Devine to the Packers
by Cliff Claven (2019-05-29 09:49:11)

In reply to: I wonder if Devine ever regretted leaving Mizzou...  posted by Scoop80

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I once read that the packers were trying to hire Bob Devaney from Nebraska but some front office guy for the packers mixed up the names.

I googled the subject and found an article but it won'y let me insert the link

Cliffy

That's patently ridiculous
by sprack  (2019-05-29 12:22:36)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

First of all, Devaney retired from coaching completely after the 1972 season, to be athletic director at NU only, comfortable in turning the coaching reins over to Tom Osborne.

Second, Devine had a stellar record at Mizzou.

Third, nobody is that dumb.
Here is the link
by Cliff Claven  (2019-05-29 21:43:45)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

From the article
"Over time, members of the Packers organization from back then told me Olejniczak got his names mixed up during the search. He contacted Devine when he meant to pursue Bob Devaney, coach at the University of Nebraska.

Several people shared that story with me, but with different scenarios that I never thought added up, especially long after the fact. But your question got me digging through old interviews and files, and the most credible of my sources was personnel director Pat Peppler, who had been hired by Lombardi and was running the Packers’ football operation during the coaching search.

Peppler admitted he couldn’t prove the story was true, but the way he told it was more plausible than other versions I’ve heard. Most never explained how the seed was planted. Innocently was Peppler’s explanation

Peppler, who died three years ago, said someone simply recommended Devaney to Olejniczak and the latter got the names confused"

Cliffy