GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)

(CHICAGO) - The Packers were victimized by an unfortunate call by the officials, failure to make a few inches to a key first down and, horrors, another blocked punt in Wrigley Field here Sunday afternoon. Those three items - plus an unhappy bounce of a fumble, enabled the Packers to gift-wrap a 21 to 14 decision for the Chicago Bears who went into action as a 10-point favorite. If ever the Packers played a game where things went all sour after a brief - ever so brief - period of sweetness, this was it. But that's the rule rather than the exception when the Packers play in jinxey Wrigley Field; they've won only six games here in 22 years and they haven't beaten the Bruins twice in the same season since 1935. So, the Bays' heart-breaking loss set their record at 2-5 and dropped them into the Western Division cellar - along. They'll get a chance to get a partner against the Rams in Milwaukee Sunday

RAMS NEXT FOR PACK; FLOCK OF POINTS, TOO?

NOV 12 (Green Bay) - The Rams in Milwaukee! Man, that means points for the point-starved Packers - if the trend of the last few years means anything. The Packers have beaten the Los Angeles outfit for three straight seasons in Milwaukee and rolled up 107 points in the process - an average of 35.6 per test. Coach Liz Blackbourn's first victory as coach of the Packers came at the expense of the Rams in 1954 in Milwaukee, a 35-17 sparkler. The next season, the Lizmen skinned through on Fred Cone's last second field goal 30 to 28 but a year ago the Packers bristled with a 42 to 17 triumph. The Rams presently as fresh from a one-game winning streak - a 37 to 24 victory over the 49ers, while the Packers have lost two tough ones since beating Baltimore Oct. 27. The Bays dropped a 31-17 decision to New York and a 21-14 verdict to the Chicago Bears. LA's record is a shaky 3-4, while Green Bay's is shakier, 2-5. The Packers can still make their best finish in ten years by winning their last five - LA in Milwaukee, the Steelers in Pittsburgh, the Lions in Detroit and the Rams and 49ers on the coast. The last time the Pack finished above .500 was in 1947 when the team posted 6-5-1. The Rams, who finished in a 4-8 tie with the Pack in '56, still figure they've got a chance to make a playoff - and that makes the Packer job juicier. If the Rams figure to win it with four losses, as do the Bears, then the Packers, with a winning blast,

NFL STARS FINDING IT TOUGHER POINT-WISE

NOV 13 (Green Bay) - This is Statistics Day again. And the figures show it's tougher to score this year than it was at the same stage in 1956! The top four scorers in the last last year after the first seven games had 61 points (by Bobby Layne), 60 (Rick Casares), 54 (George Blanda) and 54 (Billy Howton) - a total of 229 points. This year, the top four scorers after the opening seven coined 173 points - a dropoff of 6 in one year. Blanda is tops with 48, Ollie Watson and Jim Mutscheller each have 42 and Sam Baker has 41. The next four scorers a year ago at this time had 48, 46 and 42 (twice) points, while the next four this year had 39, 38, 38 and 37. Maybe the defenses are catching up with the offenses! Look at the rushing: The three top rushers at this point in '56 had 657 yards (by Casares), 576 (Matson) and Frank Gifford (508). The current three top blasters are Tom Wilson with 501, Jimmy Brown with 464 and Hugh McElhenny with 452. The top three in '56 gained 1,841 yards; the top trio this year 1,417 - a drop-down of 424. Lest you think that today's super-modern pro offenses are getting obsolete, let us announce quickly that 1957 passing is keeping ahead of '56 - at least in touchdown passes. The 10 leading passers hurled 68 touchdown passes thus far this year, while the top 10 pitchers a year ago had 58 touchdown throws at this stage. Ed Brown was leading the league a year ago this time with an average gain (per pass) of 11.19, while Bill Wade was second with 8.86 and Lamar McHan third with 8.62. The top three figures now are 10.04 by Tom O'Connell, Eddie LeBaron 9.27 and John Unitas 8.18. It's close! The pass catchers this year are a wee bit off. The top four in '56 caught 122; the top four this year 111. Incidentally, Billy Howton was leading after seven in '56 with 32 catches; Gifford had 31; Wilson 30 and Harlon Hill 29. Jack McClairen is leading now with 31; Clyde Conner has 30 for second; Ray Berry 36 for third; and three are tied with 24. The very first name at the top of today's "stix" is a Packer thorn - a Ram by the name of Tom Wilson, who leads the league in rushing with 501 yards in 99 attempts for an average of 5.1. Tom set the league's individual single game record (223 yards) against the Packers in the 1956 windup at LA last year. And he took up where he left off until a couple of weeks ago. The Bears stopped him up in the Rams' 16-10 loss and he played little against the 49ers last Sunday. In fact, Jon Arnett was pulled back from end to play in Wilson's halfback-fullback position and the LA team went on to whip Frisco 37-24. Ram Coach Sid Gillman may stick with that setup for the Pack, but you never know. The Rams don't have any other statistical leaders but quarterback Norm Van Brocklin is ninth in passing and second in punting; Arnett is second in kickoff returns and eighth in punt returns; and Wilson is third in kickoff returns. Arnett, who blasted the Pacific Coast Conference something fierce in latest Look magazine, is one of two kickoff returners with 30-yard averages. The other is the Packers' Don McIlhenny, who has 31.1. With Wilson in third, Sunday's game will show the league's top kickoff returners. Man the platoons, fellas! The best Packer jump in the statistics was made by quarterback Bart Starr who leaped from eighth to sixth place with an average of 7.62. Bart has a completion percentage of 53.5. Bobby Dillon, with a swipe against the Bears, moved into third in interceptions with six while teammate John Symank is tied with three others with five each...The Packer problem now is Los Angeles and it will be something entirely new because this will be Green Bay's first crash with the Hollywood boys this year. Besides movies, the Packers are being informed about the Rams - via written and telephone reports - by a couple of west coast coaches, including Earl Klapstein, who served as a Packer assistant a year ago. Earl is now coaching at a new junior college near LA and, incidentally, his team stands a chance of getting into a junior bowl...Max McGee is due to report today to the Packers - as a civilian. The offensive left end went to his air base in Florida after the game in Chicago Sunday and was scheduled to be separated from the Air Force Monday or Tuesday. Max had been playing as a first lieutenant!...Joe Johnson hasn't seen much action lately since he's playing under Ron Kramer at slot back and standing ready as a replacement at end, but he got one chance Sunday and all Packerland is still talking about it today. "That's the way to break in," Joe quipped yesterday in the clubhouse. But the hard-working Bostonian still was puzzled about the ruling on that catch - "I had the ball," he repeated. Turning to Dick Deschaine, the occupant of the next locker, Johnson added: "And you can get back up there with a few good days." Deschaine had two punts  blocked in the last two games, dropping him from the punting leadership down to seventh.

BUCK ENTERS FAME HALL THURSDAY

NOV 13 (Milwaukee) - Howard P. (Cub) Buck, former University of Wisconsin and Green Bay Packers tackle whose bear-like charged earned him his nickname, will become the 22nd member of Wisconsin's Athletic Hall of Fame Thursday night. A plaque recounting the exploits of the mountainous former lineman will be unveiled at a banquet in the Arena. Buck will share the dais with other sports notables including Don Hutson, Chris Steinmetz, Ivy Williamson, Fred Luderus, George McBride, Ralph Metcalf, Frankie Parker and Ned Allis, to name a few. Now 64 and the operator of an automobile agency in Rock Island, Ill., Buck won unanimous election to the Hall of Fame last December. As a 280-pound tackle, Buck played for Wisconsin from 1913 through 1915 and for the Packers from 1922 through 1925. He was one of the highest scoring linemen in the history of the professional Packers with 60 points on 24 conversions and 12 field goals. Buck is more remembered, however, for his ferocity as a lineman. The sight of the giant with the ham-like fists bearing down for a tackle was enough to scare any ball carrier. Buck is a native of Eau Claire. He was born there on Aug. , 1893. He entered Wisconsin in 1912 and was graduated five years later with a degree of bachelor of science in civil engineering. Among his predecessors in the Hall of Fame are Hutson, Dave Schreiner and Clarke Hinkle. All are charter members, having been chosen in the first election in 1951.

OFFICIATING AT PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

NOV 13 (Green Bay) - George Ratterman, former rugged back for the Cleveland Browns. charged in a Sunday newspaper article that the officials of pro football must tighten up on illegal plays or the sport is going to degenerate into plain brawls. Obviously officiating at pro games is tougher than at high school 

Chicago Bears (3-4) 21, Green Bay Packers (2-5) 14

Sunday November 10th 1957 (at Chicago)

