Super Bowl II pits the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League against the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League. Melvin Durslag opines in the back of this TV Guide that "the standard-bearer for the Nationals is favored, and it would hit with suffocating shock if the form did not prevail." We also get this awesome "CLOSE-UP" preview of the game.
Twelve-year-old me in 1968 ... well, heck, who are we kidding? ... 44-year-old me in 1968 would ideally be spending Saturday, Jan. 13, gathering up all of his football cards for both teams and pairing them off against one another with the assistance of electric football or some other board game. Sometimes, I feel embarrassed for still being so interested in kiddie stuff like football cards and board games and pretend, but, whatever, the heart loves what the heart loves and, man, oh, man, does my heart ever love this stuff.
So, anyway, here go the lineups for my big pretend Super Bowl II, in anticipation of real Super Bowl II on pretend tomorrow 1968.
When the Packers have the ball, ...
When the Raiders have the ball, ...
Now, I got on Amazon last night and saw that I could pick up Forrest Gregg, Jerry Kramer and Fuzzy Thurston of the Packers and Dan Birdwell, Roger Hagberg, Isaac Lassiter, Kent McCloughan, Bill Miller, Gus Otto and Larry Todd of the Raiders. But that would've been 10 cards for better than $20 plus shipping, and--I don't care how old and/or rare they are--I have a hard time paying more than a quarter per, given that I grew up paying only 25 cents for a whole pack. So, neither pretend Vince Lombardi nor pretend John Rauch can count on much help from his bench in pretend Super Bowl II.
The first game that I'm going to try is NFL Quarterback Football Game. I found it at a yard sale several years ago, and I know that I at least tried to fire it up for a Sunday-school class that I was part of back in North Carolina. I seem to remember that the game was broken in some sort of definitive way when I tried it then, but we'll see. It'll be fun to at least give it a go.
Also, in 1968, I certainly would've had the TV blaring the whole time I was playing this game, so this issue of TV Guide--which Super Wife I gave me for Christmas this year--is a huge help in this regard. For example, I don't remember ever even hearing of this cartoon, Shazzan, which I might've watched on CBS at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, 1968:
Man, I loved those TV Guide "NFL Close-Ups" when I was a kid. By the early 1970's, they had started putting these great graphics showing each team's helmet next to its roster. I thought those were AWESOME.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, how did Soviet TV describe life in America?
ReplyDeleteI'll have to let you know about the Soviets article. I took a quick glance, and it's basically going to be that we only think we have freedom.
ReplyDeleteOK, Transogram's NFL Players Association Quarterback Football Game is out. It needs a lightbulb that I don't have, as well as a D battery and some tiny screws that I'll have to find. I'm moving on.
ReplyDeleteNow switching to All-American Football Game, copyright 1960 from Cadaco-Ellis Inc. of Chicago ...
ReplyDeleteThe rules fill the inside cover, and they are in 6-point-or-so. The first bulleted "special feature" reads, "For Players who know Football."
ReplyDeleteYEAH!
Oakland wins toss and elects to receive. The Raiders return the kickoff 20 yards to own 30.
ReplyDeleteFirst down, Darryle Lamonica is thrown for a 1-yard loss on an option, as Lionel Aldridge pushes blocker Ken Herock into the Raider backfield and tackles the Oakland quarterback.
Gene Upshaw gets a nice block on Lee Roy Caffey, springing Hewritt Dixon for 6 on second down.
Third-and-5 from the Oakland 35 ... the Raiders go conservative, calling another draw to Dixon. Willie Wood beats Fred Biletnikoff's block and stops Dixon 2 yards short of the first.
Green Bay takes over at its own 20 after Oakland's punt.
Carroll Dale beats his defender off the line, and Bart Starr hits him for an 11-yard pickup on first down.
Starr is calling an aggressive game plan early. The defending champs run a reverse to Bob Long for 7 yards, who is finally tracked down by Oakland linebacker Duane Benson.
Starr flings deep for Dale! Incomplete ... fine coverage by safetyman Mike Eischeid. Oakland's punter, an NAIA All-American defensive back at Northern Iowa.
On third-and-7, Starr puts the ball only where Boyd Dowler can catch it. Willie Brown stops the Packer receiver but not before a pickup of 12 to the Green Bay 49. First down!
Raider defensive end Ben Davidson beats Henry Jordan and blows up the developing screen pass; Starr has to ground the pass for an incompletion.
Second-and-10 ... Huge, 15-yard penalty on the Packers ... we'll try it again ... second-and-25, from the Green Bay 34 ... Donny Anderson gets back 10 of the lost yards, before Dan Conners gets in for the tackle.
