Confidence and camaraderie, two vital ingredients of the Green Bay Packers during the Vince Lombardi era, were less prominent this past season on the National Football League team. Whether the Packers' decline from two-time Super Bowl champions to also-rans in the National Conference's Central Division, and Tuesday's resignation of Phil Bengtson as coach and general manager, can be traced to the apparent cooling is a point of conjecture. The 57-year-old Bengtson's resignation ended a dismal three-year stretch that saw the Pack win 20 games while losing 21 and tying once. This year's mark of 6-8 was the worst for the Green-and-Gold since 1958 when they posted a 1-10-1 record. The 1959 season saw Lombardi take over the reins of a chronic loser and elevate the club to the role of champion. Although Lombardi's public image was that of an ogre, the Packer players knew better. One of Lombardi's first moves as Packer coach-general manager was to hire Bengtson as his defensive coach. Through astute trades and recognizing his players' strong points, and their weak ones, Lombardi was able to mold a good, if not great, team. He added confidence, his own, and demanded camaraderie. The Packers then were no longer a team, but a close-knit family. Now, from outward appearances, the Packers are just another pro football team. The Packers are close, they are friends, but no longer are they family. In the nine years that Lombardi coached the Packers, Bengtson's defensive team was never lower than third-best in the NFL. Prior to the 1968 season, Lombardi stepped out of the head coach's job and gave the reins to Bengtson. The following season, Lombardi left Green Bay entirely to become head coach and vice president of the Redskins. Bengtson then took over as GM of the Packers. To be fair, Bengtson didn't walk into a powerhouse when he took over. Bengtson had to completely rebuild a team around the few remaining veterans. Then the injuries began. Besides QB Bart Starr, who played with arm, rib and knee injuries, the Packers lost backup QB Don Horn; LB Dave Robinson: RB's Dave Hampton and Travis Williams, and DT Rich Moore for long periods through injuries. There also were other problems with the Packers, internal problems. "Because of a very disappointing season in 1970, and hoping that a change will improve the won-loss record of the Packers in 1971, I hereby tender my resignation to become effective Feb. 1, 1971," Bengtson said. The Packer Board of Directors is expected to meet shortly to consider a replacement for Bengtson. Among those rumored under consideration are George Allen, coach of the Los Angeles Rams; Bill Austin, Washington Redskins head coach and former Packer assistant; Tom Fears, former head coach of the New Orleans Saints who also was a Packer aide under Lombardi, Ara Parseghian, head coach at Notre Dame, and Starr.
DAN DEVINE TAKES OVER (January 14, 1971)
Dan Devine wasn't here Thursday to hear perhaps the most important announcement of his life, but even in absentia he made one thing perfectly clear. At 46, the same age Vince Lombardi was when he took charge of the Green Bay Packers 12 years ago, Devine isn't too old to tackle a new challenge. Devine isn't too old to tackle a new challenge. One of the most successful college football coaches in the nation, Devine is willing to give up his coaching job and athletic directorship at the University of Missouri, where tenure gave him total security, to try to fill the footsteps of the legendary Lombardi. Devine was given a five-year contract at undisclosed terms as coach and general manager of the Packers. His mission is clear: to restore the pioneer NFL club to somewhere near the heights it ascended in the 1960s under Lombardi. The mantle was passed to Devine, the seventh coach in Packer history, after three disappointing seasons under Phil Bengston. Dominic Olejniczak, Packer president, announced the signing of Devine at a hastily called news conference Thursday. Devine, who was in Kansas City Thursday, telephoned Pat Peppler, Green Bay player personnel director, later in the day to discuss the NFL draft which starts Jan. 28. Devine played quarterback at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He entered coaching in 1948 at East Jordan, Minn., High School, where he had two undefeated teams in two seasons. After five years at Michigan State and two at Arizona State, he went to Missouri to succeed Frank Broyles as coach. In the next 13 years, second longest coaching reign in Missouri history, he compiled a record of 93-37-7. His teams played in six bowl games, winning four.
GREEN BAY - 3 7 0 0 - 10
SAN FRANCISCO - 0 10 10 6 - 26
1st - GB - Livingston, 9-yard field goal GREEN BAY 3-0
2nd - SF - Bob Windsor, 6-yard pass from John Brodie (Mike Gossett kick) SF 7-3
2nd - GB - Clancy, 33-yard pass from Horn (Livingston kick) GREEN BAY 10-7
2nd - SF - Gossett, 12-yard field goal TIED 10-10
3rd - SF - Doug Cunningham, 6-yard run (Gossett kick) SAN FRANCISCO 17-10
3rd - SF - Gossett, 24-yard field goal SAN FRANCISCO 20-10
4th - SF - Gossett, 41-yard field goal SAN FRANCISCO 23-10
4th - SF - Gossett, 36-yard field goal SAN FRANCISCO 26-10
November 9: Baltimore (7-1) 13, Green Bay (4-4) 10
(MILWAUKEE) - Johnny Unitas' arm and Jim O'Brien's foot paced the Baltimore Colts to a 13-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers on a rainy Monday night. O'Brien kicked two field goals and Unitas directed the attack that gave Baltimore a 7-1 record. Jim Grabowski's one-yard plunge with less than two minutes remaining made the final score closer than the game really was. It also was the first ouchdown the Baltimore defense has allowed in its last 13 quarters of play. The game started out on a gaudy note as Baltimore unveiled an end around reverse pass that was good for a 54-yard gain. Sam Havrilak took the ball from Unitas on the reverse and passed to Roy Jefferson, who was stopped on the Green Bay 6 by Ken Ellis. Baltimore's drive ended when O'Brien's 30-yard field goal attempt was wide. But the Colts were right back on offense moments later when Rick Volk intercepted a Don Horn pass. The Colts apparently scored on O'Brien's 16-yard field goal, but Baltimore turned down the three points when an official caught the Packers for defensive holding. The Colts defense recorded four interceptions, giving them 17 in their past four games.
