OFFICIAL PACKERS LEGENDS THREAD

[HowardRoark]

I was going to put up a post on him a couple weeks ago, but couldn't (ironically) find many pictures of him.

RIP Vern

http://packerrats.com/ratchat/viewtopic.php?t=21417

[woodbuck27]

" Packer Legends in Facts "

Your Most Accurate Source of Stats, Rosters, Team History and All
Team Photos of the Green Bay Packers 1919-1994 : 1995-75th

This is the number #1 Sports edition in Wisconsin over the past 4 years.

To accumulate all the team pictures(1919-1994) and action photos starting with the 1935 season was an ambition project.

It is an impressive volume of history with 416 pages and over 280 photos which includes all team photos & over 200 action photos.

OTHERS:

" Mudbaths and Bloodbaths "

The Inside Story of the Great Packers-Bears Rivalry

ONE OF THE BEST FOOTBALL STORY BOOKS EVER !

GREAT STORIES, YOU CAN START READING THIS BOOK AT THE BEGINING, MIDDLE, OR END IT MAKES YOU FEEL PART OF FOOTBALL HISTORY OF ONE OF THE GREATEST RIVALS IN ALL OF SPORTS.



" THE ICE BOWL "

In 1966, the Green Bay Packers beat the Dallas Cowboys for the NFL championship. The teams' intense rivalry in the following 1967 season would culminate in one of the most classic football games of all time--the Ice Bowl. Now one of the most irreverent sportswriter in the business brings the final game of the '67 season to life, vividly profiling the players' distinctive personalities on and off the field.



"WHEN PRIDE STILL MATTERED"

Is an in-depth biography of Vince Lombardi.

In the biography, Maraniss traces Lombardi's rise, examines the myths and legends surrounding his life, and separates the human being from the symbolic character created by his success. Based on hundreds of interviews,

supplemented by personal letters, documents, and other archival material, WHEN PRIDE STILL MATTERED covers:

* The fallacy of the "innocent past" that surfaced throughout Lombardi's football career. * Lombardi's obsession with winning and how it affected his wife and family. * The powerful trinity of religion, military, and sport that shaped Lombardi's life. * Lombardi's connection to the mythmakers of American sports, from Grantland Rice to Howard Cosell, and the evolution of the Lombardi mythology. *Lombardi's unlikely triumph in Green Bay and his emergence as a national icon. * Lombardi's search for a deeper meaning in football and how he transformed his sport into a metaphor for the American experience.



"Cold Wars"

40 Years of Packer-Viking Rivalry

1. Midwest Book Review: "Cold Wars: 40 Years of Packer-Viking Rivalry

by football enthusiast Todd Mishler...

Is an informative review of every game that these cherished Green Bay Packer and Minnesota Viking football teams have played since 1960. Filled cover to cover with anecdotes, insights and cheers from players, coaches, sports writers and fans, Cold Wars is enthusiastically recommended as an engaging history perfect for Wisconsin and Minnesota football buffs and could well serve as a template for writing books about other historic football rivalries!"

2. Tom Oates, sports columnist, Wisconsin State Journal: "Author Todd Mishler somehow manages to present both sides of a rivalry that in the 1990s turned into one of the NFL's best.

It may be hard for Packer fans to hate the Vikings as much as they hate the Bears, but that shouldn't stop them from loving this book."

3. Bob Lurtsema, 12-year NFL veteran and publisher of Vikings Update magazine:

"Reading Cold Wars was the greatest walk down memory lane I have ever encountered. ... I still hate the Cheeseheads, but they know I love them."

This rivalry will never die.



" LOMBARDI "

A commemorative edition of the biography of the man whose legacy inspired the 1997 Super Bowl champions, Lombardi profiles the complex and unique individual who is thought by many to be the greatest football coach of all time. 135 photos

GO PACKERS!

[vince]

Indian Jack Jacobs



Fred “Indian Jack” Jacobs was one of the most gifted athletes in Packers history.

He was born in Oklahoma in 1919, appropriately the year the Packers were founded.

It is unlikely that he will ever be enshrined in the Packers Hall of Fame, in part because he spent only three seasons in Green and Gold (1947-49) with the last two presiding over a 3-9-0 record in '48 and an even more disastrous 2-10-0 reading in '49, which might best be forgotten.

Indian Jack came upon the Green Bay scene in 1947, at a historic time in Packers annals - when Curly Lambeau was reluctantly abandoning his treasured "Notre Dame Box" attack for the "modern" T-formation, which put the quarterback directly under the center to take the snap.

