BART STARR, TWO CITY MEN, UNHURT IN AREA PLANE CRASH

MAR 23 (Huntsville Times) - After Green Bay Packer footballer Bart Starr and two Huntsville men had walked away from an air crash Wednesday near Scottsboro, a Huntsville wife of one of the men commented: "Somebody up there must like them." Starr, the most valuable player in the 1966 and 1967 super bowls, Rod Peevy, the pilot, and James Lane, all escaped uninjured. Peevy of Huntsville was the pilot of the light plane (a twin-engine Piper Commanche) that carried Starr, a former Alabama football player and longtime Green Bay Packer quarterback, and Lane, a Huntsville industrialist. The plane apparently was nearly on the ground when a gust of wind caught the right wing of the plane, flipping the aircraft onto its right side. The plane skidded about 1,000 feet down the runway, across a grassy plot, and over a drainage ditch before it smashed into a hangar at Scottsboro Airport was Mrs. Lane who made the comment about "somebody up there must like them." Her husband, James Lane, is owner of Lane Real Estate Co. and chairman of the board of Campus Inns of America Inc. Starr, who played football at the University of Alabama often trading places with Albert Elmore, now a Huntsville insurance executive at the quarterback post under the tutelage of the late J. B. Whitworth. He later achieved football fame with the Green Bay Packers. There was no immediate estimate of damages. Airport Manager Bill Matthews said the plane broke in half. Matthews said the hangar "was damaged extensively." Lane, according to his wife, had "just a small scratch under the elbow." The trio had left Atlanta around noon and were coming in for a landing at Scottsboro around 1:10 p.m. Lane and Starr, it was reported, had a business meeting scheduled in Scottsboro. Starr went on his way to Birmingham. The plane was rendered beyond repair, it was reported Starr is president of the Campus Inns of America of which Lane is chairman of the board of the corporation. Lane, a Stanford University graduate, is also owner of the Parliament House in Birmingham and was an investor in the old Huntsville Hawks of the defunct Continental League. Peevy moved here from Hattiesburg, Miss. None of the three had ever been in an aircraft accident before, according to relatives.

TAGGE TO HEAR CANADIAN BID

MAR 23 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - A veritable man in motion of late, Jerry Tagge is home for some badly needed R and R...and quiet contemplation of high finance. The latter, needless to say. revolves around his current negotiations with the Packers for a 1972 contract, which he says are in a state of suspension at the moment. Tagge, the ex-Green Bay West luminary who escorted Nebraska's Cornhuskers to consecutive national collegiate titles the last two years, is not putting all his financial eggs in-one basket, however. Not for the record, at least. Jerry, relaxing at his parent's Mennen Court home this week after a lengthy round of public appearances and speaking engagements, is going to lend an ear to a proposal from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League, he says. This development came to light Wednesday as Tagge, on a two-week vacation from the Nebraska campus, reported on the state of his dollar dialogue with the Packers "I've had one meeting with Pat Peppler [Packer personnel director)," he informed. "and we didn't get too much accomplished. My uncle, Ron Tagge of Chicago, has been handling m y negotiations with the Packers at this point and Tuesday night he talked to Coach Devine, who is in Hawaii. So we're going to wait now until he gets back from the NFL meeting before proceeding. "Meanwhile, I am going to Canada this weekend to talk to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. They've expressed considerable interest in me." He would, then, consider playing in Canada? "It's a big business, you know," Tagge adroitly replied. "For a while, I hadn't heard too much from the Packers and I was kind of wondering. I have been talking to Pat Sullivan (Atlanta Falcons) and John Reeves (Philadelphia Eagles), the other quarterbacks who were drafted early, and they were pretty much where they wanted to be at this point...I wanted to start something with the Packers too, because I'd like to get this settled before too long. Pat Peppler called me last night and said that we really can't do much talking...So I called my uncle and he called Coach Devine. The coach called my uncle back and told him he was anxious to talk to me. That kind of fired me up a little bit. Definitely, I want to płay with the Packers but I'd like to get something started. It's not that I'm in a great hurry but an occasional hello by telephone would help." Still convinced he will be playing pro football in his hometown, Tagge added, "I hold Coach Devine in high regard, and after hearing what he said Tuesday night. I really feel confident in the Packers and in my future with them. He really put a lot of reassurance into me."

