Talking Football Rivalry-- Part 4: "Trafton Would Be Running For His Life"

While all this was going on, George Halas slipped an envelope containing the Staleys' share of the gate receipts into George Trafton's trousers.

Fans blocked Trafton's path to the taxicabs waiting outside the stadium, so he took off on foot, sprinting down the road toward the bridge over the Mississippi River to Iowa, with the angry mob at his heels.  He was saved when a curious motorist slowed down to ask what was going on.  Trafton said he was late to catch a train and the motorist let him in and sped off to the Davenport train depot.

When Trafton caught up with his teammates there, Halas asked for his envelope, which reports said held between $3,000 and $7,000.  Trafton asked his coach why in the world his coach had entrusted him with the money.

Halas said in his 1979 biography "Halas By Halas", "I knew that if trouble came, I'd be running only for the money.  Trafton would be running for his life."

Now, That Is Some Rivalry.  --Cooter