Growing up in the 70's, like many others I had the experience of learning about the glory years simultaneously as Bart was HC. Idk if it was so in GB, but in my house Starr's tenure was a bit confusing to me. Here is my dad telling me what a great QB Starr was, at the same time he was irked with each successive season Bart got "one more year" to coach. Only in GB could a guy stick around nine years while year by year the team was derailed by so many things. So while I knew of his greatness as a player, and since Hokendauqua, PA was somewhat out of the loop re the GBP, when he was fired I surmised he was persona non grata in Titletown. It wasn't until Harlan/Wolf/Holmgren/Purple Judas that I was able to witness Starr's hero status up close. And that's what will stay with me now that he's gone. His support for #4 and #12 and their collective relationships are priceless in this Packer fan's heart. The man was beyond special. He was great. And he had a great football career to boot.
lambeausouth posted:An excerpt from the Lombardi documentary on the final play of the Ice Bowl. Hearing Bart's laugh brought a rare smile on an otherwise dark day.
Thanks LS! That was good to see again. What a player. Starr was 14-24 191yds and 3 TDs that day, two were passes to Boyd Dowler, and the other his famous dive into the end zone. The guy was sacked 8 times on that day. That had to hurt. I was too young to remember anything more than my Dad, wearing a white t-shirt and olive green pants, jumping up and down when they won in front of our Admiral black & white TV. I was standing right behind him. My first memory of my father, and it was a good one. RIP, Bart.
As many have said, a great player and even a better person. Named my daughter Brittany Starr. A sad day for sure.
artis posted:Growing up in the 70's, like many others I had the experience of learning about the glory years simultaneously as Bart was HC. Idk if it was so in GB, but in my house Starr's tenure was a bit confusing to me. Here is my dad telling me what a great QB Starr was, at the same time he was irked with each successive season Bart got "one more year" to coach. Only in GB could a guy stick around nine years while year by year the team was derailed by so many things. So while I knew of his greatness as a player, and since Hokendauqua, PA was somewhat out of the loop re the GBP, when he was fired I surmised he was persona non grata in Titletown. It wasn't until Harlan/Wolf/Holmgren/Purple Judas that I was able to witness Starr's hero status up close. And that's what will stay with me now that he's gone. His support for #4 and #12 and their collective relationships are priceless in this Packer fan's heart. The man was beyond special. He was great. And he had a great football career to boot.
I can say growing up and living very close to GB it was exactly how you described it. I am too young to remember the glory years and I can remembrer as a kid always hearing how great of a winning QB he was and how great the glory years teams were. I can remember thinking how tired I was of hearing about the glory years and why can't they get good again.
Anyhow, I had the privilage of meeting Bart Starr when he was the speaker at my 8th grade football banquet. He was a very nice man and took the time to talk to each of us. I of course could barely speak when he asked me questions.
RIP Bart Packer nation thanks you!
a Bart story I hadn't heard.
heard Jerry Kramer telling this on the radio this morning and it went a little different than this writeup.
https://www.spokesman.com/stor...art-starr-was-tough/
Jerry said Bill George had a 5 yard run on Starr, hit him high, launched him about 5 yards and Starr came up with a split lip up to his nose, front of jersey full of blood. After Starr told George they were "coming after him", Jerry said to Bart "geez, ya probably better get that stitched up." Bart told him to shut up and get in the huddle, strong words from the mild-mannered Bart.
Jerry said he knew they had their leader then.
Bart Starr becomes a better person the DEEPER you dig into his past. It’s crazy. You expect to find a skeleton somewhere but Starr just keeps coming up a “one off” individual you can’t believe.
I came across a story that long time Packer fans are probably very familiar with but I’d NEVER heard before.
Before his Junior year at Alabama Bart went through a hazing initiation to become part of The A Club. He took a beating that put him in the hospital and eventually into traction. His back was never really the same after that. It pretty much cost him him his Jr and Sr year at Alabama after being the starter.
Cherry Starr later said the worst part about the back injury that Bart had to deal with was that it disqualified him from enlisting in the military and that stayed with him for a long time.
But Bart never used it as an excuse. He said he hurt his back trying to punt. TRYING TO PUNT!!!! He never named names.
So the greatest championship QB in NFL history did so with a glitchy back that he received OFF the field trying to prove to his teammates he was fully invested.
I seriously have to stop going down the Bart Starr rabbit hole otherwise I’m going to start a petition the NFL Hall of Fame needs to build a separate wing for guys like Bart Starr so they aren’t comingled with players that were simply better than most at football.
I’ve always held the belief Joe Montana would be the QB I’d want in one game with everything on the line. It’s my failure that I never realized (or spent enough time to learn) Bart Starr might be the QB you want with one game to win.
This thread is simply unbeatable. Exactly like Starr.
RIP Bart
Starr told Lombardi to quit yelling at him in front of his teammates.
I like this tribute of Bart Starr from Mike Greenberg.
I have never met Bart Starr, but I have followed him during his playing career. So I don't have a story. But I knew he lived a good life. I use to say this as a point of humor, but now I say it as a point of respect - "Great QBs never die, they just fade back and pass away". He will never be forgotten.
Barts finest hour. He took a beating but when it counted it got the job done. I just rewatched a lot of this. Players from the Cowboys and Packers had insight into the game. Bart was interviewed by Brookshire after the game. Great Video and Bart showed why he was one of the best ever. Lombardi was a giddy as he could be. So many great players from that video are gone. Meredith was funny. Saying about the year before at the Cotton Bowl when the Packers beating them, that he threw his last pass to the guy that was open. A packer. Pugh and Kramer said Jerry moved early on the QB sneak. Kramer says he wasnt early, Bowman was late. Good stuff. Lot of memories....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...ture=player_embedded
