Former Grand Valley State University 

QB Cullen Finnerty missing in Lake County -

Search ongoing

 

BRIAN MULHERIN -  LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Tuesday, May 28, 2013
 

** Update **

Cullen Finnerty was dropped off at 8:40 p.m. Sunday, May 26 at the 40th Street bridge on the Baldwin River in section 25 of Webber Township. Anyone who was in that area of the river — from Bridge Street to the Bray Creek Campground — between 8 and 11 p.m. is asked to call the Lake County Sheriff's Office at (231) 745-2711.

Finnerty was last seen wearing a camo jacket and tan fishing vest with tan waders. He was in a one-person floatable boat that has been recovered.

---

WEBBER TOWNSHIP — A search is continuing today for Cullen Finnerty, 30, of Howell in a natural area near Baldwin. Finnerty is a former Grand Valley State University quarterback who went missing Sunday night after a fishing trip on the Baldwin River near Bray Creek State Forest Campground.
 

Finnerty was last seen wearing waders and the small pontoon-style float tube he was using for fishing has been found.
 

“He talked to his wife on the phone and told her he had concerns about people following him and he was getting off the river,” Lake County Undersheriff Dennis Robinson said.

Robinson said he does not believe it is a drowning case.

“I had guys in the water with poles and they checked all the holes and undertows,” Robinson said.

The search on Monday included a Michigan State Police helicopter, firefighters from Yates 
Township and Webber Township and search-and-rescue units from Newaygo and Osceola counties.

The search area was narrowed down to section 25 of Webber Township, based on where Finnerty's cell phone signal had been tracked last.
 

The Grand Valley State University football team is on the scene helping in the search today, as are Ludington, Custer and Riverton firefighters, along with the Mason County Sheriff's Office Mounted Division — all assisting the Lake County Sheriff's Office and, Michigan State Police and Lake County Reserve Units and many additional fire departments.
 

Those who are trained in searching are looking through the woods while others who have not had the experience are searching along roadsides, the Ludington Daily News' Brian Mulherin reports.

The sheriff's office is not asking for more volunteers at this time.
 

Anyone with information about Finnerty's whereabouts is asked to call (231) 745-2711.

EXCELSIOR

Soda vs. Pop

 

Originally published in NYT blog on 9/11/08.

Language | How do Americans in different parts of the country refer to their fizzy drinks? “Soda,” “pop” or “coke”? A 1996 linguistics study (first page here) inspired a map that remains popular on the Web, showing “soda” (green and yellow on the map) prevalent on the coasts, while “pop” (blue) held sway in the Northwest and Midwest, and the generic “coke” (red) took the South. There must be some electoral significance to this. [Strange Maps]

Brian Urlacher Retires as a Green Bay Packer: "I just wanted to go out a winner"

May 23, 2013
www.sportspickle.com

Longtime Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher officially retired today as a member of the Green Bay Packers, signing a one-day contract with the team to "go out a winner."
"I know this may rub some people in the Bears organization the wrong way. And some Bears fans, too, probably," said Urlacher. "But it's my right to end my career the way I want to end it, and doing it as a member of the Green Bay Packers — unquestionably the best franchise in the NFC North throughout my career and, really, all of NFC North history — brings me great joy. Not being a member of the Bears on this day is the highlight of my career."

Urlacher then fought back tears as he spoke about how much it means to him to no longer be a part of the Bears: "You dream of this your whole career but never really believe it could happen," he said, tears rolling down his cheeks. 

The linebacker's press conference was attended by many Packers players in a sign of respect for all of his accomplishments.

"Brian was one of the greats," said quarterback Aaron Rodgers. "If the Bears had more players like him, they wouldn't always be so easy to beat." 

Urlacher said he had a hunch that this is where his career would end following the 2010 NFC Championship Game, which Chicago lost to Green Bay. 

"That was my last, best shot at winning a Super Bowl, but the Packers were clearly the better team," he said. "I would have given anything to be a Packer that day. And, to be honest, pretty much every day before and after that in my career. Again, no offense to the Bears." 

The future Hall of Famer says he plans to be inducted into Canton as a Green Bay Packer and encouraged other Bears to follow his lead. 

"You have to do what makes you happy and not worry how fans might react," said Urlacher. "And if my old Bears teammates are truthful, they'd all rather be on the Packers. I mean, why wouldn't they? Even Jay Cutler. I'm sure the Packers would be happy to sign him to a one-day contract so he could retire as their third-string quarterback."