Third-and-15 from the Packer 44 ... Starr tries to surprise the Raiders with a draw, but Conners, playing it safe in the middle of the field, is not fooled. He stops Ben Wilson for a 6-yard gain at the 50.
Donny Anderson's punt is blocked! Willie Brown, who came over to Oakland in an off-season trade from Denver and then racked up seven interceptions this season, breaks through from the corner. Midway through the first quarter, the Raiders will be taking over at Green Bay's 49!
Lamonica finds Rod Sherman for 5 on first down.
ReplyDeleteAldridge gets into the backfield on second and stops Larry Todd for a 1-yard loss.
Third-and-6 at the Green Bay 45 ... Lamonica under pressure ... Ray Nitschke is there for the interception ... and the NFL's most outstanding linebacker per vote of his player peers rumbles 25 yards with the snatch to the Oakland 35! First down, Packers!
Starr surprises the Raiders with another reverse--this one, Travis Williams scampers with for 8 ... Dave Grayson on the stop.
ReplyDeleteGood blocking by Gale Gillingham and the Green Bay line, and Starr takes his time to find tight end Marv Fleming for a pickup of 10. First down, Packers!
From the Oakland 17, Green Bay will have first-and-10 ... the little girl is up from her nap, so that's the end of the first quarter. We remain scoreless at the Orange Bowl.
Take a listen to the new girl singer from Canada.
ReplyDeleteHappy 45th birthday yesterday, LL Cool J, born on Jan. 14, 1968, with "the strength to rock."
ReplyDeleteSecond quarter ...
ReplyDeleteFirst-and-10 at the Oakland 17 ... Bob Hyland's block on Tom Keating springs Ben Wilson for a gain of 8 ...
Second-and-2 ... Wilson takes Starr's quick handoff for 3 and first-and-goal at the Raider 6 ...
Dan Conners has solid coverage on Carroll Dale, and Starr's pass falls incomplete ...
Second-and-goal ... Starr screens to Donny Anderson ... Oakland safety Dave Grayson is not fooled, but Anderson breaks the tackle in the backfield and then zips in for the Green Bay score! Don Chandler's extra point is good, and the NFL champs lead, 7-0.
After Chandler's short kickoff, Oakland starts at its own 40 ...
ReplyDeleteLamonica looks to throw a screen pass to end Ken Herock but aborts the plan as Packer corner Bob Jeter closes on the play ... incomplete ...
Second-and-10 ... Lamonica comes back to Herock, and this time it goes for six. Rookie Raider guard Gene Upshaw sets a key block ...
Third-and-4 ... Pete Banaszak takes the draw behind Upshaw, who clears out Packer linebacker Dave Robinson. Banaszak plows for 10 ... FIRST DOWN!
From the Green Bay 44 ... Lamonica fires over the middle for Rod Sherman, but Willie Wood is right there ... INTERCEPTION ... Wood returns to the Oakland 43, and the Packers take over ...
Here come Starr and the Packers ... Anderson releases his block and runs under Starr's pass ... he breaks Duane Benson's tackle ... 15 more for Green Bay ...
ReplyDeleteFirst-and-down, Oakland 28 ... Starr drops back again, but, this time, Tom Keating beats rookie lineman Bob Hyland ... Starr's rushed throw is picked off by Warren Powers ...
First-and-10, Oakland 33 ... the draw goes to Larry Todd, and Jim Otto levels Lee Roy Caffey ... Todd picks up 8 ...
ReplyDeleteSecond-and-2 ... Lamonica hits Herock for 5 ... FIRST DOWN!
From the Oakland 47 ... Banaszak runs off tackle, and Robinson stuffs the Raider runner after a gain of only 1 ...
Second-and-9 at the 48 ... Lamonica shows pass but instead Hewritt Dixon blasts 20 yards on a quick opener, and Herb Adderly closes for a touchdown-saving tackle at the Green Bay 32 ... FIRST DOWN! ...
Lionel Aldridge sniffs out the draw, and he blows by Upshaw to throw Dixon for a 2-yard loss on first ...
Second-and-12 ... the Raiders get it back ... Fred Biletnikoff flashes open, and Lamonica hits him for a 14-yard gain ... FIRST DOWN!
From the Green Bay 20 ... penalty on the Packers ... free play for the Raiders ... Dixon picks up 9, and Oakland will decline ...