PERSONALITY PARADE

MAR 24 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - With all due respect to accomplishments of the past, Dan Devine often has said it is harder to win the National Football League championship today than it was even five years ago. The explanation is that 26 teams now are dipping into the collegiate talent pool, compared to 22 in 1965, for example. And it is an obviously valid point. But there is at least one other highly pertinent factor - the surprisingly rapid maturation of some expansion teams, notably the Miami Dolphins and the Atlanta Falcons. Unlike the Dolphins, the Falcons have yet to win a championship. But volatile Coach Norm Van Brocklin is convinced that day is no longer distant. He could be right. The Falcons had a winning season for the first time in 1971, forging a 7-6-1 record in their sixth NFL semester, and were in contention until the second last week. If anyone can pull it off in Atlanta, the Dutchman can...not only because of his football acumen but his swashbuckling approach, which has transformed the Falcons from relatively timid souls into veritable tigers, a turnabout the Packers were unhappily exposed to in Atlanta last November. Van Brocklin expresses his "full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes" philosophy in the Falcons' 1972 prospectus. Just off the presses, it is appropriately entitled, "A Winning Attitude." "A positive attitude." he notes. "is one of the most important things in life whether you're talking about working nine to five every day in an office or playing football for a living. It means everything. "Last year, my coaching staff and I started talking in training camp, trying to sell the team on the idea they could win in the National Football League. "But now, in 1972, we don't have to sell them that idea any more. They should know now that they can win." He concedes that last year's 7-6-1 record may not impress the average pro football buff, then volunteers, "But this kind of statistic interests me. The Dallas Cowboys, who won the Super Bowl game this year. didn't reach .500 until their sixth season when they got to 7-7. We were just over .500 after our sixth season and I think we have a better team now than Dallas had after their sixth season. But Dallas has really taken off since then (six straight conference or league championship games and the Super Bowl crown). Maybe we're about to do the same thing. Winning the last game last year (24-20 over New Orleans) and getting over .500 for the first time was very important as far as the coming season is concerned," said Stormin' Norman, who brings his freewheeling Falcons to Wisconsin for a rematch with the Packers this fall. "Add to that the fact that we had a. chance to win three or four other games and didn't and that should produce a very positive psychological effect on the team. When we open training camp in July, the players will have had six months to think about what they meant to us. Even losing those three or four games," Van Brocklin pointed out, "we were still in the division race in the 13th game of the year."

