The Ice Bowl

Good post.  Too funny.  Same with the kids in my small home town:  Everyone wanted to be the "Roadrunner".  The way Williams glided across the field was a thing of beauty.   He did add excitement to the "old" Packers, too. 

Thanks for bringing back fond memories of that game. 

These days, I struggle to not forget what I go into the next room for, but I can remember watching the game on TV with Dad like it was yesterday. On the old black and white console, with rabbit ears, no less!
I had asked him a question or made a remark about it looking like 'smoke' being in the stands, and him explaining how cold it was, how you 'see your breath' in cold weather, how we had no idea what that kind of cold felt like, and more.

It was also the first time I learned just how important having the will to win was, and being able to summon courage under the most extreme circumstances when the other guys were giving up is the stuff manly men are made from.

That final drive is the single greatest drive in the history of football. Period.

Been kicking myself ever since for not keeping my ticket stub!

Timmy! posted:

That final drive is the single greatest drive in the history of football. Period.

Considering the conditions, I agree.

The Montana drive in the SB to beat Cincy was pretty good. 92 yards, 3 minutes.

Great post!  If there is one thing I wish for as a Packers fan it would be to have seen some of the glory years in Green Bay.  I wasn't born until 1966 so I only have a vague memory of the 1972 season.

One of my earliest Packer memories: being on the verge of tears until Starr crossed the line, then euphoria! I was in WI, and I had a hard time just going outside to feed the farm animals in the warm barn much less thinking about playing outdoors!

my first Packer memory. My dads and brothers were Cowboys fans so I had to be different. Been a Packer fan since. I think that game comeback with Starr at the helm brought in a new generation of fans that are still supporting today. The 70s and 80s were really tough but it has been pretty sweet since 1992. 

Fandame posted:

.... I had a hard time just going outside to feed the farm animals in the warm barn much less thinking about playing outdoors!

warm barn?  in December?  in Wisconsin?

wow, you must have been one of those rich farmers!     

Great post and great comments.

When you consider everything -- for starters, Vince, Bart and the rest of Vince's boys, the aging dynasty, Landry, little Green Bay, Chuck Freaking Mercein, the first NFL team to win three straight titles, the weather, the fans, the end of an era, that last drive, I could go on and on -- there is no more iconic single sports event in U.S. history.  

We're about the same age. I was watching with the fam in my Grandpa Daley's house on an old black and white that in Manitowoc was somehow able to pick up the Milwaukee stations...

This is a cool thread. Being born in 1973 I obviously don't have the same lineage you guys have, but it is why I like x4 so much and feel fortunate to be a GB fan. I really think it's a unique thing especially if you're from the state. Here's hoping for another year of special memories. I really appreciate these years and don't want Vikings fans to share in my experience.

Edit: Keep the stories coming too because I love sharing with my kids and passing on the tradition.

I am not surprised so many readers had thoughts comments but the ones about the black and white TV's and the surreal look of the game because of the cold really struck a note!  I also reflect on how so many have similar thoughts about the game and it relation to life. I have often written about my deep admiration of folks who struggle in difficult situation's and being human enough to accept you might not win but you aren't gonna quit!   So I thank everybody for sharing their memories I enjoyed comparing them to my own.  

We didn't get the game on TV, it was blacked out!  I remember listening to it on the radio with my older brother.  Damn that was exciting!  What a memory.

I was 18, away from home for the first time, working for Uncle Sam in the Coast Guard.  I remember watching the game with a some other Coasties and how proud I was.  I think that with the enthusiasm  I exhibited I possibly recruited a couple of new Packer fans that day.

As Edith Bunker screamed..."those were the days".

Great thread Pack88.

I was 7 and I'd be lying if I told you I remember the game (was it broadcast in Milwaukee?) I remember two things about watching Packer road games in the mid to late 60's. 

1) Me and my two brothers would jump up and down in front of the tv whenever the Packers scored--and our Dad would yell at us to calm down.

2) We'd be so fired-up to play football at halftime, we'd go outside and get so into playing that we'd miss the second half.

Blair Kiel posted:

 

2) We'd be so fired-up to play football at halftime, we'd go outside and get so into playing that we'd miss the second half.

This!  There were 4 brothers - VERY competitive!

The Ice Bowl was the first pro football game I ever watched. I was in 7th grade and was watching the game on our B&W Zenith tv. On the edge of my seat during that huge series on the goal line, pacing the floor yelling for the Pack to punch it through the Cowboy defense. Then Jerry Kramer blocks Jethro Pugh and Bart Starr slides into the end zone for the go ahead score! I've been a Green Bay Packer fan ever since! GO PACK GO!

mrtundra posted:

The Ice Bowl was the first pro football game I ever watched. I was in 7th grade and was watching the game on our B&W Zenith tv. On the edge of my seat during that huge series on the goal line, pacing the floor yelling for the Pack to punch it through the Cowboy defense. Then Jerry Kramer blocks Jethro Pugh and Bart Starr slides into the end zone for the go ahead score! I've been a Green Bay Packer fan ever since! GO PACK GO!

I was 9 years old and watched the game at home in Milwaukee.  My stress level was so intense.

I just remember that as time proceeded, the Packers offense got less and less effective.  It got to the point that it couldn't do anything.

Then all of a sudden, when it was the last time and everything was on the line, it awakened and it seemed Starr had so much to do with that.  It was great seeing someone like Mercein be so instrumental.

I don't recall the Packers first two TD's, but the Cowboys two TD's were not exactly due to any high octane offense.  The fumble of Starr picked up and taken in and the halfback option from Dan Reeves to I forget.

Given everything on the line, it is hard to imagine anything else that rivals it.

Thanks pack88 for starting this thread.