Packers shoot for 10th straight Charities win Saturday night

When the Green Bay Packers take the field on Saturday, Aug. 26 for the 40th annual Bishop's Charities Game, the team will put a nine-game winning streak on the line. That streak is going on its fourth head coach, but it began with Green Bay's current bishop, Robert Banks when the Packers defeated the New England Patriots 28-7 in the 1991 Bishop's Charities Game. The last time the Pack lost a Bishop's Charities contest was 1990, when the Cleveland Browns, Saturday's opponent, defeated Green Bay 25-10. Last year the Packers defeated the Miami Dolphins 25-17.

Win or lose, the game represents a special relationship between the Packers and the Diocese of Green Bay. Head coach Vince Lombardi and Bp. Stanislaus Bona started the event in 1961. Over the years, the Bishop's Charities Game has raised millions of dollars for the Green Bay Diocesan charities, but the Packers have also benefited from the annual exhibition contest.

"The Bishop's Charities Game is a powerful sign of what this community and team are all about," said Bp. Banks. "When the Packers needed help years ago, we sold tickets for the preseason games. Now they help people who are in need."

The first Bishop's Charities Game was played on Sept. 4, 1961, in front of 33,452 fans at City Stadium. Among the Packers making their Green Bay home debut in the game were first round draft pick Herb Adderly and training camp surprise Elijah Pitts, a 13th round draft selection from Philander Smith College.

For Adderly, the season marked the beginning of a Hall of Fame career. Pitts would go on to become one of the Packers most popular players spending 10 seasons at running back for the Green and Gold. The Packers defeated the New York Giants 20-17 in the pre-season showdown.

The game would serve as a preview of the regular season matchup between the two teams, also won by the Packers 20-17. The Packers would later host the Giants in the 1961 NFL Championship Game, defeating New York 37-0.

The Packers boast a 21-18-1 record in Bishop's Charities games. Both Vince Lombardi and Mike Holmgren were a perfect 7-0 as head coaches in the annual contest.

The 2000 Bishop's Charities Game will feature a special pregame ceremony. Bp. Banks will present the Outstanding Player award to quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck completed 10 of 15 passes for 97 yards including touchdown tosses to Bill Schroeder and Basil Mitchell in leading the Packers to a 25-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins in the 1999 Bishop's Charities Game. Bp. Banks also will throw out the ceremonial first pass of the game to center Frank Winters. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.