BART STARR POISED FOR ANOTHER CRISIS

MAR 26 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Bart Starr, who survived one unexpected crisis only last week, already is poised to face another. Mr. Quarterback, at least outwardly relaxed and optimistic, has decided to test his celebrated salary arm during the Packers spring camp at Phoenix. Ariz., early next month. Starr, whose physical tribulations of recent seasons hardly need recounting, had not been scheduled to take part in the four-day session, designed for rookies and selected veterans. "We had kicked it around before - the idea of going to the early camp." Bart reports, "but there never was a commitment. I originally was scheduled to be in Alabama on business at that time (April 6-7-8-9), but I've been able to shuffle things around so that I can make it. I'm looking forward to it really," said Starr, who last Wednesday was able to walk away from an Alabama plane crash virtually unscratched. "I think it'll give me a chance to get some work done in warm weather and see how my arm is coming along, what progress I'm making. It's a good time to take a little look." The tone was light, almost casual, as might be expected. But Packer trainer Domenic Gentile noted the April "experiment" represents a major departure. "It's earlier than we've ever tried before." he said. "We've never thrown before June in the past...It's a very important test for Bart, no question
about it." Although he appears more confident of his arm's response than at any time in recent years. Starr is understandably cautious in his comments, following two shoulder operations in 1971. I'm so reluctant to say anything about it at this point." he said. "I'm very reserved...But so far, it feels fine. I'm almost afraid to say anything," Bart added with a dry chuckle. "It makes you gun shy after a while...But I'm optimistic." Asked if he would give the arm an all-out test, he replied, "I really don't know what Coach Devine has in mind for me. But I'd like to throw some and see how it goes. I've been throwing with Domenic in the Arena for some time, and I've been throwing pretty hard. So my arm is in shape - it feels good. It won't be like starting from scratch. "Certainly," he assured. "I won't have any reservation about throwing a few and seeing.'...PACKER PATTER: Starr, who has known more than his share of physical peril during a 16-year pro football career, conceded that Alabama mishap had been "a little hairy." Miraculously, he emerged with "just a cut on my right calf...that was all." The light, private plane broke in half - immediately behind his seat - in mid-air. The trek to Arizona, Bart confided, will be a combination business-and-pleasure jaunt for him. "The kids will be out of school because of Easter vacation." he said. "so my wife and I are going to take them out there and show them a part of the country we've never seen."...As things now stand, 44 players will be checking into the camp, the first of two advance sessions. The other also designed primarily for rookies, will be held in June. The list, growing almost daily, now numbers 28 rookies and 16 veterans. Among the latest additions are running back MacArthur Lane, recently acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in the Donny Anderson deal, and linebacker Fred Carr. Carr presumably has been invited so that Devine and his aides can get another look at him as a defensive end, which could be his new "address" in '72...Packer personnel director Pat Peppler, shortly to join the Miami Dolphins' front office, has taken quiet exception to Jerry Tagge's suggestion there could have been more from the Packers since the draft regarding his services. "I have talked to Jerry personally twice." Peppler said. "the second time in great detail in Chicago with his uncle at a meeting arranged at their convenience. I also talked to him for 20 minutes on the telephone this week, suggesting some adjustments in our situation. "I think it's unfair to me and to the Packer organization." Peppler said, "to suggest that we have not taken the time or evidenced the interest to contact him. If we're not interested in a number one draft choice, then there's something wrong with us Our payroll is about the best in the business, I might add. and we have signed a lot of number one draft choices in recent years. We don't believe in trying to cheat players - that is not the way to get performance - but we have to be fair to the organization and the veteran players on the squad to see that everybody has his rightful share of the available money. We've signed John Brockington, Mike McCoy and Rich McGeorge, among other number one choices in the last few years, and I feel we have tried to be fair. I don't think we've held anybody up - and we're not interested in being held up ourselves."

DAVE ROBINSON SIGNED, SOUND
MAR 28 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Sound of limb and shoulder once again, Dave Robinson today looked to his and the Packers' future with optimism...And a new contract. Robinson, signed to a '72 Packer document by Coach Dan Devine Monday, pronounced himself fully recovered from the physical problems which plagued him in *71. "The Achilles (he tore the tendon in his left heel in a game at San Diego in October of 1970) hasn't really bothered me since last September or October," the veteran linebacker confided by telephone from his Milwaukee office today. "It took about a year, almost to the day. But then I had other problems last season. The broken wrist had me locked in tight for six weeks. And I really attribute my shoulder injury to that. I hurt the shoulder because I was using poor tackling technique because of the wrist...very poor tackling technique. Those problems are gone now. though," he assured. "They've disappeared, as best I know...I haven't hit a sled yet." At the moment, Robinson confided, he is "a lot closer to being ready to play than I was at this time last year. I've been a lot more careful about my weight. I want to play lighter - I'm a little older." "I want to come in as light as possible...something under 240, definitely under 240. Then, if I don't feel strong, I can always gain weight. That hasn't been a problem for me for a long time." The 30-year-old veteran, described himself as pleased with his new contract, adding with a characteristic chuckle. "I would have taken more, of course." A unanimous all-pro choice in 1967, he looks to 1972 with optimism for other reasons than physical and financial. "I think I learned a lot about Coach Devine last year, and what he wants and expects of me," he said. "It makes it a lot easier for me coming in this year. I don't have to wonder about things like that, and that's got to help. I think one of the biggest things that will help us is that Coach Hanner is going to be THE coach of the defense. Last year. he was and he wasn't. I think the ball players like it like that - they like things definite...And Coach Hanner very definitely is a fine defensive coach. I'm looking forward to it being a good year for us." Devine also announced the signing of 14th round draft choice Larry Hefner, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker for Clemson, and three free agents - John Brennan, a 6-foot-3. 260-pound offensive tackle from Boston College: Howard Logan, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound defensive back from Missouri Southern: and John Cowan, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound linebacker from Missouri.