Lambeau, accustomed to seeing his troops find the end zone with frequency over his long coaching career, was in search of more offensive punch after seeing the Packers score just 148 points in 11 games in 1946 - a paltry average of 13.4 points per game. He accordingly acquired Jacobs from the Washington Redskins in exchange for halfback Bob Nussbaumer.

Consequently, the signing of Jacobs as the quarterback of the new offense was heralded throughout Packerland and anticipation was high, particularly because the defending world champion Chicago Bears would be rolling into Green Bay for the season opener (Sept. 28, 1947) to present the Packers with an early and major challenge.

But Jacobs alone was more than equal to the task. He proceeded to forge what became a highly impressive - if essentially one-game - legacy with a virtuosic performance that has to rank among the most versatile in the history of the game.

In fact, it is hard to imagine that Indian Jack could have done any more while wheeling about old City Stadium that long distant afternoon, escorting the Packers to a 29-20 upset of the favored Bears.

In his first game as a Packer against the vaunted Bears Jacobs:
* Threw for two touchdowns.

* Scored on a 1-yard run, following a 17-yard rush that positioned the Packers for the score.

* Made two interceptions. (He actually picked off three Sid Luckman passes but the first one nullified by an interference penalty.)

* Punted four times, with a long of 59 yards. (He went on to finish the season as the NFL's best punter in '47.)

* He played the full 60 minutes - every play on both offense and defense.

After leaving the Packers and the NFL, Jack played with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Footballl League, leading them to Grey Cup berths in 1950 and 1953.

He also was named the CFL's Most Valuable Player in '53.

The old stadium the Bombers currently play in was named "The House that Jack built" after the Jacobs.

He later served as an assistant coach at London, Ontario, and as an assistant at Montreal, Hamilton and Edmonton.

[HowardRoark]

Good question Howard. I know a lot of players took years off to fight, Canadeo being the most notable Packer. I think it was voluntary. Different times.

Paul Hornung was one of the Green Bay Packers' all-time greats, a player who started out as a quarterback but was versatile enough to play lead blocker, receiver and kicker. He was so vital to the Pack that the team needed a little help from President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to allow him to play in the NFL championship game. Hornung had been called up to the Army that year. But before the game, coach Vince Lombardi rang JFK to see if he could be granted leave for the title game against the New York Giants. "Paul Hornung isn't going to win the war on Sunday," President Kennedy said at the time, "but the football fans of this country deserve the two best teams on the field that day." It paid off — the Pack won 37-0, and Hornung scored 19 points, an NFL title game record.

[KYPack]

There's a sidebar to the Paul Hornung needing leave to play in the '61 championship game. A captain the the base in Ft Riley KS decided to screw Horn over and not allow him the leave to get off for the big game. Paul called Vince with the bad news. Lombardi told him to hold his horses and called JFK. Imagine the look on the face of that captain when he figured out Hornung had juice with the President of the United States.

Lombardi had JFK's personal number in his address book and just made the call. That's influence, now.

[gbgary]

sticky this thread!

[Upnorth]

Now that is some good reading! Well done to all contributors and nice bump mr roak

[HowardRoark]

Harlan made me learn something new tonight.

Tobin Rote....I had never even heard those two words put together ever before.



Career in Green Bay

The Green Bay Packers selected Rote in the second round (17th overall) of the 1950 NFL Draft. He would spend a total of seven seasons in Wisconsin, leading the hapless Packers' offense while the defense annually ranked among the league's worst. Besides his passing duties, Rote led the Packers in rushing yards three times and rushing touchdowns five times. During the span of his Green Bay career, Rote ranked 3rd in the NFL in passing touchdowns, trailing only Bobby Layne and Norm Van Brocklin. He also ranked 1st in the league in rushing yards by a quarterback and 2nd in touchdowns.

1956 Season

Rote's 1956 season ranks among the greatest in NFL history. On a 4–8 team, he led the league in passing yards (by 294), passing touchdowns (his 18 being six more than Ted Marchibroda's 12). In addition, his 11 rushing touchdowns were second in the league behind only those of Chicago's Rick Casares. His 29 total touchdowns were the highest single-season total in NFL history to date and the highest total in the era of the twelve-game schedule. The entire Packers' offense outside of Rote accounted for just 5 touchdowns.
Among quarterbacks, he led the league in pass completions, pass attempts, passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing attempts, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns.

