New York Jets Open Training Camp

July 16, 1964 - The Jets, New York’s AFL team, opened training at Peekskill Military Academy today with 71 candidates posing for pictures under the afternoon sun.

In the thick of the athletes stood David (Sonny) Werblin, the president and major owner of the franchise. Werblin, also president of Music Corporation of America and a leading figure in the entertainment business, was scanning the faces and looking for something to sell.

The Jets are largely an anonymous team. They lack stars of any particular magnitude, and this disturbs Werblin, a believer in the star system.

“Pro football fascinates me,” he said. “Building a team is a lot like making a movie. I’ve always believed that a well-made movie figures to make X dollars, and a well-made movie with a star will make X-plus dollars.”

Werblin said the team had tried to make a trade for a name player. Abner Haynes, a star halfback for the Kansas City Chiefs, was the object of futile negotiating.

“This is show business,” said Werblin. “Personalities mean everything. Maybe we can develop what we have here.”

He pointed to Wahoo McDaniel, a linebacker acquired from the Denver Broncos. “Look at that face. Marvelous!” said Werblin. With his helmet off, Wahoo’s Texas visage is lined and memorable.

“Where’s Jeff Ware?” asked Werblin. “He’s better looking than Frank Gifford.” Frank who?

The five Jet exhibition games will be televised for the first time, and Werblin hopes the exposure of faces such as McDaniel’s and Ware’s will help sell the team. The president said 14,000 season tickets for Shea Stadium had been sold, and he would like the number to reach 20,000 for a league record.

This team, formerly the Titans, is starting its fifth season. There are five original Titans remaining — linebacker Larry Grantham, center Mike Hudock, flanker back Don Maynard (pictured), offensive tackle Jack Klotz, and fullback Bill Mathis.

On most teams the quarterback is a star by divine right, but not with the Jets. Coach Weeb Ewbank said Dick Wood, last year’s regular, would have to fight three rookies for his job. The new men are Pete Liske of Penn State, Mike Taliaferro of Illinois, and Jerry Yost of West Virginia.

Two Jet rookies were absent today, Matt Snell of Ohio State and Ralph Baker of Penn State being with the All-Star squad in Chicago.

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