Lamonica appears to have Green Bay totally off balance, and, indeed, on second-and-1, Rod Sherman is wide open in the end zone ... TOUCHDOWN, OAKLAND! ... George Blanda's kick is good, and we're tied in Miami, 7-7!
Travis Williams races to midfield with the kickoff before being forced out of bounds, and that's it for the second quarter ... the Packers and Raiders are tied at 7 in Super Bowl II in the Orange Bowl.
ReplyDeleteGrambling State's marching band, for the second year in a row, is providing your Super Bowl halftime entertainment.
ReplyDeleteThe Packers take over at their own 15 after the second-half kickoff.
ReplyDeleteBart Starr's first-down pitchout to the Ben Wilson is snuffed for no gain. Oakland's Ben Davidson is there for the tackle.
Second down ... Mike Eischeid sells out to the run and stops fullback Jim Grabowski after a gain of only one around end ...
Third-and-19 from the Green Bay 16 ... Dave Grayson slaps down Starr's pass for Donny Anderson, and the defending champs will be punting from their own end ...
Oakland takes over at its own 47 after the punt ... Jim Otto's illegal procedure sends the Raiders back to their own 42 for first-and-15 ... the Raiders go razmatazz, but Fred Biletnikoff bobbles the reverse handoff as Dave Robinson bears down ... Biletnikoff recovers, but it's a loss of 2 ...
Second-and-17 ... Lamonica surprises with a draw handoff to Hewritt Dixon, and he goes for 10 as Rod Sherman throws a key block on Bob Jeter ...
Third-and-7 ... Green Bay defensive tackle Bob Brown beats Oakland guard Harry Schuh off the line and forces Lamonica to throw quickly incomplete on a screen attempt ... the Raiders will be punting from the 50 ...
The Packers take over at their own 18 ...
Chuck Mercein, the hero of last week's "Ice Bowl" NFL championship powers for 3 yards behind guard Forrest Gregg before Dan Conners wraps him up at the 21 ...
Second-and-7 ... Gale Gillingham picks up blitzing Conners, and that gives Starr plenty of time to find Marv Fleming for a gain of 12 ... FIRST DOWN! ...
Big Ben Wilson, behind Henry Jordan's solid block on Ben Davidson, powers for 8 more ...
ReplyDeleteSecond-and-2 coming from the Green Bay 41 ... Starr tries a reverse to Boyd Dowler, but Willie Brown blows up the play ... it's a loss of 12!
Third-and-14, Green Bay 29 ... Grabowski runs 4, as Starr plays it conservative ... the punting units are coming on ...
Anderson's punt sails 40 yards, and RODGER BIRD, A SECOND-YEAR SAFETY FROM CORBIN AND THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, RETURNS 73 YARDS FOR THE TOUCHDOWN!
The book on real Rodger Bird and more Boys From Corbin--America's Greatest Little Sports Town.
DeleteStarr--is he rattled?--misses Bob Long on the spot class, as Raider Carleton Oats collapses the pocket ...
ReplyDeleteSecond down from the Green Bay 35 ... Oakland's Tom Keating blasts into the backfield on a draw to Grabowski ... loss of 3 ...
Third-and-13, Green Bay 32 ... Gillingham picks up the Conners blitz ... Starr fakes a pitch to Wilson and throws deep for Dowler ... COMPLETE! ... 40-yard pickup ... FIRST DOWN! ...
Nearing the end of the third quarter ...
Starr's screen pass to Carroll Dale goes for 4; Willie Brown brings him down ...
ReplyDeleteSecond-and-6 from the Oakland 24 ... behind Gregg, Dowler takes the reverse for 3 before Duane Benson brings him down ...
Third-and-3, from the Oakland 21 ... this will be the last play of the quarter ... Starr, withstanding a giant hit from Davidson, finds Max McGee for 10 to the Raider 11, and the Packers will have first-and-10 when we come back for the fourth quarter!
Corbin's Bird was one of two UK Wildcats to be named to the 1965 Playboy All-American team.
ReplyDeleteFirst play of the fourth quarter ... it's a draw ... Bart Starr hands off to Ben Wilson ... BALL IS LOOSE! ... Raider safety Mike Eischeid is in for the recovery! ... OAKLAND BALL!
ReplyDeleteFirst-and-10 at the Oakland 12 ... Lamonica fakes a pitch to Dixon and hits Bill Miller for 10 and another FIRST DOWN ...
ReplyDeleteLamonica screens to Biletnikoff, who pulls away from Doug Hart and races for a pickup of 20 ... all momentum with the Raiders now! ... FIRST DOWN!
