Mr. Remmel, Back in 1993-1995 I believe it was I remember the Packers' defensive line consisting of Reggie White, Don Davey, and John Jurkovic. I remember Reggie White was called the Minister, Davey was The Baker, and Jurko was the Butcher. Now I know that White was called the Minister because he is a true minister, but since I was young in those seasons I don't remember how Davey and Jurko got their nicknames. Could you please tell me? - Greg (South Milwaukee, WI)
Greg, I can find no indication that Davey and Jurkovic were called "The Baker" and "The Butcher," respectively, by their teammates. Davey's nicknames, as listed by him for our official media guide were "Nitro" and "Dr. Quad," while in the case of Jurkovic, it was the natural, "Jurko" (pronounced YUR-koh).
My father-in-law is convinced that the Packers had their origins with the Duluth Icemen. Please tell me there is no truth to his assertion that the Packers were borne from a Minnesota-based franchise!!! - Dan (Pullman, WA)
Dan, you can tell your father-in-law that neither the Duluth Icemen or anyone else in Duluth had anything to do with the birth of the Green Bay Packers. They were founded as an independent, town team on August 11, 1919, at a meeting in the editorial room of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, then located Cherry Street in Green Bay. The meeting was called by two Green Bay residents, George Whitney Calhoun, then sports editor of the Press-gazette, and Earl Louis "Curly" Lambeau, a Green Bay East High School alumnus who had played one season of college football at Notre Dame a year earlier.
Duluth's initial association with the Packers did not occur until three years later-on November 30, 1922-when Green Bay defeated a team known as the Duluth Kelleys, 10-0, in a non-league game. By then, the Packers were nearing the end of their fourth year of operation and in their second season in the National Football League.
Mr. Remmel, I am an "old" Los Angeles Rams fan and remember the 1960's matchups like yesterday. It seemed the Rams could never beat the Lombardi Packers; one game I remember is when the Rams' Claude Crabb blocked a punt and the Rams were able to finally win a game. Can you please tell me, if this was, indeed, the Rams' first win over a Lombardi team? I think I was like 13 or so. Thanks. - John (Lakewood, CA)
John, you came close to being right. The Rams had only one win in ten meetings with Lombardi's Packers, the tenth and last meeting having been the Western Conference playoff on December 23, 1967, won by Green Bay, 28-7.
The Rams' lone victory over a Lombardi team came on November 28, 1965, when they posted a 21-10 win at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Hi Lee, Let me say that I love the insight you give to the past Packers. Because of the information you share I have a better understanding of Packers history, and I really hold the history close to my heart. Thank you for that. Ok, My question. I have heard, mostly in family circles that the "G" logo was designed with a "hidden" meat hook with in it. Basically, the green within the white of the "G" makes what looks like a hook that could be used to hang a side of beef. I never saw it until it was pointed out in detail, but now it is uncanny. I have looked in the history information on the web site, and they talk about the logo, and who designed it, but there is not mention of the hook lore. I also posted in the JS Packers forum, but no one ever heard of that before. Please let me know if you have heard of this before, and if not, is there any possibility it could have any truth to it? Thank you very much, GO PACK GO. - Joe (Orlando, FL)
Joe, I have attempted to research your question and, as far as I can ascertain, there is no information to document the "hidden" meat hook being contained in the Packer "G." Our equipment manager, Red Batty, for one, says he has never heard of the story and is inclined to think it is spurious.
Hello Lee! I was watching the recording of the Packer's Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, and when I was watching what I think was the best halftime show ever in the Super Bowl (James Brown, ZZ Top, and The Blues Brothers) I wondered, when did the Super Bowl halftime show tradition start? I'm only 17, so I can't remember back to other Super Bowls, but I was just curious when they started, and who performed at the first one? Thanks! - Henry (Eland, WI)
Henry, there always has been significant halftime entertainment at the Super Bowl, beginning with SB I at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with major college bands providing said entertainment for the first five Super Bowls.
The current custom of the halftime featuring show business (Broadway, Hollywood or television) stars) began with SB VI at New Orleans, when Carol Channing entertained at intermission. Al Hirt, by the way, played the national anthem before that contest.
First let me say it is an honor to email someone like you, who is such a big part of the Packers' History and Glory. I noticed in the Packers team photo of 1998 that many of the Packers in the front row including Favre have their fingers in the same position resting on their knees. It looks like some kind of sign, like a gang's hand slogan. Can you tell me what that sign means?. Thanks, and Go Packers! - Kelly (Kelseyville, CA)
Kelly, after visiting with our equipment staff about this matter, my conclusion is that there is no significance to the players having their fingers in the "same position" on the team photo in question.
Three members of the equipment staff, who annually assist in staging the team photo, were unanimous in their joint opinion that it was sheer coincidence.
How many points have the Packers scored using the "drop-kick"? Is the drop-kick still in the regulations as a method of scoring? - Don (Greensboro, NC)
Don, it would be virtually impossible to determine how many points the Packers scored via the dropkick when it was being utilized during the early years of the National Football League's existence, since no statistics documenting the method of kicking (whether a dropkick or placekick) are available from that period, unfortunately.
I can tell you, however, that one known exponent of the dropkick, halfback Everett Virgil "Pid" Purdy, kicked 15 extra points and 3 field goals during a two-year Packers career (1926-27) for a total of 24 (dropkicked) points. Purdy was a native of Beatrice, Nebraska, and played collegiately at Beloit College in Wisconsin.
Mr. Remmel, thank you for taking my question. While browsing through the Hall of Fame section of the website, I saw that both Ray Scott and Jim Irwin are members of the Hall. How can I go about nominating Ted Moore for this honor? He broadcast more championship games than any other Packer broadcaster, and his "Ice Bowl" call is always used when highlights of that game are played. I would appreciate your insight. - Rick (Grafton, WI)
Rick, anyone can nominate a former player or coach for the Packers Hall of Fame. In the case of Ted Moore, that has already been accomplished - he is on the maser list of nominees for the "Hall" and has been for some time. The next meeting of the HOF Selection Committee will be held in October.
Continuing an association with the team that is more than 55 years old, Lee Remmel was named the first official Team Historian of the Green Bay Packers in February 2004. The former *Green Bay Press-Gazette reporter and Packers public relations director, Remmel will write regular columns for Packers.com as part of his new assignment.
In addition to those articles, Remmel will answer fan questions in a monthly Q&A column. To submit a question to Remmel, click here. *
