Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • Page 11

Bengtson Lacked Confidence, Camaraderie Green Bay, Wis. iff) Confidence and camaraderie, two vital ingredients of the Green Bay Packers during the Vince Lombardi era, were less prominent this past season on the National Football League team. Whether the decline from two-time Super Bowl champions to also-rans in the National Central Division, and resignation of Phil Bengtson as coach and general manager, can be traced to the apparent cooling is a point of conjecture. The 57-year-old resignation ended a dismal three-year stretch that saw the Pack win 20 games while losing 21 and tying once. This mark of 6-8 was the worst for the Green-and-Gold since 1958 when they posted a 1-10-1 record.

The 1959 season saw Lombardi take over the reins of a chronic loser and elevate the club to the role of champion. Although public image was that of an ogre, the Packer players knew better. Jerry Kramer, former Packer guard and an author, once wrote that Lombardi is cruel, kind, tough, gentle, miserable, wonderful man whom I often hate and often love and always One of Lombardi's first moves as Packer coach- general manager was to hire Bengtson as his defensive coach. Through astute trades and recognizing his strong their weak was able to mold a good, if not great, team. He added own and demanded camaraderie The Packers then were no longer a team, but a close-knit family.

It was Lombardi who demanded absolute loyalty to the team, banishing through the trade route any player, regardless of his credentials, who thought himself above the team. deliverately made us think of ourselves as a unit, as a group of 40 Kramer said. But Lombardi also had a side. It was who insisted that the Packer players, their wives and children get together on Thanksgiving Day for a team party. It was the of Green who gave the wives mink scarves following the 1961 season, color television sets the next year and silver tea sets after the Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the first Super Bowl.

It was Lombardi who took pride in this small northeastern Wisconsin community and encouraged his players to settle here and take part in civic affairs. Now, from outward ap- perances, the Packers are just another pro football team. The Packers are close, they are friends, but no longer are they family. thing I miss most is the fellowship we had among said Ray Nitschke, veteran Packer middle linebacker. was a unique spirit, partially due to the community where all of the citizens share in the team.

When you do something great here, like win a title, the biggest thrill is to watch the whole town share in Nitschke said. In the nine years that Lombardi coached the Packers, defensive team was never lower than third-best in the NFL. Ditka Seeking Damages Philadelphia MW Mfke Ditka, Dallas Cowboy tight end. says the Philadelphia Eagles and the National Football League owe him $100,000 and he is prepared to file an anti-trust suit to get it, the Philadelphia Inquirer said in edition. deal is all based on my retirement.

I expect to be paid what I am owed. quite a bit based on a three-year contract I signed with the Inquirer quoted Ditka as saying in a telephone interview. The contract was worth an estimated $250,000 when it was signed, the Inquirer said, adding that when the two leagues merged, the Houston Oilers agreed to let Ditka keep a $50,000 bonus and join the Eagles in a trade with the Chicago Bears for quarterback Jack Concannon. Ditka said the suit would only be filed if the Eagles fail to pay what is allegedly owed him under a secret agreement between him, the Eagles and the NFL. Friday Prior to the 1968 season, Lombardi stepped out of the head job and gave the reins to Bengtson.

The following season, Lombardi left Green Bay entirely to become head coach and vice president of the Washington Redskins. Bengtson then took over as general manager of the Packers. To be fair, Bengtson walk into a powerhouse when he took over. Retired from those Green Bay teams that rolled over Kansas City and the Oakland Raiders in the first two Super Bowls are Kramer, tackle Bob Skoronski, defensive tackle Henry Jordan, defensive end Willie Davis, flanker Boyd LINCOLN, NEBRASKA DEC. 23, PAGE 11 Dowler, guard Fuzzy Thurston, quarterback Zeke Bratkowski, receiver Max McGee and kicker Don Chandler.