BALTIMORE - 0 7 6 0 - 13
GREEN BAY - 3 0 0 7 - 10
1st - GB - Livingston, 20-yard field goal GREEN BAY 3-0
2nd - BALT - Jerry Hill, 15-yard run (Jim O'Brien kick) BALTIMORE 7-3
3rd - BALT - O'Brien, 42-yard field goal BALTIMORE 10-3
3rd - BALT - O'Brien, 29-yard field goal BALTIMORE 13-3
(GREEN BAY) - Bart Starr circled around the right end for three yards and a touchdown with three seconds left in the game to give the Green Bay Packers an exciting 20-19 over the Chicago Bears. Starr's dash in the first full game he's played in four weeks, climaxed a brilliant 80-yard Packer drive that started with only 1:10 left in the game. The 15-year NFL veteran completed aerials to Carroll Dale, John Hilton, Larry Krause and Perry Williams to move the Packers from their own 20 to the Chicago 5. An offside penalty against the Bears stopped the clock with seven seconds remaining and moved the ball to the three. Then Starr faded back, apparently looking for a receiver, but when the Bear defense blanketed everyone in the end zone, it left a wide path for the Green Bay quarterback. Dale Livingston kicked the game-winning extra point. In the decisive 80-yard winning drive, Starr completed five of his 23 completions for the day for 75 yards
CHICAGO - 0 0 10 9 - 19
GREEN BAY - 10 0 3 7 - 20
1st - GB - Livingston, 17-yard field goal GREEN BAY 3-0
1st - GB - Anderson, 17-yard run (Livingston kick) GREEN BAY 10-0
3rd - CHI - Mac Percival, 23-yard field goal GREEN BAY 10-3
3rd - CH - Dick Gordon, 79-yd pass from Jack Concannon (Percival kick) TIED 10-10
3rd - GB - Livingston, 49-yard field GREEN BAY 13-10
4th - CHI - Percival, 38-yard field goal TIED 13-13
4th - CHI - Percival, 13-yard field goal CHICAGO 16-13
4th - CHI - Percival, 31-yard field goal CHICAGO 19-13
4th - GB - Starr, 3-yard run (Livingston kick) GREEN BAY 20-19
November 22: Minnesota (9-1) 10, Green Bay (5-5) 3
(MINNESOTA) - Clint Jones smashed one yard for a third quarter touchdown to give the Minnesota Vikings a 10-3 victory over Green Bay, clinching a share of the Central Division title. Jones' score broke a 3-3 tie, the result of second quarter field goals by the Viking's Fred Cox and Green Bay's Dale Livingston. Cox's 15-yard kick, marking the 19th straight game in which he has kicked a field goal, put him in ninth place among National Football League career scorers. Jones' drive was set up by Gary Cuozzo's 37-yard pass to Gene Washington, giving Minnesota a first and goal on the Packers' four. After three running plays moved the ball to the one, Jones fell in for the score. Jim Marshall recovered a Green Bay fumble on the Viking 17 just before the two minute warning to end the Packers' comeback attempt. Cox kicked a 15-yard field goal 3 1/2 minutes into the second quarter, to raise his career scoring mark to 757, passing Jim Brown in the all-time standings. He then added a point after Jones' touchdown to move within two points of eighth-ranked Paul Hornung. Donny Anderson rushed for 93 yards in 19 attempts, but Packers failed to dent endzone.
GREEN BAY - 0 3 0 0 - 3
MINNESOTA - 0 3 7 0 - 10
2nd - MINN - Fred Cox, 25-yard field goal MINNESOTA 3-0
2nd - GB - Livingston, 26-yard field goal TIED 3-3
3rd - MINN - Clint Jones, 1-yard run (Cox kick) MINNESOTA 10-3
November 26: Dallas (7-4) 16, Green Bay (5-6) 3
(DALLAS) - Mike Clark kicked three field goals and Dallas' Doomsday defense smothered old foe Green Bay to give the Cowboys a 16-3 Thanksgiving Day victory and snap a long-standing jinx. Bob Hayes' 13-yard touchdown scamper on an end around iced the struggle with 1:54 remaining. The victory over Green Bay was the first ever for the Cowboys in a regular season and two playoff games. It was a defensive struggle from the start of the nationally-televised game in the Cotton Bowl. Winds gusting to 35 miles an hour made passing extremely difficult. Dale Livingston kicked a 13-yard field goal to give Green Bay a 3-0 lead in the first period and the Cowboys took command. Clark made it 3-3 at halftime with a 21-yard field goal. The Packers displayed a tremendous goal line stand to keep it from being worse. Ray Nitschke stopped Cowboy runners twice at the goal line to turn the ball over to the Packers in the first period. Clark kicked 12 and 15 yard field goals in the fourth quarter as the Cowboy defense refused to allow Bart Starr breathing room. A blocked punt by Rudy Keuchenberg gave the Packers a good shot from the Cowboy 37 in the third period. Cowboy LB Chuck Howley stopped Starr cold with a loss of 14 yards when the 15-year veteran went for the bomb on first down. That killed that try. Rookie FS Charlie Waters picked off a Starr pass deep in the fouth period to set up Hayes' scamper.
GREEN BAY - 3 0 0 0 - 3
DALLAS - 0 3 0 13 - 16
1st - GB - Livingston, 19-yard field GREEN BAY 3-0
2nd - DAL - Mike Clark, 21-yard field goal TIED 3-3
4th - DAL - Clark, 12-yard field goal DALLAS 6-3
4th - DAL - Clark, 15-yard field goal DALLAS 9-3
4th - DAL - Bob Hayes, 13-yard run (Clark kick) DALLAS 16-3
December 6: Green Bay (6-6) 20, Pittsburgh (5-7) 12
(PITTSBURGH) - Aging Bart Starr weathered a windy, snow-covered field and low temperatures as he fired two second-half touchdown passes to give the Green Bay Packers a 20-12 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Larry Krause returned the opening kickoff 100 yards to put the Packers out front. The placement snap on the extra point try was fumbled. The Steelers, however, behind quarterback Terry Hanratty, marched to within striking distance the first time they got the ball, but had to settle for a 15-yard field goal. With the Packers leading 6-3 going into the second half, rookie Terry Bradshaw replaced Hanratty as the Steelers' quarterback. Bradshaw had trouble finding receivers and had two passes intercepted before he unleased an 87-yard scoring bomb to WR Dave Smith, who beat Bob Jeter on the play. The Packer defense picked off five passes, including four of Bradshaw's.