FIRST DOWN MISS TURNING POINT: GH

NOV 11 (Chicago) - George Stanley Halas, playing a familiar role for the first time since he "retired" two years ago, hasn't lost his touch. Stepping in as host at Wrigley Field's Pink Poodle Sunday afternoon in the absence of Head Coach Paddy Driscoll, Papa Bear presided as though he'd never been away in submitting a 15-word analysis of the 78th Packer-Bear collision just completed. "The Packers' failure to make the first down in the fourth quarter was the turning point in both cases," the urbane owner of the Midway Monsters asserted. (There was a feeling in the Packer camp, which later became a conviction through photographic evidence, that the ruling that nullified Joe Johnson's catch of a Bart Starr pass in the fourth quarter was perhaps more significant but Halas declined comment on the decision.) Dismissing the question with a shrug of the shoulders, George smiled, "Well, we outgained 'em, anyway," as he scanned the day's statistics. "Not by much," a Chicago scribe shot back. "No, no, that's right," Halas, in a position to be gracious, conceded, "not by much." Somebody else said, "That's particularly true if you figure in the number of yards the Packers ran back interceptions." Granting this to be true, Halas pointed out, "Yes, but if that pass that Bobby Dillon intercepted would have just a couple of yards longer, Harlon Hill would have been gone with it because he was in the open." Halas, a championship gleam in his eye, left no doubt he attached considerable significance to this latest Bear victory, despite the fact that it left the Bruins with a modest 3-4 record. "The Forty Niners," he said, "will lose three of their next four." He didn't say it but the NFL pioneer obviously was assuming the Bears would simultaneously win three in a row, which would catapult them into a first place tie with San Francisco. He forced himself to be practical in the next breath, however, observing, "Actually, anybody who looks beyond next Sunday's game is a fool." Returning to the Packers, Halas opined, "With McIlhenny (Don) and Paul Hornung back there, they're in pretty good shape. That Hornung played an excellent game at fullback today." How about his Bears? "When you win," he grinned, "you can overlook a lot of things." Halas was proud of his players for another reason. "They gave the game ball to Harry McNamara," he said, "and I though it was a splendid gesture." McNamara, veteran Chicago Herald-American sportswriter, is seriously ill..."Sure I caught it!" This half-indignant response came from Joe Johnson, principal in that much-disputed "no catch" decision in the fourth quarter which subsequently was proved erroneous by the Associated Press camera. "I had it in my hands, just like this," Joe gestured, creating a cradle effect with his hands. "The ball bounced up my arm when I hit the ground, then back into my hands - but it never touched the ground during that time." Across the room, Bobby Dillon confided, "Yes, just for an instant, I thought I might be going all the way." Bobby, who had reference to his fourth quarter interception, added, "If I'd cut to my left at about the 50, I think I would have because the Bears were all bunched up the other way. But I had to stop when somebody, I think it was McColl, came over and I lost my chance." Turning to lockermate Hank Gremminger, he said with a twinkle, "You threw a pretty good block on that one." Hank smiled, a little self-consciously, and replied, "I don't know about that but it turned my thigh pad inside out." A few doors down, Paul Hornung had little to say except, "Yeah, I had  great day - I couldn't get that yard, or that foot which it actually was, when we needed it." Crew-cut Johnny Symank, a dynamo on defense all day, said apologetically, "I had a clean lick at Casares on that last touchdown but he had so much momentum I just couldn't hold him." Ken Gorgal, a Packer in 1956, was consoling Bart Starr near the door with, "I'm sorry you couldn't win that one, Bart." "We just can't get enough points," Bart said sadly, "I guess I had McGee open down close and I didn't see him in time. That's terrible." Be that as it may, one of his colleagues, Ollie Spencer, had nothing but praise for the forthright Alabama alumnus. "I think Bart probably is the best sophomore quarterback this league has ever had," Ollie declared. "He's really coming fast."..."I feel sorry for the kids," was Head Coach Liz Blackbourn's first reaction, "because they've been playing so well, they deserve to win. This one today was a real good effort all the way. As a matter of fact, we played good football against the Giants last Sunday as well as today - and even before that against the 49ers," Liz pointed out. "Yet in the face of tremendous handicaps, they still improve. That's why I feel sorry for them." He was particularly pleased with evidence of growing cohesion because only two members of the present starting cast, Bill Howton and Jim Ringo, were in the lineup a year ago. Labeling the blocked punt that led to a Bear touchdown in the second quarter "as just one of many things that happened out there today," Liz said, "We'll have to get Dick (Deschaine) to get the ball delivered a little faster."...SEE NO EVIL?: Slugging ordinarily brings automatic expulsion for the offender and a 15-yard penalty but such was not the case when the Bears' 6-foot, 8-inch Doug Atkins socked the Packers' Jim Salsbury in the third quarter - in full view of an official. Not only was Atkins permitted to remain in the game, but the penalty was ignored...'HOWTON DEFENSE': The Bears set up a special defense for Bill Howton after the Packer greyhound went all the way with a Starr pass in the first quarter. The Bruins put a chugger, either Wayne Hansen or Joe Fortunato, on him at the line of scrimmage, assigned J.C. Caroline to knock him down (if possible) when he began to maneuver and the left safety, Vic Zucco, to move over if Bill got by J.C. Speaking of defense, the Bears had what amounted to a two-man defensive line on the first play of the first half, with seven men deep in a double umbrella alignment, in anticipation of a Packer pass. The defense went untested, however, the Packers preferring to freeze the ball and run out the clock...DOUBLE DUTY: Don McIlhenny is not considered overly robust when compared to some of his burly Packer colleagues, such as Ron Kramer and Ollie Spencer, but he engineered a coup in the third quarter that would have been a credit to either one. The swift SMU alumnus bowled over two Bears with one block on Paul Hornung's run for a first down after recovery of a Bear fumble...SUPPORT: The Packers were performing on foreign soil but they were not without support, visual as well as vocal. A big sign bearing the admonition, "Go! Go! Packers," in huge green and red letters, was set up at the south end of Wrigley Field between halves...MIXED SIGNALS: Rocky Wolfe, veteran Bear field announcer, got his sports mixed in the second quarter when he intoned, "Downed by Tanner..Hanner." He may be partially excused, however, since Chuck Tanner also roams Wrigley Field - as the Cubs' leftfielder. Wolfe, pro football's first P.A. announcer in 1925, is in his 33rd year as field voice of the Bears...WISTFUL THINKER: The Packers' Norm Amundsen was unhappy - he had to sit this one one out in civvies on the bench in his hometown because of a knee injury incurred early in last Sunday's Giant game. Trainer Bud Jorgensen is hopeful, however, that the sturdy ex-Badger will be ready for next Sunday's match with the Los Angeles Rams...'PLAYERS ONLY': They'll probably be calling rookie Johnny Symank "Baby Face" from now on. The hard-hitting defensive back had trouble getting aboard the Packers' special car at the North Western depot Sunday night. A trainman, who thought Symank, "was some high school kid," told John, "This car is reserved for Packer players." Fortunately for Symank, Packer Aide Jack Vainisi was present to establish identification.

LIZ BOILING MAD - BUT BELL'S RULE KEEPS HIM TONGUE-TIED

NOV 12 (Milwaukee Sentinel) - "I'm sorry," said the voice on the other end of the phone Monday, "I am unable to make statement regarding that play." Because of Commissioner Bert Bell's ironclad rule, Packer Coach Liz Blackbourn could not make a single comment on Head Linesman Dan Tehan's judgment of Bart Starr's 30-yard pass to Joe Johnson, the one which was ruled incomplete on the Bear one foot line during Sunday's game at Chicago. Apparently it's an unwritten law handed down by Bell's office. It must carry enough weight to cost a violator his job. The Packers have found it tough winning at Wrigley Field. They've turned the trick only once in the last 16 years. And when such a disputed call occurs in as close a game as Sunday's, there's reason aplenty for howling in Packerland. As it was, Johnson made a sensational catch of Starr's pass. He juggled it, fell forward and slid along the turf. The ball was clutched to his stomach

and Bear defender Bill George was riding his back. The two players skidded diagonally toward the sidelines and eventually out of bounds over the corner flag. An Associated Press sequence picture showed that Johnson apparently had possession of the ball in bounds. For a few moments the only visible signal on the field came from the Bears' J.C. Caroline, who waved his hands palms down in a scissors motion to signify an incompleted pass. After a conference with Field Judge Yans Wallace, Tehan picked up the ball and motioned it was caught out of bounds. Johnson almost went berserk, jumping up and down. But the decision stood. The Bruins went on to push over a touchdown with 61 seconds to go for a 21-15 victory. Blackbourn, still trying to buy a little bit of luck, believes his team is improving by the game. "We're not doing anything difference now than when the season started," Liz said. "But we are gaining that needed confidence." When asked why Dick Deschaine, who is carried for his punting ability, is having his kicks blocked lately, Blackbourn said, "he's taking too darn much time, he can't be that slow and expect the opposition to stand around and watch." The Bears had a 6-man line with two linebackers, one of them Harlon Hill, on that rush. All eight of them rushed Deschaine. Three of them charged the same path. Hill and Jack Hoffman came in on the blocking back. He took Hoffman and Hill blocked it. The next time the Bears tried it, almost worked again. Fred Cone, who kicked five field goals during the pre-season campaign, has only booted three to date. He missed from the 37 and 44 against the Bears. Blackbourn said he would still stick with Cone for kicking the "short" goals until it's proven he is falling. Then Paul Hornung will be used. Hornung does all the kicking off. On the critical fourth down and six inches to go play in the fourth quarter, the Bears outsmarted the Packers and nailed Hornung from making the vital first down. On three previous occasions, Starr made the necessary yardage on quarterback sneaks. The Packers must have thought the Bears were waiting for the sneak on the big one, so they gave it to Hornung on a quick count - and that quick count gave Starr no time to convert the play when he realized the Bears had stacked up on that side. The game was another bruising affair, typical of Packer-Bear scraps. Yet, Blackbourn believed his squad came out without any serious injuries. Tackle Norm Masters reported a wrenched knee.

DESCHAINE MARKED MAN

NOV 14 (Green Bay) - Dick Deschaine will be a marked man when the Packers play the Rams in Milwaukee County Stadium Sunday. The Packers' punting expert - the No. 2 booter in the league behind the Rams' Norm Van Brocklin the last two seasons - had one punt blocked in each of the last two games. The Rams would like to make that three games, and their coaches must be devising ways and means of adding to Dick's present unhappiness. The first punts attempted by Deschaine in the Giant game here and the Bear game in Chicago were blocked. Cliff Livingston, coming in from defensive end, did the dirty work in the Giant go and Sam Huff fell on it in the end zone for a touchdown. Harlon Hill, of all people, blocked Dick's boot for the Bears on the Packer 36 and three plays later Hill caught a 35-yard pass for a game-tying touchdown. Those were two valuable touchdowns, and nobody knows it any more than Deschaine. After each blocked punt, he settled down like a good pro should, averaging 42 yards on three boots after the Livingston block and 41.7 yards on four boots after the Bear block. While the Rams are working for Blockee No. 3, Packer Coach Liz Blackbourn and Aides Ray McLean, Jack Morton and Lou Rymkus all viewed Dick carefully as he boomed those 50-yarders after practice yesterday. The trick apparently is to get Deshaine to speed up his punting by taking one less step. Dick normally takes 2 1/2 to three steps before delivering; he worked on a two-stepper yesterday, a plan that may be continued if he doesn't lose any power. Funny thing, Deschaine seemed to punt in such a hurry when he stepped off the Menominee, Mich., sandlots in 1955. The foot phenom always wanted to boot it right away; he had to be slowed down. After a full season, Deschaine got so that he could hold the ball for a moment and allow teammates to get downfield. This was a common practice of retired punting stars Horace Gillom and Bob Waterfield, depending on the rush put on, of course. Deschaine normally stands about 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage, although he'll hedge to 12 and 13 at times. Sam Palumbo has had a tendency to pass the ball back a bit high in the past two games, but the pass was reasonably perfect on the two blocked punts. Incidentally, these were the first Packer punts blocked since 1950 when Jug Girard had two of his 71 boots stopped. Jug finished with an average of 38.2; Deschaine's present average is 41.6 despite the two blocks. Girard had three blocked in 1949; Jack Jacobs one each in 1947-48; and Roy McKay one in 1946. Thus, the Packers had 10 punts blocked in the last 11-plus seasons, with a stretch of six non-block seasons. Deschaine will be having his fifth duel with punt champion Van Brocklin. The Flying Dutchmen won three of the previous four and the other was sort of no contest - the last game in 1956 in which the Rams never had to punt. Dick averaged 46 yards in that game. Van had the edge, 47.7 to 45, in the first Ram-Pack go in '56 and Dutch beat out then-rookie Deschaine in 1955 by 47 to 44.8 in the opener and 48.5 to 41.2 in the nightcap...The bottom fell right out of the Packers' end stock in practice yesterday when Billy Howton became ill as practice started. He left in a hurry for treatment for possible stomach flu. He was OK today. Since Max McGee hadn't returned from Florida yet where he's being separated from the Air Force. the Bays went through an offensive drill with Deschaine at one end and Joe Johnson at the other, while Ron Kramer alternated at end and slot back. The Packers expect to have Howton and McGee in the saddle for 

10 feet high.) To Bob Boyd - Did R.C. Owens inspire you to make those great catches Sunday? "It's pretty hard to miss when a guy like Norm Van Brocklin is throwing." To Duane Putnam - Is the Bear line better than the 49ers? "When things are working for you, you can do the same things to anybody's line." To Art Hauser - Would you rather play offense than the defense? "I think I'm a better defensive player by far. I couldn't hit the side of a barn blocking and a guy like Putnam never misses." To Coach Sid Gillman - Does Tom Wilson give the play away? "No, but I've seen him give the ball away." To defensive backfield coach Jack Faulkner - Why don't the players intercept more passes instead of knocking them down? "Because the passes keep hitting our players in a bad place - the hands." Each player and coach was asked, "Do the Rams choke up on the road?" The Rams haven't won an away game in their last nine. Each said no in varying ways. Hirsch felt the team plays more spirited ball at home "because we have the crowd and people behind us." Many of the others reminded the fans that the opposition is not made up of amateurs. The team leaves at 12:30 p.m. today aboard its chartered United Air Lines plane for Milwaukee where it'll face Green Bay Sunday. Tomorrow's Milwaukee forecast is for rain and snow with 35-deg. temperatures.