Gone also, through trades, are linebackers Lee Roy Caffey and Jim Flanigan, defensive backs Herb Adderley and Tom Brown, running backs Elijah Pitts, Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung, tight end Marv Fleming and defensive tackle Ron Kostelnik, among others. Bengtson, then, had to completely rebuild a team around the few remaining veterans. He still had quarterback Bart Starr, defensive end Lionel Aldridge, defensive backs Willie Wood, Bob Jeter and Doug Hart, wide receiver Carroll Dale, center Ken Bowman, guard Gale Gillingham and linebackers Dave Robinson and Nitschke. really thought we were going to have a good year, but something was missing. I know what it said reserve guard Dave Bradley.

was hurt all year, and there were many other Bradley said. Besides Starr, who played with arm, rib and knee injuries, the Packers lost backup quarterback Don Horn; Robinson; running backs Dave Hampton and Travis Williams, and defensive tackle Rich Moore for long periods through injuries. There also were other problems with the Packers internal problems. There was the Adderley as known. Over the past two seasons, several of the running backs, including Donny Anderson and Jim Grabowski, have grumbled publicly or privately about playing time.

of a very pointing season in 1970, and hoping that a change will improve the won-Ioss record of the Packers in 1971, I hereby tender my resignation to become effective Feb. 1, Bengtson said. The Packer Board of Directors is expected to meet shortly to consider a replacement for Bengtson. Among those rumored under consideration are George Allen, coach of the Los Angeles Rams; Bill Austin, Washington Redskins head coach and former Packer assistant; Tom Fears, former head coach of the New Orleans Saints who also was a Packer aide under Lombardi, Ara Parseghian, head coach at Notre Dame, and Starr. Colorado Wins; Mizzou Falls at UCLA By Associated Press Kansas City The Missouri Tigers, one of the surprises in the Big Eight Conference so far this basketball season, failed to impress top-ranked UCLA in Los Angeles Tuesday night.

Unbeaten UCLA routed the Bengals 94-75. The only consolation Missouri got out of the game was that it was able to play the Bruins on about even terms in the second half. Missouri is now 7-2. Colorado nipped Texas Tech at Lubbock, 67-66 in the only other action involving a Big Eight team. For the first 11 minutes, Missouri remained close to UCLA.

With the score 19-18 in favor, the Bruins broke loose on one of their noted blitzes and ran up a 443-35 halftime score. Bob 16 points were high for Missouri. Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe topped UCLA with 29 and 28 points, respectively Colorado capitalized on free throws to beat Texas Tech. The Big Eight Buffs made only five field goals in the second half but hit on 14 of 21 free throws. Colorado had a 43-38 lead at the half but fell behind on one point in the second half.

UCLA 94. Missouri 75 AH frte foOowtd' by all tins a.m. uakaa boldfaced for p.m. Wednesday State College Basketball San Diego State at Creighton, Civic Auditorium. Omaha, Regional College Basketball Nebraska at Wichita State, (KLIN-- KFOR-KFAB).

Allen Foster Smith Flaker Jeffries Griffin Brown Stock Maurer Colbert Salmon Johnson Totals 2-3 0-0 2-2 0-0 0-1 1-2 6 2-3 0 0-1 1 0-0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 16 Wicks 14 Rowe 12 Patrson 4 Blbby 10 Booker 3 Hill 14Schfld Farmer 2 Ecker 0 BetcMey Chapmn 0 12 11 0 4 1 1 3 3 2 5-9 6-9 2-5 3-4 0-3 0-0 1-2 3-6 0-0 0-2 0 0-0 0 34 7-12 75 Totals 37 20-40 94 Missouri 35 40 UCLA 48 Fouled Smith. Team 25, UCLA 11. A-l 2,347. Colorado 67, Texas Tech 66 Pro Basketball Atlanta v. Phoenix, 1:30 p.m.

(7). College Football North-South Shrine Game, 3:30 p.m. (7). AP WIREPHOTO 6 8-10 20 Knolle 2 0-1 4 Wood 5 5-7 15 Douglas 7 1-2 15 Williams 1 2-3 4 Lowery 2 0-0 4 Johnson 0 1.2 1 1 1-3 3 0 1-0 '1 24 19-31 67 Totals Greg Flaker plays close defense against UCLA's Curtis Rowe Tuesday night. Rowe, however, scored 28 points and the Bruins won, 94-75.