PERSONALITY PARADE

MAR 29 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Sleek and suntanned following a two-week sabbatical in Hawaii, Dan Devine is exuding both confidence and energy these days as he zeroes in on the 1972 season. Taking a break Tuesday from interviewing candidates for personnel director and a coaching staff vacancy, the Packers' highly congenial major-domo asserted with sly chuckle, "I don't remember who said it, but from now on, it's 'Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead'...or whatever it was he said." Action on the coaching situation is imminent, Devine indicated explaining, "If I had to make an educated guess, I would say that we are likely to be adding two people to the staff at this point - one to take Bob Schnelker's place and another to be special teams coach. I hope to have both of them announced so they will be with us in Phoenix next week. As far as a personnel man is concerned (ex-Miami Dolphin and Minnesota Viking personnel director Joe Thomas has been prominently mentioned), I don't have any idea right now when we'll be announcing a replacement for Pat Peppler. There is not as much need for haste in this, because it doesn't affect our coaching situation, but it does put a tremendous burden on me, getting things coordinated for the camp. We'd prefer to have the camp here, of course, but for one very obvious reason, we're going to Arizona." Delivering a more general appraisal, he conceded, "I think we're moving along at this point...almost everything we're doing is building. It may sound a little strange, seeing that we have just lost a man from our staff, but I feel this to be generally true. "There again, you look at all of the players we've lost without getting anything for them - people like Herb Adderley, Forrest Gregg, Willie Wood and Zeke Bratkowski, plus a couple of draft choices that didn't pan out, and it gives you pause. All teams do that, of course - except the Dallas Cowboys. They won the Super Bowl this year and they probably will have everybody back. This team, in contrast, is having almost a complete turnover, with the only replacements coming by way of the draft and an occasional trade...When you think of it in that light, you realize it's a pretty big building job. But I know we're still going to have a much better football team this year than it was a year ago...The quarterback situation, for example, is much more stable than it was a year ago." The stability, obviously, is provided by the fact that Scott Hunter has a year of National Football League experience behind him and celebrated rookie Jerry Tagge is available as an understudy, plus encouraging indications veteran Bart Starr could be returning to duty in good health. On another subject, the selection of a co-captain to replace the departed Willie Wood as leader of a somewhat revamped defense, Devine volunteered, "Defensively, we might go with me appointing a defensive captain each game, with any player being able to be named captain more than once. I want somebody to assert himself in that area, to step out there and deserve that responsibility." Although those relaxed, carefree days on a Hawaiian beach are now just a fond memory, and the challenges ahead are formidable, Devine has no regrets. "I'm glad to be back," he said, quipping, "You get island fever, you know...I came back a day early."

