ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) – We’re celebrating 100 years of the Green Bay Packers all season long with team historian Cliff Christl.
This week we look at forgotten history nuggets.
Christl says it comes down to the top three storylines; the coaches they did not hire, Paul Hornung’s role and legacy and Starr and Lombardi’s relationship.
When it comes to the coaches that they did not hire, Christl says the list has some pretty big names.
Dan Devine was hired over Joe Paterno. Barry Alvarez and Bill Parcells were also considered, and even Lindy Infante and Vince Lombardi’s hirings almost did not happen.
“Lombardi was really their second choice.”
The job was first offered to University of Iowa Coach Forest Evashevski.
Christl also pointed to how Paul Hornung was remembered.
Paul Hornung’s role on the Lombardi Packers was not necessarily forgotten, but muddled according to Christl,
“History doesn’t treat him as well as it should, partly because his statistics don’t necessarily translate to today’s game.”
Christl says he is known for running the power sweep, but Hornung had other talents that were not used as much.
“He was also able to throw the option pass. He didn’t throw it often but Lombardi called it the greatest play in football.”
The final fact was that Bart Starr was not the man for the job early on.
Bart Starr started his pro career as a third-string quarterback. He worked his way to a starting position his first but had a bad game in the opener against the Bears in 1960 and Lombardi benched him. Says Christl, “It wasn’t until late in the 1961 season that Starr really solidified himself in that position.”
He says the Packers were even considering trading Starr before he earned Lombardi’s confidence.
The Packers continue their 100th season with a home game against Miami on Sunday.
