Chiefs at Packers

Since our last post, we’ve been neglecting the ol’ blog here, so we want to start things up again with some photos from Thursday evening’s preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs. We were in town again after having attended the previous Friday’s game with the Oakland Raiders.

Here’s how things look about 90 minutes or so before kick off. 

Packers players are out and warming up in shorts before going back into the locker room to don their full uniforms. 

The old steps of the original Lambeau “bowl.” 

The Gate Keeper who keeps people like us off the field and sideline area. That privilege is reserved for people who work for, or know, the team’s various corporate sponsors.

Chiefs players warming up as well. 

The Packers’ sideline area. 

The NFL is a small world. Players from each team often know one or two players from college, or from playing on other teams, etc. There’s always some visiting going on before and after games. 

Players come back out to warm up in full equipment, then head back to the locker room again before emerging as a team for the pre-game introductions. 

The game is underway. There is no more meaningless game (for the fans) than the last preseason game. Almost no starters even dressed for the game. The players trying to make the team are the only ones with a vested interest in what happens on the field. 

  

At halftime, they had youth football teams on the field, running plays. Some of these lucky kids got to play on the Lambeau turf, score a touchdown there, and do the “Lambeau Leap.” 

Leaving Lambeau at the end of the night. 

We picked up these fine two new additions to the McFarlane™ line while in town. 

Packers fans aren’t the only ones who are loyal to their team, and who follow them to away games. We saw this camper in the Lambeau Field parking lot on Saturday afternoon.

Ted Moore Passes Away

Ted Moore, the voice of the Green Bay Packers during the glory years in the 1960s and who made a memorable call in the famed Ice Bowl on Dec. 31, 1967, at Lambeau Field, has died. Moore died Friday at a health care facility in Brown Deer, apparently of heart failure, according to his son, Richard. He was 87.

Moore, blessed with a radio-friendly baritone, was a constant presence on the airwaves in his prime, calling games for the Packers, football and basketball games for the University of Wisconsin, and one year calling Marquette University basketball. He broadcast UW basketball for 22 years.

Moore spent 48 years in the radio and television broadcasting business. But he was best known for his work with the Packers. At the Ice Bowl, with the Packers trailing the Dallas Cowboys, 17-14, in the NFL Championship Game, Moore peered through a small unfrozen section of the press box window and called quarterback Bart Starr's sneak into the end zone. "The Green Bay Packers are going to be world champions, world champions for the third straight year," Moore yelled.

—The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Packers-Raiders from the Past

We’re heading up to Green Bay tomorrow afternoon to attend the Packers-Raciers preseason game at Lambeau Field. This will be a 7:00 p.m. national TV game (on CBS), enabling Packers fans outside Wisconsin to see the team for the only time this preseason. The most famous meeting of these two teams was, of course, in Super Bowl II, where the Packers won their second “Big Game,” capping off three NFL titles in a row. Above, DE Willie Davis sacks Raiders QB Daryle Lamonica. Let’s look at some more images from this game.

QB Bart Starr looks for his open receiver as LT Bob Skoronski (#76) provides protection. 

DT Ron Kostelnik puts pressure on Lamonica. 

LB’s Lee Roy Caffey (#60) and Ray Nitschke (#66) chase Raiders’ RB Hewritt Dixon.

Starr tries to elude the grasp of Oakland DT Dan Birdwell. 

An aerial photograph of Miami’s Orange Bowl stadium — the site of Super Bowl II — that we had not seen before. It was taken during pre-game festivities. 

Head Coach Vince Lombardi is hoisted on the shoulders of RT Forrest Gregg and RG Jerry Kramer following his final game with the Green Bay Packers.

Another view of almost the same moment that we’d never seen before.

The Super Bowl II game program cover... only $1.00!  Seen on eBay today for $350.

The Green Bay Packers received this ring to commemorate their Super Bowl victory and the feat of achieving three World Championships in a row.

Depending on the weather, we hope to bring you some photos from the game tomorrow night. Stay tuned.

Photo: Mears Online Auctions, NFL, Associated Press.

Is It Fall Yet?

It may still be Summer, but we’re looking forward to Fall — especially after seeing this delightful cover from a Green Bay vs. Baltimore game in October 1957. It’s too bad that no one dresses up like that to go to football games anymore. Maybe we should.

Packers Preseason Network

Unless you live in or near one of the indicated TV markets on the map above (or in the Nashville area), you will not see tonight’s preseason opener vs. the Titans. While these games are meaningless to everyone except the players trying to make the team, they’re rather hard to find on TV. We suggest tuning into WTMJ Radio-Milwaukee online to listen to all the action.

2014 Training Camp — Part VI

As mentioned yesterday, this will be our final installment from 2014 Packers Training Camp. We have spent 16 days in TItletown at the new Packerville, U.S.A. bureau, and have enjoyed all of it. But, it’s time to get back to the real world. This finishes up our “best of” set of images from camp, and we start off with some more of the kids and players and the bikes. Above, QB Scott Tolzien rides as the bike’s owner runs alongside.

Rookie TE Richard Rodgers gets to practice on a little bike. 

T John Fullington walks with this little boy on an even smaller bike. 

LB Jake Doughty talks to his bike‘s owner, while T Derek Sherrod cruises along. 

DE Datone Jones, DT Mike Daniels, and LB Nate Palmer cross Oneida Street. 

The Ray Nitschke Field gate on Armed Forces Drive where the players enter for practice. 

The camera operator on the North end of the practice field. K Mason Crosby hit him twice with extra point kicks late in Wednesday’s session. 

The crowd in the stands for what turned out to be the hottest day for practice yet. 

TE‘s Justin Perillo (#80), Jake Stoneburner (#85), Andrew Quarless (#81), and Ryan Taylor (#82) make their way to the South end of the field for drills.

WR’s Jordy Nelson (#87), Jared Abbrederis (#84), and Jarrett Boykin (#11).

QB Aaron Rodgers waiting for the snap of the ball, which will then go to RB Eddie Lacy. 

RB DuJuan Harris gets his turn. 

Nelson close up. 

QB’s Matt Flynn and Rodgers in their position drills. 

Boykin after making a reception. 

Nelson making a reception. 

Rodgers looks at Nelson... 

... but throws to rookie draft pick WR Jeff Janis, who was practicing after missing all of camp up to that point suffering from shingles.

Flynn working on some foot work before attempting to throw into a targeted net. 

WR Myles White makes a TD reception over the coverage of CB Antonio Dennard. 

Tolzien makes a throw during some scrimmaging action. 

Fans watch and mingle along the North end of the Ray Nitschke Field. 

A view along the East side of the Nitschke Field grandstands. 

Kids are lined up with their bikes, ready for the players to come off the practice field. 

T Bryan Bulaga rides back to the Lambeau Field facilities. 

T David Bakhtiari and his bike mate. 

Several players head back to the locker room. 

Flynn gets a ride on a full-sized bike. 

The Lambeau Field players parking lot. 

Players stop for some autographs before heading into the facility. 

The West side of Lambeau Field as the sun goes down. 

The new North end of the the stadium, with the newly remodeled Packers Pro Shop. 

The statues of Lombardi and Lambeau at dusk. 

Curly Lambeau statue. 

Looking back at the Atrium from Harlan Plaza. 

A closer-up view of the new Pro Shop exterior. 

Above and below, the lighted panels on the Pro Shop exterior. 

Thanks for joining us at Training Camp, and we look forward to the 2014 regular season.