GREEN BAY - 6 0 7 7 - 20
PITTSBURGH - 3 0 6 3 - 12
1st - GB - Krause, 100-yard kickoff return (Kick failed) GREEN BAY 6-0
1st - PITT - Allen Watson, 15-yard field goal GREEN BAY 6-3
3rd - PITT - Dave Smith, 87-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Kick failed) PITT 9-6
3rd - GB - McGeorge, 13-yard pass from Starr (Livingston kick) GREEN BAY 13-9
4th - PITT - Watson, 45-yard field goal GREEN BAY 13-12
4th - GB - Hilton, 65-yard pass from Starr (Livingston kick) GREEN BAY 20-12
December 13: Chicago (5-8) 35, Green Bay (6-7) 17
(CHICAGO) - Jack Concannon had his most brilliant day, hurling four touchdown passes and scoring another on a 15-yard scamper as the Chicago Bears uncorked their biggest point total of a hectic season to bury their oldest NFL rival, the Green Bay Packers, 35-17. Helping light the Bears' fuse in the 104th meeting of the two teams were Dick Gordon, the league's premier pass catcher, and rookie WR George Farmer. Gordon, boosting his reception total to 62, snared seven passes, two of them for TD's that gave him 12 for the season. Farmer had nine catches for 142 yards. The Bears, scoring twice in the game's opening eight minutes as Concannon hit Gordon for 15 yards and Farmer for 42, flexed their muscles while the Pack struggled through the final three quarters without Bart Starr. Starr was rattled groggy midway in the first period and led off the field. He returned a little later but again left never to return and the Bears soared into a 21-3 halftime lead. Rookie Frank Patrick made his first appearance of the campaign as Starr's replacement and hit on 6 of 14 tosses for 59 yards. He was dumped six times for a total loss of 55. Rick Norton finally was inserted late in the final quarter. Chicago passed for a team total of 339 yards to Green Bay's 82.
GREEN BAY - 3 0 0 14 - 17
CHICAGO - 14 7 7 7 - 35
1st - CH - Dick Gordon, 15-yd pass from Jack Concannon (Mac Percival kick) CH 7-0
1st - CHI - George Farmer, 42-yard pass from Concannon (Percival kick) CHI 14-0
1st - GB - Livingston, 32-yard field goal CHICAGO 14-3
2nd - CHI - Concannon, 15-yard run (Percival kick) CHICAGO 21-3
3rd - CHI - Gordon, 25-yard pass from Concannon (Percival kick) CHICAGO 28-3
4th - GB - Anderson, 7-yard run (Livingston kick) CHICAGO 28-10
4th - CHI -Ray Ogden, 6-yard pass from Concannon (Percival kick) CHICAGO 35-10
4th - GB - Hilton, 29-yard pass from Norton (Livingston kick) CHICAGO 35-17
December 20: Detroit (10-4) 20, Green Bay (6-8) 0
(DETROIT) - Lem Barney returned a pass interception 49 yards for a touchdown, returned a punt 65 yards to set up another, and ran back a kickoff 74 yards to set up a field goal as the Lions surged into the playoffs with a 20-0 victory over the Green Bay Packers. The Lions opened up a 3-0 halftime lead with a field goal in the third quarter and 14 points in the final period, sparked by Barney's sensational runbacks. The triumph was a must for Detroit in order to reach the NFC playoffs with the best record of any second-place team in the conference. The Packers had done a fantastic job of containing Detroit's fine offense, including the passing of Greg Landry. Detroit didn't get its first down nor Landry his first complete pass until five minutes remaining in the first half.
GREEN BAY - 0 0 0 0 - 0
DETROIT - 3 0 3 14 - 20
1st - DET - Errol Mann, 50-yard field goal DETROIT 3-0
3rd - DET - Mann, 16-yard field goal DETROIT 6-0
4th - DET - Charlie Sanders, 13-yard pass from Greg Landry (Mann kick) DET 13-0
4th - DET - Lem Barney, 49-yard interception return (Mann kick) DETROIT 20-0
NAMENOPOSHGTWGTCOLLEGEYRPRAGGHOW ACQUIRED
Lionel Aldridge 82 DE 6- 4 245 Utah State 8 8 29 14 1963 Draft - 4th round
Marty Amsler 87 DE 6- 5 255 Evansville 1 3 27 9 1970 FA - Cincinnati
Clarence Williams 83 DE 6- 5 255 Prairie View 1 1 23 14 1970 Trade - Dallas
Perry Williams 31 RB 6- 2 219 Purdue 2 2 23 14 1969 Draft - 4th round
Travis Williams 23 RB 6- 1 210 Arizona State 4 4 24 8 1967 Draft - 4th round
Willie Wood 24 DB 5-10 190 USC 11 11 33 14 1960 FA
NO - Jersey Number POS - Position HGT - Height WGT - Weight YR - Years with Packers PR - Years of Professional Football AGE - Age on September 1 G - Games Played FA - Free Agent
August 8 : Green Bay (0-0-1) 31, NY Giants 31 (T)
(GREEN BAY) - Short touchdown runs by Donny Anderson and Dave Hampton boosted the Packers to a tie Saturday night. With LB Jim Files intercepting two Green Bay passes - returning one for a 95-yard touchdown - the Giants built a 31-10 lead in the 10th annual Bishop's Charities game. Don Horn's 13-yard pass to WR Jack Clancy narrowed the gap to 31-17 with 6:07 remaining in the third period. Anderson's three-yard dash off right tackle, and Hampton's two-yard plunge knotted the score for Green Bay. A flurry of interceptions late in the game went for naught as time ran out. The Giants methodically built up a 10-0 advantage to start the game, then exploded in the waning moments of the first half to grab a 24-10 lead at intermission. With Fran Tarkenton directing the attack, New York took the opening kickoff and haltingly marched 80 yards on 12 plays and three penalties. The payoff came on Tarkenton's 19-yard pass to Dick Houston that found Ken Ellis a spectator.