THROW BACK THURSDAY:

Life of NMU's  ‘Barracks Boys’

Posted on May 15, 2013 by The Northern Tradition

This week at the Archives we have been updating our database and came across the Barracks Boys. Curiosity struck and we learned of a grant-in-aid program for men at Northern Michigan College, which was the name of the university before it switched to Northern Michigan University in 1963.  

C.V. "Red" Money.  What a great name!!

In  1952 coach C.V. “Red” Money helped NMC grant athletic scholarships to sixteen (16)  men. 
The group lived in abandoned barracks on campus that used to be used by soldiers using the G.I. Bill. The Barracks Boys were around from 1952-1956 and many became doctors, lawyers, and coaches.

In 1955, George Tomasi, one of the original Barracks Boys wrote an article for Northern College News in which he states, “This program was designed for guys just like you — guys who are short on cash but who have spirit enough to try athletics and get good grades.”

Then

The original Barracks Boys of 1952-53.

To be eligible for the barracks, the boys had to sign an agreement and abide by many regulations such as sharing the pro-rated expenses (fuel oil, phone, etc) of the barracks, pay the college $1.00 per month for rent, and participate in at least two (2) sports between football, basketball, track and field, tennis, or golf. 

Now, if now means 2003.

The boys were also expected to be up and have beds made by 9am daily expect for Sundays. Rooms and halls had to be ready for inspection, and all bills had to be paid on time. Failure to keep up with these guidelines as well as a good academic standing would  result in dismissal from the program.

For more information on the Barracks boys or to see pictures, visit us at the Archives in room 126 of the LRC (down by Starbucks).

Prepared by Alexandria Eisner and Kacey Lewis

 

 

Jerry Kramer Get His Strongest Endorsement Yet for the Pro Football Hall of Fame

By

Bob Fox;  www.packerchatter.com

May 10, 2013     

       

As many of you know, I've written many stories about Jerry Kramer. Jerry had a fabulous career in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, and his list of awards and accomplishments is long. Yet, even with a sparkling résumé, No. 64 is still not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

 

When the NFL put out the 50th Anniversary team, Kramer was one of the members of that team. Jerry is the ONLY member of that squad not in Canton.

Kramer was First-Team All-Pro five times and played in three Pro Bowls. More importantly, Kramer played on five teams which won NFL titles, including three straight from 1965-67. That is a mark that no team in NFL history has been able to repeat in the playoff era. 

This article fails to mention that he also wrote a NY Times Best Seller that helped create the modern NFL
and contributed mightily to the Lombardi/Packer Mythology
in the American consciousness

The 1966 and 1967 teams also won the first two Super Bowls. Kramer played for a coach in Green Bay named Vince Lombardi. All you need to know about Lombardi's prowess as a coach in the NFL is the fact his name is on the Super Bowl Trophy.

The signature play of those Lombardi teams was the power sweep. Kramer helped make that play a staple of the Green Bay offense. Nobody could pull and get out to meet defenders at the next level better than Kramer did as right guard of the Packers.

The Packers had a dominant rushing attack from 1960-64, finishing first or second in the NFL during that five-year period.

Lombardi's teams in Green Bay won five NFL titles in seven years and were 9-1 in the postseason. Kramer was a major factor in the success of those teams in the playoffs. 

The 1962 NFL Championship Game was played at frigid and blustery Yankee Stadium versus the New York Giants. Some Packers have said it was worse than the conditions of the “Ice Bowl” because of the high winds that were gusting up to 40 mph. The Packers won that game 16-7, which at times resembled a barroom brawl. The difference in that game were three field goals. The three field goals were kicked by Kramer, who doubled as a right guard and a kicker that cold and gusty day.
Kramer received a game ball from the team after the game. 

In the 1965 NFL Championship Game versus the Cleveland Browns at muddy Lambeau Field, Kramer and his fellow offensive linemen had a big day. Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung combined for over 200 yards rushing that day.

One play really illustrated how good Kramer was in that game. It was Hornung's last championship game touchdown of his career. Kramer pulled to the left on a power sweep and first blocked a linebacker, and then went outside to block a defensive back. 

The result? A 13-yard trip to the end zone for the "Golden Boy", as the Packers beat the Browns 23-12. 

Then there was the 1967 NFL Championship Game versus the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field in brutal, arctic-like conditions. The game time temperature was 13 degrees below zero.



