my home town

[happypacker]

I thought i would start this to see if anyone likes it enough to post. I think it would be nice to learn a little bit about your home and the NFL connection.
I will be brief.
I am from Erie, Pa. \pop. 100,000 just about the same as Green Bay.
We love football here, and our Beer,,
In this city, we have had at least one person play in the NFL for 24 straight years, something i think is cool for a small town.
I can name a few, just off the top of my head that i think you will know.
Art Baker
Woody Thompson
Mike McCoy
Fred Biletnikoff
Mark Stepnoski
Brain Stablein
Brian Milne
Eric Hicks
Bob Sanders.
steve Potter
we have three guys this year that are on teams trying to make the roster,,Anderson, Astorino,Harden
according to NFL players Association only 215 of approximately 100,000 high school seniors who play football every year will make an NFL roster.
So I think my home town is doing pretty well and we have lots of things that shadow the Home of the Green Bay Packers.
So anyone else care to talk about your fine hometown? I hope so.

Oh, I go to Green Bay at least one game a year for the past 40 years. not all regular preseaon as well but i try to keep going at least one time a year. i am getting long in the tooth, and driving gets longer Ha! Ha! but I still love to go and enjoy the Packers and Green Bay.

[TW]

One of my favorite NFL players of all time in that list. Fred Biletnikoff. The guy that absolutely nobody thought could play in the NFL. The guy that they named rules after. A competitor that wouldn't quit.

If you haven't heard the stories, Fred used stick 'um like nobody else. His hands, arms, and on his jersey. He even spread some on the thigh areas of his pants,

In one game, he went up to catch a ball, couldn't hang on to it, and fell on his back on the field. The ball actually stuck to his jersey, and he wrapped it up for a complete pass. The following year, the NFL said stick 'um was a no-no.

Undaunted, Fred began taping his hands, and put thumbtacks inside the tape, poking out, to create grip on footballs. After catching one particular pass that was in a very tight spiral, the official grabbed the ball, and was going to set it at the line of scrimmage, when he saw ribbons of material shredded, and hanging on the ball like the tassles on an exotic dancer's pasties!

Instant rule. Another Biletnikoff rule! No thumb tacks.

Of course Fred went back to stick um', putting it inside his pants, so he could reach inside, and glue up. When they caught him, they warned him, but like a spit ball pitcher, he found ways to glue up! ;D

He, along with Raymond Berry, who had one leg longer than the other, was nearly legally blind, and ran the 40 yard dash with a calendar, not a stop watch, were my two favorites, because what they lacked in speed, they made up for, with perfection in running routes, body positioning, and willingness to make the catch, no matter what kind of hit would follow.

Interesting thread.

As for my hometown, I'm going to have to research that a little bit.

[happypacker]

I played high school football in 63 against Freddie B. and In 65 I also played against Mike McCoy.