​PACKERS BID TO KNOCK RAMS OUT OF CLOUDS

NOV 16 (Milwaukee-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers hope to knock the Rams out of the Cloud 102,368 in County Stadium Sunday afternoon. The Rams have been sizzling hot and high since they botched up the 49ers 37 to 24 before a pro-record crowd of 102,368 people in Los Angeles last Sunday. The crowd at tomorrow's Packer-Ram game won't be quite that large, and the Rams are also warned that the turnout - roughly 20,000 with good weather - won't be cheering the Hollywood Heroes. Thus, the Rams will be experiencing a comedown of approximately 122,368 voices. There will be another dropback - the weather. It can be assumed that Milwaukee can't match the 85 degree of a week ago in LA, so the Rams are hereby warned that it might be cold - maybe 40, maybe snow, maybe rain and maybe not. While the Packers have a 2-5 record, they still - believe it or not - have an outside chance of getting up front. A Green Bay victory, for instance, would leave the Pack just two games back if the Lions down the 49ers and the Bears halt the Colts. That would leave the 49ers and Lions with 5-3, the Bears and Colts with 4-4 and the Packers and Rams with 3-5. And with four games to go anything could happen because the Packers still must play three of those teams (Rams, Lions and 49ers) after Sunday. The 49ers must play the Giants yet and the Rams face the Browns among others. Incidentally, the Lions and Bears are given a slight edge in their key games Sunday, but the Rams are favored to down the Packers by a few points. The Packers are fresh from three rip-snorting performances - a victory over the Colts and losses to the Giants and Bears. The Bays played it to the hilt in the three battles and the two losses were featured by two key bad breaks and failures to make short yardage. The Pack is asking no more than an even break with the breaks and, of course, some offense which automatically covers short and long yardage spots. Coach Liz Blackbourn will open with the same team that steamed to two touchdowns against the Bears in the first 16 minutes and then tailed off with zero points in the last 44 minutes. That would be Bart Starr at quarterback; Ron Kramer and Don McIlhenny at the halfbacks; Paul Hornung at fullback; Bill Howton and Max McGee at ends; Don Masters and Ollie Spencer at tackles; Al Barry and Jim Salsbury at guards; and Jim Ringo at center. Fullback Howie Ferguson may come forth Sunday. He's been running hard in practice the last couple of days, and he apparently has shaken off his injuries. McGee returned Friday from Florida where he was separated from the Air Force. The offense will be charged with the task of getting out of the two-touchdown rut. The Packers twice came up with three-touchdown games and won both of them. They were limited to two TDs in each of the five losses. Keeping possession of the ball - not to mention scoring, would be a great service to the Packer defense which will be tangling with one of the most explosive offenses in the league. The Ram pointmakers have what sounds like an all-pro backfield with Norm Van Brocklin at quarterback; Ron Waller, Tom Wilson and Jon Arnett at left half; Tank Younger and Joe Marconi at fullback; and Leon Clarke who might be hurt and Lamar Lundy at slot back. The LA line smacks of stardom - Elroy Hirsch (or Arnett) at one end and Bob Boyd or Clarke at the other and such gents as Duane Putnam, John Hock, Glenn Holtzman, Bob Fry and Bob Griffin in between. Wilson is leading the league in rushing but he has played little in the last week, giving way to Arnett and Waller. Other than Wilson, the Rams have show little on an individual statistical basis, the reason being that the Rams are so well balanced. The Ram defense kept the 49ers down to 24 points, with R.C. Owens catching only one pass, and held the Bears without a touchdown from scrimmage. While the Packers scored 109 points in victories over the Rams here in 1954-55-56, they'll be facing a Ram defense that is spiced with four highly-prized rookies - Del Shofner, a cornerbacker; linebacker Dick Daugherty; tackle George Stugar; and end Ray Smith. They join such experts as Les Richter, Bill Sherman, Don Burroughs, Paul Miller and others. The Packers are headquartering at the Astor Hotel tonight. They'll return on the North Western Sunday night, arriving in Green Bay at 8:25.

EMPHASIS ON DEFENSE: IT HAS MORE WAYS TO SCORE

NOV 16 (Green Bay) - Did you ever wonder why such emphasis is placed on good defenses in football - particularly the pros? You've often heard the old saying that the defense will always - eventually, that is - catch up with the offense. The reason is quite simple: A defensive team has more ways to score than the offensive unit. The Offensers can only score on a run, a pass or a kick - three ways to score! The Defensers can score on an intercepted pass, a recovered fumble, a safety, a blocked punt, a punt return and a kickoff return - six ways! Thus, the defense had a 6 to 3 advantage in scoring power and it's no wonder that even the greatest offenses must slow down to a trot in time. You defensive fans likely will scream at the "disadvantages" but you must admit that when the defense is really clicking, rugged and hot, the offense must go!...Defensive back Bob Holladay of the 49ers suffered a broken leg against the Rams last Sunday, and that means that Val Joe Walker will start for Frisco against the Lions tomorrow. Walker, the ex-Packer defender, was the fifth player in the 49er defensive unit...Sid Gillman, Ram coach, before 49ers game in regard to starting Jon Arnett instead of Tom Wilson at halfback: "Wilson is still leading the league but he isn't scoring. We've decided we don't want to win arguments but football games. So we're going to start the little guy (Arnett) there. His kickoff runback (98 yards against the Bears) was one of the most fantastic runs I've ever seen."...Incidentally, Gillman used the signal-calling messenger system during the Rams' 37-24 victory over the 49ers last Sunday for the first time this season. He delivered the messages via guards John Hock and John Houser but permitted quarterback Norm Van Brocklin to change the calls as he saw fit...Frankie Albert, after his 49ers lost to the Rams last Sunday: "The Rams gave Van Brocklin great protection. I don't think he ever got his uniform dirty and I doubt if he had to take a shower."...Don Hutson, Pack immortal at the Cub Buck banquet in Milwaukee Thursday night: "The Packers have been getting some awfully bad breaks, but they've continued to play good hard football."...The Rams have a spelling problem - John Houser and Art Hauser and Dick Daugherty and Bob Dougherty. Houser is an offensive guard and Hauser a defensive tackle, creating no trouble there, but Daugherty is a right linebacker, and Dougherty left linebacker. Fortunately, the Packers don't learn their foes necessarily by name; they know 'em by position and number...Bert Bell, commissioner of the NFL, made two personal telephone calls to fan-groups in the city this week after receipt of letters complaining about the officiating in Packer games this season. Ball called the Brown County Highway Commission office Thursday and employees at Gately's Friday and talked about 10 minutes with each group...Steeler end Jack McLairen leaped into the league's pass catching lead by snaring 14 pitches in his last two games. He caught seven for 85 yards as the Pitts were blanked by the Browns 24-0 last Sunday...Buddy Parker, Steeler coach after losing to Cleveland: "We just don't know how to win. We don't think like a winner. We're all right when we're playing in our class - against the Redskins, Eagles, Cardinals, somebody like that. But when we go up against the good ones, we lose our poise. They picked us to pieces. You never catch them making the mistakes we made."

afternoon. The Packers scored two touchdowns in the first quarter and 53 seconds of the second period on Bart Starr's 47-yard bomber to Billy Howton and a 28-yard play with Don McIlhenny, giving the Pack a 14-7 lead. But that was the end of the Packers' scoring for the day - unless, of course, you completely overlook the aforementioned "unfortunate call" on the third last play of the third quarter - a "touchdown" that would have given the Bays a 21-14 edge. We're being kind in calling the ruling unfortunate. It was a rock by the officials - pure and simple. Here's what happened: The Packers were on the Bears' 30, thanks to Bill Forester's interception of an Ed Brown pass, and it was third down and 22 yards (Starr had been smeared for 12 on second down). Joe Johnson went down and out, snared Starr's throw on the one, juggled it briefly and then squeezed it as he hit the turf and skidded into the end zone just inside the flag. The officials never signaled anything as they appeared to be undecided, but it was soon apparent what had happened as Johnson argued sharply and the crowd let out that close-call expression, "whew." The official who made the call (nobody seemed to want responsibility for this one) was about 10 yards behind Johnson. There was no downfield official who might have actually seen the catch, although there were five officials on the field - by actual count.

