Aug. 7, 1964 - From his performance tonight, quarterback George Mira (pictured) of Miami looks like he could make it big in the NFL. But even he admitted that he’s got a few things to learn.
The NFL champion Chicago Bears defeated the College All-Stars, 28-17, yet Mira excited the crowd of 64,000 at Soldiers Field with his leadership. He completed eight of 18 passes for 70 yards, including a five-yarder to Charlie Taylor of Arizona State for the final touchdown with 26 seconds left in the game.
“That George Mira is slipperier than Fran Tarkenton of the Vikings, and he throws very accurately on the run,” said George Allen, defensive coach of the Bears. But the San Francisco 49er draft choice was taught a few lessons too.
“The Bears kept calling snap signals from the defense,” Mira said. “I was snapping the ball on their call.”
In his first try for a touchdown against the pros, Mira admitted he goofed. When he dashed down the sidelines only to be stopped at the five-yard line, he confessed, “I should have gone to the outside, but I went to the inside.”
Bears quarterback Billy Wade completed 15 of 23 passes for 217 yards, including a 12-yarder to tight end Mike Ditka for the first touchdown of the game late in the second quarter and a 20-yarder to Gary Barnes in the third period. Second-string quarterback Rudy Bukich hit Charlie Bivins with a 30-yard touchdown pass in the fourth.
Tony Lorick of Arizona State was the All-Stars’ leading ground-gainer with 38 yards in six carries. Taylor had 36 on seven carries. Top man for the Bears was Ron Bull with 35 in eight carries.
There was a dramatic moment before the game when the lights were dimmed for two minutes of silence in respect of the memory of John Farrington and Willie Galimore, two Bear players killed in an auto accident last week. The Bears wore black armbands and will continue to do so for the entire regular season.
Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s
Commenti