Why Are We Bills Fans?

[End The Drought]

So I have been reading TwoBilsDrive for the better part of the last four years or so and finally decided to join the community myself. I am glad I can share my love for this team with so many others. For my first post I thought it would be fun to see what is everyones reasoning behind following the Buffalo Bills?

 

Personally, I grew up following the Bills because my father was a lifelong fan from NY. I grew up hearing stories about the great 90s teams as well as the greatest comeback of all time against the Oilers. Today, I consider myself a die hard fan of the team. Unfortunately, I was 6 years old the last time the Bills were in the playoffs so I don't really remember it. Most of my Buffalo Bills memories include Drew Bledsoe holding the ball for 10 seconds every play before getting sacked, or thinking that JP Losman was going to be the next great thing after throwing a couple of opening day bombs to Lee Evans. The first Bills game I attended was opening day in 2004 against the Jags. I left the stadium in tears because Ernest Wilford caught a game winning TD against our beloved Bills. The only other game I have been to was the 2007 Sean Taylor game against the Redskins. Joe Gibbs infamously called two timeouts in a row allowing Rian Lindell to kick the game winner for us that day. I have since followed the Bills obsessively each year, hoping that one day I will get to see them in the playoffs and potentially a Super Bowl. FINGERS CROSSED!!

 

How about everyone else?

Edited December 28, 2016 by End The Drought

[What a Tuel]

Unfortunately I was 3-6 years old during the Super Bowl years, and so I hardly remember it. I root for them because they are my team without fail. There is no going back, there is no second guessing, this is the team. I feel bad for my nephew who is in a worse position of history than you or I. Born in 2000, he has never seen the Bills make the playoffs, and yet he is still a fan. It's in our blood.

 

This poem that Marv Levy showed to players comes to mind:

"Fight on, my men,” Sir Andrew Said “A little I’m hurt but not yet slain. I’ll just lie down and bleed a while, And then I’ll rise and Fight again."

 

One day we will make it back.

[Buffalo Barbarian]

Grew up in the area and love football so it was a no brainer. Although lately I feel like I have lost my mind lol

[BaaadThingsMan]

I grew up on the west side of Buffalo watching Bills games on TV with my grandfather(RIP) Some of my earliest memories of the team are the 1980 and 1981 seasons and the '81 playoff loss to the Chargers. Some of the earliest players I remember were Joe Cribbs and Greg Bell at RB, Frank Lewis and Jerry Butler at WR, Jim Haslett, Fred Smerlas and Charles Romes on Defense. The mid 80s were pretty lean but helped the team restock with guys like Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed on Offense and Cornelius Bennett, Bruce Smith and Daryl Talley on Defense not to mention the many others that contributed to the amazing Super Bowl run of the early 90s. I'm a proud fan of the Buffalo Bills and the last 17 years have done nothing to change that. I have new hope with the change in ownership and I billieve that they will right the ship here and get back to winning soon.

[billsfan714]

It is reaching sadist levels. I mean my god, we're 17 years into trying to reach a wildcard berth. I can't imagine being a younger Bills fan and the drought you have endured.

[Buffalo Barbarian]

I grew up on the west side of Buffalo watching Bills games on TV with my grandfather(RIP) Some of my earliest memories of the team are the 1980 and 1981 seasons and the '81 playoff loss to the Chargers. Some of the earliest players I remember were Joe Cribbs and Greg Bell at RB, Frank Lewis and Jerry Butler at WR, Jim Haslett, Fred Smerlas and Charles Romes on Defense. The mid 80s were pretty lean but helped the team restock with guys like Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed on Offense and Cornelius Bennett, Bruce Smith and Daryl Talley on Defense not to mention the many others that contributed to the amazing Super Bowl run of the early 90s. I'm a proud fan of the Buffalo Bills and the last 17 years have done nothing to change that. I have new hope with the change in ownership and I billieve that they will right the ship here and get back to winning soon.

 

the same for me. At least with the 80's we bottomed out and were able to draft Hall of Famers. That is what this team needs is to bottom out. We keep pushing and pushing trying to get in because we are "so close" that we can never get those top picks. the one time we did we drafted Mike Williams

[Buffalo Boy]

My dad used to bug me in the late 70 s to go to a game when I was around 8 yrs old. The year the Steelers won the SB and some of my friends were all jazzed about it and I recognized the excitement they held but didn't understand how the game of Football got them there.

My Dad was a nasty drunk, not physically but I was afraid of him but still looked up to him. I also realized as a kid , going to the game was important to him so I agreed to go to a game.

We took a bus from the Transit Hill drug store run by Paul Scavone and got to the stadium. We sat in the old NN section, upper deck, second row from the edge. The game? MIAMI!!!