THE EXTRA POINT

One official stood on the two-yard line in front of the goal posts for a moment looking like he was waiting for the ball to set it down for the extra point. Just before Johnson got himself off the turf, Bear linebacker Bill George, who rode into the end zone on Joe's back, quickly got up and gave the incompleted pass signal. The lost touchdown was a brutally frustrating thing for the Packers, who were having enough trouble scoring against the Bears without having the officials to combat, too. On the first play after the no-caller, Fred Cone missed a field goal from the 27 - his second muff of the day. But there were more frustrations - one of the Packers' own doing and the other caused by the odd shape of the football. With 3:14 left, the Packers had a game-winning drive going on the Bear 41. They had a fourth down, one foot situation but Paul Hornung was stopped cold at left tackle and the Bears took over and set sail on their game winning drive. But the Packers had a shot of luck en route. Rick Casares had third and one on the Packer 28. He hit the line and fumbled. The ball bounced forward and, you guessed it, Kline Gilbert came up with it among a flock of Packers and Bears - for a four-yard gain. Three plays later the hard-pounding Casares blasted nine yards for the game winner. The Packers deserved a better fate. They were smacking hard all afternoon and forced four Bear fumbles, the Bays snaring two. The Packers made the only two interceptions of the day, Forester and Bobby Dillon, with a 43-yard runback, making the steals. The Bears made no interceptions but they did recover a Packer fumble - on a play right in front of the Packer bench which howled vigorously. A later check revealed that Don McIlhenny had both feet out of bounds when the ball was jarred loose - reason enough to raise a rumpus. While these things (including Johnson's toughie) seemed to be going against the Pack, the Bays hurt themselves real bad, on that blocked punt in the second quarter. It was a gift, but the Bears acted like it was planned that way. It was the second punt Dick Deschaine had blocked in two games. Against the Giants a week ago, Cliff Livingstone shot through untouched from an end position to turn the block into a touchdown. The Bears shot two men up the middle, Harlon Hill and J.C. Caroline, with Hill making the block and Caroline recovering on the Packer 36. Three plays later Hill took Zeke Bratkowski's pass for a 35-yard touchdown play and the game was tied 14-14. The Bears had a small edge in statistics, 339 to 275 in total yards; 141 to 137 on rushing; and 198 to 138 on passing. But two figures hurt the Pack - yards lost passing (41) and, of course, Deschaine's punting average, 32.4, which was reduced by the blocked punt. The attempted punt, ironically, was set up when the Bears threw Starr for a nine-yard loss trying to pass. Dechaine, although pressured all day, got off two good punts after the blocker, one rolling out of bounds on the four. The Packers put on a balanced offense, although it sputtered at three key moments - midway in the first period when the Pack had a chance to grab a quick lead after recovering a fumble on the Bear 41. But Starr was thrown for a 12-yard loss and Fred Cone missed a field goal from 44 yards. There were two other sputters - the one caused by the official, and the other on failure to make a foot on what could have been a winning drive. The Bears didn't score a touchdown from scrimmage and didn't allow one in beating the Rams a week ago, but both "records" were broken in the first six minutes. The Bears received the opening kickoff and counted seven in nine plays, with Willie Galimore (he finished with 10 yards in 10 trips) and Rick Casares running and Bratkowski pitching two passes to Bill McColl for 33 yards. Casares, who hit 75 yards in 17 tries for the day, went the last 22 for a touchdown and George Blanda converted. The Packers tied it up even quicker. Hornung, who made 47 yards in 12 trips and caught four passes for 31 yards, ripped 12 yards to the Packer 48. McIlhenny, the Pack's top ground gainer with 65 stripes in 17 trips, belted four to the Bear 47 and then Starr arched a neat strike to Howton, who took the ball on the 12 behind Caroline and raced home. Cone kicked the point and it was 7-7 at 6:36. The Pack got it right back again when the great Galimore fumbled as he was hit by Bobby Dillon and John Symank recovered on the Bear 41. Starr had a fourth down two situation on the 32 and easily made two at right guard for the first down. Hornung and McIlhenny were held to five yards and Starr was chased back 12 on a rollout, setting up Cone's missed field goal from the 44. The Pack got the ball right back again after a punt and they set sail to make it 14-7. On the last three plays of the first quarter, McIlhenny gained 12 to the Bear 47. Starr couldn't pass but ran out of bounds where he was roughed up by Fred Williams, and the penalty gave the Bays the ball on the Bear 29. Hornung made one at left end and then Starr hit McIlhenny on a down and out maneuver to the right and Don went in easily with 53 seconds gone in the second period. Cone converted for 14-7. With Bratkowski throwing to Hill for 30 yards and running 10 on a rollout, the Bears moved deep into Packerland - only to lose the ball on downs when the Pack stopped Bratkowski short of a first down on the Bay 23. A 16-yard pass from Starr to Hornung and a first down on rushing by McIlhenny and Hornung set the Bays moving but the Bears threw Starr for a nine-yard loss and the blocked punt and tied the score 14-14 on Blanda's point kick followed. The Packers got themselves into a deep hole as they received the second half kickoff. On the first play, as Hornung was rushed for three, the Packers were found guilty of holding, setting them back on their own 12. But the Bays were up to the task. McIlhenny went wide for 11, Starr pitched to Kramer for nine and Hornung hit left tackle for 20 to midfield. McIlhenny and Hornung gained nine more yards in two tries, but, needing only a yard, Hornung was sent wide around wide end and he lost six. After an exchange of punts and fumbles (McIhenny's by Stan Wallace and Brown's by Nate Borden), the Packers set sail again from their own 23. Starr threw to Hornung for 12 to the 37, and then Carmichael and Hornung fell a foot short of a first down at the Packer 46. On fourth down, Hornung made a good yard to keep the drive alive. The officials yelled holding again - on a 12-yard Starr to Kramer completion, and the Packers were forced to punt after Starr's pass to in-the-clear Howton was only a foot high. A good punt by Deschaine to the Bear 12 and Bill Forester's interception set up the officials' rock and Cone's second field goal miss. The Bears moved to midfield from their own 20 when Bettis threw Brown for a 13-yard loss, forcing Brown to go deep. He hurled a long shot to Hill but Dillon sky-hooked it in front of the receiver and picked his way back 43 yards to the Bear 45. At this point, the Packers decided to change their luck with Babe Parilli at quarterback with 10 minutes left in the game. Babe was trapped back six on he first play and then fumbled on the second, McIlhenny recovering for a two-yard loss. The end-around with Howton going made four so Deschaine punted. John Petitbon threw Galimore for a five-yard loss and the Bears had to punt, the Packer starting their last push from their own 26 with 5:50 left. On second down Starr passed to Howton for inches short of a first down. Starr leaped the line for four yards to the Packer 39 at 5:01. Max McGee took Bart's strike for 11 yards to the 50. McIlhenny made two, a Starr-to-Howton pass went incomplete, and Kramer took Starr's pass within a foot of a first down. Then on fourth down, Hornung ran into a stone wall at left tackle and the Bears took over on their own 41. The Bears then rolled a seven - seven plays like so: Bratkowski pitched 21 yards to Galimore, to Casares for one and Galimore for eight. Casares fumbled and Gilbert recovered on the Packer 24. Symank batted down Bratkowski's pass in front of Hill in the end zone. Galimore galloped 15 yards to the nine. Casares ran off right tackle for the touchdown. Starr tried five passes in the last 54 seconds and completed one to Kramer for 16.

GREEN BAY -   7   7   0   0  -  14

CHICAGO   -   7   7   0   7  -  21

                       GREEN BAY CHICAGO BEARS

First Downs                   11            18

Rushing-Yards-TD        37-137-0      35-154-2

Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int 22-12-179-2-0 27-16-212-1-2

Sacked-Yards                  41            14

Net Passing Yards            138           198

Total Yards                  275           352

Fumbles-lost                 2-1           4-2

Turnovers                      1             4

Yards penalized             2-27          2-20

SCORING

1st - CHI - Rick Casares, 16-yard run (George Blanda kick) CHICAGO 7-0

1st - GB - Howton, 47-yard pass from Starr (Cone kick) TIED 7-7

2nd - GB - McIlhenny, 28-yard pass from Starr (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 14-7

2nd - CH - Harlon Hill, 35-yd pass from Zeke Bratkowski (Blanda kick) TIED 14-14

4th - CHI - Casares, 9-yard run (Blanda kick) CHICAGO 21-14

RUSHING

GREEN BAY - Don McIlhenny 17-65, Paul Hornung 12-47, Bart Starr 5-15, Al Carmichael 2-6, Billy Howton 1-4

CHICAGO BEARS - Rick Casares 16-70 2 TD, Willie Galimore 11-28, Ed Brown 2-25, Zeke Bratkowski 4-23, Bobby Watkins 2-8

PASSING

GREEN BAY - Bart Starr 21-12-179 2 TD, Babe Parilli 1-0-0

CHICAGO BEARS - Zeke Bratkowski 19-13-182 1 TD, Ed Brown 8-3-30 2 INT

RECEIVING

GREEN BAY - Paul Hornung 4-31, Ron Kramer 3-34, Billy Howton 2-56 1 TD, Max McGee 2-30, Don McIlhenny 1-28 1 TD

CHICAGO BEARS - Rick Casares 6-20, Bill McColl 4-58, Harlon Hill 2-65 1 TD, Jim Dooley 2-39, Willie Galimore 2-30

wouldn't be far off with five losses. The reason for this optimism is merely that, in the last three games, the Packers won one and then looked good in losing the next two. A little push at the right time easily could have set the Packer record at 4-3 today. In each of those two games (Giants and Bears), the Packers missed a good shot at victory by inches. The Bays were on the Giants' "inchy" line when they lost the ball and a tie in the last quarter. And they missed a first down by inches on fourth down while on a trip downfield late in the Bear game - with the score tied. The Bears took the ball and went on to score...The Packers came out of the Bear game with one injury - offensive left tackle Norm Masters, who aggravated a knee injury. The former Michigan Stater was on the front end of a number of Packer rushes Sunday...BRIEFS: Packer Doyle Nix was named player of the week in Washington after his recent performance for Bolling Air Force Base. He scored two touchdowns - one on a 57-yard pass from Ralph Guglielmi and the other on a plunge...The AP said out of Detroit today that George Wilson will received a new one-year contract as coach of the Lions. It also repeated an earlier report that Wilson would get a new assistant coach - Ray McLean of the Packers. Ray said earlier that he's backfield coach of the Packers. And that's still his status!...For the umpteenth time, Packer Coach Liz Blackbourn has no comment to make on the call on Joe Johnson's catch during the Bear game Sunday. There is a strict league rule that prohibits coaches and club officials from commenting publicly on game officials' decisions. The clubs can comment, however, to league headquarters - which is what the Packer Corp. did on the officiating in the Bear game.

