Throwback Thursday Tower(s)

Throwback Thursday: No, not the upcoming throwback uniforms for Sunday. If you look closely, you’ll see that the Lambeau Atrium was to have two towers when the plan was revealed by team president Bob Harlan. We believe that cost reductions eliminated the second tower.

“HE DID WHAT?!”

15 years ago yesterday, we were there in person for this amazing finish. A rainy night at Lambeau Field that ended with us wondering what was going on because it was on the other end of the field, and you couldn’t hear the radio over the crowd. A great night and a great victory over a hated rival.

The First Post-9/11 Game

On this 14th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, we pause to look at the first game that was played following the week of cancelled games. The Packers were scheduled to play the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football, and it became a super patriotic evening. Packers LB Chris Gizzi, an Air Force Academy graduate, was asked to lead the team out of the North end zone tunnel while proudly carrying an American flag. It was an emotional moment that we were privileged to experience first-hand that night. We did not know, while sitting in a steady rain two weeks earlier watching the Packers beat the Lions on opening day, 28-6, that everyone’s world would forever change two days later.

Here is the archived USA Today web article about the game from the next day. The box score can be found here.

Though out of the league for quite a few years, Gizzi was later honored by the Packers and carried the American flag on to the field during pregame ceremonies for the NFL season-opener between the Saints and Packers held at Lambeau Field on September 8, 2011. He is now the Packers’ Strength and Conditioning Assistant, having been hired in 2014. 

The program cover from that game.

This Day in Green Bay Packers History (1997)

One of the many books published following the Packers’ Super Bowl XXXI victory was this compendium of dates from the team’s long and storied history. Listed in a day-by-day format, This Day in Green Bay Packers History will enlighten you on many facts that you did not know previously. Also included is statistical data at the rear of the book. 

 The beginning of the “November” chapter.

The back cover.

Find your copy here.

This Day in Green Bay Packers History
By Jeff Everson (1997)
Angel Press of Wisconsin; First Edition
224 pages

“He Did What?” — Freeman’s Catch

We’re setting the way back machine to November 6, 2000 today to take a look at one of the Packers’ most thrilling OT finishes of all time. It was Monday Night Football at Lambeau Field, and we were there on that chilly, damp evening to watch it happen. Anytime you beat the Vikings, it’s a good night. From the Packers Hall of Fame:

“He did what?” asks an incredulous Al Michaels on a cold, rainy evening at Lambeau Field. Handling play-by-play for “Monday Night Football,” Michaels is as amazed as anyone by Antonio Freeman’s 43-yard touchdown catch that beats the Vikings 26-20 in overtime. Minnesota defensive back Chris Dishman appears to knock the ball to the ground, but instead it hits Freeman’s left shoulder popping slightly into the air. Flat on his back, Freeman rolls to his side, gets two hands on the ball, hops to his feet, then races the final 15 yards to the end zone.” 

We were in the opposite end zone, and we couldn’t tell what happened right away because the crowd was cheering too loud for us to hear the radio call in our headphones. Not until we saw the replay did we know that the Packers had indeed won the game. Despite all that has transpired since 2009, we really have some great memories of those Brett Favre years. Someday all wounds will heal.