The "A Grandfather To Top All Grandfather's" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading the sports section in the local newspaper when I noticed a story relating to the school where I attended over 50 years ago as well as taught at for almost 35 years.  

Ben Mann and his grandfather Chuck Mercein

Story featured a photograph that showed a fellow in a Manheim Township High School football jersey with what happened to be his grandfather standing next to him.  The student's name is Ben Mann and his grandfather's name is Chuck Mercein.  May not mean anything to most of you, but to those who follow professional football, Chuck Mercein played football for the Green Bay Packers.  In 1967 he was involved in one of he most memorable games in National Football League history.  

Chuck Mercein finds a hole vs. the Cowboys.

If was New Year's Eve, 1967 and the NFL Champion- ship game.  Packer's coach was Vince Lombardi.  The Packers were playing the Dallas Cowboys with the winner heading to Super Bowl II against the Oakland Raiders.  The temperature at Lambeau Field was minus 15 degrees at kickoff with a minus 48 wind-chill factor.  Then, the turf-warming mechanism in he field went haywire and the grass began to freeze.  

#30 Chuck Mercein

The Packers trailed 17-14 with time running out when Hall-of-Fame quarterback Bart Starr plunged into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.  But, it was Packer's fullback Chuck Mercein, a Yale graduate, who rushed for 34 of Green Bay's 68 yards on that final drive.  The game became known as the Ice Bowl!  The Packers went on to win Super Bowl II!  He told the Lancaster newspaper reporter the "It's the game that will never die.  It was humbling to be able to experience that and to play a big role in that game.  I'll never, ever forget it.  And, I'm humbled that people still know who I am."  Mr. Mercein played college football at Yale and now lives in New York, but his daughter, Kay, who is Ben Mann's mom, lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  

Mercein heads over the Rams.

Kay played lacrosse for Yale and Ben's dad, Art Mann, Jr. played basketball and rowed for the crew team at Yale after graduating from JP McCaskey High School in Lancaster.  Ben's older sister Kasey swam for Yale and his Uncle Tommy played football for the Bulldogs.  And, as you may have guessed,   Ben will also attend Yale and play football.  Ben's grandfather has been a big influence on him.  Hey, his granddad played for Vince Lombardi and how cool is that.  Ben says he always remembers his granddad wearing his Super Bowl ring and taking photos of him with it on.  His granddad has provided plenty of motivation for him.  Ben is one of the best multi-purpose players in the Lancaster-Lebanon League.  He's a big target at tight end and one of the top tacklers on the team from he defensive end spot.  He is also the team's long-snapper.  How would you like to have an NFL legend as a grandfather?  Pretty neat, isn't it?  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.