MANY IFS IN PACKER CAMP

APR 2 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - How does Eric Patton's speed, quickness and agility compare with Fred Carr's? Or Dave Pureifory's? How do Willie Buchanon's reactions compare to Charley Hall's? Or Butch Davis'? How does Chet Marcol's leg measure up in strength and accuracy against Tim Webster's? How does Jerry Tagge's arm measure up in strength and accuracy against Scott Hunter's? Or Frank Patrick's? Or Bart Starr's? These are but a few of the questions the Green Bay Packer coaching staff hopes to have at least partially answered by the conclusion of this week's training camp preview session in Scottsdale, Ariz. There are more questions, of course. And the coaches don't necessarily expect to have complete answers after only five workouts but they do expect the session to give them a better line on what to expect when mid-July arrives. The most important question of all, however, is the last one above: "Or Bart Starr's?' Hopefully, Starr and Coach Dan Devine will come out of the warm Arizona sun with a clearer idea if Mr. Quarterback will be available this fall. Starr will be giving his ailing arm its first real test since the bittersweet end of last season when he was throwing but not particularly well. The questions listed above are there specifically because they seem to be some of those uppermost in the staff's mind, judging by the fact that the veterans mentioned have been directly invited to the preview camp. The roster for Arizona includes 13 vets and 29 rookies. If Patton, the fourth round draftee from Notre Dame, and-or Pureifory, the sixth round pick from Eastern Michigan, and-or any other new linebacker is able to step into Carr's position, it would make Carr available for duty at defensive backfield berth and may be installed there from the opening of July camp but before that happens, Devine and his aides, particularly defense coordinator Dave Hanner and secondary coach Don Doll, want a personal look at the No. 1 draftee from San Diego State. Marcol, the rookie from Hillsdale, is expected to confine his kicking to the placement type. The coaches, at this point, at least, feel that this is the major area of need, though he is also a fine punter. Ken Duncan will be on hand to try punting and the coaches still feel that he could be a combination punter-wide receiver, thereby leaving Marcol to concentrate on the vital and festering place kicking job...Another recruit in much the same situation as Duncan is Mike Farmer, a combination quarterback-kicker free agent from Missouri. He is expected to concentrate on punting but if...and this is the BIG if...Starr's arm prohibits his playing this year, Farmer could wind up in a struggle with veteran Frank Patrick for the third quarterback spot behind Hunter and first round draftee Tagge. Also on the spring camp roster are six rookie running backs, including Barry Mayer, the ninth round pick from Minnesota a year ago who sat out last season because of an injury. MacArthur Lane, the veteran hammerback obtained from St. Louis for Donny Anderson, brings the RB corps to seven. The April camp, officially designated the Packers Rookie Orientation Session, will begin Thursday with an evening meeting, physical checkup and equipment distribution. There will be two workouts and an evening meeting on both Friday and Saturday plus a final drill Sunday morning before the camp breaks up that afternoon. The team will be headquartering at the Holiday Inn in Scottsdale and using the nearby Saguaro High School Field for the workouts.

ELKS CITE OLEJNICZAK
APR 3 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The annual Arnie Herber Award for contributions to the Green Bay Packers will be presented to Dominic Olejniczak, president of the Packers corporation, at the Elks Sports Award Dinner April 18. 'Olejniczak was selected, according to the Elks, because "his efforts have helped see football's most famous team through artistic and financial crises to the prosperity and eminence it enjoys today." The award wil! be presented to the former Green Bay mayor by Art Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and one of the pioneers of the National Football League. Rooney will make a special trip to Green Bay for the event. The Herber Award is the. second major one to be 'announced. Previously, Elroy Hirscl., University of Wisconsin athletic director, was named to receive the Elks Remember Award at the 11th annual dinner, slated to begin at 7:45. Reservations for individual tickets or tables of 12 can be made by contacting the Elks Club.

KUHLMANN TO PACKERS
APR 5 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Hank Kuhlmann, offensive backfield coach at the University of Missouri, will become an assistant coach in charge of special teams for the Green Bay Packers, it is reported today in the Columbia, Mo., Tribune. Kuhlmann, according to the Tribune, is enroute to the Packer spring training camp in Scottsdale, Ariz. The 35-year-old former pro baseball piayer played for Packer Coach Dan Devine at Missouri and coached under Devine at Missouri from 1963 to 1970.