For today’s posting, we have a fine image of Green Bay head coach Vince Lombardi in his home library looking through a copy of his book “Run to Daylight.” In 1962, author W.C. Heinz partnered with the soon-to-be legendary football genius to prepare a book about a week in the life of the Packers as coached by Lombardi. Who could explain the story of this book better than Packers’ team historian, Lee Remmel:
“Heinz, a boxing writer by trade, was spending much of 1962's training camp and early season shadowing Vince Lombardi in preparation for writing the book. The focus, it turned out, was on the practice week leading up to the Lions contest (Oct. 7, 1962) and how the relentless Lombardi readied his team for a game — both physically and psychologically.
“ ‘Run to Daylight’ was indeed a logical choice for the title, since Lombardi had quickly turned the long-dormant Packers into world champions in just three years, having done so largely via repetitious emphasis on his offensive credo. Once described as an offense of "complex simplicity," it was centered around Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung getting to whatever hole might be available — with all possible haste — and through it as soon as possible, with, of course, the considerable assistance of Forrest Gregg, Jerry Kramer and Fuzzy Thurston, among others, blocking up front.”
“In retrospect, the ‘Run to Daylight’ scenario was made to order for the 1962 game, which became the focal point of the book. Both teams entered that fourth week of the season with 3-0 records — and soaring hopes. As the third quarter of a taut defensive struggle ended, the Lions were out front, 7-6, having scored the only touchdown of the game in the second period, courtesy of Alex Karras, who recovered a Bart Starr fumble at the Green Bay 34-yard line to set up the score. The Packers, meanwhile, had found it necessary to settle for a pair of routine Hornung field goals, both 15-yard efforts.”
“The fourth quarter was to mark the ‘big play’ emergence of the Packers' Herb Adderley, a second-year cornerback from Michigan State who had been Green Bay's first round draft choice a year earlier. He abruptly turned the tide late in that final period, leaping in front of intended receiver Terry Barr to intercept a Milt Plum pass and sprint 40 yards down the west sideline to the Detroit 18 before being grounded. After Hornung picked up 2 yards on first down and Taylor 3 on the next play, only 36 seconds remained, dictating a Green Bay timeout. The versatile Hornung again was called upon and he delivered a decisive, 21-yard field goal. Following Pat Studstill's return of the succeeding kickoff to the Detroit 26, the Packers weathered four desperation Plum passes, all incomplete, to carry the day, 9-7.”
“The victory, however, came with an eventual ‘price.’ The Lions, sullenly nursing their wounds in the interim, exacted revenge in their Thanksgiving Day rematch at Detroit, sacking Starr 11 times on the way to a 26-14 victory that blighted the Packers' 10-0 record. Yet, in 1962's final accounting, it was the Green and Gold who prevailed. The Packers rebounded from that Motor City misadventure to sweep their last three regular-season games and forge a glittering 13-1 record — the best in their history. They proceeded from there to claim a second consecutive NFL championship with a 16-7 victory over the Giants in New York's hallowed Yankee Stadium, beset that day by a minus-47 degrees wind chill.”
Source: Packers.com