NY GIANTS - 10 14 7 0 - 31
GREEN BAY - 10 0 14 7 - 31
NYG - Dick Houston, 19-yard pass from Tarkenton (Gogolak kick) NY GIANTS 7-0
NYG - Pete Gogolak, 4-year field goal NY GIANTS 10-0
GB - Dale, 71-yard pass from Starr (Lusteg kick) NY GIANTS 10-7
GB - Lusteg, 38-yard field goal TIED 10-10
NYG - Peter Larson, 3-yard pass from Tarkenton (Gogolak kick) NY GIANTS 17-10
NYG - Jim Files, 95-yard pass interception (Gogolak kick) NY GIANTS 24-10
NYG - Dick Houston, 55-yard pass from Ed Baker (Gogolak kick) NY 31-10
GB - Clancy, 13-yard pass from Horn (Lusteg kick) NY GIANTS 31-17
GB - Anderson, 3-yard run (Lusteg kick) NY GIANTS 31-24
GB - Hampton, 2-yard run (Lusteg kick) TIED 31-31
August 15 : Green Bay (0-0-2) 6, Chicago 6 (T)
(MILWAUKEE) - Booth Lusteg kicked a 12-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining, giving the Packers a tie Saturday night. The only other Packer score came on a 41-yard field goal by Joe Runk in the third period. Chicago scored on a 60-yard pass play from Bobby Douglass to rookie Linzy Cole in the second quarter. What would have been the winning point failed when Mac Percival's point-after attempt was wide. Bobby Joe Green's booming punts kept the Packers at bay throughout the game. Dave Hampton of the Packers brought the crowd of 47,298 to its feet in the game's waning moments as his running put Green Bay near the Bears' goal line in the final minutes.
CHICAGO - 0 6 0 0 - 6
GREEN BAY - 0 0 3 3 - 6
CHI - Linzy Cole, 60-yd pass fr Bobby Douglass (Mac Percival kick failed) CHI 6-0
GB - Runk, 43-yard field goal CHICAGO 6-3
GB - Lusteg, 12-yard field goal TIED 6-6
August 22 : Green Bay (1-0-2) 35, Dallas 34
(DALLAS) - Green Bay's Dave Hampton bulled across from four yards out with 1:54
left Saturday night and Booth Lusteg kicked the extra point, giving the Packers a 35-34 victory over Dallas. It was Green Bay's first exhibition victory of the season after two ties and the first time the Packers had played on an artificial surface. QB Don Horn took the Packers 69 yards in nine plays in the game-winning drive. Willie Wood then picked off a Craig Morton pass to ice the victory over the Cowboys
GREEN BAY - 0 21 0 14 - 35
DALLAS - 6 14 7 7 - 34
DAL - Mike Clark, 40-yard field goal DALLAS 3-0
DAL - Tom Rodgers 17-yard field goal DALLAS 6-0
DAL - Walt Garrison, 1-yard run (Clark kick) DALLAS 13-0
GB - Anderson, 3-yard run (Lusteg kick) DALLAS 13-7
DAL - George Andres, 27-yard fumble return (Rodgers kick) DALLAS 20-7
GB - Anderson, 2-yard run (Lusteg kick) DALLAS 20-14
GB - Anderson, 8-yard pass from Starr (Lusteg kick) GREEN BAY 21-20
GB - Spillis, 28-yard pass from Horn (Lusteg kick) GREEN BAY 28-27
DAL - Bob Hayes, 9-yard pass from Craig Morton (Rodgers kick) DALLAS 34-28
GB - Hampton, 4-yard run (Lusteg kick) GREEN BAY 35-34
August 30 : Green Bay (2-0-2) 30, Oakland 7
(OAKLAND) - The Packers raced to a 24-0 first period lead and outlasted Oakland Sunday in a ragged exhibition marked by frequent Green Bay interceptions and Oakland fumbles. The Packers used seven pass interceptions and two fumble recoveries to crush the Raiders in what had been forecast as a re-hash of the 1968 Super Bowl. Before a national television audience and a sellout crowd of 53,395, Raider QB Daryle Lamonica suffered four first-half interceptions and his replacement, lefty Kenny Stabler, was the victim of three. On the opening kickoff, the Packers marched from the 23 to the Oakland 17 but had to settle for Booth Lusteg's 25-yard field goal.
GREEN BAY - 24 0 0 13 - 37
OAKLAND - 0 7 0 0 - 7
GB - Lusteg, 25-yard field goal GREEN BAY 3-0
GB - Hilton, 13-yard pass from Starr (Lusteg kick) GREEN BAY 10-0
GB - Anderson, 3-yard run (Lusteg kick) GREEN BAY 17-0
GB - Robinson, 21-yard interception return (Lusteg kick) GREEN BAY 24-0
OAK - Daryle Lamonica, 3-yard run (George Blanda kick) GREEN BAY 24-7
GB - Carr, 61-yard fumble recovery (Runk kick) GREEN BAY 31-7
GB - McGeorge, 5-yard pass from Horn (kick failed) GREEN BAY 37-7
September 5 : Green Bay (2-0-3) 10, Cincinnati 10 (T)
(MILWAUKEE) - Perry Williams broke through the middle for 12 yards to the one-yard line, then went over for a touchdown to give the Packers a come-from-behind tie Saturday night. Cincinnati scored 10 quick points in the first quarter on Horst Muhlmann's 17-yard field goal and Bill Burgey's 30-yard return of an intercepted pass only 47 seconds later. K Dale Livingston, added to the squad just days earlier, put Green Bay on the scoreboard in the second period with a 27-yard field goal. Then the Packer "go-go" team - Don Horn with RB's Dave Hampton and Williams - entered the fray. Green Bay started its touchdown drive on its own 33-yard line. Until Williams ripped off his long run, the big play was a 28-yard pass from Horn to TE John Hilton. Both teams sought victory with late field goals. Green Bay's 55-yard attempt was blocked by the Bengals' Ken Riley, who also had intercepted two passes. Cincinnati's attempt from the 33 was blocked with 20 seconds remaining. Olympic sprint champion Tommie Smith had jetted past Green Bay's Doug Hart in the final quarter to haul in QB Sam Wyche's pass, but was tackled at the Packer 11 by Ken Ellis.