Lamonica looks deep for Miller ... instead, he tosses into the flat to Hewritt Dixon, who drags Ray Nitschke for another gain of 10 and another FIRST DOWN! ...
Bob Svihus and the Raider line are giving Lamonica all day ... perusing the whole scene, the Mad Bomber again outlets short--this time to Larry Dodd--and it's a gain of 14 ... FIRST DOWN!
ReplyDeleteThe Packer defense appears gassed in the Miami heat ... Oakland will have first-and-10 from the Green Bay 34 ... this is a convincing drive ...
Lamonica tries an end-around to end Ken Herock, and, this time, Green Bay corner Bob Jeter slams the runner for a 1-yard loss ...
ReplyDeleteSecond-and-11 ... it's a draw to Dixon ... and now Lionel Aldridge is there for the quick stop ... no gain ... the Packer defense somehow musters the strength for a stand ...
Lamonica surprises the Raiders with a draw to Todd, and, running behind guard Harry Schuh, he picks up 7 to the Green Bay 28 ... Dave Robinson on the tackle ... fourth down coming ... decision time for Johnny Rauch! ...
9:47 to go, and he comes George Blanda ... the 40-year-old comes on to try a 45-yard field-goal attempt ... illegal procedure! ... now Blanda is looking at a 50-yard try ...
ReplyDeleteANOTHER ILLEGAL PROCEDURE ON THE RAIDERS!
ReplyDeleteRauch pulls Blanda off the field ... from the 38, Oakland will instead punt ... Eischeid launches a high, short kick ... Willie Wood catches the ball at the Green Bay 8, and he's hit immediately ...
ReplyDeletePackers ball, first-and-10, from the Green Bay 8 ... 8:59 to go in Super Bowl II, and the Raiders still hold a 14-7 lead ...
Quick opener to Donny Anderson ... Carleton Oats on the tackle after a Packer gain of 6 ...
ReplyDeleteSecond-and-4 ... Starr, rushed on Eischeid's safety blitz up the middle, throws incomplete for Dowler ... third down ... 7:30 to play ...
Starr, quick handoff to Mercein ... Willie Brown with a stop after 2 yards ... fourth down coming up ... the Packers will have to punt from their own 20 ...
DISASTER FOR THE CHAMPS ... DONNY ANDERSON'S PUNT IS BLOCKED ... 6-FOOT-7 BEN DAVIDSON GETS THROUGH, and the Raiders take over at the Green Bay 18 ...
LAMONICA WITH THE HAYMAKER! HE FINDS BILL MILLER FOR THE SCORE! TOUCHDOWN, OAKLAND!
ReplyDeleteBlanda's PAT is good, and it's 21-7, Raiders, with 6:02 to play in the Orange Bowl ...
ReplyDeleteGreen Bay, first-and-10, from its 22 ... play-action pass ... Starr dumps off to Anderson ... gain of 2 ... Duane Benson with a blood-thirsty stop ... the Raiders sense it ...
ReplyDeleteDavidson, menacing ... incomplete ... third down ... inside 5 minutes to play ... Lombardi letting Jerry Kramer and the rest of Green Bay's line have it ...
Starr's pass to Dowler is complete, but Conners beats the blocking wall--no gain ... fourth-and-8 ...
This is it! Lombardi's keeping his offense on the field! Nearing the 4-minute mark ...
ReplyDeleteThe Raider secondary blankets Dowler and Boyd deeper ... Starr checks down to Bob Long ... Willie Brown with the tackle at the Green Bay 30 ... RAIDERS TAKE OVER ON DOWNS! ...
ReplyDeleteOakland is on fire ... even with Green Bay in seven-man front, Pete Banaszak finds a seam for 7 ... Willie Wood with the touchdown-saving tackle ... Lombardi calls Green Bay's first timeout ...
ReplyDeleteLamonica goes back to Banaszak on a quick opener, and Nitschke takes him down after a gain of 6 ... FIRST DOWN! ... clock running ...
There's no happier man in Miami than Al Davis ...
ReplyDeleteNitschke stops Dixon, but another 3 yards ... second timeout for Green Bay ...
ReplyDeleteTodd off tackle ... Doug Hart jumps the play ... loss of 1 ... last Packer timeout ... 2:40 to go ...
The handoff goes to Dixon, running behind Svihus ... he's near the first-down marker ... FACEMASK ON THE PACKERS! ... that's a Raider first down, and that'll do it!
