FOOTBALL'S TOUGHEST TACKLE Uncle George and the Big

Massive tackle George Connor is called the ideal lineman by Bears' coach George Halas. "He's big, fast attd smart •.. and makes more tackles than any other player in football' 66

PHOTOGRAPHS FOR COLLIER'S BY ROCCO PADULO AND JOHN M^IDICINO

PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 67 An ex-incubator baby, George Connor grew and grew. He's no Bad Bears a 240-pound All-Pro lineman in Chicago and a nightmare to foes

-By BILL FAY

ARY JANE LUJACK, the three-year-old daughter of Johnny Lujack, now a Notre M Dame backfield coach, has a favorite bed­ time story. It's about her Uncle George. The way Johnny tells the story, it goes like this: "Once upon a time there was a little boy who weighed only two and three-quarters pounds when he was born. He was so little his mother had to feed him with an eye dropper. In fact, she had to feed him once fevery hour—twenty-four times a day—for almost a whole year, just a few drops at a time. And you know what she fed him? It was boiled cabbage water. "Finally, the little boy drank so much cabbage water he grew up to be one of the biggest boys in Chicago. When he went to Notre Dame with your daddy, he weighed 225 pounds and he knocked down all the Southern California players, so Daddy could throw passes without getting hurt. Pretty soon, the sports writers were calling him Gebrge Connor, the All-America tackle. "After he made All-America, he went home to Chicago and played with Daddy on the Bears— that's when you met Uncle George—and he be­ came the best tackle in the whole National League. Believe me, Mary Jane, none of the other players wanted to run into your Uncle George. Why, once he blocked a Chicago Cardinal player so hard—it was your Uncle Bill Fischer, who used to play with Uncle George at Notre Dame—that Uncle Bill bounced into your daddy and knocked Daddy un­ conscious for three minutes . . ." That's just one story. Lujack tells Mary Jane an almost endless variety of bedtime tales about her honorary Uncle George. Which isn't surprising. After all, quarterback Lujack and tackle Connor were the key All-America figures in Notre Dame's unbeaten 1946-'47 seasons; then, they earned All- Pro recognition as teammates on the Chicago Bears for four years until Lujack's retirement broke up the combination last winter. But no mat­ ter how many different bedtime stories Lujack re­ calls about Uncle George, the theme never varies: something overpowering always happens, and it happens to the other guys, not to Uncle George. Of course, the recurring theme is not entirely a coincidence. Connor—now in his fifth campaign WIDE WORLD with the Bears—stands six feet three inches and Connor stretches out one arm to naU halfback Floyd Reid of the Green Bay Packers, for weighs 240 pounds. There are bigger linemen than no gain. The six-foot-three lineman made the All-America at Notre Dame in 1946 and 1947 Connor in pro football. Also, there are faster linemen. However, there isn't a lineman in the who is both bigger and On bench for short breather, Connor views game with (1. to r.) center Bob Moser, trainer faster than George Connor, the Bears' monstrous Edward Rozy, and his dad, Dr. Charles Connor. George plays on both oifense and defense ex-incubator baby, and America's greatest living testimonial to the nutritive qualities of boiled cab­ bage water. "Connor," avers coach George Halas of the Bears, "is the ideal lineman—big, fast and smart. Year after year, he makes more tackles than any other player in football." Halas could be prejudiced. However, if there were any lingering doubts that Connor excels all contemporary linemen in the noble art of prostrat­ ing ball carriers, George personally dispelled any such suspicions by his sensational performance in the game at Los Angeles last January. In that postseason Donnybrook, pro football's greatest players—60 of them—were divided into two All-Star squads representing the National (Western) and American (Eastern) Conferences of the league. The American Stars were tutored by Paul Brown, pro football's most successful coach; they were directed by T-quarterback Otto Graham, one of pro football's most proficient pass- Collier's for November 15, 1952

PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 68 ' ers; they were powered by fullback Ed­ declared: "I've never seen any lineman "Why didn't I get a GOODYEAR BAITEMr TESTP' die Price, pro football's most produc­ dominate a game the way Connor man­ tive ball carrier; and, what's more, they handled those American Stars. George were three-deep at every position, with was on the ball—and I mean that liter­ offensive and defensive specialists se­ ally—almost every play." lected from the star-packed rosters of Paradoxically, Connor locates the the , New York Gi­ ball by never looking for it. "If you ants, Washington Redskins, Chicago try to follow the ball," George points Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles and out, "any slick quarterback will fake Pittsburgh Steelers. you right out of your shoes. But if you Admittedly, the American Stars were ignore the ball and instead concentrate loaded with touchdown talent. Yet, on watching a few key offensive players their combined rushing efforts pro­ —particularly the ends and tackles— duced a net gain of only 15 yards they'll usually lead you straight to the against the National Conference Stars, ball." who walloped them 30 to 13. Probably, that sounds complicated, but it makes sense when Connor ex­ Enemy Offense Is Roughed Up plains his line-backer operations, step by step: What happened to the American "Let's assume," George begins, "I'm Stars' offense? The following sequence backing up the left side of the Bear line. of plays, which transpired early in the The offensive team—say the Los An­ fourth quarter, offers a significant clue: geles Rams—are in T-f ormation. Look­ On first down, halfback Dub Jones ing straight ahead, I can see three Ram crashed into left guard and—Wham! players clearly—the right end, the right —down he went, tackled for a one- tackle and, behind them about three yard loss by George Connor, who was yards, the right halfback. Also, out backing up the left side of the National of the corner of my right eye, I'm Stars' line. conscious of two blurs. The nearer ATTERY failure can be embarrassing On second down, fullback Price blur is the Rams' right guard. The B — or even dangerous. ONE sure swept wide to the right and—Wham!— farther blur is their fullback. way to avoid it is to ha;ve your Goodyear line-backer Connor, trailing the play, "Now," Connor continues, "the play Dealer make periodic checks with the bounced him out of bounds after a starts. I don't see the snapback— All-Purpose Tester—ONLY sure way two-yard gain. remember, I'm not even looking at the to spot trouble before it happens. So On third down, quarterback Graham quarterback or the center—but I get a see your Goodyear Dealer regularly for battery checks. And ask him about the attempted a forward pass and—Wham! quick tip-off from the Rams' right end, top-quality Goodyear Dry Proof Double —^line-backer Connor dumped him for , who makes his move the Eagle Battery for your car, too. a 10-yard loss. instant the center snaps the ball back. On fourth down, Graham passed If Hirsch starts downfield immediately, again. This time, instead of rushing I figure a pass is coming. But if Hirsch Graham, line-backer Connor retreated blocks one of our front linemen, I get some 15 yards—leaped high near the ready for a running play. GOOD/fEAR left side line—and deflected the ball "But," Connor adds, "while watch­ out of the hands of the American Stars' ing Hirsch, I'm also trying to keep track DRY PROOF • DOUBLE EAGLE BATTERY right end, Dante Lavelli. of the Rams' right tackle, their right Double Eagie-T. M. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Akron, Ohio Thus, while shattering four con­ halfback, and that blur of a right guard. secutive offensive thrusts, line-backer If Hirsch blocks, and the right tackle Connor roamed from side line to side blocks, and the right halfback moves line and covered approximately one forward, and that blur of a right guard fourth of the total area of the field. suddenly comes into focus—well, that's Better Than Beer? Commenting on this remarkable per­ trouble. Any time that right guard formance after the game, , comes into focus, I know he's running then head coach of the Los Angeles interference, and somebody—probably Rams, who directed the National Stars, the Rams' left halfback, who hasn't

