Cheddarhead Pack of Houston

Like many Packer fans, over the course of last year and the first half of this season, my emotional roller-coaster ride has had more lows than highs. After Brett Favre left  and Aaron Rodgers played like a top 5 NFL QB, I knew this team was just as talented as the team that went 13-3 two years ago. So what does it take for this team to win consistently?

I decided to go to Lambeau to find out. So I contacted my Dad (who has season tickets) and arranged to take Suzan Richardson and her daughter Amy along with me to join my Father at the Cowboy game November 15th, 2009 in Green Bay. It would be my first time seeing a Packer game in person in more than a decade and the first time ever for Suzan and Amy.

As the trip neared, I thought about what caused the tremendous turnaround from 13-3 to 6-10 last year, and what has caused the apparent inconsistency of our team this year. Last year, the special teams and defense left the ream sorely short in the battle for field position - a problem that has improved significantly. The 2008 team also did not get much help in the turnover department, an area that Dom Capers opportunistic 3-4 defense has remarkably improved this year. (In fact, as of 12-1-09 the Packer defense was statistically ranked #1 in the league for their NFL-best 281.5 yards allowed per game so far this season.) Time of possession has also improved from last year to this.

Still there is that lack of consistency, the lack of discipline apparent in the shocking number of penalties the team incurs and the seeming lack of urgency in trying to lock down games we have a lead in near the end. These were all worrying factors along with the 4-4 record to that point in the season, so I went to Green Bay with questions on my mind.

We got into Milwaukee a couple of days early, visited with my parents and saw a few sights. We checked out the Milwaukee Art Museum, had some Rocky Rococo pan style pizza and stopped off at The Safe House for a while.  I took it as a good omen when I saw this Lombardi artwork (pictured at left) on the wall at The Safe House. The entire portrait is composed of various styles and sizes of the letters "LOMBARDI", and the artist skillfully wove all the lettering together to make a very moving image of our beloved historic coach.

So we drank a few espionage themed coctails like the 'Spies Demise", "YUG YPS", "Top Secret" and "The Silencer". We enjoyed the ambiance and my thoughts drifted to the game to come in the morning.

In the 70's, 80's and 90's, I lived in Milwaukee. My Father had season tickets and would take me to a Packer game every year, first at Milwaukee County Stadium and then later at Lambeau Field when his ticket package was moved there. But about ten years ago I moved to Texas and have not been to a game since. So I was anticipating the trip with my Dad for many reasons.

We got up at 8:00am and hit the road. We left early because we wanted some extra time for the Hall of Fame and the Pro Shop. We stopped for breakfast on the way at Schreiner's Restaurant in Fon du Lac. Dad said this historic restaurant (open since 1938) had become a tradition for all trips up to Lambeau, and we certainly did enjoy the great food, bountiful servings and reasonable prices. The service was excellent, especially considering how busy they were. Apparently it's not such a secret tradition! 

We rolled into Green Bay and Dad found his regular parking spot reserved on a local neighbor's lawn. We parked and took the short walk over to the Lambeau Field parking lot. The first sight that greeted me and let me know we were home was the Don Hutson Center training facility (pictured above right). Here are a few pics of the trip around the grounds as we made our way through the parking lot:

No trip to Green Bay would be complete without some cheese, and we saw it on the side of this truck. And this sign let us know we were headed the right way.

As we approached the Lambeau Field Atrium, I knew there were a couple of things I needed to get done. One was to get a picture taken with my Dad in front of the statue of Lombardi.

After all, he was the man who introduced me to my lifetime love of the Green Bay Packers. And I grew up developing that affection for my team watching the Lombardi teams of the 60's run to glory.

The second thing I needed to do was to rub Lombardi's shoe for good luck, so I spent several seconds giving it a good polish. I was convinced this would help the Packers on to victory on this day. I knew it would give them the edge against the Cowgirls!

We went inside and spotted the entrance to the Packer Pro Shop and the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame. I hadn't been through the hall in a long time, so I took my time and really savored it.

