With members of the Packer team that played in the original game looking on and the weather hovering well above that game’s -13 mark, Ice Bowl II took on a much warmer tone yesterday.
Cowboy fans sauntered around Lambeau, mingling happily with their Packer brethren, mugging for pre-game pics and trading good-natured barbs.
The similarities between the two games abounded — the icy bleacher seats, the legendary quarterbacks, the one-yard, goal-line plays that inspired endless post-game chatter.
But there were differences as well. The field itself, though still the original hallowed ground, enjoyed an elegant upgrade, while fans dressed in a decidedly less sophisticated manner, with trench coats and bowler hats giving way to puffy coats and pelts.
Enjoy these pictures of a great game and Go Pack Go!!
Though we give her grief because she only shows up for the post-season games, my sister Jenny added a lot of fun to the occasion. The youngest of us four siblings, she took her customary spot in the front row when she paused for a photo with my sister Kathy, brother Mike and me.
Kathy bravely went nose-to-nose with a Cowboy fan on our way into the stadium.
Here we are with our tailgate host, Gregg.
We did a little old school tailgating, with some throw back jerseys.
Vince wore fleece, I wore two winter coats.
And then we ran into a Yeti, who turned out to be a Packer fan. Whew!
The one and only America’s team.
I thought this sign was cute.
We ran into some friendly Cowboy fans…
…and some scary ones.
And we sat behind these guys, who had their players covered.(Note the blue cheeseheads on the little guys. I’m sure it was meant as a slight. I’m a Roquefort girl, though, so I kind of liked them.)
This is a Tundra Towel, we think. We have developed a speedy entrance into the stadium that bypasses the lines, but also, occasionally, bypasses the give-aways.
Ouch. This turned out to be true thanks to a good call on a bad rule.
An old school tribute.
It’s not a Packer game without a pelt or two.
The home of the brave, man. Just try to beat us.
I’m not sure what Coach Lombardi would say about these helmet warmers the Cowboys trucked in.
It was especially cool to see Dave Robinson, Donny Anderson, Jerry Kramer, Boyd Dowler and Chuck Mercein, whose dignified presence lent a classy air to the game. Go Pack Go!