[Fritz]

I believe he ended up with the Lions in the 60's. Might've been their fourth best QB ever.

[pbmax]

Good timing on all-time QBs discussion. Rodgers, Favre, Isabell and Curly Lambeau all make appearances in this article trying to determine greatest QB in his era. Just ignore the bit about Stafford, dig in for four Packer references.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/skeptical-football-matthew-stafford-is-gunning-for-peyton-mannings-throne/

[Pugger]

Ted Fritsch



Ted Fritsch came to the Packers in 1942 recommended by his Stevens Point State College coach, former Packer Ed Kotal.

The 5’10”, 205-pound Fritsch was a bruising fullback who ran over defenders rather than eluding them.

The athletic Fritsch also played with the Oshkosh All Stars of the National Basketball League and with the Triple A Toledo Mud Hens baseball team.

Fritsch scored both Packer touchdowns in the 14-7 1944 NFL championship victory over New York, one rushing and one receiving.

Video: Ted Fritsch scores both Packer TD’s in 1944 Championship over the Giants

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEj6NdplLK8

Fritsch led the NFL in scoring with 100 points in 1946.

Fritsch scored 380 points and rushed for 2,200 yards during his Packer career, from 1942-’50.

Fritsch was also a great tackler and a able defender on defense.


Fritsch was voted to the 1st team All-NFL in 1945 and 1946.


After retiring, Fritsch was a teacher, coach and athletic director at Premontre High School in Green Bay.[/u]

The football field at Premontre - now Notre Dame Academy - is now called Ted Fritsch Field.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Besides his passing duties, Rote led the Packers in rushing yards three times and rushing touchdowns five times. During the span of his Green Bay career, Rote ranked 3rd in the NFL in passing touchdowns, trailing only Bobby Layne and Norm Van Brocklin. He also ranked 1st in the league in rushing yards by a quarterback and 2nd in touchdowns.

1956 Season .... His 29 total touchdowns were the highest single-season total in NFL history to date and the highest total in the era of the twelve-game schedule. The entire Packers' offense outside of Rote accounted for just 5 touchdowns.
Among quarterbacks, he led the league in pass completions, pass attempts, passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing attempts, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns.

Tobin Rote and Don Majkowski were similar types. They were good runners, good passers and gave hope to the Packer faithful in lean times.

It sounds like Maxie's comment here is right. But Tobin Rote is much more accomplished than Majkowski. Majkowski was Charlie Whitehurst with a mullet. That's too harsh, Majkowski was pretty good, but just pretty good. Rookie season Russell Wilson? Too generous.

[KYPack]

I believe he ended up with the Lions in the 60's. Might've been their fourth best QB ever.

Tobin Rote is the unknown superstar.

Lead the Lions to the '57 blowout of the Browns to win the championship.

After the Lions wouldn't pay him, he went to the CFL.

He set records with Toronto that still stand.

Sid Gillman snapped him up in '63 to QB the SD Chargers. He won the AFL championship to SD in '63. That was a legendary team, one that is still talked about.

Only QB to win an NFL championship and the AFL crown.

Rote could play in today's NFL, a great runner with a live throwing arm.

He probably should go in the HOF, but he'll never make it.

[Maxie the Taxi]

It sounds like Maxie's comment here is right. But Tobin Rote is much more accomplished than Majkowski. Majkowski was Charlie Whitehurst with a mullet. That's too harsh, Majkowski was pretty good, but just pretty good. Rookie season Russell Wilson? Too generous.

I remember watching Majkowski, but when I went back and checked the facts this is what impressed me:

Nicknamed The Majik Man, Majkowski broke out during the 1989 Green Bay Packers season. He was given the starting job and Randy Wright was released. Majkowski had one of the finest seasons in Packers history. He completed 353 passes in 599 attempts. His 4,318 passing yards led the NFL. He also threw for 27 touchdowns. Notably, the Packers won their first game against the hated rival Chicago Bears since 1984. The key was a touchdown play, first nullified by an illegal forward pass by Majkowski, then upheld by instant replay as a legal pass. The season ended with 10 wins and 6 losses; Majkowski capped the season with his being selected to the Pro Bowl.

Not to shabby. Tobin Rote had more longevity, but Magic Man had the tools...Too bad the injury bug bit him.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I heard interview with Majik a few years ago. Guy has terrible health,chronic pain with back and legs. I remember he said he is not able to play golf.

I do remember he had that great season that sent Scott Tolzien, I mean Randy Wright, to the broadcast booth. But what a flash in the pan.