Obscure athlete of the day, QB Jerry Tagge, Cornhuskers, Packers

[ram29jackson]

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TaggJe00.htm

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/63625577.html

Jerry Tagge practically grew up in the shadow of Lambeau Field, less than a mile away on Mennen Court in Green Bay's west side.

As a boy growing up in the midst of the Packers 1960s dynasty, he dreamed of one day quarterbacking the team in its famed stadium, just like his idol, Bart Starr.

He spent countless hours playing football and baseball at Fisk Park with his friends, developing skills that would one day make him an all-state prep quarterback and collegiate All-American.

Tagge sold concessions at Lambeau Field, but did so to watch the games at the sold-out venue.

"It was hard to get a ticket to the game, so I worked at the stadium," Tagge said. "I started out with popcorn, then graduated to hot dogs, and then on to Coca-Cola.

"Anything I made went to buying Packers cards with the big flat piece of gum. It was fun growing up like that - everyone rallied around the team. It was a great atmosphere, and the team had the town's total attention. It was all about the Packers."

During training camp, Tagge and his friends would ride their bikes to Lambeau Field and hope to get the ultimate honor of giving a big-name player a ride to practice.

"I never did get Bart Starr," Tagge said, "but I did give rides to Ray Nitschke and Jim Taylor. It was all about the bragging rights with my friends."

Tagge became an usher at Lambeau in high school, where the star Green Bay West quarterback and his teammates played at Lambeau Field. The promising prospect was recruited my several major colleges but chose the University of Nebraska because of its tradition and success.

"I had two former Green Bay West teammates go there my senior year, and they enjoyed it," Tagge said. "And wide receiver Dave Mason and I went there the following year."

At Nebraska, Tagge led the Cornhuskers to national championships in his junior and senior years. He was named the most valuable player of two Orange Bowls and was an All-American his junior year

In three seasons with the Packers, Tagge completed 136 of 281 passes for 1,583 yards with three touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

Tagge headed south to play for the San Antonio Wings of the World Football League in 1975. After the league folded, Tagge signed with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League.

In three seasons from 1977-'79, Tagge enjoyed success. He threw for more than 3,100 yards in 1978 and was named a CFL All-Star before suffering a career-ending knee injury late in the 1979 season, just as the 11-1 Lions were to begin postseason play.

"I never could figure out what happened with Jerry Tagge in Green Bay," said Pat Peppler, the Packers' personnel director from 1963-'71. "He was a No. 1 draft choice from a big-time program, Nebraska, with a great coach, Bob Devany. He was a Green Bay kid, too. I helped draft him. But I had moved on to Miami in 1972, so I wasn't there to see what transpired."

Tagge, it turned out, knew what the problem was.

"I had personal problems with alcohol, and I didn't know it at the time," Tagge said. "That was at a time when you could drink and the police didn't arrest you; they just drove you home.

"I was mixed up and had a hard time handling life. I didn't handle a lot of things well: the money, the fame, everything. So I drank, it was my escape. More than once I was hung over at practice."

 

[Senser81]

Jerry Tagge was terrible, and if Pat Peppler "can't figure out" what happened with Tagge in GB, then he is a moron. Tagge was an option QB at Nebraska, and he was't even a good passer in college. The only explanation as to why the Packers wasted a #1 pick on Tagge is that he was a local kid.

Tagge inherited a great situation in Green Bay. They had gone 10-4 in 1972 with the equally terrible Scott Hunter at QB, and had two great RBs in John Brockington and MacArthur Lane. When Tagge took over the team in 1973, all he had to do was hand off to Brockington and Lane...basically a Shaun King assignment. But he still couldn't succeed.

 

[ram29jackson]

Jerry Tagge was terrible, and if Pat Peppler "can't figure out" what happened with Tagge in GB, then he is a moron. Tagge was an option QB at Nebraska, and he was't even a good passer in college. The only explanation as to why the Packers wasted a #1 pick on Tagge is that he was a local kid.

Tagge inherited a great situation in Green Bay. They had gone 10-4 in 1972 with the equally terrible Scott Hunter at QB, and had two great RBs in John Brockington and MacArthur Lane. When Tagge took over the team in 1973, all he had to do was hand off to Brockington and Lane...basically a Shaun King assignment. But he still couldn't succeed.

this may be true but he still had a level of success and was a part of something others only dream of for some moments in his life. for example my dream? ryan goslings balls in my mouth

 

[ram29jackson]

void

 

[Len B]

this may be true but he still had a level of success and was a part of something others only dream of for some moments in his life.

this may be true but he still had a level of success and was a part of something others only dream of for some moments in his life.

Please clarify if this may be true.

 

[ram29jackson]

Please clarify if this may be true.

I wasnt there, I didnt see it.

 

[Senser81]

I wasnt there, I didnt see it.

I thought you were like Scott Bakula in Quantum Leap?

 

[ram29jackson]

I thought you were like Scott Bakula in Quantum Leap?

didnt watch that either

 

[Maynard]

i was hoping for a thread about lynn dickey

 

[ram29jackson]

i was hoping for a thread about lynn dickey

nothing obscure about his career pinhead. He was a starter for 9 years and played for 14 in the NFL

 

[NAHSTE]

Where is today's Obscure Athlete of the Day?

 

[ram29jackson]

Where is today's Obscure Athlete of the Day?

feel free LOL.

I never said it was annual LOL

 

[Maynard]

isnt that what athlete of the day means...like daily?