ReplyDeleteOK, so my official prediction for Super Bowl II is Raiders, 21-7, as the Packers crack under the pressure of sustaining the perception of NFL dominance, Mike Eischeid emerges as the NFL's most versatile talent and Darryle Lamonica becomes the face of professional football.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting comment from gamemeister27 on TV coverage of the Jan. 20, 1968, San Jose Open:
ReplyDeleteI think these old videos do a great job of showing how much knowledge of bowling has advanced over the past decades. Back during this video a lot of bowler had their own, kinda goofy looking styles. This generally means that only those with natural talent will end up being successful on a professional level. Nowadays, most really good bowlers have very similar styles, those that don't are generally the natural talents i.e. Mike Fagan, Walter Ray, and Ryan Shafer.
More bowling: Jan. 6, 1968, North Phoenix Open. Bud Palmer and Billy Welu make for a totally compelling and pleasant broadcast team.
ReplyDeleteDick Clark seems genuinely excited about the prospects of Blue Cheer--as though he feels a little like Ed Sullivan putting the Beatles on TV in the United States. Maybe Dick Clark foresaw the right wave, wrong whitecap. Interesting that the Blue Cheer dude, at the end, mentions Kashmir.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, in Australia, ...
DeleteHot Dr. Pepper! Sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe Packers had advanced to the Super Bowl by beating Dallas on New Year's Eve in the "Ice Bowl." Very cool the Ray Scott and Jack Buck split CBS's play-by-play duties.
ReplyDeleteA weird minute with Col. Sanders.
ReplyDeleteReal Super Bowl II, per a silent NFL Films 8mm film about the game:
ReplyDeleteG.B. OPENS QUICKLY ...
... STARR TO FLEMING
CHANDLER F.G. FROM 39 YEDS. OUT
(The camera pans to the crowd and shows a couple of fans holding separate, hand-painted posterboards that read, "THE PACKERS ARE" and "THE TEAM WE LOVE.")
STARR TO DALE -- 17 YDS.
(And here's a big burned place in the film that is all to familiar to anyone who had a dad who labored over an 8mm projector in a darkened kitchen or basement or whatever.)
STARR TO DOWLER FOR 62 YDS.
... AND A TOUCHDOWN.
OAKLAND STRIKES BACK!
LAMONICA TO BANASZAK
LAMONICA PASSES ...
... BILL MILLER CATCHES FOR A T.D.
(Packers 13-Raiders 7 in the second quarter.)
G.B.'S BIG BREAK--BIRD FUMBLES ...
(Rodger Bird of Corbin is obviously the biggest difference in the real Super Bowl II depicted here and the pretend Super Bowl II that I played.)
... PACKERS RECOVER!
ANOTHER G.B. FIELD GOAL.
(Packers 16-Raiders 7 with 6 seconds remaining in the half.)
THIRD AND ONE ON G.B. 40 ...
... SURPRISE PASS TO MCGEE.
(Great to see a shirtless fan here amid all of the suits.)
THEN ANDERSON TO THE ONE
(23-7.)
SOME KEY PLAYS AND PLAYERS
TOM KEATING OF OAKLAND ON DEFENSE
#83 BIG BEN DAVIDSON
#35 HEWRITT DIXON - F.B.
#87 WILLIE DAVIS -- ALL-PRO END
#26 HERB ADDERLEY INTERCEPTS
RON KOSTELNIK'S KEY BLOCK
(33-7.)
FINAL T.D. -- LAMONICA TO MILLER
(33-14.)
LOMBARDI'S FINAL GAME AS HEAD COACH
YouTube is fantastic.
The Super Bowl was, in fact, the second NFL game of 1968. The Los Angeles Rams beat the Cleveland Browns, 30-6, in the "Playoff Bowl," the previous Sunday.
ReplyDeletedirac33 4 months ago
The Rams were the best team in the NFL in 1967, closely followed by the Colts. For some unknown reason, although the Rams had a better record and had beaten Green Bay during the season, they were forced to go on the road for the playoff game against the 9-4-1 Packers, who had lost their last two games. Green Bay dominated them in Milwaukee County Stadium. The next week saw Green Bay vs Dallas at Lambeau Field in the Ice Bowl. Rams went to the forgotten Playoff Bowl in Miami.
Most families have 8mm movies that hold treasured memories of summer vacations, Christmas celebrations and fun family outings, and most of these 8mm reels lie buried in a closet. Once the 8mm to DVD conversion has taken place these great memories can be enjoyed and grandchild and children can experience the wonder of years gone by. 8mm Video to DVD Transfer
ReplyDeleteExcellent point, Jahirul. Thanks.
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