STILL BOILING? YOU'RE NOT ALONE HEREABOUTS

NOV 12 (Green Bay) - Still boiling about the officiating Sunday - or rather the lack of officiating? You're not alone! The ruling (no actual ruling signal was ever made) on the pass to Joe Johnson in the third period was pretty well hashed apart yesterday. So let's not pinpoint it. But there were a few other questionables! Lookee: In the 17-minute period from just before the half to a minute before the end of the third quarter, the Packers were called for holding three times while they had the ball and once while the Bears had it. And  during that period, the Packers argued sharply and in full view of millions on television because of two rulings - one on a fumble in which Don McIlhenny lost the ball (to the Bears, natch) while his feet were out of bounds and the other on Johnson's catch. We don't think the Packers are a particularly troublesome group with the officials, but their belligerent bellowing indicated that the Bays had themselves a good talking point and they were making the best of it. So, in that 17-minute period, the Packers lost themselves around 120 yards when you count the penalty and loss of gain. The Bays were nicked for holding (15 yards) with three minutes to go in the half on third down and four to go; McIlhenny made a couple of yards but the Bears wisely refused the penalty and forced a punt. The next was defensive holding; the Bears had third and seven to go when Zeke Bratkowski hit Rick Casares for four yards; the penalty was an automatic first down with 1:50 left in the game. The next holding penalty was on the first play of the second half. Paul Hornung made three yards to the 23 but the penalty put the ball back on the 12; the Packers got out of that with 40 yards in the next three plays. After McIlhenny's disputed outbounds fumble, the Bays recovered Ed Brown's fumble (this is at midfield, no chance for argument) and they got a drive going. The Packers reached the 50 after two first downs and it was second and seven when Ron Kramer caught Bart Starr's pass for 12 yards; whoops, call it back fellas - you're holding it again. So the Bays had to punt but Bill Forester intercepted and they got position deep in Bear territory. This is it but - you guessed it - the "rock" on Johnson's catch followed. You wonder why the boys get a little disturbed...We've always been unwilling to lambast (pardon the word) the officials because they, too, have many problems - 22 of them on the field, a rulebook with a lot of fine print, and the benches of the two teams. But for the past two or three years we've been on the defense, so to speak, regarding officials as we observed more various inefficiencies on the fields - not to mention hearing and reading about similar things in other games. This so-called "defense" might result from the fact that the Packers have found it more difficult to win in the past five games, and games have been closer, but we honestly feel that in a good many games there have been many instances of indecision and lack of teamwork on the part of officials. In the Colt game at Baltimore, the officials actually appeared to be arguing over whether or not the Packers scored one of their touchdowns on a line plunge. And in the 49er game in Milwaukee, a Packer player insisted later that Babe Parilli made his touchdown (on a plunge) by a good foot while Paul Hornung was that much short on his TD late in the game. Parilli never did make his. In the Bear game Sunday, Johnson was told that he was out of bounds. Later in the game, a Packer defensive player asked an official what happened and the comment then was that Joe didn't have possession. Two stories? Maybe it would be better if the officials got together. Methinks the officials now should be just as much a team as the football unit - before, during and after the game. They should not (repeat not) scatter around the field before a game, as they did in Chicago Sunday, and have a lot of old-fashioned gabfests with the people they'll be ruling against in a few minutes. A couple of the writers and myself had fun before the Bear-Packer game Sunday looking over the chinfests with field glasses. Certainly, the officials know the coaches and club officials, but let's drop the "Hi Joe, how's the wife and kids" until the off-season. It just doesn't look good. A midfield talk with the two head coaches and the captains would be wise. We would like to see more huddles among the officials during a game - maybe during each timeout, for the purpose of discussing what this or that player isn't or shouldn't be doing. And for the love of mud, will the officials kindly raise the arm of a player who commits a foul or make an indication in some way. This holding business in the line is getting ridiculous. Wouldn't some of it be reduced it, on each infraction, the fouler holds up his arm as in basketball. A few fans might be surprised! They tell me players are continually complaining to the officials on holding during a game. This must be kinda disgusting to the officials, but you'd never know it because we have yet to see (1) an official reprimand a player on the field or (2) call a quick huddle of both teams and lay down the law. Who's afraid of who! There is too much lack of authority shown along the way and too much lack of information for the fan. We've actually seen touchdowns scored in this league without at least one of the officials raising his arms in the prescribed manner to indicate same. In fact, often times a player will raise his arms on a touchdown in the excitement of the play. No official ever did give a ruling on the call on Johnson. The only signal given was made by Bear Bill George and, to the fan who was seeing his first football game, this must have confused him no end. Officials should and must make some sign, some ruling on all plays. We've seen 'em give the incompleted-pass sign of plays where the receiver didn't have a chance of getting the ball. Yet, on a play like the Johnson business, they don't even bother.

NFL TO HOLD EARLY DRAFT MEET DEC. 2

NOV 12 (Philadelphia) - The NFL will hold its preliminary college player draft here Dec. 2, including the bonus selection. Commissioner Bert Bell announced Monday that representatives of the 12 franchises would make their first four draft choices at the December meeting. The final 26 rounds of the annual 30 round pro draft will be held at the league's annual meeting in late January. The preliminary session was instituted last year by Bell in order to give NFL clubs an equal opportunity to draft top players in competition with Canadian League teams. The Chicago Cardinals automatically get the bonus choice, first chance to acquire negotiating rights to any college football player of their choice. First instituted in 1947, when the Chicago Bears selected Oklahoma A.&M.'s Bob Fenimore, the bonus selection is an out-of-the-hat drawing with each year's winner dropping out until every club has drawn the lucky slip. The Cards are the only team left in the draw, Green Bay won last year and selected Paul Hornung, Notre Dame back. Proposals to add Buffalo and Louisville will not be discussed. Bell said the expansion problem "will be something for the league to consider at the regular winter meeting." Bell said he would recommend the addition of the two clubs to the circuit at the winter meeting "only if agreement were reached that the new teams would have the first and second draft selections on the first round in 1959 and 1960 if they are to come in by 1960."

PACKER FANS STILL 'BURNING' OVER VITAL CALL IN BEAR GAME

NOV 12 (Milwaukee Sentinel - Lloyd Larson) - "Can't something be done about that awful decision?" No need to explain that the man on the other end of a line was a Packer fan; still hoppin' mad almost 24 hours after the fact. Nor was it necessary to ask him what he meant by "that awful decision". It could mean only that "incomplete" call on the pass to Joe Johnson in the third quarter of Sunday's game with the Bears at Wrigley Field. The importance of the call against the Packers is obvious. The score was tied at the time, 14-14. In addition to giving the Bays the lead, a touchdown at that point undoubtedly would have changed their later play pattern. Specifically, it's a thousand to one they never would have gambled with a yard to go on fourth down near the Bears' 40. They paid dearly for the losing gamble, for Halas U. went on from there to score and win, 21-14. To eyewitnesses and TV viewers alike, it looked like a clean catch beyond question. Johnson appeared to have possession definitely before skidding into the flag stuck in the ground where the goal line and sideline meet. Sequence pictures (like those published in Monday's Sentinel) offer similar testimony. To get back to the original question. No, nothing can be done about it even if it were possible to prove conclusively that it was an error. It was a judgment decision similar to ball-strike, safe-out, and fair-foul decisions in baseball. As long as an official doesn't boot a rule or interpretation thereof, it would be a waste of time to file an official protest. A source of added beef for the Packers in this case is the fact that no official was right on the spot to make the call. But someone had to make it, regardless of proximity. Someone finally did and it went against Green Bay beyond recall. So there goes another one down the drain that the Packers might have won - perhaps should have won in spite of the big call that went against them. Once again they set up an enemy touchdown by having a punt blocked. It was an error of their own making. That shouldn't happen to a pro team twice in any season. But no one can or will deny that the Packers did a terrific job in defeat. They looked and played like a first class football team except for the lapse on the blocked punt. More of the same and they have a legitimate chance against any club in the league. Here's hoping they are as sharp, rough and tough against the Rams here next Sunday in the final game in home territory.

BAYS' MCLEAN DETROIT BOUND?

NOV 12 (Detroit) - George Wilson will receive a new 1-year contract as coach of the Lions, the Detroit News reported it had learned Tuesday. The News also reported that Wilson will get a new assistant coach, Ray (Scooter) McLean, backfield coach with the Packers for seven years.

STARR'S STEADINESS, GREEN BAY RUNNING PLEASE BLACKBOURN

NOV 12 (Milwaukee Journal) - Since the unwritten laws of the NFL, as written by Commissioner Bert Bell, include the commandment, "Thou shalt not criticize the officials," Green Bay Coach Lisle Blackbourn was questioned Tuesday about other phases of Sunday's controversial 21-14 loss by the Bears in Chicago. What, the coach was asked, did he think of the Packers' offense? "Well, we like to see them run a little," Blackbourn said. "I thought Starr at quarterback was quite steady. Hornung and McIlhenny have picked up our running game in many ways. They don't protect the passer as well, but much of this is due to inexperience. There is more to blocking, you know, that gritting your teeth. I thought the difference between the Bears this time and in the opener when we beat them was their defensive ends. They were all fired up. Thus Atkins will play about three games a year and when it's your misfortune to catch him in one of his days, watch out. Our defensive line did a little better. They were moving faster. We had some losses on pass plays, but part of it was our mistakes and part of it was in the play we had called. They'd gamble and rush in and if we didn't have a receiver swinging in the zone they'd left, we couldn't do anything about it. The Bears are a pretty good outfit on offense. I thought our defense played pretty well. Dillon played Hill perfectly on that pass along the sideline and figured to get an interception but Hill threw his body in his way and took the ball away. We didn't do too well on their winning drive. Of course, Galimore made that catch. The movies show he lost the ball on his shoulder, then picked it off again. On Casares' fumble, you can't tell who hit him. The play is screened, but the ball rolled out and right to a Bear, as if it had eyes. He wasn't anywhere near the play. After Forester's interception and before the play on the goal line, I was very disappointed that Starr didn't see McGee along under the goal posts. McIlhenny swung to the right on a play very similar to his touchdown and three of them followed him. That left McGee all alone, but Starr was watching McIlhenny. On the long one over Howton in the clear, that's a tough pass. It's an experienced man's throw. Howton was racing deep and it's not easy to put the ball in the right place. Starr will get that down with more experience. He's coming along fine." Blackbourn reported that tackle Norm Masters suffered a wrenched knee and that it was "very sore" Monday. If he cannot play against the Los Angeles Rams in Milwaukee County Stadium Sunday, the Packers will be down to four men to man the offensive guard and tackle spots. Norm Amundson, guard, is likely to miss the Ram game because of a knee injury suffered against New York. "We'll be a little short there," Blackbourn said. "Carl Vereen may have to take over for Masters, but he has been doing most of his work at the other tackle. Larry Lauer (reserve center) will have to be next man for everything."

or college games. The players are rougher, tougher, more apt to try to get away with something and less inclined to take an official's decision meekly. It is impossible for an official to see every action of every player. Decisions must be accepted without too much time taken for consultation and argument. Even wildly partisan crowds don't want to sit long and watch referees arguing.  But this year there have been a high number of doubtful and sometimes disgracefully wrong decisions at crucial moments. The Packers had probably lost two games upon calls which were proven in error by photographs; the Bears lost one game on a touchdown pass to a receiver who was ineligible because he allegedly stepped out of bounds. Other complaints have come from almost every club in both divisions this year. And sometimes would-be complaints, as the interference call against the Packers in the second game with Baltimore, have been forgotten when the injured team went on to win. Most disheartening in some of the decisions was the fact that the ruling officials was not on the spot. Anyone can argue that Joe Johnson's touchdown catch last Sunday was a close thing; but the official who called the play no good was some 35 yards away at the time. The same thing happened in the Detroit game when the pass to Knafelc was ruled caught out of bounds. There is also the suspicion that officials impressed by the boos and arguments sometimes lean over backwards to give a doubtful call in the other direction at the next infraction. Such balancing of wrongs do not make a right nor do they impress the fans with the skill or impartiality of the officials. The whole business of officiating needs intense study looking to its improvement. One thing is certain. When a wrong call decides a ball game the official making the call is more important than an entire team. No effort is too great to get the best possible in officiating.

