Now for the hard part

Hiring the coach was easy. Now comes the more difficult task for the leadership of the Green Bay Packers, who face the challenge of selling the public on plans to ask for their hard earned cash to help with the updating of facilities.

After a season in which the team faltered on the field and winning was reduced to a part-time happening, the fans reacted angrily. It was a reaction that resonated all the way to 1265 Lombardi Avenue and got the attention of general manager Ron Wolf, who wasted no time in firing the coach and hiring a new one. With Mike Sherman now in place as the head coach, the Packer administration can look beyond personnel toward another new beginning - a new or renovated facility.

For months, team president Bob Harlan has been working with developers to come up with a plan which would either bring about renovation of the existing stadium or call for the building of a new one. He realized that either scenario would require public funding to cover part of the cost of improving facilities, but having to ask an irritated fan base for money when the team wasn't winning would have been impossible, thus the need to take care of the on-field business first.

That done, the job of selling a plan comes next and it appears the Packers are moving in the right direction. Recent polls indicated fans were more interested in renovating historic Lambeau Field than building a new stadium outside the city. However, those same polls also indicated state residents, by more than 60 percent, weren't interested in providing their hard earned cash to help the team reach their goals.

It appears that the Packer leaders have read those polls and are poised to make their move. But it won't be easy convincing taxpayers their money would be well spent on any kind of project. Comparing their situation to a third and long predicament, Harlan has said over and over that if the team doesn't improve its revenue stream, it will soon find itself dwelling in the basement of the league, in both the standings and in finances

He has continually pointed out that every team in the league will either be in new or improved facilities by the year 2003 and if the Packers don't take action now, it may be too late.

Although plans are not final, Harlan has indicated the best option will be to improve the existing facilities, a decision which should weigh favorably with fans and residents. Not only will it cost less to renovate, but it will appease the fan base which see Lambeau Field and the team itself as the cornerstone of the league.

Renovations would include adding between 5,000 - 6,000 new seats, rebuilding the luxury boxes, adding a stadium club, widening and expanding the con course, and adding and improving the concession stands and restrooms.

Harlan must convince the Packer board of directors of the renovation plan, which isn't a lock. However, he feels confident the board will accept it before next Tues day, January 25, the day when Harlan would like to present the plan to the state legislature when their session convenes.

In addition to asking the state legislature to consider some type of public fund ing for the project, the team is also looking at using money raised from a stock sale last year, proceeds from the sale of special license plates, a one-time user fee on season ticket holders, and a loan from the NFL to help pay for the project expected to cost anywhere from $200 million to $400 million.

Should the picture fall into place as Harlan sees it, the team will position itself for the new millennium and secure a place in the league for years to come. Without public support, he believes the team could become a recent memory.

So, faced with that third down play, it appears that Harlan and the Packers are ready to approach the line of scrimmage. Whether the play they've called is success ful will become evident with the snap of the ball.

Hut, hut, hut...