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PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 70 even come into the picture yet—is as Halas puts it, for a period of 13 years, headed in my direction with the ball. encompassing some 160 high-school, That's when you fasten your seat belt college and professional games, plus Thanksgiving and hope for a soft landing!" perhaps a thousand practice scrim­ Occasionally, Connor's technique of mages. Surprisingly enough, at twenty- Turkey Tastes ignoring the whereabouts of the foot­ seven, Connor exhibits few marks of Better at ball leads him into crowded and haz­ his vigorous profession. Off the field, ardous areas of conflict. For example, he's a downright handsome Irishman, Atlantic City in 1950, when the Rams and Bears with black curly hair, gray-green eyes, Even life itself has more Oavor clashed in a play-off for the National undented nose and a firm, square jaw. by the sea . . . Atlantic City Conference title, the Rams drove to The thin line, resembling a skin wrin­ gives you not only gusto for the Chicagoans' six-yard line. On kle, under George's chin is the scar of a turkey but a relish for living... third down, fullback Dick Hoerner three-year-old cleat cut which required not merely a wing for the appe­ went in motion to the right. Connor— nine stitches. tite, but wings for the spirit... backing up the left side of the Bear line The chin-gashing injury occurred ^ ozone that's an aperitif before —moved out a few steps to cover Hoer­ dinner ... a climate that's a when Connor made a flying attempt to cordial afterwards... and some­ ner ("Just far enough to keep him a tackle quarterback Jack Jacobs on the thing for everyone in the great blur in my left eye"). last play of the first half of a Bears- feast of attractions that are Hirsch, the Rams' right end, sprinted Packers battle at Green Bay. Picking Atlantic City's the year 'round. straight ahead, then broke right into himself up off the ground near the Chi­ the end zone. Scenting a pass, Connor cago bench, Connor wrapped a towel Come for Thanksgiving ! Come for- turned to cover the blur which was around his neck, yelled for the team An Kloctric r.Ts.soroie. d<>ep\vrll Christmas! Come Anytime ! fullback Hoerner. physician, and took off for the dressing cooker, baker, and roaster- all room. in one! 3-qt. rc^movahle inset Between halves, Connor stretched pan holds a fi-lh. roast. Ideal When He Didn't Look at Faces t(ir picnirsor j)otlucks, too. White out on a front-row beiKh. From this haked-enamel finish, cool black "Then," Connor recalls, "something advantageous position, George fol­ handles, black trim. 2-heatcon­ strange happened. Hoerner cut back lowed Coach Halas' strategic disserta­ trol, AC^-T)('. Heavy in.sulation toward me. Naturally, I waited to pick tion at the blackboard, while the doctor holds heat, in. $n.9,''i. He Luxe m him up and suddenly—out of nowhere stitched and taped his lacerated chin. .'\utomatic Roast ere! t(>, fi-qt. —two other Ram blockers popped into In fact, George didn't even have to size, $21.95, sight running behind Hoerner. In a spot move his head. like that, you don't look at faces, but I Finally, when the stitching and tap­ FOR HEALTH and PLEASURE guess they were the Rams' right guard ing were completed, Halas inquired: €V€R4I0T and left half. Anyway, they had to be "How do you feel, George?" running interference for somebody, so "Pretty good. Coach." ^//•Pi/rpose t9oasfereffe I decided to bust up the interference." "That's fine," said Halas, much re­ Whereupon Connor plowed into Hoer­ lieved. "You can start the second half." ner, Hoerner bounced backward into Connor played all but three minutes YOU'D NEVER KNOW I HAD the two following interferers, and all of that second half. "The chin throbbed four players crashed resoundingly to a little," he recalls, "but it would have the turf. Then, Don Kindt, the Bears' throbbed more if I'd been sitting on the FOR ATlANTtC CITY'S HUE BOOK laH'iiirHUH Writ* Dept.K Convantlan Hall, safety, tackled , the bench. You know, the excitement of a Allontic City, N. J. Rams' quarterback, who was attempt­ football game acts like an anesthetic. It (S. D.)* ing to sneak through left tackle on an dulls the shock of hard blocks and As hundreds of thousands of users have learned, Sirotl tends to re. artfully concealed maneuver. tackles. Of course, if you take a good move psoriasis crusts and scales on outer layer of skin. Light applica- "Connor smashed that play," Halas clout on the jaw or in the stomach, you lions help control recurring le­ commented later, "without ever seeing notice it. But you hardly feel routine sions. Siroil doesn'tstaiocloth-' ing or bed linens. Offered the ball or the ball carrier. What's bumps on the arms and legs." on (wo-weeks-satisfaciion- more," Halas added, admiringly, "Con­ Starting the '52 season, Connor or. money-refunded basis. Write for free booklet. nor threw himself right into the meat boasted an enviable four-year record \*S.D. means Skin Disorder. grinder to do it." for durability; he'd never missed an im­ VCtf tAnM/iA t»- Boy and man, Connor has been portant game because of injury. He's \ throwing himself into the meat grinder. been hurt, lots of times. But as Lujack SIROIL AT ALL DRUG STORES SiroH Laboratories Inc.. Oept.CR-93, Santa MonUa, Colif. . Siroil of Conodo. Box 488. Windsor, Oni