SPOTLIGHT'S ON PACKER-RAM GATE HERE, TOO

NOV 13 (Milwaukee Sentinel) - The Packers battle the Rams in a NFL game at the Stadium Sunday and the attendance figure looms almost as important as the final score. Los Angeles has drawn the fantastic total of 790,967 customers in four pre-season games and four league contests at the Coliseum. On the road, the Rams have attracted sellouts in San Francisco, Chicago (Wrigley Field) and Detroit. A turnaway crowd of 102,368 saw last Sunday's Ram-49er game at Los Angeles. That represented the largest gathering ever to see a pro football game. "We realize Milwaukee is a terrific baseball city," Ram Publicitor Bert Rose said Tuesday. "Those baseball figures prove Milwaukee is the best major league city in the league. But if the Ram-Packer game Sunday draws less than 30,000," Rose added, "I would have to say that Milwaukee's claim as the best sports town in America is a myth." It is hard to believe that more than 102,000 fans, and 10,000 were turned away, will see a pro football game in Los Angeles and from all indications a crowd estimated at under 30,000 will turn out here Sunday. "The Packers are a good football team," Rose continued. "My Lord, we had a 2-4 record going into last Sunday's game and we sold out the place. This Western Conference is amazingly even. Green Bay is just as good as the pace-setting 49ers. A five-way tie for divisional honors is highly possible." Not only will the Rams be watching Sunday's gate, but the Packers will have a critical eye on the turnstile story, too. The Ram-Packer game here, incidentally, has never gone over the 30,000 mark. From all indications the Packers could be pleasantly surprised with Sunday's turnout, barring bad weather. Activity at the Stadium has picked up considerably after last Sunday's nip-and-tuck Packer-Bear scrap. Incidentally  the Packers sold out all three of their Green Bay games this fall. And if the Milwaukee half of the "home" slate doesn't pick up, the Bays will undoubtedly play four games in Green Bay next season and two in Milwaukee. The biggest crowd to see a Packer game at the Stadium this season was 26,322 against the Colts October 13. The 49er game here attracted 18,919. The Green Bay sellouts drew better than 32,000. This year the Rams are shooting for a new NFL attendance record of playing to more than a million spectators. The Gold Coasters need to average only 41,000 in their last five games. There has been some question about the legitimate paid crowd at the Coliseum, with the arrangement that any spectator who buys a $2.50 general admission ticket may bring in free as many as five boys 14 and under. "Our paid crowd Sunday was 93,500," said Rose. "We have two prices - $3.90 for reserved tickets and $2.50 general admission. The average number of kids who have come in free has averaged 1.8 per game. The advance ticket sale for last Sunday's record crowd was 57,500," Rose pointed out. "We had 7,300 reserved tickets left to sell at the gate - 64,800 is the reserved capacity at the Coliseum. We have 22 ticket batteries at the park (each with 2 to 4 ticket booths) and they were swamped," Rose beamed. "That crowd definitely inspired the Rams to their highest pitch." When the Rams opened business in L.A. in 1946, they had to guarantee a visiting team $20,000. The Eastern teams didn't want to come out west to play. The visitors still get 40%. Who has a thought now for the $20,000 guarantee?

RAMS HAVE TROUBLE; TOO MANY HALFBACKS

NOV 13 (Milwaukee Journal) - Sid Gillman, Los Angeles Ram coach, finds himself in much the same position as Old Mother Hubbard, except that with him, he has so many halfbacks he doesn't know what to do. For instance, Tom Wilson, "no college" second yard man who was a high school teammate of the Braves' Wes Covington leads the NFL in rushing with 501 yards. Still, Wilson hardly played in the Rams' 37-24 triumph over first place San Francisco at Los Angeles last Sunday and he has no assurance that he will play much against the Green Bay Packers at County Stadium Sunday. This, despite the fact that Wilson, as a rookie, set a league record against the Packers in the Los Angeles finale last December by rolling up 223 yards rushing in 23 carries (average; 9.7 yards a try). So, you ask, how come the league's leading rusher get to play so little and gained only five yards last Sunday? Because of Jon Arnett, Southern California All-American, that's why. Arnett, the Rams' first draft choice, started as an end, but the clamor for him to get a shot at running back, plus Los Angeles' poor start even with Wilson running up big yardage, caused Gillman to give Arnett a whirl at halfback. Arnett responded with 39 yards in 10 carries. He remains an outstanding pass receiver and is already feared around the league as a kickoff and punt return man. Wisconsin fans have reason to remember Arnett for the performance he put on against the Badgers at Madison two years ago. Actually, the running back spot is more crowded than has been mentioned. Ron Waller, former Maryland ace, also plays there. As a rookie in 1955, Waller helped more than a little as Los Angeles won the Western Division title. He ranked fourth in the league rushing. Last year, even though he missed three games and part of another due to injuries, he stood 11th among the ball carriers. So Gillman has both quality and quantity, and not only at running halfback. Coach Lisle Blackbourn of the Packers should have such troubles. He'd welcome them.

RUMORS FOLLOW RAMS' DEFENSE

NOV 13 (Los Angeles) - Prose about the pros - Rumors that this may be Ram quarterback Norm Van Brocklin's last year evoke memories of 1956 when the same rumbles were heard. On both occasions, the stories came when the Rams were in the midst of losing streaks. The Packers have played before three sellouts in their new 32,250-seat stadium at Green Bay. They play half of their home games there, the other three at Milwaukee, where they'll meet Los Angeles in the County Stadium Sunday. In their lone Milwaukee appearance, the Packers drew but 18,000 for the 49er game...ROTE MISSED: Whatever chance the Packers had of winning the Western Conference crown disappeared when they traded Tobin Rote to Detroit. Bart Starr, the former Alabama pitcher, has taken over and has improved steadily. The 6-foot, 1-inch, 200-pound presently ranks sixth among NFL quarterbacks and has completed 61 of 114 passes for 869 yards and five touchdowns. He's tossing at a 53.5% clip. The Packers drafted him 17th in 1956. Babe Parilli and Paul Hornung spell Starr, but none is a Rote. Parilli has snap, but has never developed pro poise, while Hornung apparently prefers running to throwing and constantly leaves the cup before the patterns develop. Fullback Howie Ferguson was unavailable for the Giants last Sunday, so Hornung started at fullback and carried 16 times for 112 yards...SCOOP: R.C. Owens' first name is Raleigh. Really! Card Coach Ray Richards says there's not an outstanding collegiate quarterback up for grabs this year. 49er assistant Red Hickey says COP's Tom Flores is the best. Wausau, Wis., Elroy Hirsch's hometown, plans a giant celebration for Crazylegs Monday when his new opus, Bartlett-Champion Pictures' "Zero Hour", will be premiered. There'll be a parade, a banquet and all the extras. Elroy's a high flier in this movie. He's an airline's pilot...The Rams have now played before 690,967 fans. An average of 42,000 per game in each of their remaining five will make the Los Angeles pros the first team in history to play before 1,000,000 fans. Since 1951, the Rams have led the league in attendance, whatever their won-lost record. The lone jarring note in Sunday's tremender was the uniforms. The 49ers wore the white imposed on the visitors while the Rams dressed in their blue mourning outfits. Would Commissioner Bert Bell please explain why the 49ers traditional cardinal jerseys and the Rams' famed gold uniforms couldn't be worn? With the visitors forced to wear white by this absurd ruling, it looks like the same team is here every week. The Rams will wear their road whites for the first time Sunday. The Rams rolled up 400 yards against the 49ers, the second time this season they've been over that mark. They netted 401 in the first San Francisco game. And Sunday marked Van Brocklin's first game without an interception. The L.A. secondary hasn't swiped a pass in two games...WILSON FUMBLES: Ram halfback Tom Wilson has fumbled five times and lost 'em all. And some of them have been costly. Redskin owner George Preston Marshall wants a home-and-home series with nearby Baltimore. Last Sunday's game in the nation's capital drew a sellout of 33,149 cashees, 6,000 of them from Baltimore. Steeler coach Buddy Parker picks the Giants to win the Eastern Conference. He doubts if Cleveland is "a good enough team." The race, said Parker, will be settled by the quarterbacks. He called the QBs "the basis for offense on a professional football team. Only three or four teams have good enough quarterbacks to win. The 49ers are good enough but I don't think they'll win. The Lions are good enough. The Giants with Charlie Conerly are good enough." Speaking of his club, Parker cracked, "I hate to say this, but this is the worst running team I've seen in football." They call the Redskins' rookie backfield trio of halfbacks Ed Sutton and Jim Podoley and fullback Don Bosseler the "papoose platoon." These freshmen fireballs have gained 887 of Washington's 1,954 rushing yards.

Sunday...Special time was spent yesterday on rushing for short yardage. The game pictures revealed that the first down was missed on the crucial drive in the last few minutes against the Bears when a back blocked with the wrong shoulder on a simple outside the tackle smash. The wrong-shoulder block had the tendency to drive the defensive player into the path of Paul Hornung who was trying to make a foot on a handoff from Bart Starr. Two players were dressed in sweat clothes - tackle Norm Masters and guard Norm Amundsen. Both left early with trainer Bud Jorgenson for treatment for injuries. Both likely will be ready for the Rams...Quick quote from Bear Coach Paddy Driscoll: "We lost at Green Bay when we couldn't pick up less than a yard for a first down. The Packers lost to us in the same way. I still say a team with four defeats and maybe even five can win the Division."

RAMS STRIKE GOLD WITH DRAFT PICKS

NOV 14 (Milwaukee Sentinel) - How to build a winner in pro football is something the Packers have been trying to do since 1944. If they took Jim Lee Howell's advice, they would surrender draft picks in exchange for experienced players who would offer immediate help. Howell produced a champion in New York last season with the presence of eight stars obtained from other teams. They were Bill Svoboda, Cards' linebacker; Bob Schnelker, Eagles' end; Alex Webster, Canadian halfback; Andy Robustelli, Rams; defensive end; Ed Hughes, Rams' defensive back; Dick Modzelewski, Steelers' tackle; Gene Filipski, Browns' halfback; Walt Yowarsky, Lions' defensive end. But if the Packers listened to the Rams' secret to success, it would be the other way around - trade your veterans for future draft picks. Los Angeles won the NFL title in 1951 with 13 rookies, most of them acquired in the early rounds of the draft because the Rams owned a good choice from just about everyone. When the Gold Coasters play at the Stadium Sunday against the Packers, they will field a team with the second highest rookie crop in their history - 10. Of the first 49 college stars picked by 12 teams in the early draft last November, Los Angeles plucked seven. And of those seven, one was a future pick - quarterback Bobby Cox of Minnesota. All top six draft choices reported to the Rams' camp and all six have made the ball club. Jon Arnett, one of the greatest open field runners in Southern California history, was the Rams' top choice. He has won a starting end position. Del Shofner, "Mr. Versatile" at Baylor, was also obtained in the first round. He was the Giants' payment for Robustelli. Shofner is the Rams' regular cornerbacker. Jack Pardee, judged to be the best linebacker in the Southwest Conference while with Texas A&M, was the Rams' second choice. He is a reserve linebacker at the moment. Billy Ray Smith, a 6-4, 227 pound defensive end from Arkansas, was picked in the third round. He has earned the starting defensive end post. Another third round choice (the 49ers' payment for tackle Bob Cross) was tackle George Strugar, an All-Pacific Conference star, Strugar is another rookie who has moved into a regular position on defense. Cox was the Rams' fourth round choice, but they also came up with an immediate delivery in this round. The Rams took the Giant's pick (payment for Hughes) and grabbed Lamar Lundy, one of the most outstanding athletes in Purdue history. Lundy has seen a lot of action as a slotback. Paige Cothren, kicking specialist from Mississippi, was the next pick. Cothren has replaced Les Richter as the club's placekicker. He has booted six of 12 field goals and 18 PATs. One was blocked. Other rookies who made the club are John Houser, starting offensive guard who signed as a free agent; Bob Dougherty, a 24th choice in 1954, who is a reserve linebacker; and Alex Bravo, obtained in the ninth round in 1954. Bravo is a reserve defensive halfback. So with 10 rookies the Rams believe in refreshing the club. This strategy paid off in a championship two years ago, but so did the daring trading strategy of New York.