CINCINNATI - 10 0 0 0 - 10
GREEN BAY - 0 3 7 0 - 10
CIN - Horst Muhlmann, 17-yard field goal CINCINNATI 3-0
GB - Livingston, 27-yard field goal CINCINNATI 10-3
GB - P. Williams, 1-yard run (Livingston kick) TIED 10-10
September 12 : Green Bay (3-0-3) 34, Buffalo 0
(GREEN BAY) - Rookie Ken Ellis sparked a first-quarter rally with a 53-yard kickoff return, then scored with an intercepted pass in the final quarter as the Packers crushed Buffalo 34-0 Saturday night. With the score 17-0, Ellis picked off a Dennis Shaw pass. The cornerback then sped down the left sideline 38 yards to score. Dale Livingston added a 42-yard field goal with 1:49 left to play. Then Dave Hampton finished the scoring by running around right end 22 yards for a touchdown. Ellis grabbed the kickoff on Green Bay's three, moved down the center of the field behind excellent blocking, then veered to the left where he was corraled on Buffalo's 44. With Donny Anderson and Jim Grabowski biting off large chunks of yardage, Green Bay moved to the two where Starr found John Spilis in the end zone.
BUFFALO - 0 0 0 0 - 0
GREEN BAY - 14 3 0 17 - 34
GB - Spillis, 2-yard pass from Starr (Livingston kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
GB - Grabowski, 67-yard pass from Starr (Livingston kick) GREEN BAY 14-0
GB - Livingston, 10-yard field goal GREEN BAY 17-0
GB - Ellis, 35-yard interception return (Livingston kick) GREEN BAY 24-0
GB - Livingston, 42-yard field goal GREEN BAY 27-0
GB - Hampton, 22-yard run (Livingston kick) GREEN BAY 34-0
September 20: Detroit (1-0) 40, Green Bay (0-1) 0
(GREEN BAY) - Mel Farr scored two touchdowns and Errol Mann kicked four field gaols as the Detroit Lions crushed the Green Bay Packers 40-0. It was the first time the Packers have been shut out since 1958, when the Baltimore Colts stomped them 53-0. Mann, a former Packer, opened the scoring with a 22-yard field goal in the first period. He added three pointers from 14, 43 and 47 yards. Farr punched across from the one-yard line to push Detroit's lead to 10-0, then added another tally on a 13-yard burst in the fourth period. Lem Barney's 40-yard return with a pass interception and Bill Triplet's 11-yard gallop around right end finished the Lions' scoring. Bart Starr, the veteran Green Bay quarterback who led the Packers to five NFL championships and two Super Bowl crowns was booed by the record crowd of 56,263 in the newly-enlarged Lambeau Field when he repeatedly failed to move the team. Detroit rushed for 266 yards, paced by Altie Taylor (74 yards) and Farr (70), and Greg Landry's 76-yard quarterback scramble.
DETROIT - 10 3 10 17 - 40
GREEN BAY - 0 0 0 0 - 0
1st - DET - Errol Mann, 22-yard field goal DETROIT 3-0
1st - DET - Mel Farr, 1-yard run (Mann kick) DETROIT 10-0
2nd - DET - Mann, 14-yard field goal DETROIT 13-0
3rd - DET - Mann, 43-yard field goal DETROIT 16-0
3rd - DET - Lem Barney, 40-yard interception return (Mann kick) DETROIT 23-0
4th - DET - Farr, 13-yard run (Mann kick) DETROIT 30-0
4th - DET - Mann, 47-yard field goal DETROIT 33-0
4th - DET - Bill Triplett, 11-yard run (Mann kick) DETROIT 40-0
September 27: Green Bay (1-1) 27, Atlanta (1-1) 20
(GREEN BAY) - Don Horn and Carroll Dale teamed up on an 89-yard touchdown pass with 6:21 left to give the Green Bay Packers a come-from-behind victory. The Packers built up a 20-3 halftime lead before Bob Berry, forced to go to the air passed the Falcons into a 24-20 lead. Horn replaced Bart Starr in the third period after the veteran quarterback sustained a rib injury, believed to be minor. The touchdown pass was the only pass Horn would complete in eight attempts.