Here's a pic of the front of the Hall of Fame/Pro Shop entrance.

Here's a pic of me sitting at Lombardi's desk in the Hall of Fame. I could run a pro football team?. Yeah, right!

After a run through the pro shop and the purchase of a new "90 Year Anniversary" Packer hat, we made our way up to our seats. My Dad has 4 seats in a row and my brother Kyle had signed up for 2 season tickets and got them in the 90's. A while back they got the seats moved so they got 6 seats in a row. So soon after we got into place my brother Kyle showed up in his distinctive green and yellow striped bib overalls and sat down next to me (pictured below left).

The view of the field from our seats was great!

 On my right I had Suzan and Amy, my fellow CHPH enthusiasts, enjoying their first visits to the hallowed confines of historic Lambeau Field. The atmosphere was electric and they immediately got the magic of the venue. But, we were all grateful for temperatures in the mid-40 degree range as we were content watching the play unfold on the not-so-frozen tundra. I remember a few games in my twenties when I lost the feeling in my toes for a little while, so I wasn't missing that!

My Dad (pictured below left) was enjoying watching the game three seats to my right.

The 3 CHPH amigos enjoying Lambeau Field!

The first half of football had us on pins and needles and we watched both teams struggle unsuccessfully in their efforts to score. But in the second quarter the Packers finally drove down the field and scored a field goal. Going into halftime with a 3-0 lead left us feeling hopeful.

So far the Packer offensive line had done a pretty good job of giving Aaron Rodgers enough protection so he could work effectively. But I wondered if the Packers offense could put some more points on the board against a Cowboy defense that had been pretty stingy so far.

Would the Packers move the ball successfully on third down.

Would the defense continue to keep the Cowgirls from scoring? 

And would the Packers show an instinct and a sense of urgency while closing out the game. I needed to see this team take a lead into the late minutes of the game and close it out properly, keeping the opposing team from getting back into the game.

Then the second half started, and the Packer defense continued to play tough against a Cowboy team that was trying to lasso a playoff berth. This Cowboy team was significantly better than the Tampa Bay Buccaneer team the Packers lost to just 7 days earlier. These Packers seemed to be playing playoff caliber football. Could it be a win was in sight? In the second half the Packers scored more points, and looked to have the game in hand. We were having a good time!

Their first game at Lambeau Field was amazing!

The pics below show the Packers scoring their final touchdown to go up 17-0 in the fourth quarter and the scoreboard after the score. At this point we all knew the Packers had the game under control.

Packer touchdown, when the game was well in hand and the Cowgirls were playing for pride.

My brother Kyle and I had a conversation when he admitted he had Tony Romo as his starting quarterback on his fantasy football team. He asked me, "Do you think it's wrong of me to hope Romo drives the Cowboys down the field, throws for a touchdown and breaks up the shutout ... now that it's garbage time and the Packers have the win locked up?"

I said, "It's okay, but only if you don't cheer out loud if they score!"

We both laughed heartily.

The Cowboys did end up driving down the field for a meaningless touchdown in the closing minutes of the game, so the final score was Packers 17 - Cowboys 7. It was a good win and we all felt great as we made our way out of the stadium.

As we made our way to the car and headed down the road to get back to Milwaukee, I pondered what I had seen that evening. There were still questions about penalties and undisciplined play. But the Packer offensive line had protected Rodgers well  and given him plenty of time to work. Rodgers had in turn shown better urgency in getting rid of the ball and not holding on to it too long. The defense continued to show their league leading opportunistic nature, and the team started showing a proclivity which has continued through the 3 games since of being one of the best teams in the NFL offensively AND defensively on third down, which is critical. And they were winning the battle of field position.

I have since watched the Packers win three more games, including an impressive win last night against the Baltimore Ravens. Was this what the Packers needed to win; sturdy pass protection, an opportuniistic defense and good third down management? Is that what has sparked this four game winning streak?

Nah.

It was because I rubbed Lombardi's shoe!