SIX WAY TIE FOR WESTERN DIVISION TITLE IN PRO RACE IS MATHEMATICAL POSSIBILITY

NOV 14 (Milwaukee Journal) - With seven-twelfths of the NFL season is completed, a six way tie for the Western Division title is still a mathematical possibility. Not a one tie, all tie probability, understand, but the way things are going, a multiple tie of some sort is more than a remote likelihood. The Green Bay Packers, of course, are least likely to get any part of the championship. They are three games behind the leading San Francisco 49ers with five games to play and four of their last five games will be on the road. The only "home game" left for Green Bay will be played at County Stadium Sunday when they meet the Los Angeles Rams, perhaps the league's worst road team with nine straight defeats away from Memorial Coliseum, where they drew 102,000 plus against the 49ers last Sunday. To bring off the publicity man's dream, a six way tie at 6-6, here is an example of what would have to happen in the remaining games:

San Francisco - Lose at Detroit, lose at Baltimore, lost at New York, win over Baltimore at home, lost to the Packers at home

Detroit - Win over San Francisco at home, win over the Bears at home, lost to the Packers at home Thanksgiving Day, lose to Cleveland at home, lose to the Bears at Chicago

Baltimore - Lose to the Bears at Chicago, win over the 49ers at home, win over the Rams at home, lose to the 49ers at San Francisco, lost to the Rams at Los Angeles

Chicago - Win over Colts at home, lose to Lions in Detroit, win over Washington at home, lose to Chicago Cardinals at Comiskey Park, win over Lions at home

Los Angeles - Lose to Packers in Milwaukee, win over Browns in Cleveland, lose to Colts in Baltimore, win over Packer at home, win over Colts at home

Green Bay - Win over Los Angeles at Milwaukee, win over Steelers at Pittsburgh, win over Lions at Detroit Thanksgiving Day, lose to Rams at Los Angeles, win over 49ers at San Francisco.

Only Baltimore and San Francisco, so far, have done better than .500 on the road. Green Bay has been by far the poorest "home" team.

PACKERS ROUGHEST FOE ON ROAD

NOV 14 (Los Angeles) - Curly Lambeau disagrees with those who feel the Browns game at Cleveland will be the roughest in the Rams' three-game road trip which features the Packers at Milwaukee Sunday, the Browns the week after and closes at Baltimore. Lambeau, who coached Green Bay for 30 years before doing brief stints with the Chicago Cardinals and Washington Redskins, said yesterday that Sunday's Packer battle will be the toughest. "It's the last home game of the year for the Packers," Curly explained. "And they will be out to leave the fans with a good taste in their mouths. They sold out three times at Green Bay but have not been able to draw too well at Milwaukee. This situation wasn't helped by the fact that they lost their two Milwaukee games, one to the Colts, 45-17, and the others to the 49ers, 24-14...GREEN BAY GOOD: "And Green Bay is a good club. It's not a championship club but it is plenty good. And they'll be going all out Sunday." Figures bear Curly out. The Rams haven't won back there since 1953. Lambeau, who's now a cattle rancher near Thousand Oaks, doesn't think the Browns will be able to sustain their fabulous 6-1 pace. "I just don't think they are that well-rounded a club," Curly said. "In that conference, I'll have to go with the Giants." Time out for a moment of "if-ing." If Sunday's game turn out like this: Rams over Packers, Lions over 49ers and Bears over Colts, the Western Conference standings will read thusly:

        W  L         W  L

49ers   5  3 Colts   4  4

Lions   5  3 Bears   4  4

Rams    4  4 Packers 2  6

And if the following week's games end like this: Rams over Browns, Colts over 49ers and Bears over Lions, the race would be knotted into a five-way tie for first, thusly:

        W  L         W  L

Rams    5  4 Lions   5  4

49ers   5  4 Bears   5  4

Colts   5  4 Packers 3  6

Pass the hashish, Harry. Meanwhile, the Rams continued practice yesterday as they prepared for tomorrow's departure. The Milwaukee weather has been reported miserable, so Equipment Manager Bill

Granholm has packed woolies, heat pads, mud cleats, parkas, work gloves and sneakers.

SURPRISE: RAMS POINT WITH PRIDE TO BETTER DEFENSE

NOV 15 (Green Bay) - About the Rams - Y.A. Tittle, the 49er quarterback whiz, was dumped for total losses of 72 yards attempting to pass by the Rams last Sunday. While the Rams were out to preserve their lead in the last quarter and a half, they hurled Ya Ya back five times for 51 yards. That's when it's toughest to nail a slick operator like Tittle. The Rams won 37-24. The Rams, via publicist Bert Rose, feel that their big improvement has been on defense, although six other clubs in the league have given up less points than Los Angeles which has allowed 137 in seven games. The Packers, by the way, gave up 183. One of the newcomers in the LA defense is Del Shofner, the offensive speed-everything at Baylor last year. Del, who, according to Rose, will be a great offensive end in pro football some day, has been placed at a cornerback spot because "we couldn't find a spot on offense for him." The swift Shofner "won't tear anybody apart with his tackling but he'll hang on to somebody until help arrives," Rose said. That sounds like the Rams offense is some shakes - which really isn't anything new because the LA's have been high scorers for years. The Rams are the third highest scoring team in the league with 152 points in seven games. New York and San Francisco are tied for the top with 158 each while Detroit has scored 154. The Pack, by comparison, has counted 121. The Rams scored 37 vs. Frisco with their league-leading rusher, Tom Wilson, on the bench last week. He was benched in favor of Jon Arnett, who was moved to Wilson's halfback spot from offensive end. Arnett didn't run wild, with 39 yards in 10 attempts, but he was a threat. And if Wilson and Arnett can't cut it, the Rams have a fair country replacement, Ron Waller, who ranked 11th in rushing last year. An injury to Leon Clarke, who gave the Packers fits in the nightcap last year, missed the 49er game because of an injured Achilles tendon and he's expected to miss most if not all of the Bay test. With Clarke out last week, big Lamar Lundy was moved into slot back and Bob Boyd played right end. Boyd had been at slot and Clarke at end. Boyd, who caught two 56-yard touchdown passes on the Pack in LA last December, blistered the 49ers with five catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns. One touchdown went 50 yards, the other 20. The Rams are alternating the nine-year veteran, Tank Younger, and sophomore Joe Marconi at fullback. And despite his 34 years, Elroy Hirsch has been amazing at left end, with his key pass catching and blocking. Elroy suffered a kidney injury in the opening exhibition this year and missed the entire non-league schedule before setting sail when league play opened. The Rams lead the league in rushing with 1,119 yards, and that's a good bit more than the Packers' 846 stripes by rushing. The Packers have an air edge on the Rams, though, 1,037 yards to 925. The Rams have three rookies on defense besides Shofner and one of them, 258-pound George Strauger, is beating out the Wisconsin-born Art Hauser at tackle. Hauser was hurt, giving Strugar a chance. Other newcomers on defense are right end Gene Smith, a starter since the first scrimmage, and linebacker Bob Dougherty...It rained steady during yesterday's Packer practice but Coach Liz Blackboun felt that "we had a good workout when you consider the conditions." But Liz was still confronted with personnel problems. Max McGee, the veteran offensive end who went to Florida right after the Bear game to get discharged from the Air Force, wasn't back yet yesterday. Liz was hoping Max would show in time for today's workout. Paul Hornung became ill yesterday, completing the sickness cycle in the bachelor quarters occupied by Howton, McGee and Hornung. Howton had the stomach flu earlier in the week and McGee had it during the Giant game here. What's more, Billy was bothered with some sort of flu in Baltimore earlier. Jim Ringo, who has been fighting the flu and a nervous stomach, came up with a low blood count today - the result of previous illness, thus weakening him. Jim Temp's baby has been seriously ill and the defensive end missed practice yesterday.

​SYMANK MIGHTY MITE AMONG PROS

NOV 15 (Milwaukee Sentinel) - Johnny Symank is the Packer who had a tough time getting on the train last Sunday in Chicago; he was told, "this is the car for the pro football team and not high school kids." When the Florida rookie reported to the Packers' Stevens Point training camp last July, he hardly resembled the usual clientele. Coach Liz Blackbourn's first observation of the 18th round draft choice was not an impressive one. Symank weighed in at 174 pounds and stood 5-10 1/2. He looked more like a high school basketball player than a pro grid recruit. But the quite, unassuming rookie went about his football in a most business-like way and at the end of two weeks was given the position left vacant by the traded Val Joe Walker. "He's started every ball game for us this season, including the pre-season games," Blackbourn said Thursday. "You bet we thought he was too small, but did he surprise us. He's a strong boy, a good tackler." Symank's presence in the Packers' defensive platoon can be measured by this achievement: He is presently fourth ranked among the league's interception leaders with six steals for 95 yards. The southern gentleman is one of the most humbled rookies ever to report to the Packers. Everything is "yes, sir" or "no sir, I want to learn, sir." But when showdown time arrives, Symank is as tough, pound for pound, as the most proven pro. He tackled Al Ameche and Rick Casares head on in recent games. "Oh, he was jammed up a little," Blackbourn chuckled. "But when Ameche or Casares hits you they really rock you. He did put them down for keeps." His spunk on the field was vividly demonstrated during the Colt game at the Stadium. Symank tackled Carl Taseff on a punt return, and the Baltimore runner was quite upset the way he was thrown to the ground in front of the Colt bench. The Colts swarmed around Symank, one of them pushing the Packer rascal with much enthusiasm. Symank retaliated by booting one hoss in the tail. A stampede almost started before officials grabbed the participants. Symank was told that the Colts would be out to get him in Baltimore, but John said he could take care of himself. He continued to dish out vicious tackles and the Colts had to admit - this was no kid playing in a man's league. Coach Liz Blackbourn, waiting for the showers to let up before sending his squad on the field Thursday, said the Packers would be in good shape for the Ram game. "Billy Howton and Paul Hornung (they're roommates) had the stomach flu Wednesday but felt better today," Blackbourn reported. "Jim Ringo was also feeling under the weather. But they all should be in good shape physically by Sunday. Even Howie Ferguson is running again." Blackbourn said guard Jim Salsbury, injured in the Colt game three weeks ago, is much better and will play. The same goes for tackle Norm Masters, who hurt his leg in the Giant game.

