Johnny Hammersticks Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 When/where was your first Bills game (home or away)? While I started loving the Bills and watched all the games on TV at a much younger age, my first game was 12/10/89 at Rich Stadium against the Saints. I was 10 years old. I remember not being able to sleep at all the night before, as I was so excited and anxious. I went with my Father and my Uncle who shared a block of 4 season tickets. My most vivid memory of the game was when we first walked out to our seats. It was amazing to look down at the field and see the REAL Buffalo Bills warming up on the field. It was surreal. My Father still describes the look on my face at that moment as one of the happiest moments of his life. It was cold and snowing hard that day, and the crowd was relatively sparse, but we were prepared with the proper clothing, hand warmers, and plenty of hot chocolate (beers for the grown ups to stay "warm"). I remember Marlboro was running a promotion that day, and as we walked in I was handed a plastic bag which contained a winter hat, a scarf, and a mini pack of cigarettes (imagine that). We lost a close game 22-19 to the saints, but James Lofton caught a 40 yard TD bomb from Jim Kelly, and Pete Metzellars caught a TD pass in the 3rd quarter to keep it close. My Father kept his seasons until I was in graduate school and his health began to decline. I went to at least 2-3 home games every year from 1990-2006. I thought it would be interesting to hear others' experiences of their first game...especially the "old timers" who got to see their first game at The Rockpile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JÂy RÛßeÒ Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 November 1970, loss to the Bengals at the Rockpile. OJ ripped up a knee on a kickoff return and the Bills pretty much gave it up after that. Our seats were right behind the Bills bench and they brought OJ off right in front of us. Still have the pennant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199710260buf.htm OT Loss to Denver: 10/26/1997 It was cold, rainy and miserable. My buddy (Broncos fan) and I were TOTALLY unprepared. No rain gear. By the time we got into the game, we were soaked through and freezing. But it still goes down as one of the greatest "firsts" of my life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PastaJoe Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 The opening of Rich Stadium 1973; preseason game, Washington's Herb Mul-Key ran the opening kickoff back for TD. Sat in last row up top. Traffic was still backed up going into the 3rd quarter. Still have the commemorative coin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big Cat Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 November 26, 1995 I was 11. Pats* scored 22 unanswered fourth quarter points to win by 10. The box score is FUGLY: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199511260buf.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Jim Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Not sure the year. Maybe '73 or '74. Bills vs. Jets. Terrible weather rained buckets. We watched the second half from a local bar. At least I got to see OJ and Joe Namath play. Oh and I got to go because my mother fall and broke her arm "dancing" the night before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOBILLS78 Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199011110buf.htm I was 9 years old. So cold. So windy. So awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buftex Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 The opening of Rich Stadium 1973; preseason game, Washington's Herb Mul-Key ran the opening kickoff back for TD. Sat in last row up top. Traffic was still backed up going into the 3rd quarter. Still have the commemorative coin. My first game too! Still have the coin, and my ticket stub! I had a blast...I was 8 at the time, too young to really know the difference between a pre-season game and a regular season game... the only downer for me was that OJ did not play! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 The first season I can recall specific memories from was '76 (I was seven), but the first regular season home game I attended wasn't until September 23, 1979 -- Jerry Butler's breakout game. Most fun I had ever had in my life up to that point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotAGuy Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 November 1970, loss to the Bengals at the Rockpile. OJ ripped up a knee on a kickoff return and the Bills pretty much gave it up after that. Our seats were right behind the Bills bench and they brought OJ off right in front of us. Still have the pennant. This wasn't my first game, but I was there too; I was 11 at the time. I think the tickets were $7. We had them pinned on the bulletin board for weeks. The morning of the game, my Dad was having chest pains and took me for a walk to tell me he couldn't go to the game. So my mother and sister took me. It was horrible - drunk college kids spilled wine on our blanket and burned cigarette holes in it. OJ goes down with a knee injury, right below us. All in all, a miserable day in my young life. My first game was the 48-6 thrashing by the Raiders in 1968. Another bummer. How i remained a Bills fan after those two experiences, I'll never know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CountryCletus Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 First home game was the Monday night game, October 2007 against the cowboys.... Pretty sure we all remember how that went down... Got season tickets the following year, had them ever since... First away game was pittsburgh 2 years ago... Since then mrs Cletus and I hit an away fame every year... Last year Chicago, this year philly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 (edited) The first season I can recall specific memories from was '76 (I was seven), but the first regular season home game I attended wasn't until September 23, 1979 -- Jerry Butler's breakout game. Most fun I had ever had in my life up to that point. Dude, i remember that game like it was yesterday. The Butler score at the end of the 2nd was on the "Big Ben" play...have no idea why they called it that instead of Hail Mary. It was the first year two offensive players could touch the ball in a succession. I don't remember the opponent my first game..i think it was the OIlers. At the Rockpile, cold, loved seeing people beat the crap out of each other to get the basll after kicks...no nets behind the goalposts Edited April 7, 2015 by plenzmd1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I was 6. The Bills first win over an NFL team. I think my 2nd game was the next preseason - Johnny Unitas and the Colts there for OJ's first game in a Bills uniform........I think the first regular season game was in '69 vs. Jets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Hammersticks Posted April 7, 2015 Author Share Posted April 7, 2015 I was 6. The Bills first win over an NFL team. I think my 2nd game was the next preseason - Johnny Unitas and the Colts there for OJ's first game in a Bills uniform........I think the first regular season game was in '69 vs. Jets That's a pretty impressive Bills fan "resume." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 That's a pretty impressive Bills fan "resume." Thanks. It was great growing up with my Dad - he coached 3 sports in high school, and we went to so many games - high school, college and pro. (Saw Lanier, Murphy and Randy Smith play for Bona, Niagara, and Buff State during the end of the Little Three hey day) I was talking with my friends a few years ago about what athletes we've seen live - in addition to seeing Lebron, Jordan, Bird, Dr. J and everybody they saw in the NFL and NHL, I said "I saw Johnny Unitas, Willie Mays and Wilt Chamberlain." They just said Whoa!.............Even though we're the same age, my Dad got me started young! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBill Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I don't remember the game just the experience which was awesome. I was 10 years old and my grandfather took me to the game. I was hooked after that. My most memorable game was the Oakland playoff blowout. I went with my dad to that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 (edited) My first game was a preseason game against the Rams. My first real game was a game where we killed Miami, I think JP was still there. My dad wouldn't let me go till I was sixteen because of how rowdy/drunk the crowds were. Except for the kids day. Edited April 7, 2015 by The Real Buffalo Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I wonder how many people don't have a clue what their first game was. I know I'm one of them. My aunt had season tickets and the extra seat would rotate around my two brothers and me. My first game would had to have been right before the superbowl years. I also couldn't tell you my first Sabres or Bisons game. For whatever reason, those details have never stuck out to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 (edited) I wonder how many people don't have a clue what their first game was. I know I'm one of them. My aunt had season tickets and the extra seat would rotate around my two brothers and me. My first game would had to have been right before the superbowl years. I also couldn't tell you my first Sabres or Bisons game. For whatever reason, those details have never stuck out to me. My first Bisons game went 13 innings. I had no idea what that meant, but my dad refused to leave. Lol. I thought I remembered my first Sabres game, but that was just an alumni game. Edited April 7, 2015 by The Real Buffalo Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 My first Bisons game went 13 innings. I had no idea what that meant, but my dad refused to leave. Lol. I thought I remembered my first Sabres game, but that was just an alumni game. Relevance = zero Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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