Inbox: The last live Packers play my dad ever saw was the Randall Cobb fourth-and-8 catch
How has a Packers game impacted a noteworthy event in your life?
Not me, but my older brother. He was born in mid-December 1962. My parents quickly set the date for his baptism on Dec. 30. After the Packers won their conference, my parents huddled up with the parish priest and all three decided the baptism would be at halftime.
After my sister’s tragic death in 2019, a group of the guys decided to take “a trip of a lifetime” and go to a game at Lambeau. This fall will be our fourth “guys” trip. Memories make us rich.
My wife and I got married on Black Friday in 2015. Our wedding rehearsal was scheduled for Thanksgiving night, the Packers also played that night. I am the only Packers fan of the group, but the rehearsal broke up halfway through so people could go home to watch the game. Worse the Packers lost that game. Fortunately, the wedding went off fine!
While living in Florida in 2010, I was diagnosed stage-4 melanoma. The cancer produced a malignant growth on my spine which caused me to be in considerable pain. Corrective surgery was scheduled for the week prior to Super Bowl XLV. I made my surgeon promise that I would be discharged before Sunday. I was discharged on Saturday, pain-free. On Sunday, I was able to enjoy another Packers victory.
During early fall 1997, my buddy and I were filming a large 13-point buck on the farm we hunt. He was a trophy who we nicknamed “Lucky.” Our confidence in bagging Lucky on the opening weekend of bow season was sky high…but then we were offered front row Packers vs. Vikings tickets at Lambeau. What a dilemma! We chose Lambeau over Lucky and another guy with access to the farm killed Lucky while we were at the game. Choices!
Thanksgiving Day 2009. My mother-in-law was in hospice after a long battle with lung cancer and was not expected to make it through another day. The family had gathered in the nursing home for Thanksgiving; just waiting and consoling. The Packers beating the Lions that day gave us all a small lift and a much-needed distraction.
I was scheduled to have a long day at work on Dec. 8, 1996, church in the morning and church meetings all afternoon, but since my youngest daughter was born on the seventh, I was excused from all the meetings and spent the day watching the Packers throttle the Denver Broncos while holding my little girl. As we all know, the Packers won the Super Bowl that year. The first Super Bowl, I remember.
My second baby was born in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving last year. I will never forget holding her in my arms for nearly the entire game while my wife got some well-deserved rest in the bed next to me and trying not to jump out of my chair as the Packers announced that they will in fact be just fine operating under Jordan Love. Her arrival marked a turning point for the team and the completion of my lovely family.
My wife was giving birth to our first son in Manchester, Iowa. A great Northern Iowa player Bryce Paup was starting in his second season for the Packers and had a great first game of the year against the Eagles, so we named our first son after Bryce Paup. My son was an honorary member of the Bryce Paup Fan Club, and I took him to a game at County Stadium and my son got to meet his name.
The Packers game that affected me the most was the 2011 Super Bowl. My dad and I had watched Green Bay football for more than 50 years. Watching Packers football with my dad was a huge tradition with our family where family bonding took place and we could review the successes, trials of the work week. When the Packers sealed the win, my dad I stood up and hugged for about 30 seconds. Three weeks later, my dad passed away. God is kind in letting the two of us watch our last game together be a Super Bowl win!
My mother-in-law was a huge Packers/Donald Driver fan. On Sept. 8, 2011, all my in-laws were staying at our house, as Ruth Ann was in hospice at Walnut Grove. We were there visiting – her children mostly giving Ruth Ann permission to go. A nurse advised us to go enjoy the game. She would call if anything changed. At halftime the call came, we rushed out to pay our respects, and learned Ruth Ann had passed peacefully when our leaving allowed her “space” to go. Each new season opens memories.
Celebrating the 1997 Super Bowl with my parents, longtime fans, and season-ticket holders, who had cheered on the team at the Ice Bowl. My mom, battling terminal cancer for the past five years, longed to see her team win another. The ’96 season answered her prayers! Our whole family, including two great grandkids, gathered at my niece’s home to watch the Pack beat the Patriots. She was excited in ’97 when they were on their way to XXXII! Not to be, as she went to meet Vince a week before Christmas!
Jan. 15, 2017. My wife and I were in the ER at the hospital, as my mother-in-law was receiving the news that she had pancreatic cancer, and only a month to live. There were TVs in a few places in the hospital, so patients and visitors were watching the Packers/Cowboys playoff game. To hear the surreal cheers from the ER when Mason Crosby kicked the game-winner was an emotional moment for me. Yes, football is just a game, but it also provides joy in the darkness.
The game I would relive is actually a game I was at and didn’t realize the significance of at the time. The game was Dec. 22, 2003. A great friend of mine (Steve from Flagstaff who writes in frequently) attended the game together. Since it was in Oakland, we spent the first half worrying about self-preservation. With the game in hand, we started to imbibe a few adult beverages. Between the nerves of being in Raiders Nation and the drinks, we didn’t pay attention to what was transpiring.
Sept. 9, 2018 – Bears/Packers. I was competing in my first ironman triathlon in Madison, WI. While running the marathon portion, I was continuously asking spectators/helpers for updates on the game. As I finished, the Bears were ahead, and Rodgers was hurt. I got back to my hotel room for the second half comeback win. It was a thing of beauty on a day I’ll always remember (becoming an Ironman). GPG!
Dec. 26, 1965, the NFL Western Conference playoff game in Lambeau vs. the Baltimore Colts. The Packers win 13-10, then go on to beat Cleveland for the NFL title (first of three straight). It’s noteworthy for me, as it was my first road trip with my big brother Denny. I was 10; he was 24 and my idol. I want to see the controversial FG: got us to OT!
On Jan. 16, 2016, two events happened. My mom had a liver transplant at UW Health in Madison and the Packers played a thrilling game down in Arizona. We were in the surgery waiting area when Jeff Janis caught the Hail Mary pass and at that exact moment, we got the news that mom was being put in the ICU room. Sadly, by the time we got to her room, we turned on the TV to see Larry Fitzgerald running through and around the Packers’ defense.
I was living in China during Super Bowl XLV, so I had to work during the game. My then girlfriend (now wife) is not a football fan, but she kept texting me score updates. I knew then that I’d found the one.