​BELL TELLS TWO BAY FANS HE'LL STUDY FILMS

NOV 15 (Green Bay) - Two Packer fans said they received a phone call from NFL Commissioner Bert Bell Thursday in answer to their complaints about the officiating in Sunday's Packer-Bear game at Chicago. Jim DeBroux and Lee O'Connor, employees of the Brown County Highway Department, said Bell assured them that he was making a complete study of the game movies. O'Connor described the conversation as "real satisfactory and interesting." DeBroux and O'Connor fired off a letter to Bell Monday complaining about the officiating, particularly a call against the Packers' Joe Johnson late in the third quarter.

PLAYERS, FANS IN LIGHT EXCHANGE AT WEEKLY AFFAIR AFTER VICTORY

NOV 15 (Los Angeles) - When Ram linebacker Dick Daughery broke through to spill 49ers quarterback Y.A. Tittle for the umpteenth time Sunday, ol' Y.A. rolled over, looked at Daugherty, and, in a voice deep with disgust, said: "This is ridiculous." This and other morsels of inside intelligence were revealed at yesterday's Rams Fan Club luncheon, which basked in an aura of goodwill toward men as a result of Los Angeles' stunning 37-24 triumph over the 49ers Sunday. Daugherty, who revealed the Tittle remark, also credited others for his sensational linebacking play Sunday. "The guys in the middle sacrifice to make me a hero," he said. Other exchanges: To Jon Arnett - What's the biggest difference between pro and college ball? "The spirit is better in professional football. There's more desire on the part of everyone. Another big difference is in the overall speed of the teams. Half the time you're tackled by someone coming from the other side of the line." To Elroy Hirsch - How long do you intend to play? "At the rate I'm playing, I could go 10 more years. About the furtherest I've run this year is from the tunnel to the bench." To Lamar Lundy - How fast can you run and how high can you jump? "It's been a long time since I've been timed for 100 yards. It was around 11 seconds. As for jumping, I can just about touch my elbow on the basketball rim." (The rim, of course, is

RAMS OFF TO FACE GREEN BAY ELEVEN

NOV 16 (Los Angeles) - The Los Angeles Rams, determined to correct a dismal road-game record, left yesterday for Green Bay to battle the Packers in the first of three NFL contests away from home. The Rams have lost their last nine road games. But morale was boosted immeasurably last Sunday with their victory over the San Francisco 49ers before an all-time NFL record of 102,368 fans in Memorial Coliseum here. Coach Sid Gillman still thinks his team can figure in the Western Division title chase despite its 3-4 record. He realizes his team has had little luck against the Packers at Green Bay and the same will hold true in the following weeks with Cleveland and Baltimore on their home fields. Physically, Los Angeles is in good condition...HIGH SCHOOL HERE: Veteran left end Elroy (Crazylegs) Hirsch, enjoying a great year, looked forward to the first leg of the trip for two reasons. He'll be playing in his native State and on Monday there's to be a city celebration in his hometown of Wausau. The popular Hirsch was a high school athlete hero in Wausau. Now he returns as a movie star as well as a football hero. He is co-featured in a tense thriller, "Zero Hour."

RAMS, PACKERS CLASH

NOV 16 (Los Angeles Times - Milwaukee) - This is Milwaukee, land of the freeze and home of the Braves. This is where the Los Angeles Rams of the sunny Southland meet the Green Bay Packers from the numbing north in an important NFL game tomorrow. And, baby, it's cold outside. It snowed today and more of the same is forecast by the coldhearted weatherman tomorrow. The Rams are tied for fourth in the Western Conference with a 3-4 record; the Packers are last with a 2-5 mark. Thus, the gamblers have seen fit to make the Rams 6-point favorites. In this weather, the only thing deserving of six points is a deer. Coach Sid Gillman's team hasn't won a road game in two years and is now the unhappy owner of nine straight away defeats. Additionally, the Rams haven't defeated the Packers on foreign soil since 1953. The teams took turns beating each other's brains out last year. The Packers won at Milwaukee, 42-17, as quarterback Tobin Rote and end Bill Howton played catch all afternoon. Rote tossed for three touchdowns and Howton scored twice. The long-legged Howton personally gained 257 yards. In Los Angeles, the Rams won 49-21, with Norm Van Brocklin, who didn't play at Milwaukee, clicking for three touchdown passes. Norm completed 17 of 22 for 289 yards for one of his greatest days. The Packers defeated the Bears, 21-17, and the Colts, 24-21, for their two victories this season. They lost in the final minutes to the Bears Sunday, 21-14. GIllman plans to open with the same offensive unit he started against the 49ers. This means Jon Arnett will be at left half, Elroy Hirsch at left and Bob Boyd at right end and Lamar Lundy at right half. End Leon Clarke is the only Ram who won't be available for duty. He's still hampered by an injury to his Achilles muscle.

PACKERS AND RAM STAKE TITLE HOPES ON VICTORY HERE

NOV 17 (Milwaukee Journal) - The Los Angeles Rams, a talented but erratic pro football team, rule as favorites to beat the gritty Green Bay Packers at County Stadium Sunday (kickoff, 1:05 p.m., WTMJ radio). Lisle Blackbourn, Green Bay coach, is conceding nothing. "If the morale is up," he said Saturday, "we'll be all right." Both teams need a victory to stay in the running for the western division title in the NFL. The Packers, especially, have their backs to the wall. They stand last, despite three fine performances in a row, three games behind leading San Francisco. The Rams kept alive last Sunday by beating San Francisco, 37-24, before 102,368 fans at Los Angeles. About 20,000 will see today's game on a cloudy, cold day (temperature in the thirties). "They're quite an explosive outfit once they get going," Blackbourn said. "We're looking for a full go from them. But that's all right. If both teams play well, we feel we've got a chance." The Ram-Packer series has been an odd one the last three years. Green Bay win, usually handily, in Milwaukee and Los Angeles wins, usually with ease, in Los Angeles. Part of that can be attributed to the Rams' record as a road team. They have lost nine straight away from home. Because of a change in the schedule this year, the Rams did not spend a full week here between games. They flew in Friday night. Blackbourn said that he felt that staying in Los Angeles all week would make the Rams tougher. "No team is likely to be sharp after spending the week away from home," he said. "I know we never are." The Ram offense clicked last week, as it always does when quarterback Norm Van Brocklin is clicking. The week before, the Los Angeles defense held the Chicago Bears without a touchdown from scrimmage but the offense couldn't score from scrimmage, either, and Los Angeles lost, 16-10. Coach Sid Gillman probably will call most of the Ram plays - he did in the victory over San Francisco. For runners, Los Angeles can call on rookie Jon Arnett, Tom Wilson and Ron Waller at halfback and Tank Younger and Joe Marconi at fullback. Prime targets on passes will be Bob Boyd, Elroy Hirsch and Lamar Lundy.

THE RAMS INVEST IN KIDS AND LOOK WHAT

NOV 17 (Milwaukee Journal-Oliver Kuechle) - The Los Angeles Rams made an investment 11 years ago and they never made one better. They invested in kids, not kid halfbacks or kid tackles who someday might trot out on the Coliseum's fine turf, but just plain kids. Business manager Bill John had the idea. "Here we've got a stadium that seats 100,000 plus," he reasoned in effect, "and we're drawing 20,000 or 25,000 paid. Let's use some of those empty seats. Let's let kids in free." John worked out a plan. Every adult who bought a $2.50 ticket was permitted to bring in five boys under 14. He got tickets for them next to his own. And they began to come in droves. Around the league, they used to smirk once in awhile at the crowds the Rams announced. Sixty thousand, 70,000, 80,0000. "So what?" they'd ask. "Kids, a lot of kids. What's the gate - 

tell me that?"...NO MORE SMIRKS: They're not smirking today - except maybe with envy. The kids have begun to pay off. The 12 or 13 year olds who used to pile in because the old man could take them along without dipping into the sugar jar today have a buck of their own and they're putting it on the line. They're not UCLA fans or SC fans, they're pro fans and bitten to the core. "No question it has been a tremendous thing for us," said Bert Rose in advance of the Rams who Sunday will play the Pack here. "Some of them would have become Ram fans anyway, I suppose. But this way we feel we got them all. Bent the twig, so to speak." A week ago, the Rams drew 102,368 fans to their traditional game with the 49ers and the remarkable thing was not the size of the crowd - the Rams with their kids have at least flirted with 100,000 before - but the number who paid. "We've got a sliding scale with the kids - fix it as we want," Rose explained. "In a game like last week's we didn't have more than 7,000. I don't know how many of them were kids who first got excited about us because they used to get in free but I'd like to bet there were 15,000 or 20,000 at least."...CAN'T CONTINUE: Why haven't the Packers done something like this here? Make young new fans? Get the extra adult who might not go except that his boy can go along free? Play at least to the appearance of a good house? With the crowds they've been drawing something certainly could have been tried, something different if not exactly this - and Sunday, with no more than 20,000 expected, the Rams will probably feel they're in a rest home. Good promotion in Milwaukee, though, has never been one of Green Bay's long suits - good promotion not only along these lines but along a lot of lines. They just don't sell themselves well. It's all becoming a little serious, too, for patently, the club with a 32,500 stadium of its own, can't continue in Milwaukee as it has. "Play all six games in Green Bay," say some of the aroused burghers along the Fox, but that's not the answer, either. It's one thing for Green Bay to sell season tickets in Green Bay on a three game basis and another to sell them on a six. The answer, or partial answer, anyway, lies in better promotion here - an idea like Bill John's...OATES SPEAKS: In line with all this, my friend Bob Oates of the Los Angeles Examiner took a healthy poke at Milwaukee fandom the other day and you can mull over it with your morning coffee. But don't throw the cup at your wife as you read. (Mr. Oates will be staying at the Schroeder all next week and you can see him there.) Here is Mr. Oates speaking: "In their race to become the first team in football history to play before a million fans, the Rams will hit a roadblock in Milwaukee Sunday. A crowd of 20,000 or less is expected. That just isn't a sports town. Packer games weren't well attended even in the championship years. Moreover, fight promoters have learned to steer clear of Milwaukee - and the handwriting is on the wall for the Braves. When the novelty wears off in a year or two, the Braves, no doubt, will think deeply of going back to Boston." Hold that cup of coffee, sir, hold it.