ATLANTA - 0 3 7 14 - 20
GREEN BAY - 7 13 0 7 - 27
1st - GB - Dale, 23-yard pass from Starr (Livingston kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
2nd - GB - Anderson, 2-yard run (Kick blocked) GREEN BAY 13-0
2nd - ATL - Ken Vinyard, 19-yard field goal GREEN BAY 13-3
2nd - GB - Anderson, 2-yard run (Livingston kick) GREEN BAY 20-3
3rd - ATL - Sonny Campbell, 2-yard run (Vinyard run) GREEN BAY 20-10
4th - ATL - Harmon Wages, 17-yard pass from Bob Berry (Vinyard kick) GB 20-17
4th - ATL - Todd Snyder, 18-yard pass from Berry (Vinyard kick) ATLANTA 24-20
4th - GB - Dale, 89-yard pass from Don Horn (Livingston kick) GREEN BAY 27-24
October 4: Green Bay (2-1) 13, Minnesota (2-1) 10
(MINNESOTA) - Dave Hampton spurted 101 yards for a fourth-period touchdown with a kickoff return to give the Green Bay Packers a 13-10 victory over the Vikings. It was the first loss of the season for Minnesota, defending NFL champions, and the first time the Packers have defeated the Vikings m Wisconsin since 1965. Until Hampton's electrifying burst up the middle, the scoring had been relegated to two field goals by the Packers' Dale Livingston and a three-pointer by Minnesota's Fred Cox. It was right after Cox booted his 24-yard field goal to extend his NFL record to 22 consecutive games, that Hampton, taking the kickoff one-yard deep in his own end zone, followed his blockers to the 20 where he shook off a tackle by Charlie West. Hampton, a sophomore speedster from Wyoming, broke free around the 30 and outsprinted everyone to the goal. Minnesota marched to its touchdown as the game drew to a close.Gary Cuozzo consistently found his receivers wide open as the Packers appeared to be playing a prevent defense, allowing the short pass, but not the bomb.
MINNESOTA - 0 0 0 10 - 10
GREEN BAY - 3 0 3 7 - 13
1st - GB - Livingston, 28-yard field goal GREEN BAY 3-0
3rd - GB - Linvingston, 33-yard field goal GREEN BAY 6-0
4th - MINN - Fred Cox, 24-yard field goal GREEN BAY 6-3
October 12: Green Bay (3-1) 22, San Diego (0-3-1) 20
(SAN DIEGO) - As they won their third straight at the expense of a plucky but winless San Diego Charger club Monday night, 22-20, the Packers could thank 33-year-old Willie Wood and 36-year-old Bart Starr. "The way I feel now, I could play another 20 years," declared Wood after intercepting a pass from young Marty Domres at the Chargers' 24 and running it back to the 13. That defensive gem set up a 14-yard field goal by Dale Livingston, his thud three-pointer of the night, and the one that provided the victory. After a 6-6 first half that saw four field goals, the Packers surged back in the third quarter, scoring on Starr passes of four yards to Jack Clancy and two yards to John Hilton. With a 19-6 lead, Coach Phil Bengston took Starr out, explaining later, "His shoulder was bothering him." Don Horn took over at quarterback only to run into quick trouble. Pete Barnes intercepted his pass at the Charger 22 and returned to the 36. With Domres, the second-year pro from Columbia, taking over at quarterback from starter John Hadl, the Chargers charged. Domres shot a short, swing pass to rookie Dave Smith on a play gaining 42 to the Packer 22. Jeff Queen lost two and then Domres pitched out to Willie Frazier on a reverse. Frazier raced for the touchdown. Virtually the same play had set up an earlier field goal. Two minutes and 15 seconds later, Queen scored from the one following a Horn fumble at the 10. About that time Bengston was asking Starr if he could throw. "When he said he could, I put him back in," explained the coach. Controversy had centered on the Charger quarterback situation before the game. With Hadl in General Manager Sid Gillman's doghouse, it wasn't decided until later whether he or Domres would start. John worked three quarters and later commented on reports he might be peddled to another NFL club. "I don't know if this trade talk had any effect on the team. It's not easy to concentrate with this hanging over your head." Livingston's other field goals were from 16 and 27 yards in the first half that ended 6-6 as Mike Mercer was accurate from 16 and 29. What provided the Chargers' their short-lived one-point advantage was a Livingston point-after- touchdown try blocked by Tom Williams. Defensive end Lionel Aldridge added to Hadl's woes. He sacked the quarterback four of the six times he was thrown behind the line. Travis Williams (109 yards) and Donny Anderson (89) combined for all but two of the Packers' 200 yards rushing. San Diego's Willie Frazier racked up 94 yards on just two runs.
GREEN BAY - 3 3 13 3 - 22
SAN DIEGO - 0 6 0 14 - 20
1st - GB - Livingston, 16-yard field goal GREEN BAY 3-0
2nd - GB - Livingston, 27-yard field goal GREEN BAY 6-0
2nd - SD - Mike Mercer, 16-yard field goal GREEN BAY 6-3
2nd - SD - Mercer, 39-yard field goal TIED 6-6
3rd - GB - Clancey, 4-yard pass from Starr (Kick blocked) GREEN BAY 12-6
3rd - GB - Hilton, 2-yard pass from Starr (Livingston kick) GREEN BAY 19-6
4th - SD - Willie Frazier, 24-yard run (Mercer kick) GREEN BAY 19-13
4th - SD - Jeff Queen, 1-yard run (Mercer kick) SAN DIEGO 20-19
4th - GB - Livingston, 14-yard field goal GREEN BAY 22-20
October 18: Los Angeles (4-1) 31, Green Bay (3-2) 21
(GREEN BAY) - Clarence Williams intercepted a Bart Starr pass in the final minutes of play and scooted 65 yards for a touchdown to give the Los Angeles Rams a 31-21 win over the Green Bay Packers. The loss ended a three-game Packer victory streak and spoiled Bart Starr Day for Green Bay fans. Los Angeles took a 14-0 first period lead then watched the Packers come back twice to tie it up. With the score 21-21, David Ray booted a 36-yard -field goal with 1:49 remaining to put the Rams on top, 24-21. Minutes later, as the Packers tried to race the clock downfield, Williams stepped inside Green Bay receiver Jack Clancy, then raced down the left sideline for the clinching score. Alvin Haymond, the Rams' exciting return specialist, set up one touchdown and the winning field goal with two dazzling runs. After Starr's pass to tight end John Hilton had tied the score at 14-14, Haymond streaked 67 yards with the ensuing kickoff to give Los Angeles excellent field position on the Green Bay 38. It took Roman Gabriel only 3 plays to move his team to a 6-yard run by Larry Smith.