The game came down to one drive, and then one play. The Packers had to drive 68 yards with just 4:50 remaining in the game, as the Cowboys led the Pack 17-14. The Packers had to literally cross a field made of ice to try and tie or win the game.

It came down to this: 13 seconds to go, with no timeouts, at the 1-yard line of the Cowboys. If the Packers run the ball and are stopped short, the game is over.

Quarterback Bart Starr decided to keep the ball himself on the next play and used a great block by Kramer to squeeze into the end zone as the Packers won 21-17. 

Current members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame know that Jerry should be in Canton with them. Kramer has been endorsed by the likes of Paul Hornung, Willie Davis, Frank Gifford, Chuck Bednarik, Bob Lilly, Doug Atkins, Alan Page, Joe Schmidt, John Mackey, Raymond Berry, Mel Renfro, Mike Ditka, Jim Otto, Tom Mack, Dave Wilcox, Tommy McDonald and Lem Barney.
All of these Hall of Famers were Kramer's contemporaries.

Randy Simon put together a great book about the Hall of Fame testimonials for Kramer last year, which was sent to the Seniors Committee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Even with all that, Jerry was not nominated by the Seniors Committee in 2012.

 

But thanks to Alicia Kramer, Jerry's daughter, we now have maybe the strongest endorsement Jerry has ever received. Alicia found a letter from Merlin Olsen, who wrote to the Hall of Fame on Jerry's behalf about 20 years ago. 



Alicia had not been able to find the letter until recently. It is a HUGE find. Why? Olsen is considered to be the best defensive tackle of all time by many people. Olsen went to 14 Pro Bowls, which is the all-time NFL record shared by Bruce Matthews, the uncle of Clay Matthews of the Packers. Olsen was named First-Team All-Pro five times in his career, plus was named Second-Team All-Pro four more times. 

Jerry and Merlin played against each other on numerous occasions, while Olsen was with the Los Angeles Rams. There was a mutual respect between Kramer and Olsen, as evidenced by Olsen's letter to the Hall of Fame.

When dozens of members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame speak out on Kramer's behalf, especially one of Olsen's ilk, I think it's quite apparent that No. 64 belongs in Canton. 

I had an opportunity to talk with Kramer about a number of things recently, and this is what he said about not being named yet to the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

I'm in my 77th year. In the last couple of years, I've been included in the Top Ten Packers of All-Time, as well as the All-Century Packers team, and the point is that they are still giving me applause and accolades at this late point in my life. Then I looked at a poster I have regarding the NFL's 50th Anniversary All-Time team, and I see my name included with the likes of Red Grange, Bronco Nagurski, Don Hutson and other legends and giants of the game.  Just to be associated with those guys is tall cotton for a kid from Idaho. I can't expect more than that. The game has been good to me. It's been exceptionally good to me, and I appreciate it. You get so many moments of applause and recognition, and you are going to get pissed because you didn't get one (Pro Football Hall of Fame)? That just doesn't make any sense to me.

I applaud Jerry's attitude regarding not being in the Hall of Fame, but it's still something he truly merits. 

Between the endorsements and the career accomplishments of Kramer, we can only hope that the Seniors Committee will nominate Jerry this August for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

It's a honor that Kramer richly deserves.

MOVIE QUOTE OF THE DAY . . .


Pat Solitano, Jr. in Silver Linings Playbook, watch it if you haven't yet.

The NFC North Uni-Review: Chicago Bears

The NFC North Uni-Review: Chicago Bears

Friday, February 15, 2013

From www.fortehloveofuniforms.com

 

 This was once a fantastic look! And let me say upfront that the Bears logo and secondary logos are still outstanding. The wishbone C and the bear head and the script "Bears" are truly spectacular. But, the uni has been so watered down that it lacks any impact anymore. 
 

 

The days of Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus were the pinicale of this uni. The wishbone C didn't have the orange outline and yet STILL worked great. The grey facemask, black cleats with white laces. The stripes on the pants were thinner, much like the Packers' width was in those days..hell, everyone had thinner stripes down the pants! This wide crap that appeared in the 70's and 80's is embarrassing.

 

The thing that makes the Bears uni unique is the numbers and the stripes on the jersey and socks. The 3 stripes can safely be called "Bears Stripes" if you ask me. Much like "UCLA stripes" for jerseys. The Bears followed the 80's trend of a colored facemask and ruined this beautiful helmet. Although this uni is the best in the current NFC North, it's so watered down it is no longer an elite uniform.