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Collier's for November 15, 1952

PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 'The whole thing's a phony— COLLIER'S they're not really brothers'' DICK ERICSON once told little Mary Jane, "Any time box salesman). After dinner, he either Uncle George can stand up, he's ready." attends a squad meeting (the Bears av­ The truth of this assessment is illus­ erage three night-study sessions per trated by Connor's 1950 work. Hobbled week), or stops by his office to catch up by a severe thigh bruise, which made on correspondence. He's home and in even routine walking painful, Connor bed every night by 10:30. Understand­ missed every practice session during the ably, there isn't room for many roman­ last four weeks of that season. Every tic open dates on his crowded schedule. morning, while the Bears worked on the During the first week of the current field, Connor sat in the dressing room season, Connor put in a total of 76 and dangled his left leg in a warm whirl­ hours at his football chores and box pool bath. But George was in the start­ selling. On the train coming back from ing line-up every Sunday afternoon. Green Bay, after the Bears walloped Fortified by a pain-deadening shot of the Packers 24 to 14, a reporter re­ novocain, he played those last four marked: games on one good leg and in such vio­ "George, this pro football must be a lent fashion that he was picked on the terrible grind. What makes you fellows N.F.L.'s All-Star team. so eager to get in there and bump your When Connor requires medical as­ helmets together, year after year?" sistance after a rough game, he hustles "Well," Connor explained, "there straight home to consult his father, Dr. are two reasons why people play pro Charles Connor, and his mother, football. First, despite all the bumps, • A brilliant new star in the Sentinel galaxy . . . Esther, who was a nurse at Chicago's pro football's a lot of fun. I get .just as the sparkling 'Little Star' miniature alarm, beautifully styled Mercy Hospital some 35 years ago. much fun out of a game today as I ever by Henry Dreyfuss. Sleek ivory Lustrex case, did at high school or at Notre Dame— clear styrene crystal. Delicate gray dial, blue-black hands. Saving Her Premature Baby probably even more fun, because pro ball's a lot more interesting. You're Dependable 40-hour alarm movement. Only $3.88* . . . "And what a nurse she was!" Dr. running more complicated plays, and or with radium markings and hands, $4.32*. Connor remembers. "Why, when you're up against top players every A lovely-to-look-at addition to your night table or vanity. George was born, two months prema­ week—fellows like Doak Walker, Bob turely, there wasn't a doctor at Mercy Waterfield and Otto Graham. —including myself—who thought he "And," Connor added, "people also had one chance in ten to live a week. play pro football to make money. If He wasn't much bigger than my fist. pro football hurt my financial prospects, But Mrs. Connor took her baby home I'd have to quit—much as I like to play. —fed him with an eye dropper every Actually, I can make a lot more money hour—slept with him in a special bed­ by playing pro football. In addition to room we kept heated above 80 degrees the salary, there's the prestige and pub­ —and gradually nursed him through. licity. My connection with the Bears She slept in cat naps between feedings doesn't sell boxes, but it certainly.helps and literally didn't go out of the house me to get inside a lot of offices. Then, if for six months. In fact, she almost for­ I can match the competition on price got how to sleep. I finally had to pre­ and service, I get my share of the busi­ scribe a mild sedative to get her back ness." onto an all-night sleeping schedule." By combining the pleasure of playing From the end of July, when the Bears professional football with the business go to training camp, until December, of selling boxes, Connor earns about when the pro season ends, the Connors $30,000 a year. Halas, who believes scarcely see their son, except for a fleet­ big men hit their physical peak in their ing glimpse at breakfast. On a normal late twenties, expects Connor to be a football workday, George—a bachelor top-ranking pro lineman for at least —gets up at 7:00 A.M., and breakfasts three more years, barring injuries. at 7:30 (four eggs, toast, and one- By 1955, Mary Jane Lujack will be quarter pound of bacon, crisp). He past the bedtirtie-story stage, and she reports to Wrigley Field at 8:30 in time probably won't object too strenuously MORE to dress for nine-o'clock practice (tardy if her Uncle George retires. SENTINEL 'DART' SENTINEL 'SWEEP' SENTINEL 'MEMO' Bears are fined $25). He works with And meanwhile, National Football VALUES! J*wft(ed, shocic-rtstsf* Pocket watch with S»if-*torting elec­ ant wrist watch. sw*»p second hand. tric with chime-be// the team until 11:30, rushes downtown League ball carriers agree unanimously Chrom* cai« $4.95*, alarm. Plain $5.95*. for lunch, then spends the afternoon that it couldn't happen soon enough to Radium {5.50* $3.25* Radiunn $6.95* calling on clients (he's a corrugated- a nicer guy. J^Jk.Jt!^ *Plus taxes. Prices and specifications subject to change. Collier's for November 15, 1952

PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 72 Is Your PERSONALITY

IF THESE THINGS ARE TRUE OF YOU

YOU MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE ^ TO lUarrtage Work Incotne and Social Sexual Behavior Addictions Data Record Job Level Relations Adjustment Pattern and Interests

Acts the Works long Tends to take exemplary hours and passes stimulants to Tends to help keep on High marriage A planned Highest of all husband and up vacations; groups studied; dominate; working; little rate; many career. Sticlts to father but often grasps Coronary usually argumentative interest in children; few the job; works indulges in authority; constantly and executives and with men, sports; few hob­ flivorces. secret dislikes sharing bies; skeptical Disease to the top. officials. attentive to women. promiscuity; responsibility; about religion; concei'ned with articulate; marked interest sexual problems. lives for future. in philosophy.

Needs to Excessive use of Tries to work to Shy, sensitive demonstrate coffee, cigarettes Average the top but and fearful of superiority over and alcohol; Hypertensive constantly falls failure; use of wife; often not usually miarriage rate; Generally low. Peace-loving. many children; short; inclined wine, women promiscuous, interested in Cardiovascular few divorces. to choose job and song to insecure and competitive below ability. compensate. frequently sports; prefers Disease impotent or golf, hunting frigid. and riding.

Has vivid dream Generally Similar to and fantasy life; Average High; tendency Sticks to one liked; tendency coronary but keenly aware Similar to marriage rate; toward artistic job. to dominate more anxious of anxiety coronary. Angina few children; pursuits. few divorces. indirectly. and insecure. and fear; hard-working; dominant.

Agreeable; Tendency to Interested in Low; often Fears sex and talkative; deny oneself or Low marriage adventure; good stenographers marriage; a vaguely overindulge in rate; few storytellers; Rfienmatic Variable. or unskilled martyr ambitious, stimulants; men children; few liked because workers and tendency; high especially for ride hobbies divorces. of childish Heart Disease dependents. abortion rate. social and and become appeal. impossible religious pleasure goals. zealots.

Excessive smok­ ing and addic­ Tends to be tion to coffee; Has confusion Hysterically interested in Low marriage Second highest flighty; rate; few Somewhat about sex, inconsistent; gambling; con­ Cardiac of all groups alternates combined with morose when children; few unstable. between shyness siderably inter­ studied. fear and alone, cheerful ested in religion, Arrliytlintias divorces. and repugnance. with strangers. especially re­ exhibitionism. ligious or moral principles.

Makes up mind definitely and Markedly Generally a interested in Average "good fellow"; Does not tend quickly, with Some stick to High, with competitive marriage rate; courts no favor to emphasize focus on imme­ Proneness one job; but occasional sports, or in few children; Introverts hold with either sex; sexual diate values sudden changes. rather than gambling; to Accidents relatively many many jobs. often in trouble problems. tends to use divorces. with authority. long-range goals. stimulants.

Fears sex and Often addicted Quiet; sensitive; to patent Low marriage Generally Shy, childish marriage; poses as good Rlieumatoid rate; many stenographers females are medicines and Variable. and unskilled and not well sport combined di-ugs; early children; few liked. tomboys; boys with appeals for Artliritis workers. incline to be disillusioned divorces. sympathy. with religion. feminine.

Refuses Interested in Many males stay Marked by food; little unmarried; few responsibility; Superficially Unable to follow anxiety and interest in children; few unable to take Lower than level agreeable but any consistent inadequacy, religion; Diabetes divorces, though initiative or of education. self-conscious course of action; with homo­ preoccupied in many periods of manage and inaccessible. indecisive. sexual trend. innumerable separation. personal relationships. odd jobs.

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