Meely Aaker Creighton 5 5-7 15 Douglas 6 0-0 Mitchell 7 1-2 15 Williams 4 3-5 Shell 1 2-3 4 Lowery 8 2-2 Teets 2 0-0 4 Johnson 0 2-2 McCoy Maulsby Hofman Totals 24 19-31 67 Totals 27 12-16 66 Colorado 43 Texas Tech 38 Fouled out: Knolle, Williams. Total fouls: Colorado 15, Texas Tech 24. Gilmore To Face ig Mac By Associated Press The heralded meeting between the Big and Big Mac takes place Wednesday night in college basketball. The Big otherwise known as 7-2 Artis Gilmore of the University of Jacksonville, and Big Mac, 7-0 Jim McDaniels of Western Kentucky, face each other in Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky. A capacity crowd is expected to watch the clash of the giants as well as a test of two fa a nationally ranked teams.

Jacksonville is No. 4 in the Associated Press poll, Western Kentucky 10th. Each boasts a 5-0 record. Top-ranked UCLA, idle for 10 days, romped to its fifth in a row Tuesday night. The unbeaten Bruins crushed Missouri 94-75 behind the combined 57 points by Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe.

Wicks scored 29, Rowe 28. Kentucky No. 7 in the AP poll, rebounded from its defeat by Purdue last week, and defeated Oregon State 84-78. Ninth-ranked Drake made it seven in a row by overwhelming Minnesota 83-66. There were some surprises among the AP Second Ten.

Indiana, No. 11, with George McGinnis scoring 38 poins, rolled over Butler 111-94, but North Carolina, St. of New York and New Mexico State, No. 17, 19 and 20, respectively, were beaten. Utah whipped North Carolina 105-86 led by Mike 30 points.

Boston College, paced by Jim 26 points, snapped the six-game winning streak of St. 69-66. New Mexico State fell before New Mexico 72-66. Michigan won its own Michigan Invitational tourney by beating Wyoming 94-76 as Dan Fife showed the way with 20 points. California landed third place by beating Harvard 77-74.

Johnny Neumann, the No. 2 collegiate scorer, came up with 53 points for Mississippi against Vanderbilt, but the Johnny Rebs were routed 130112 by the Commodores. The 130 points set a Vanderbilt record for one game. Two free throws by Bob Siemau with 29 seconds left gave Los Angeles Loyola an upset 63-61 victory over Cincinnati and Jake 30-foot jumper in the last second gave Pepperdine an 83-81 overtime triumph over NYU. N.C.

State handed Davidson its first defeat 77-64, while in other games Fordham won its seventh by shading Miami, 85-83, Chicago Loyola humbled Cornell, 62-69, Duke downed Dayton. 70-64, Colorado squeaked past Texas Tech, 6766. Massachusetts trounced Hofstra 87-60 and Brigham Young edged Santa Clara, 6867. Unemployment Rate Soars Issel Proving Merits New York (TP) If you think the unemployment rate is high in the United States, take a glance at the risky profession of coaching football. With the regular college and professional seasons barely over, the coaching fraternity has had more openings than a busy dentist.

Some 18 coaches who started the season at major colleges arc no longer on the job, although four of them have turned up elsewhere. That includes highly successful Bob Blackman of Dartmouth, who was to be officially named head coach at Illinois Wednesday. The Illinois athletic board tried to fire Jim Valek during the season but, his players stood up for him and he was allowed to finish out the campaign. Others who latched on elsewhere include Mike McGee, who went from East Carolina to Duke to replace the dismissed Tom Harp; Bill Peterson, who departed Florida State for the dual job of head coach and athletic director at Rice, and Jim Pittman, who left Tulane for Texas Christian shortly after winning the Liberty Bowl. Bo Hagan had resigned at Rice while Fred Taylor was let out at TCU.

Jobs still open include Dartmouth; Florida State; Harvard, where John Yovicsin resigned on orders; Iowa, where Ray Nagel stepped down after being fired and quickly rehired last spring, and Tulanc. Sonny Randle, a former pro star, was elevated trom an job to replace McGee at East Carolina. In other moves, Don James, a Colorado aide, took over for the resigned Dave Puddington at State; FranfCurci of Tampa, a former Miami. Fla. quarterback, returned to his alma mater, where Charlie Tate quit early in the season and Walt Kichefski finished up as interim coach.

Harry Gamble of Lafayette succeeded Bob Odell, who resigned at Penn, and was in turn replaced by Neil Putnam, an assistant at Yale. Joe McMullen of San Jose State took ill during the season and Dewey King, wrho took over, was later given the job for next year, as well. Three Virginia schools canned their head men. Assistants Don Lawrence and Bob Thalman replaced George Blackburn and Vito Ragazzo at Virginia and VMI, tively, while Virginia Tech picked Charlie Coffey, defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech. to succeed Jerry Clairborne.

