Two years after he co-founded the Packers with Curly Lambeau, George Calhoun began writing a piece called The Dope Sheet, which served as the official press release and game program from 1921-24.
Honoring Calhoun, the first publicity director, the Packers are running this weekly feature as their release, which is being made available to fans exclusively on Packers.com.
A complete edition of the Dope Sheet will be available each week during the season in PDF format, located in the Packers.com Game Centers.
Here are some highlights from the 2005 Family Night Dope Sheet:
THIS WEEK'S NOTABLE STORYLINES:
-For the first time in 14 years, the Packers host another team for combined training camp practices.
-Family Night, professional sports' most popular scrimmage (an intrasquad affair until this season), sold every available seat in Lambeau Field for the second straight year. The 2005 event, featuring for the first time another NFL team, sold out in three hours June 4.
-First-round draft choice Aaron Rodgers, who signed Saturday night and made his camp debut in Sunday morning's practice, could see plenty of action during the Bills' visit. J.P. Losman, Buffalo's starting quarterback who may have been in Rodgers' shoes one year ago had the Bills not selected him, will no doubt receive comparisons to Rodgers.
NATIONAL TELEVISION: NFL Network, including sideline reporter and Packers Hall of Famer Sterling Sharpe, will simulcast the local feed of the Family Night scrimmage to a national audience. The event, produced by WLUK FOX 11 in Green Bay, also will be aired throughout Wisconsin on associated stations. WLUK's Drew Smith and Johnnie Gray, also in the Packers Hall of Fame, will call the action from the booth.
IT'S NOT JUST A SCRIMMAGE, IT'S AN EVENT: Family Night for the first time features another NFL team. An intra-squad scrimmage over its first four editions, the night has routinely filled Lambeau Field. In 2004 and 2005, the Packers sold every available seat in the stadium bowl.
-This year's edition takes place on a Friday night to accommodate the Packers' earlier-than-normal preseason opener, vs. San Diego, Thursday, Aug. 11, as established by the NFL. Family Night had been on a Saturday until 2005.
-"Bringing in another team is beneficial for us for a number of reasons," said Executive Vice President and Head Coach Mike Sherman, who conceived the idea of inviting another team to Green Bay. "First, I wanted to change things up this year so it's different than previous training camps. Also, I feel going against different colored jerseys will make for an even more competitive camp. And with the youth we have at some positions, it provides us with another game-like experience, in addition to our four preseason contests.
-"I think our fans will be excited to come to Hinkle Field on Thursday afternoon, or Friday morning, and watch two teams competing. Also, it only enhances the atmosphere and excitement of Family Night. "
-"We are proud of what Family Night has become for Packers fans and families from around the state," said Packers Executive Vice President/COO John Jones. "We anticipate this year to be even more exciting with the addition of the Bills. It will be a great way for our younger fans to take in a game-like night in Lambeau Field."
-A popular summer attraction, the event drew 60,217 in 2004, 48,898 in 2001, 50,240 in 2000 and 46,420 in 1999. 'Family Night' did not take place for two years (2002-03) during Lambeau Field's redevelopment.
-The telecast will be hosted by Smith and other members of the FOX 11 sports and news staffs.
-Included in the evening's activities, per custom, will be the popular "Shirt Off Our Back," with approximately 20 jerseys - all of which will have been worn by Packers players in the just-completed scrimmage - to be given away in a random drawing. Other entertainment and a spectacular fireworks show will conclude the night.
-Tickets, priced again at $8 with families in mind, were sold out in three hours June 4.
-Gates to the stadium open at 4 p.m. and on-field entertainment begins at 5:30 with the Oneida Nation Dancers and mascot games. The Packers and Bills will take to the field at 6 p.m. and run through various practice drills before kicking off the scrimmage at approximately 7 p.m. A spectacular fireworks show will conclude the night.
-Due to the many activities taking place all day long at training camp, including the 8:45 a.m. practice with the Buffalo Bills on Hinkle Field, the parking lot will open at 7 a.m. and remain open through the evening's scrimmage in the stadium. Parking will be free of charge. The Lambeau Field Atrium and its attractions, including the Packers Hall of Fame, will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
ANOTHER COLOR IN CAMP: In addition to the scrimmage, Buffalo will practice against the Packers twice on Clarke Hinkle Field: Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. The Green Bay organization also will host Bills head coach Mike Mularkey and his team for dinner at Lambeau Field Thursday night.
-According to Packers historian Lee Remmel, the team hasn't hosted another color in training camp since 1991, when New England traveled to Green Bay a few days before the teams' preseason opener at Lambeau Field. One year earlier, then-head coach Lindy Infante invited the Browns to Green Bay for practice before the clubs kicked off the 1990 preseason. The Browns contest marked LeRoy Butler's first NFL game.
-While training camp in Green Bay hasn't seen another team in 14 years, the Packers are believed to have squared off against other NFL teams occasionally over the last 65 years. In 1939, the New York Giants began the "cheese league" trend of other NFL teams holding training camp in Wisconsin. Outside Green Bay, the Packers have also held joint training camp practices with the Saints and Chiefs.