First win over them in a decade. Are you freaking kidding me. I was nine or ten at the time and instantly hooked. Between the atmosphere in the stadium that day and my mean, impatient old man taking the time to patiently explain the game to me , Inever looked back.

We went to every home game for the next two years. I missed the Pittsburgh game where we held Bradshaw to 9(!?) yards passing cause I was sick. I also remember watching the San Diego game with Fergy on a bad leg. My first taste of Bills disappointment 🤔

I skipped the Kay Stevenson/ Hank Bullough years though I do remember beating Dallas in one of those 2 win seasons.

I was 16 when Kelly came to town and was absolutely spoiled over the next decade of Bills fandom. Had season tickets in 88 and 91. Was on the field with my best man, Tim , for the tearing down of the GP after the Smerlas FG block Jets game.

This last year I finally reached my breaking point, no Sunday ticket( I live in Charlotte NC) . I've seen so many iterations of this team dysfunctionally sucking that I just couldn't anymore.

Am unwarrentedly optimistic that Whaley and Pegulas will get it right this time and will get the Sunday Ticket next year because, What choice do I have? I'm a lifer as a Bills fan. A nasty, soul draining addiction 👍🏻

Edited December 28, 2016 by Buffalo Boy

[jr1]

I love the team, the behind the scenes gossip, the stories about player families etc

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

At this point, I'm not sure why.

 

So bad. For so long.

[DCbillsfan]

Back in 1969, the Bills had the overall #1 pick and took OJ. My dad bought season tickets shortly after. Going to Bills games with my dad and watching OJ was unbelievable. Seeing 80,000 fans stand every time OJ got the ball and hearing them scream "juice" after a good run was exhilirating and loud. Been hooked ever since. I hope they get their act together. All of you younger fans deserve it after what we've seen lately.

[Punching Bag]

 

the same for me. At least with the 80's we bottomed out and were able to draft Hall of Famers. That is what this team needs is to bottom out. We keep pushing and pushing trying to get in because we are "so close" that we can never get those top picks. the one time we did we drafted Mike Williams

 

The Bills can no longer "bottom out". The pitchforks are so sharpened that any such attempt would result in even more venom and more idiotic attacks on front office, staff and players. Despite claims that the Bills are supported they are NOT compared to teams like the Packers.

[Punching Bag]

I moved to southtowns after my father got remarried when I was 5.

 

Watched it a little before Rich Stadium but when announcement came about Bills moving to Orchard Park my excitement level went up. I was still unable to afford tickets, even nose bleeds, but when I went to my grandmother's on California road I could go down to stadium when it was being built. Watched football when I was not doing things on Sundays but was casual fan.

 

College in 1979 and developed real hatred for Jest fans for University of Buffalo was a hotbed of support for them; many students came from NYC and LonG island and reason why many were there was because it was the furthest University in NY University system so there parents could pay in state rates. Whenever there was a Jest game a large number of them would go to Orchard Park and just bad mouth Bills fans (they would talk about it when they got back) and sometimes would go to non-Jest games to just boo the Bills.

 

Moved to Northern Virginia after college since no work could be found in Buffalo area. Did not have a TV and did not really pay attention to football until late 80s when coworker told me he heard of a new Bills bar near work Greveys. Went there and was hooked. Got married, moved further out and occasionally went back to Greveys until I found out a new bar in Herndon was going to show games. Showed up for first game (I think there were 3 or 4 of us including owner) and DirectTV was out so we listened to game and I returned following week. Went every week I was in town (I discovered at that time cheap flights on People Express to Buffalo and would go to game occasionally). Took a job where I would be on the road a lot and discovered connections to see Bills games all over the country.

 

I would go to Bills home game at least once a year, usually twice, with occasional away game when local (NY to DC) or when I was on road and game was playing there. Even went to some draft events and other things like Pro Hall of Fame inductions.

 

Recently I do not move as well and with weird work schedule I often work Sundays or if I am not working coming off shift making Sunday recovery time so not as many events anymore but I listen to game even when I cannot see it.

[nuklz2594]

gives a reason to drink tequila

[LI_Bills]

Born and raised on Long island, Dad from Chicago, Mom from Boston so no allegiance to Jets/Giants. Jets/Giants had no real superstars (Namath's knees were shot). Bills were the only team from New York with a true superstar (OJ) and thus a lifetime of misery began.

 

Worst part is that I've passed it along to my two boys. Funny line from my youngest who called Rob Ryan Santa Claus for obvious reasons. "It makes sense that they fired Santa Claus...Christmas is over!"

[Perk71]

I chose to be a fan in 1987. Dad's side of the family was from NY. I was born and raised here in CA. I really don't know why I chose to be a fan. Was it the helmets? The fact that family came from there? Not sure. All I know is, this has been a long, draining experience, but wouldn't change it for nothing. It will all be worth it when they finally when a Super Bowl.

