The 1965 College All-Star Game

All-Star Roster

By John Mooney

Salt Lake Tribune Sports Editor

SOLDIERS FIELD, CHICAGO, Aug. 6- Little John Huarte, who brought respectability back to Notre Dame football, salvaged a measure of respect for the College All-Stars here Friday night, although the Cleveland Browns won the 32nd annual charity game 24 to 16.

With the All-Stars trailing, 24-3, in the third period of a rain-washed evening, Huarte's passing wizardry brought the crowd of 68,000 to life as he twice drove the Stars 80 yards to score.

He hit 10 of 11 in his hot streak, good for 134 yards and two touchdowns. But even Huarte's great passing and the sensational catches of Lance Rentzell of Oklahoma, Jack Snow of Notre Dame, Charles Mercein of Yale and Pat Donnelly of Navy couldn't overtake the National Football League champions, who won their 2lst victory against nine losses and two ties in the series.

The victory was a costly one for the pro champions, who lost Paul Warfield with a broken clavicle in the first quarter. Warfield was dumped by Al Nelson of Cincinnati as they dove for a pass.

The All-Stars also suffered an injury that may have turned the tide, when Roger Staubauch, Navy's starling quarterback, suffered a dislocated shoulder in the second quarter, after he had moved the All-Stars well. His replacement, California's Craig Morton, could do little and the Browns eventually turned the key play of the game minutes after Staubach left the game.

Trailing only 7-3, the Stars were forced to punt deep in their territory. Amid the confusion of having only 10 All-Stars on the field, Jamie Caleb broke through to block Frank Lambert's kick and Stan Sczurek fell on it in the end zone. That made it 14-3 and put the game beyond reach.

A 46-yard punt return by Archie Roberts set up the first score, with Jimmy Brown bulling over the final seven yards (video). Lou Groza kicked the point for 7-0, and that stood for the first quarter.

Staubach's passes to Fred Biletnikoff, the Oakland Raider rookie, set up a 36-yard field goal by Mercein in the opening minute of the second quarter.

Then came the blocked punt, followed by Groza's second goal, from 30 yards for a 17-3 edge at the half.

With the rain alternating in sweeping the stands, the fans were getting restless and wet, until Huarte came to life in the third period.

The Browns scored their final score on a 20-yard pass from Frank Ryan to Gary Collins for a 24-3 edge.

After the Stars forced a Groza field goal that was wide, Huarte started his first march and hit seven for seven and 72 yards in the sortie. Again, in the fourth quarter, after a punt had rolled over the goal line, Huarte started an 80-yard march that was climaxed by Rentzell's diving catch for the score. Huarte had passed to Mercein for the first All-Star touchdown.

The Browns had a 10-4 edge in rushing first downs, but the Stars earned an 8-7 edge in passing and a 3-0 bulge in penalties.

Penalties cut down the Browns, especially in the first half when they were smacked 110 yards by the whistle looters.

In rushing, with Brown carrying the load, the Cleveland club piled up a 165-23 net edge. The Stars added 192 yards from 16 completions in 14 passes, thanks mainly to Huarte's hothand.

Note: The public was shocked that Gale Sayers did not play in the 1965 College All-Star Game. In his autobiography, Sayers: My Life and Times, Gale Sayers explains his lack of presence in the 1965 All-Star Game:

Part of our preparation that week leading to the game involved a scrimmage against the Bears in Rensselaer, Indiana. On the very first play of the scrimmage, I threw a block for Willard, who was playing fullback. Somehow he kicked my right leg as he tried to run past me.

I came out of the scrimmage immediately as I tried to determine if I had a sprained knee or a deep bruise or whatever. I tried running along the sideline, very gingerly. The coach for the College All-Stars that year was Otto Graham, the Hall of Fame quarterback who had starred for the Cleveland Browns. I told Coach Graham that I was able to run straight ahead, but I was unable to make cuts. I had the leg checked the next day and doctors were unable to pinpoint anything specifically wrong with it. But I just knew that I was not feeling a hundred percent and I was unable to perform the way I had become accustomed.

When I returned to the College All-Star training sessions, I did not practice for a couple of days because of the soreness in the leg. As the date of the big game approached, the annual banquet was held to showcase the All-Stars. By then, the word got to me that Graham had soured on me and thought I was faking the injury.

It was after that banquet that I decided to confront him. "Is it true that you think I am dogging it, that I am not hurt?"

Graham's eyes never met mine as he said, "That's right. I don't think you're hurt."

Graham explained that because I had been sent to the doctors and they could not find anything structurally wrong with my leg that I must be faking injury. Those comments really insulted me and got under my skin.
By the time the actual game rolled around, my leg was feeling well enough to play and I made sure Graham knew that. But he chose to keep me on the bench that entire rainy night.

The next day, all of the Chicago newspapers carried stories quoting Graham as saying: "This boy has great natural talent. But unless he changes his attitude, he'll never make the Bears, because George Halas won't have him."

That assessment just crushed me. It was the first time in my life that I had a coach come out and say he was disappointed in my work ethic and attitude.
 

Florida A&M's Bob Hayes returns first half punt as the Browns ' Jamie Caleb (37) of moves in for the stop.

Oklahoma's Lance Rentzel tries to elude the grasp of Cleveland's Mike Howell.

Illinois' Dick Butkus (50) crashes into the Browns' backfield. Click Here for Butkus' recollections.

All-Star hero, John Huarte of Notre Dame, scrambles.

Gale Sayers of Kansas was supposed to star in this game, but was benched by Coach Otto Graham.

1964

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