Mark Tauscher
The Green Bay Packers will present three premieres of the team's 2001 highlights film, "A Special Team, a Storied Town," next week, it was announced today.
The first will be held at the Packer Hall of Fame next Tuesday evening, May 28, starting at 7 o'clock. Offensive tackle Mark Tauscher, a standout performer in his second pro campaign, will be present to discuss the team's outlook for the 2002 National Football League season, his views on his prospective contributions to the cause, answer fans' questions and sign
autographs. Tauscher played a major role as the Packers' offensive line permitted opponents only 22 sacks over the 16-game schedule, the team's lowest total since 1974.
The second premiere has been scheduled at the Tailgators in Escanaba, Mich., next Wednesday evening, May 29. Co-sponsored by WDBC Radio and the Escanaba Daily Press, the program is scheduled to begin at 7 o'clock, EDT. Defensive back Antuan Edwards, the Packers' first-round draft choice in 1999 and the top backup in the secondary in 2000 and for the first three games of the 2001 campaign before suffering a season-ending knee injury, will be on hand to preview the new film and the '02 season, field questions and sign autographs.
The third and final premiere will be held at Recreation Lanes in Iron Mountain, Mich., next Thursday evening, May 30. Linebacker Chris Gizzi, who emerged as the second-leading tackler on the Packers' special teams in 2001despite missing the last four games of the season because of a back injury. Gizzi closed out the year with 11 stops as a kamikaze and 9 additional tackles from his linebacker position. He had been the club's leader in special teams tackles prior to suffering the back injury in pre-game warm-ups at Tennessee December 16, subsequently undergoing a microsurgical diskectomy December 19.
A first lieutenant in the Air Force reserves, Gizzi was selected to lead his teammates out onto the field, carrying a U.S. flag, before the start of the Packers' Monday night game against Washington (Sept. 24), a memorable scene that is included in the highlights film.
A 22-1/2-minute production, the film features extensive footage from the Packers' 25-15 Wild Card playoff victory over the San Francisco 49ers January 13, as well as from the postgame celebration in the locker room, highlighted by GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman's emotional comments to his team.
In addition, it includes dramatic, voice-over descriptions of key plays by Wayne Larrivee, the play-by-play "voice" of the Packer Radio Network - descriptions originally delivered along the network during the season.
Produced, written and edited by Margaret Ruffing of NFL Films, in conjunction with the Packers' public relations department, the film is narrated by Jim Birdsall, the voice of NFL Films.
It will be available in VHS form, for non-commercial group showings (church, fraternal and civic groups, etc.) through the Packers' public relations department beginning in early June, by contacting Linda McCrossin, P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, Wis., 54307-0628.
