The 1962 College All-Star Game All-Star Roster
CHICAGO (AP) - The mighty Green Bay Packers won by as wide a margin as expected, but certainly not as easily as expected over a tough, speedy college All-Star team in Soldier Field Friday night. Stiffened by the passing of John Hadl of Kansas, the collegians made it a battle until a 21-point final period Green Bay barrage buried them under a 42-20 score in the 29lh annual All-Star game. The champions of the National Football League led only 21-20 going into the final quarter. It took a record-breaking performance by Green Bay quarterback Bart Starr to finally break the backs of the charged up All-Stars. Starr hurled five touchdown passes, including a pair each to Boyd Dowler and Max McGee, setting a new mark in this colorful grid series, now standing 19 to 8 in favor of the pros with 2 ties. The All-Star of the night in this nationally televised contest was Hadl, a cool, poised and agile all around back who should be a rookie hotshot for the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League this season. Hadl completed his first five passes, four of them setting up the first All-Star touchdown that gave the collegians a surprising 7-0 jump in the opening period. Some observers guessed that the turning point of the game might have been the removal of the hot Kansas performer in the second period. Hadl returned to the game later, but the All-Stars never seemed to again to have the spark they had under the Jayhawker star in the first period. Hadl completed 6 of 10 passes in all, had the Packers in a stew with his rollout jockeying and boomed five punts for a 43.3 yard average. Packer coach Vince Lombardi said of Hadl: "He surprised us the way he moved around. He showed great agility and poise." Had the All-Stars not lost two great backs, Ernie Davis of Syracuse and Ron Bull of Baylor, by pregame illness, the Packers might have had their backs to the wall all the way. As it was, the All-Star ground attack produced only 68 yards, while the collegiate passing attack was not quite able to muster the deadly accuracy of Starr, who completed 13 of 22 tosses for 255 yards and five touchdowns. The All-Stars led the vaunted Packers no fewer than three times. A one-yard smash by LSU'S Earl Gros- after Hadl had completed four straight passes- electrified the crowd of 65,000 by pushing the All-Stars ahead 7-0 the first time they had the ball. In the second quarter, the collegians took a l0-7 margin on the first of two field goals by Navy's Greg Mather- a 26-yard boot. However, the Packers went ahead 14-10 on Starr's four-yard pass to Ron Kramer. In the third period, an upset still appeared in the making when Hadl hit Ohio State's Charley Bryant with a 22-yard scoring shot for a 17-14 All-Star lead. The final All-Star bid, however, proved to be Mather's 14-yard field goal late in the third period, shaving Green Bay's margin to 21-20. Early in the fourth period, Green Bay wrapped it up with Starr firing touchdown passes of 20 and 35 yards to McGee (video). A three-yard touchdown thrust by Green Bay's Elijah Pitts with time running out put the final frosting on the cake. Note: I received correspondence fro Ron Lawson of Atlanta, GA recently. Ron’s life was touched by the 1962 game. According to Ron, “In 1962 I was a member of one of the best high school marching bands in the country, and we (Coventry High School Marching 100 of Akron, Ohio) were invited to perform for the half-time of the Chicago All-Star Game.” “In short, it was one of the best experiences in my entire life. It was so GREAT to see the Packers play the countries best college talent. I have been a crazed Pro football fan ever since.” “Our band director, Ralph Herron, read us the letter he received from the Chicago Tribune inviting us to the big game. The one thing they specified that they wanted our band to do was our "Star Burst Routine". Drawn up by Ralph and our asst. director, Mike Hadgis, it was a very unique and sight spectacular routine. We all wore lights on our uniforms and hats, we marched into symmetric circles in the middle of the field, and when the stadium lights went out, we switched on our light , started playing and marched outward like ripples in the water. The crowds went wild wherever we performed it! And they loved it at Soldiers' Field!” Thanks Ron!
NC State's Roman Gabriel releases pass under pressure from Packers.
LSU's Earl Gros scored early for the Stars.
Hornung carries as Bill Saul pursues.
Jim Taylor carries in second quarter.
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