1966 squad at the fourth annual Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce fan luncheon in the cafeteria of the St. Norbert College Memorial Union Tuesday. Speaking to a capacity house of more than 300 fans, Lombardi also noted, "The Green Bay Packers provide a public and business image which gives the city a big league stamp - not only nationally but internationally. The economic benefits are incalculable. But, this is not a one-way street," he added. "It is a two-way street. The team receives as many benefits from the community as it gives. If it were not for your loyal support over the years, the Packers would not be what they are today. The tradition they a have and they success that they are is not only theirs but yours." Mayor Donald Tilleman and Brown County Board Chairman Myron Lotto also spoke briefly. Rev. Orville H. Janssen, editor of the Register was master of ceremonies for the occasion, highlighted by the presentation of a huge trophy, symbolizing the Packers' ninth NFL championship, acquired in 1965. Lombardi accepted the award, presented by Chairman Al Schneider of the Chamber of Commerce sports committee, on behalf of the Packers.

PACKERS CONSIDERING LAMBEAU FIELD DOME

AUG 10 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers are considering building a dome over Lambeau Field, GM-Coach Vince Lombardi said today. "It's just in the talking stage," Lombardi said. He added that a dome would be architecturally feasible at this 50,852-seat stadium. Lombardi said the dome would not complete enclose the stadium as it does the Astrodome at Houston. Instead, it would be open at both ends. But it would be retractable to allow sunlight to reach the playing field, Lombardi said. When and if plans are approved, it would take two years to complete, the coach said. Snow is a constant threat in the latter stages of the season. A snowstorm dumped five inches of snow on the field the morning of last winter's championship game between the Packers and the Cleveland Browns. The only domed stadium now in existence is the all-purpose Astrodome. However, several other cities, including Boston and Chicago, are taking about putting domes on stadiums to be built in the future.

PERSONALITY PARADE

AUG 10 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Massive Jerry Kramer, a normally intrepid citizen who has pursued wild game in some of the West's more remote and hazardous areas, is running scared these days. Upon reflection, this should not come as a major surprise, considering the incredible collection of physical calamities which have befallen the Packers' medical marvel. But, strange to say, the three-time all-pro guard currently is more apprehensive about the prideful offensive unit of which he is a prominent member than over his personal well being. "I've said all year our offense has been so good it scares me," he notes with some wonders, eloquently indicating this impression had been enhanced no little in the Pack's 38-0 manhandling of the College All Stars last weekend. "I've been waiting for something to happen," Kramer confessed with a crooked grin, adding, "I still feel that way. I'm going to reserve my judgment until we get up against some proven opposition (like the Chicago Bears, who will loom before the Packers in the Midwest Shrine game at Milwaukee County Stadium Friday night)." Jerry, who, as the Packer faithful are well aware, was subpar most of the 1965 season following a two-year bout with actino-mycosis (a fungus bacteria which led to a debilitating series of abdominal operations), is similarly cautious about his own future. "I haven't felt better in the last three or four years, since 1962," he says, with reserved enthusiasm. "In 1963, I came in light - I was a little weak. It probably was the start of that infection. I feel better than I have since '61 and '63 (both championship years), but I've got my fingers crossed."...PULLS WERE GOOD: He takes a like approach in analyzing his performance against the All Stars, one his collegiate victims are likely to remember for some time. A key figure in a Packer attack that amassed 175 rushing yards, the eight-year veteran observed matter-of-factly, "You don't want to get optimistic about the way you played against somebody who never played against the pros before, but the pulls were good, and Fuzzy (Thurston) and I were both getting out of the holes well. And mechanically, we were real good. Generally, I was quite pleased, although there were some things I was fair on, and those will have to be improved. I was a little tired toward the end of the third quarter," he admitted, pointing out, "I had played all of the first two quarters and most of the third. We ran more sweeps," the brawny College of Idaho alumnus added with a rueful smile, "than I can remember of us running in quite a while. And, of course, that gives the guards a workout." Had he done anything special in the offseason to prepare for '66 combat? "I did play a little handball, but not religiously," Kramer confided. "I did start a weightlifting program with LeeRoy Caffey Monday, though. During the two-a-day practices, it's impossible to do anything extra because it takes every ounce of strength you've got. Now I want to strengthen my shoulder and neck muscles - they're pretty sore from all that butting. A little more running, and I think I'll be ready." At the moment, there is only one fly in the proverbial ointment, and it hasn't proved troublesome to this point, he volunteered. "I'm a little heavier than I have been - I've been weighing about 251 compared to a normal of about 243 - but I haven't been able to get down. And I've felt so good. I haven't concerned myself about it. An extra 10 pounds makes you stronger - as long as it doesn't slow you down, it's nothing to worry about."...PLAYOFF AGAINST AFL: The articular Careful Drive resident, only lineman to rank among the Packers' all-time scoring leaders (he is tied with teammate Boyd Dowler for 14th place at 156 points), Kramer is looking eagerly to new horizons provided by the recent pro football merger. Emphasizing this development has whetted the Packs' interest, artistic as well as financial, he asserted, " I think everybody on the club is looking forward to getting into the playoff against the AFL. Everybody in the league, in fact, feels that way. I realize we have a long way to go before we get there," he soberly conceded, "but it's a goal. We need it. We've been in four or five championships in recent years. This is something we've never had before. Something never achieved is always more desirable - something you've achieved is always less desirable, no matter how great it is. This gives us something else to strive for."