LOS ANGELES - 14 0 0 17 - 31
GREEN BAY - 0 7 0 14 - 21
1st - LA - Jack Snow, 25-yard pasas from Roman Gabriel (David Ray kick) LA 7-0
1st - LA - Gabriel, 1-yard run (Ray kick) LOS ANGELES 14-0
2nd - GB - Tr. Williams, 55-yard pass from Starr (Livingston kick) LA 14-7
4th - LA - Larry Smith, 6-yard run (Ray kick) LOS ANGELES 21-21
4th - GB - Tr. Williams, 1-yard run (Livingston kick) TIED 21-21
4th - LA - Ray, 36-yard field goal LOS ANGELES 24-21
4th - LA - Clarence Williams, 65-yard interception return (Ray kick) LA 31-21
October 25: Green Bay (4-2) 30, Philadelphia (0-6) 17
(MILWAUKEE) - A rash of interceptions, one returned 76 yards by Doug Hart for a touchdown, and three field goals by Dale Livingston gave the Green Bay Packers a 30-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The victory ran Green Bay's record to 4-2, while the winless Eagles lost their sixth straight game of the season. Philadelphia took an early lead, helped by a fumbled punt, but Hart's interception, the first of three Eagles passes the Packers picked off, took Green Bay into the lead to stay. Livingston booted field goals of 22, 32 and 25 yards. Donny Anderson scored on a three-yard sweep, and rookie tight end Rich McGeorge caught a 16 yard pass from Bart Starr for the other Packer points. The Eagles retaliated with a 65-yard pass play from Norm Snead to wide receiver Ben Hawkins and on Cyril Pinder's one yard plunge. The game was nearly seven minutes old before Green Bay's offensive team went on the field for the first time. Yet, the Packers held a 7-3 lead.
PHILADELPHIA - 3 7 7 0 - 17
GREEN BAY - 10 14 3 3 - 30
1st - PHIL - Mark Moseley, 15-yard field goal PHILADELPHIA 3-0
1st - GB - Hart, 76-yard interception return (Livingston kick) GREEN BAY 7-3
1st - GB - Livingston, 22-yard field goal GREEN BAY 10-3
2nd - GB - Anderson, 3-yard run (Livingston kick) GREEN BAY 17-3
2nd - PHIL - Ben Hawkins, 65-yard pass from Norm Snead (Moseley kick) GB 17-10
2nd - GB - McGeorge, 16-yard pass from Starr (Livingston kick) GREEN BAY 24-10
3rd - GB - Livingston, 32-yard field goal GREEN BAY 27-10
3rd - PHIL - Cyril Pinder, 1-yard run (Moseley kick) GREEN BAY 27-17
4th - GB - Livingston, 25-yard field goal GREEN BAY 30-17
November 1: San Francisco (6-1-1) 26, Green Bay (4-3) 10
(SAN FRANCISCO) - The San Francisco 49ers survived a fumble-filled start and dominated the second half to post a 26-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers. The victory, before the biggest crowd in 12 years at Kezar Stadium, kept the 49ers in first place in the Western Division. San Francisco struggled to a 10-10 half-time tie despite gaining only 69 yards in the first two periods. Green Bay's scores, a nine-yard field goal by Dale Livingston and a 33-yard touchdown pass from Don Horn to Jack Clancy, came after the 49ers fumbled away Green Bay punts. The 49ers opened the second half with an 80-yard touchdown drive, featuring a 52-yard pass from John Brodie to Jim Thomas, a running back switched to wide receiver, to fill in for injured Gene Washington. Doug Cunningham went six yards for the touchdown that put the 49ers ahead to stay. The Packers' Ken Ellis then fumbled on the kickoff return and Elmer Collett recovered at the 24. Bruce Gossett kicked a field goal to make it 20-10.
1970 IN REVIEW - With the NFL and AFL now merged, a new era began in professional football. Green Bay kept dropping veterans of the Lombardi era and suffered through another losing season. Willie Davis, Henry Jordan and Boyd Dowler all retired. Elijah Pitts, Lee Roy Caffey and Bob Hyland were dealt to Chicago, and Herb Adderley and Marv Fleming went to Dallas and Miami, respectively, in trades. Of those staying on the scene, a sore arm hampered Bart Starr, a torn Achilles tendon sidelined Dave Robinson, and age started catching up to Ray Nitschke. The season began under a cloud of sadness when Vince Lombardi died of cancer at the age of 57 (September 3), and ended in a cloud of controversy as Phil Bengtson resigned on December 21st.