[PromoTheRobot]

B.I.L.L.S...Boy I Love Losing Seasons.

[KDIGGZ]

At this point, just because my 92 yr old grandpa is. We had season tickets and he took me all through the super bowl years. The other reason is because I live 15 min from the stadium so it's impossible to escape it. Otherwise I'm close to jumping off the wagon. That's why "nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills"...Because we are all too afraid to jump on!

[ndirish1978]

Because my Dad is a Bills fan and raised me as one. Unfortunately once I pick a team I don't switch off my fandom just because they stink. I expect it's a similar story for most fans who don't live in Buffalo.

[LI_Bills]

Because my Dad is a Bills fan and raised me as one. Unfortunately once I pick a team I don't switch off my fandom just because they stink. I expect it's a similar story for most fans who don't live in Buffalo.

 

Funny. The other part of my story is when I was young for some unknown reason I became a fan of the Super Bowl winner every year until my father set me straight.

[mob16151]

Were all secretly masochistic?

[Marv's Neighbor]

Born & raised in BUF. Have not lived in WNY since 1970. Have lived in a string of NFL cities including; Washington, Chicago, Huston & Seattle. Lived in Seattle the longest 86-03.

 

Being a "fan" of any other team is just not the same. I look at it as one of the crosses that I must bear, and it seemed a little heavier this year.

[AtlantaStampede]

I love being angry and screaming, especially on Sundays, so for me it's just a perfect fit being a Bills fan.

 

I grew up in the area. Saw all the great teams of the late 80's and early 90's play. Moved to Atlanta in 97, but still love the team. Now my sons are huge Bills fans too.

[dwight in philly]

Born and raised in south buffalo, attended my first bills game in 1960 with my father.. im old and lived thru it all.. part of my DNA.

[KollegeStudnet]

Grew up in the area. Had season tickets from 3 to 21 years old.

 

Live in Utah since I was 22 raising my daughter. Spend several thousand a year to watch away games on the West coast and try to hit up as many Bills bars on this side. Wish there was a Bills Backers bar in Utah. Sadly, it folded a decade ago.

[BuffaloHokie13]

Being a Bills fan has made me incredibly patient and it has taught me to always temper my expectations. I truly appreciate the life lessons my fandom has given me.

[DC Greg]

Obviously it's something you're born into and those who remain are true loyalists. It's just who we are. No one would choose this existence.

[ndirish1978]

Obviously it's something you're born into and those who remain are true loyalists. It's just who we are. No one would choose this existence.

 

True. I think this is worth everyone remembering. We may not agree on a lot of things, but we are all tied together by this common experience. There are really no fair-weather Bills fans, we should probably try and be nicer to each other. I guess I'll try and do that myself.

Edited December 28, 2016 by ndirish1978

[tuckan]

The Bills are not a football team. They are a member of the family. Simple as that.

[texasjute]

Born and raised in the southern Adirondacks. A genuine mix of Bills/Giants/Jets/Pats fans -- each stadium is about an equal distance from where I grew up (NYC slightly closer, but not much). Got into football in elementary school and started digging the bills with Joe Cribbs, Joe Ferguson, Frank Lewis, Jerry Butler, etc.. Was really into football cards and had a couple of sweet "Action" shot cards of Cribbs and Lewis that I loved. Went to a Bills/Pats game in Foxboro early in Kelly's career where he led a comeback and you could see that this could be something special. My dad always rooted for the Bills, and he and I got into it together. Watched them get better in the late 80's and will never forget the euphoria of 51-3.

 

College in Rochester during the SB years. Went to a bunch of games in Buffalo, including a Monday nighter against Washington and the playoff game against the LA Raiders that was the coldest game in Bills history. Will never forget either of those. Have been back a couple of times with my kids, parked in Hammer's, and gone to away games in various places (Houston, Dallas, Jacksonville)

 

Couldn't ever let them go, even if (heaven help us) they go 34 years with no playoffs. They are the team, and I root as much for the city, the area, and its people. When you remove the really obnoxious drunk twentysomethings, I truly believe Bills fans to be among the best people anywhere.

[Samwell Tarly]

Grew up in western NY, got interested in football in about 86, which lined up perfectly with the Bills' rise to power. Lived and died every year with the super bowl run, then again during the Flutie run. Since then it's been hard to maintain the same enthusiasm as they have defied the odds finding new ways to miss the playoffs, but have never given up on them. Humor helps, I just don't let their failure ruin my Sunday. I'll still watch, remember that at the end of the day it's entertainment, not life and death. There are greater tragedies in the world. That being said, I enjoy discussing the Bills with everyone here and hope that it turns around at some point. It will happen, even if by blind luck. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

[The Wiz]

Went to my grandparents house every sunday for family dinner. Started at noon with the pregame/dinner prep and watched the game until it was over. Didn't matter if the food was done or not by the end of the game. No one ate until the game was over.

