MJS:Garry D'Amato Story on 1970's/80's Packers futility

[paulpressey25]

Gary does a long form piece on the Packers era from 1973 to 1991. It is a good read.

It is almost ridiculous how good the Packers have been the last 22-years.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/ ... 42561.html

Father time moves fast. Wondering if any of you were as taken aback as I was when they showed Forest Gregg at Lambeau last week. He looked so old (and he is at 81 battling Parkinson's). I hadn't seen anything of him in the 26-years since he left. He's always burned in my memory as bellowing in those press conferences and being spoofed by Bob and Brian

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkv5GjU8SR0[/youtube]

[GB_Packers]

"Don't take winning for granted. And enjoy it while it lasts."

Couldn't have put it better myself. Having been born at the tail end of the 80's, the only Packer football I know is Favre and now Rodgers. Went to Super Bowl 31 with my dad, think that was the first year I really started liking football. My dad has talked how bad the teams were during these futile years and it's so hard to really think it happened after these two plus decades we've had of nearly yearly playoff appearances, division titles and two Super Bowls. Sure, a few more championships would be nice but it just shows how damn hard it is to win it all, no matter how good the teams are.

I think the part of that article that got to me the most was Harlan going to Super Bowls in the 70's and 80's and thinking "I don't know if we will ever have this again". I hope I never have to experience that feeling. But, honestly, who knows what lies beyond the Rodgers era? I trust this originazation to be ready for when that day comes but who truly knows right now. Favre was a joy to watch, frustrating at times as well and now Rodgers has been amazing to watch. The fanbase might experience a shock to the system if we don't have an at least decent QB once Rodgers is done.

[paulpressey25]

The fanbase might experience a shock to the system if we don't have an at least decent QB once Rodgers is done.

Oh yeah. We will be stunned when the day comes and we have to run a Kyle Orton out there for 12-14 games as a large majority of NFL teams need to do from time to time.

That said, I'm banking on John Schneider coming home in 3-4 years when Ted retires. We have enough legacy guys out there in the coaching and front office ranks that have been created the past 20-years, and Green Bay has also created premium working conditions to acquire and retain quality people.

[skitch815]

I remember the Sports Illustrated article from the mid 80's where they suggested that the Packers move to Milwaukee. Years of losing and terrible coaching. Those Forrest Gregg teams were full of thugs, both on and off the field. I remember going to church and by the time we got home at 12:30 the game would already be getting out of control. Rich Campbell, Anthony Dilweg, Blair Kiel, Randy Wright. Woof.

[HKPackFan]

Great article! I absolutely remember those days. Anytime you've chanted the name, "KIEL!" for Blair Kiel (RIP) you know your franchise has seen better days.


When I was real small I watched with my dad as a toddler and then my little brother and I watched and the 3 of us watched, but my father stopped watching I think in the early 80's, but my brother and I were already hooked by then (not sure why, there was hardly much to cheer about).

I remember all those backbreaking loses to the Bears, especially those end of game kicks. Oh how I hate thee Kevin Butler and Jimmy Mac. One of the most confusing moments of my life was in 95/96 when McMahon was a Packers backup and he actually went into the game and I was kind of exciting about seeing a Dlineman crush him, but still wanted to see the Packers win. Can someone crush McMahon's spine but still let the Packers win!?

I remember some odd games, one of my first games I attended was 1991 late in the year Novemberish Packers VS Colts, both teams with only a couple wins. I remember booing and being extremely intrigued by a QB called Jeff George. I think we chanted Jeff George sucks the whole game. I remember Pookie Scored and that was one of the games highlights (Vince Workman). I also remember watching pre-game warm ups and seeing the freshly cut jersey of Chuck Webb warming up on the sidelines. My brother and I getting all excited about seeing him warming up, thinking he could be a savior to our awful running game after the flaming demise of Brent Fullwood. Don't get me started on Brent Fullwood

Wow memories, nostalgia, but most of them fairly pathetic.......No I won't ever forget those days, and every day since then has been so so much better.

[paulpressey25]

I also remember watching pre-game warm ups and seeing the freshly cut jersey of Chuck Webb warming up on the sidelines. My brother and I getting all excited about seeing him warming up, thinking he could be a savior to our awful running game after the flaming demise of Brent Fullwood.

That's the other part that the new fans miss out on. The ridiculous hype and hope we'd place in the draft.

Because the team was so bad, we'd hang on every single pick, with the wish that player x would turn into a star player for us.

The Chuckie Webb name stuck out, because I know we all thought we'd hit gold with him sliding to the 3rd round. He just had to be that 1,000 yard back we could finally acquire after years of trying. I was a student in Madison at the time and recall Van Stout on local TV going over his Tennessee hype and how the Packers might really have gotten a steal.

[humanrefutation]

I understand that we shouldn't take it for granted, but as fans of the Bucks and Brewers, I'm pretty sure we understand that.

It definitely was an interesting article, though, for those of us too young to remember those terrible teams.