1961

SAN FRANCISCO 49'ERS

Now on DVD is the 1961 49'ers Highlight Film, narrated by voice of the 49'ers Bob Fouts and presented by Falstaff beer. Coach Red Hickey introduced something new to the NFL in '61 - the shotgun formation, and it burned up the league for five weeks. The 49'ers won four of their first five games, including 35-3, 49-0 and 35-0 victories over the Redskins, Lions and Rams respectively. Hickey was alternating John Brodie, Bill Kilmer and Bobby Waters at quarterback, as well as calling all the plays for the trio. The dream ended on October 22 at Wrigley Field, however. Realizing that a center cannot block well when looking through his legs to hike the ball back to a halfback, Bear defensive coach Frank Shaughnessy put MLB Bill George over the center and had him charge straight through to the QB on every play. The Bears shut out San Francisco 31-0, and thus exposed, the 49'ers scrapped the shotgun for the rest of the season. Five games are shown here (see below) on the original team highlight film of the 1961 '49'ers. This film shows nice close ups of the broadcast team of Lon Simmons, Russ Hodges, Fouts and Gordie Soltau, coaches Hickey, Jack Christianson, Billy Wilson, Bill Johnson, Mark Duncan, players Monte Stickles, Gordon Kelley, Len Rohde, and rookies Carl Kammerer, Roland Lakes, Bill Cooper, Billy Kilmer, Aaron Thomas, Jimmy Johnson and Bernie Casey. San Francisco fans will remember many other players shown throughout this film, including: Abe Woodson, Bruce Bosley, Ted Connelly, Bob St. Clair, J.D. Smith, C.R. Roberts, Clyde Conner, Monte Clark, John Thomas, Mike Magac, Dan Colchico, Leo Nomellini, R.C. Owens, Dale Messer, Eddie Dove, Dave Baker, Frank Morze, Don McIlhenny, Charlie Kruger, Matt Hazeltine and kicker Tommy Davis.

"TIME FOR FOOTBALL"

Week 8
Games of November 5, 1961

"Time For Football", shows highlights from all six games of Sunday November 5, 1961 as Jim Leaming describes the action:

* Redskins at Yankee Stadium - An opening safety, two touchdowns each by Bob Gaiters and Del Shofner and another on a pass interception by Jim Patton provide Giants with plenty of points as New York Giants thrash Washington Redskins 53-0. Shofner's second score is on a 32-yd pass from backup QB Lee Grosscup.

* Vikings at The Coliseum - Touchdowns by Jon Arnett and Ollie Matson have Rams leading 14-0 first quarter, before a TD pass from rookie Fran Tarkenton to Gordy Smith puts Vikings on the board. Field goals by Danny Villanueva and Mike Mercer up the score to 17-10 Rams at the half. A 23-yd TD run by Tom Wilson gives Rams 24-10 lead before Tarkenton rips off a 52-yd run of his own! Joe Marconi's 8-yd run scores the final points in a 31-17 Rams win over baby Vikings, playing only the 4th road game in their history!

* Cardinals at The Cotton Bowl - Two Billy Stacy interception returns in a span of two minutes, plus Frank Mestnik's 2-yd TD plunge give St. Louis 21-3 Halftime lead. A Ralph Guglielmi to Taz Anderson touchdown strike and FG by Jerry Perry lift Cards to 31-17 win at Dallas. A pair of long bombs from Eddie LeBaron to Frank Clarke are only Dallas TD's.

* Lions at Kezar Stadium - A Jim Martin FG and two Jim Ninowski TD runs give Lions nice 17-0 halftime lead. But an Abe Woodson 80-yd punt return for a TD wakes up 49'ers and QB Billy Kilmer's TD run plus Tommy Davis' FG brings San Francisco even! Martin's second FG with 30 seconds left gives Lions lead again 20-17, but Tommy Davis' 41-yarder with 4 seconds left ties Lions in 20-20 thriller!

* Bears at Franklin Field - A 76-yd TD pass, Billy Wade to rookie Mike Ditka, gives the Bears a 7-3 lead in the first quarter. Eagles re-take 10-7 lead on a Sonny Jurgensen to Tommy McDonald 59-yd TD pass. Rick Casares then gives Bears 14-10 halftime lead with 5-yd TD run. Clarence Peaks' TD run in the second half is the only scoring after intermission, and gives Eagles 16-14 lead. Ed Brown's 4th quarter FG attempt is wide and defending World Champs hang on to beat Bears!

* Steelers at Municipal Stadium - A Jim Brown TD run and Lou Groza FG have Browns leading 10-0 in the third quarter. A 1-yd QB sneak by Rudy Bukich and later a 4th quarter FG by Lou Michaels ties the game at 10-10. Lou Groza's FG with 4 minutes left apparently gives the Browns the game but another outstanding kickoff return sets up Bukich at the Browns 38. A touchdown pass from Bukich to Bob Schnelker gives the Steelers a 17-13 comeback win against Cleveland!

* Packers at Memorial Stadium - Colts (3-4) entertain Packers (6-1) as John Unitas has his best game of the year so far in 45-21 win over Green Bay. Teams trade the first four TD's back and forth after Colts score first on a Joe Perry run. Lenny Moore's outstanding 33-yd TD run gives Baltimore 21-14 lead at the half. Second half, Colts pile on the points and lead 45-14 when backup QB Lamar McHan comes in to spell Unitas. Jesse Whittenton picks off a McHan pass in the waning moments and runs 41 yards for only Packer score of the second half.

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