1970 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (3-0-3) - AUGUST
8 G-NEW YORK GIANTS T 31-31 0- 0-1 56,263
15 M-CHICAGO BEARS T 6- 6 0- 0-2 47,298
22 at Dallas Cowboys W 35-34 1- 0-2 72,389
30 at Oakland Raiders W 37- 7 2- 0-2 53,395
SEPTEMBER
5 M-CINCINNATI BENGALS T 10-10 2- 0-3 47,411
12 G-BUFFALO BILLS W 34- 0 3- 0-3 56,161
1970 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS (6-8) - SEPTEMBER (1-1)
20 G-DETROIT LIONS (0-0) L 0-40 0- 1-0 56,263 Starr
27 G-ATLANTA FALCONS (1-0) W 27-24 1- 1-0 56,263 Starr
OCTOBER (3-1)
4 M-MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-0) W 13-10 2- 1-0 47,967 Starr
12 at San Diego Chargers (0-2-1) W 22-20 3- 1-0 53,064 Starr
18 G-LOS ANGELES RAMS (3-1) L 21-31 3- 2-0 56,263 Starr
25 M-PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (0-5) W 30-17 4- 2-0 48,022 Starr
NOVEMBER (1-4)
1 at San Francisco 49ers (5-1-1) L 10-26 4- 3-0 59,335 Starr
9 M-BALTIMORE COLTS (6-1) L 10-13 4- 4-0 48,063 Horn
15 G-CHICAGO BEARS (3-5) W 20-19 5- 4-0 56,263 Starr
22 at Minnesota Vikings (8-1) L 3-10 5- 5-0 47,900 Starr
26 at Dallas Cowboys (6-4) L 3-16 5- 6-0 67,182 Starr
DECEMBER (1-2)
6 at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-6) W 20-12 6- 6-0 46,418 Starr
13 at Chicago Bears (4-8) L 17-35 6- 7-0 44,957 Starr
20 at Detroit Lions (9-4) L 0-20 6- 8-0 57,387 Starr
1970 PACKERS DRAFT (January 27-28, 1970)
RND-PICKNAMECOLLEGE
1a - 2 DT Mike McCoy (A) Notre Dame
1b - 16 TE Rich McGeorge Elon
2 - 41 CB Al Matthews Texas A&I
3 - 68 LB Jim Carter Minnesota
4a - 93 FL Ken Ellis Southern
4b - 96 K Skip Butler (B) TX-Arlington
5 - 120 DE Cecil Pryor Michigan
6 - 145 DB Ervin Hunt Fresno State
7 - 172 C Cleo Walker Louisville
8 - 197 RB Tim Mjos N. Dakota St
9 - 224 G Bob Reinhard Stanford
10a- 248 DT Russ Melby Weber State
10b- 251 TE Frank Patrick (C) Nebraska
11 - 276 LB Dan Hook Humboldt St
12 - 300 FL Frank Foreman Michigan St
13 - 328 RB Dave Smith Utah
14 - 353 G Bob Lints E. Michigan
15 - 380 FL Mike Carter Sacram. St
16 - 405 S Jim Heacock Muskingum
17 - 432 RB Larry Krause St. Norbert
A - from Chicago Bears in Elijah Pitts/Lee Roy Caffey/Bob Hyland trade - B - from Baltimore Colts in Ron Kostelnik trade - C - from Washington Redskins in Leo Carroll trade
Bold- Played for the Green Bay Packers
1970 PACKER TRADES - TRANSACTIONS
JAN 21 - Traded C-G Bob Hyland, HB Elijah Pitts and LB Lee Roy Coffey to CHICAGO for a 1970 first-round draft choice.
FEB 28 - Traded DB John Rowser to PITTSBURGH for TE John Hilton.
APR 29 - Traded a 1971 5th-round draft choice to SAN DIEGO for TE Jacques MacKinnon
MAY 18 - Traded TE Marv Fleming to MIAMI for WR Jack Clancy.
JUN 18 - Signed WR Bob Sherlag (ATLANTA) and DE Larry Cox (DENVER)
JUL 18 - OF Bob Reinhard (9th round) and LB Dan Hook (11th round) left camp (26 rookies in camp)
JUL 23 - Waived RB Tim Mjos (8th round) and DT Russ Melby (10th round) after they failed their physicals (23 rookies in camp)
AUG 10 - Released WR Claudis James, DR Larry Cox, WR Bob Sherlag, S Jim Heacock (16th round), K Jim Huff, K Gary Sievers, LB Max Croshaw, WR Dan Eckstein, RB Les Perry and RB Bob Swanson
AUG 23 - WR Frank Foreman (12th round) claimed off waivers by ATLANTA. Placed QB Billy Stevens on waivers. Claimed K Dale Livingston off waivers from CINCINNATI and placed him on the taxi squad (55 players)
SEPT 1 - Traded CB Herb Adderley to DALLAS for C Malcolm Walker and DE Clarence Williams. Released DE Cecil Pryor (5th round), WR Terry Fredenberg, K Joe Runk and K Skip Butler (4th round) (59 players)
SEPT 2 - Sold TE Ron Jones to ATLANTA.
SEPT 5 - Activated K Dale Livingston.
SEPT 8 - Traded DE Francis Winkler to ATLANTA for C Ken Mendenhall.
SEPT 10 - Waived WR Jacques MacKinnon (retired), RB Dave Smith (13th round), WR Mike Carter (15th round), G Don Bliss and OL Jack O'Malley. Claimed DL Gary McArthur off waivers from SAN FRANCISCO. Placed OL Forrest Gregg on reserve list (44 players)
SEPT 11 - TE Jacques MacKinnon claimed off waivers by OAKLAND, who sent Green Bay a 1971 7th-round choice. Traded a 1971 2nd-round draft choice to SAN FRANCISCO for DT Kevin Hardy.
SEPT 14 - Waived LB Phil Vandersea, K Booth Lusteg, OG Larry Agajanian, DT Gary McArthur, C Ken Mendenhall and DB Leon Harden (39 players)
DEC 3 - Signed QB Rick Norton off waivers from MIAMI and added to taxi squad
1970 Packers Yearbook
1970 Packers Press Guide
PACKER HEAD COACH JOE PATERNO?
For the briefest moments in January 1971, it appeared that Penn State head coach Joe Paterno was going to be named the new coach of the Green Bay Packers. Paterno, who had gone 40-10-1 in five seasons with the Nittany Lions, had turned down an offer the previous year to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers, who turned to Chuck Noll. The Packers interviewed him on January 13, and Paterno was quoted as saying, "We had a nice talk. We discussed the job. They told me what they were looking for. That was it. Any other comment has to come from Green Bay." Paterno, who stressed he was happy at Penn State, said the job interview consisted of both general manager and coaching duties. His interview came the same day Arizona coach Frank Kush dropped out of the running for the position after being interviewed the week previous. Assistant coach Bob Schnelker was also interviewed for the job. Other rumored candidates included Notre Dame head coach Ara Parseghian and several former and current Packers - Dave Hanner, Forrest Gregg and Bart Starr. George Allen was reportedly the first choice for the Packers before agreeing to his deal with the Redskins.
On January 14, Dominic Olejniczak, Packer president, announced the signing of Dan Devine to a five-year contract at a hastily called news conference. In later years, it was learned that the Packer executive committee selected Devine, but not unanimously. Five members, led by Olejniczak, supported the hiring; two others, including pro hall of fame halfback Tony Canadeo, wanted Paterno.