Lloyd Eaton stepped down at Wyoming and assistant Fritz Shurmur moved up. In addition, Ben Wilson of Wichita State and Rick Tolley of Marshall were killed, along with many of their players, in plane crashes. At least 11 small colleges also lost their coaches for one reason or another. The coaching upheaval has spread into the pro's. Three of the 26 teams have openings today and seven others reportedly could have before too long.

Briefs Football Bob Blackman has been officially named head football coach at Illinois. He will bring six of his seven Dartmouth assistants with him. 16 years of Ivy League play and six championships in nine Blackman said. have come to the end of the line. I have little else to accomplish.

I really intend to stay this long at Auburn University coach Ralph (Shug) Jordan has undergone emergency surgery for acute appendicitis, but should be able to guide his team against Ole Miss in the Jan. 2 Gator Bowl. Other Sports San Francisco Giants outfielder-infielder Jim Ray Hart has undergone surgery on his ailing right shoulder. Louisville University baseball coach and athletic director Dr. John Heldman, 65, has died of an apparent heart attack.

Bobby Orr of the NHL Boston Bruins has been named winner of the Lou Marsh Award as outstanding athlete. The Midlands International indoor tennis championships Jan. 28-31 at Omaha has added to its field Tom Gorman, sixth- ranked American player, and Jaime Filiol, second-ranked player from Chile. Milwaukee Buck center Lew Alcindor is the leading scorer in the NBA with a 32.3 point per game average, followed by John Havlieek of the Boston Celtics with a 29.5 average. Cincinnati's Jolmny Green leads in field goal Weentage at 607 By Associated Press Dan Issel might be one of the smallest centers in the American Basketball Association, but his statistics are growing taller and taller.

The 6-7 rookie pivot man, considered more of a pro prospect at forward than center when he finished an All- American career at Kentucky last spring, led the Kentucky Colonels to a 116-100 victory over Pittsburgh Tuesday night with 40 points and 29 rebounds. Issel had been averaging better than 26 points and almost 13 rebounds a game, but in the last six games, his figures were 33.5 and 15. The game was the nightcap of a doubleheader at Louisville, where Indiana came from behind to beat the Floridians 131-123 in the opener. In other games, Larry Cannon led Denver past Memphis 104-102 and Texas shattered a club scoring record with a 160-122 rout over Carolina. Issel set a club record with his rebounds, grabbing three in the final minute.

Kentucky had little trouble after building a nine point halftime lead as Pittsburgh could get no closer than 10 in the final half. John Brisker had 24 points for Pittsburgh. Indiana fell behind 79-67 late in the third quarter before going on a 17-5 spree to tie the game at 84. Roger three-point goal with less than five minutes remaining put the Pacers ahead to stay and was one of 11 three-pointers, a club record that was one short of the league mark. Mack Calvin had 33 points for the Floridians while Fred Lewis led the Pacers with 30 Cannon sank free throws with two seconds left to put Denver ahead liA-100 before Memphis scored at the final buzzer.

Cannon finished with 32 points. The Rockets led by 26 points in the first half before Memphis closed with a rush that fell just short. Joe Hamilton had 22 points and Glen Combs 20 as Texas had 10 players in double figures. The Chaps also hit eight three-point goals. Bob Verga had 26 for Carolina.

Foote Firing Legality Now Being Studied By United Press International A check is being made by the State Game Commission to see if it followed legal procedures in dismissing assistant commission director Frank Foote last Thursday. According to Dick Spady, the other assistant director, he was directed by Commission chairman Milt Muncie of Plattsmouth to seek advice on the matter from the attorney general. Muncie accused Foote of using during a land dispute in southeastern Nebraska. Meanwhile, state sen. George Svas of Omaha suggested that governor or his representative be apointed to all state commissions and boards.

Syas said the governor appoints most members of the boards but has no real control over them. Fraturr Harrs At Liberty Bel! Movette 4.70 V) nr Amou' 3 00 AAA Recommended Motor Route to Nebraska-LSU Orange Bowl Game at Miami, Florida, Jan. 1, 1971.