One overriding topic of conversation this week in Packer Country has been the bone-chilling forecast for Sunday's NFC Championship battle with the New York Giants. Historically, the uglier the weather, the greater the Packers' success stories. Like following last Saturday's defeat of the Seahawks, Packer players claimed they enjoyed the experience of playing in the snow, quipping it was "fun". And Coach McCarthy is not so much concerned about the frigid temps as the wind factor (but this time he probably won't need to worry, since the game will be played after sunset, when winds theoretically should have died down).
Why does the Pack dominate in frigid winter weather? Sure, they now live in Wisconsin, but most, with the exception of a few players like right tackle Mark Tauscher, did not even grow up in the state. Hey, even the star quarterback is a native of Kiln, Mississippi, a name that hardly suggests the frozen tundra.
But even Sunday's forecast game-time temp hovering around 0 (give or take a few degrees) would not match the 13 below registered at the 1967 Ice Bowl. And there's no doubt many fans who were present at that historic game will again sit in the stands this Sunday. You don't need to be much over forty-five to remember the Ice Bowl, and there are plenty of Packer fans in that category that have packed Lambeau this season. The players have since changed, but it's still largely the same fans (and their decendents).
What I'm suggesting is that through the years it's been a combination of BOTH the team AND fans that has led to the Pack's domination in miserable weather. Fans naturally become "livelier" (to put it mildly) in order to keep warm, which in turn, psychs up the players' adrenaline; in turn, the players score, which in turn, psychs up the fans, etc., and the perpetual cycle goes on and on. Don't get me wrong--I'm not belittling the team's ability or skill in any way--however, I'm sure the players would be the first to tell you the fans' participation plays a major role in the team's performance.
Who's to get the credit for the Pack's success in the "frozen tundra"? Maybe everyone has a part--first and foremost the players and coaches--but at least to some extent, the die-hard fans (after all, isn't this a geniune TEAM sport--fans included?)
In any event, there's no doubt the conclusion of Sunday's bitterly cold game will give the Packers and their fans something to really worry about--how to deal with the relative "heat" in Phoenix (despite the dome)!
Keywords: Green Bay Packers, New York Giants