 

Family with about 20ish people there every week.

Edited December 30, 2016 by The Wiz

[mead107]

I am from the Saratoga area. Most of my friends followed the Giants and a few the jets in middle school. I wanted to be different I picked the Bills.

Love it when they win

Don't like it when they don't. Makes for a long ride home.

I will love them till I die.

 

GO BILLS

[KD in CA]

Same as everyone else: to distract me from the drudgery of my empty and meaningless life.

[hondo in seattle]

Personally, for me it's all about self loathing. I don't deserve to be a fan of a winning organization. So I picked the most god-forsaken football team I could find.

 

Actually, I grew up in Cheektowaga. I was a fan since I was 10 just because all the kids I grew up with were all Bills fans. My fandom actually increased when I left WNY - maybe because it was a way to stay connected with my hometown.

 

I've lived in/near a lot of cities with better teams but have never considered jumping ship. It's really not possible. It's not in my DNA to be disloyal.

 

As I type this, I'm wearing a blue sweatshirt with red and white lettering saying "Just One Before I Die." My Seattle friends don't get it but any Bills fan would understand & empathize immediately.

[The Crowing Rooster]

I sometimes wonder why because I can remember some very bad teams from 70s and mid 80s. Watching O.J. is when I became a fan I was around 5 or 6 at the time and have been a fan ever since. I guess you have to take the bad with good.

[Chandler#81]

I go ALL THE WAY BACK to the teams' inception and the advent of the American Football League. Try to catch the History of the AFL - a 5 part series from NFL Films. It was thrilling to watch another brand of football than the staid, mud drenched slugfests from the NFL. The AFL players were fantastic! Dawson, Bambi, Namath, Blanda, Branch, Hadl, The Bills had the League's best team for a 3 year stretch and featured great players as well with Sestak, McDole, Cookie, Gogolak, Kemp & Lamonica. Being raised in WNY, it was woven into the fabric of the community and games at the Rockpile remain some of my favorite memories.

 

Unfortunately, I passed down my love of them and now my grown children are life long fans -as is my granddaughter. They HATE me because of it...

[TakeYouToTasker]

Were all secretly masochistic?

Worst kept secret ever.

[xsoldier54]

So I have been reading TwoBilsDrive for the better part of the last four years or so and finally decided to join the community myself. I am glad I can share my love for this team with so many others. For my first post I thought it would be fun to see what is everyones reasoning behind following the Buffalo Bills?

 

Personally, I grew up following the Bills because my father was a lifelong fan from NY. I grew up hearing stories about the great 90s teams as well as the greatest comeback of all time against the Oilers. Today, I consider myself a die hard fan of the team. Unfortunately, I was 6 years old the last time the Bills were in the playoffs so I don't really remember it. Most of my Buffalo Bills memories include Drew Bledsoe holding the ball for 10 seconds every play before getting sacked, or thinking that JP Losman was going to be the next great thing after throwing a couple of opening day bombs to Lee Evans. The first Bills game I attended was opening day in 2004 against the Jags. I left the stadium in tears because Ernest Wilford caught a game winning TD against our beloved Bills. The only other game I have been to was the 2007 Sean Taylor game against the Redskins. Joe Gibbs infamously called two timeouts in a row allowing Rian Lindell to kick the game winner for us that day. I have since followed the Bills obsessively each year, hoping that one day I will get to see them in the playoffs and potentially a Super Bowl. FINGERS CROSSED!!

 

How about everyone else?

I have been a fan since day one. I remember having a poster of that first team. I remember the AFL championship years, the down years in the '70's and the Super Bowl years. They will always be my team. Very disappointed in them right now, but I will never give up my allegiance to this team.

[chris heff]

My father had season tickets from the start. He and my brother went to first game at the Old Rockpile. Don't think I really became a fan until 1963. I remember going to an after game buffet at the Lord Amherst. It was invitation only and attended by players. I had a white football ball (old AFL) got a lot of autographs from now legendary Bills. Played with it so much I wore off the autographs.

 

One of mr brother's friends was Pat McGroder Jr. They went to St. Joe's together. McGroder Sr. had a Lincoln with Bills logo on the door. The Bills have always been such a small town team. When someone says it is more like a college team than NFL it isn't just lip service, it is true. It is part of the charm. Can't wait until next year, go Bills.

[Jkgobills]

Born into it, dad was from West Seneca, mom from Cheektowaga, and raised in Rochester in the 1970's, 80's and 90's where I lived until finishing graduate school in 1997. Left the area, but the Bills never left me.

 

When the rumor mill was turning regarding the Bills leaving Buffalo a few years ago, I came to the conclusion that if the franchise left WNY, I could end my time as a fan. They stayed, and I stayed a fan.