Frozen toes, frayed nerves: Packers fans remember “Ice Bowl”

“I do say, ‘Well I have a ticket stub and a program,'” Des Jardins, an Outagamie County Circuit Court judge, joked in his chambers in Appleton adorned with Packers paraphernalia.

The memories remain vivid for Des Jardins, who was 15 at the time. It can be hard to forget sitting through such bone-chilling cold for so long.

For fans of the publicly-owned Packers, it’s like family history.

“Wisconsin fans, Wisconsin Packer-backers, are just incredibly involved in the team and so aware of our team and our era, and they’re just wonderful about supporting it still,” said offensive lineman Jerry Kramer , who threw a key block on Bart Starr ‘s game-winning touchdown on a quarterback sneak with 13 seconds left for a 21-17 victory.

“You don’t anticipate doing autograph sessions when you’re 81,” said Kramer, who still holds speaking engagements with teammates about the game.

“When Bart went over, I jumped up and down and didn’t feel anything from my knees down,” Webb recounted recently from near the spot where he watched the Ice Bowl.

By that point, a few others could no longer stand the arctic chill.

“A good friend of mine, he missed the whole fourth quarter because he was in the bathroom trying to get warm,” said Tom Lemorande, who was 23 when he attended the game. The retired paper mill executive has worked with the sideline crew in recent years at Packers games.

Turnovers plagued the Packers and the offense had stalled. They trailed 17-14 after Dallas’ Dan Reeves connected with Lance Rentzel in the fourth quarter for a 50-yard touchdown pass.

Lemorande brought a thermos of spiked coffee to try to stay warm. That last drive alone tested his nerves.

“Under the conditions, they had a long way to go … to be honest with you, I was practically holding my breath because I wondered ‘How are they ever going to score,'” he said.

After Starr’s touchdown, there was bone-chilling pandemonium.

“We were hugging everybody,” Des Jardins said. “Everybody we so padded, so you could only get your arms around so far.”

Des Jardins, like Lemorande now works the sidelines at games, holding the down-and-distance markers. He said that he has attended every home playoff game as either a fan or sideline worker.

Ties to the team run deep in his family. He shares the same name with his grandfather, who was a member of the Packers’ inaugural team in 1919. Des Jardins went to the Ice Bowl with his grandfather.

He returned home after that game feeling elated but eager to thaw out.

“I mean my toes were really cold. They felt like ice chunks,” he said. “I can remember the first thing I did when I got home was to fill the bathtub with hot water and put my feet in it — so that was very painful and vivid.”

Where are they now?

A look at where some noteworthy players are 50 years after the famous Ice Bowl playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. Green Bay won 21-17 to reach the second Super Bowl:

PACKERS

QB Bart Starr

Age: 83

Lives in Alabama. Recovering from two strokes and a heart attack in 2014. Returned to Lambeau Field in October during team’s 50th anniversary celebration of the Super Bowl II-winning squad and donated memorabilia to the franchise’s Hall of Fame. Co-founded Rawhide, a charity offering programs for at-risk youth in Wisconsin. The 1966 NFL MVP, a two-time Super Bowl MVP and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

OL Jerry Kramer

Age: 81

Lives in Idaho. Combined with center Ken Bowman to block Dallas tackle Jethro Pugh on Starr’s game-winning touchdown sneak. Chosen in November as a finalist as a senior candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Still does regular speaking engagements with former teammates about the Ice Bowl and 11 years with the Packers.

WR Carroll Dale

Age: 79.

Lives in southwestern Virginia. Caught three passes for 44 yards against the Cowboys, a game after making six receptions for 109 yards and a score against the Rams in the first round of the playoffs to move on to the Ice Bowl. Served as athletic director and later in athletic development for the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

FB Chuck Mercein

Age: 74.

Lives in White Plains, New York. Accounted for 34 of the Packers’ 68 yards on the winning drive in the Ice Bowl. Joined Green Bay on Nov. 9 of that season after being cut in October by the New York Giants. Went on to become an institutional trader on Wall Street.

WR Boyd Dowler

Age: 80.

Lives in suburban Atlanta. Caught two touchdown passes from Starr in first half of Ice Bowl. Went on to have 40 TD receptions in 12-year NFL career. Later worked as an NFL assistant coach and Atlanta Falcons scout.

COWBOYS

DL Bob Lilly

Age: 78.

Lives near Austin, Texas. Shown on video kicking at frozen turf on goal line for traction before Starr’s winning sneak. Disappeared under pile at the snap. Became interested in photography when he was a Kodak All-American at TCU in 1961 and got a free camera and year’s supply of film. He had a photo gallery in New Mexico in the 1980s before moving back to Texas. Nicknamed “Mr. Cowboy” as the franchise’s first draft pick, was inducted into Hall of Fame in 1980. Still attends some games.

Dan Reeves

Age: 73.

Lives near Atlanta. Was all-purpose back who threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Lance Rentzel for the Cowboys’ only lead at 17-14 in the fourth quarter. Played or coached in a record nine Super Bowls, including four losses as a head coach (three with Denver, one with Atlanta). Also coached New York Giants. Worked in radio after coaching before retiring.

DB Mel Renfro

Age: 75.

Lives in Dallas. Was a running back and track star at Oregon, but coach Tom Landry saw him as a defensive back. He made the Pro Bowl his first 10 seasons. Had seven interceptions that season, tying Cornell Green for team lead. Remained active with personal appearances after his career. Was outspoken about racism after experiencing it when trying to find housing as a Cowboys player in the 1960s. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.

LB Lee Roy Jordan

Age: 76.

Lives in Dallas. Founded Lee Roy Jordan Lumber Company, which has locations in Dallas and the Central Texas town of Hillsboro. Frequent guest at Cowboys events, including annual kickoff luncheon. Recently wrote an autobiography about his career with the Cowboys and as an All-America at Alabama. One of seven members of the Cowboys Ring of Honor not in the Hall of Fame.

DL George Andrie

Age: 77.

Lives in Waco, Texas. Led the Cowboys in sacks for the fourth straight season that year and returned a fumble 7 yards for a touchdown with Green Bay leading 14-0. Moved back to his native Michigan after his playing days before returning to Texas. Co-owned a beer distributorship with Lilly in Waco. Has had health issues in recent years.