LabattBlue Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 Does anyone with a better memory than me recall the games where the fans stormed the field after a game at Rich/RWS? I'm not talking about games with the isolated handful of fans. Instead I'm referring to the games where fans swarmed onto the field as the final gun sounded. I was at the 1980 game against Miami, but other than that I'm sure there were at least a couple others. Maybe during the 1st SB season? Thx! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarkLessWagMore Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 In 1988 against the Jets when we cliched the division. I believe we won in OT 6-3. Fred Smerlas blocked a FG attempt and then we won it. That is where the famous photo of the fans storming the field on the "Fandemonium" poster came from. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 (edited) Beat Miami in 1990: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-24-sp-5212-story.html Jets in 1988 September 1980 (snapped 27 game losing streak vs. Miami) https://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/the-day-they-got-the-buffalo-bills-goalposts/article_4e9d9af7-b883-5de1-80ee-36c7400ee976.html Edited September 5, 2019 by Lurker 4 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marv Levy Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 1 minute ago, BarkLessWagMore said: In 1988 against the Jets when we cliched the division. I believe we won in OT 6-3. Fred Smerlas blocked a FG attempt and then we won it. That is where the famous photo of the fans storming the field on the "Fandemonium" poster came from. 100% Correct. My dad and I were going crazy when Smerlas made that block. Bills ended up losing to The Bengals in the AFC Championship game. That damn "Icky Shuffle" dance killed us. But The 49ers beat them in the Superbowl 20-16. Jerry Rice was a god in that game, hence the MVP. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRHater69 Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 Fred Smerlas blocking that kick was a real turning point for me as a long time fan. We went nuts watching that on TV. I just knew we were going to win that game after that and it springboarded us onto years of success even though we didn't win the big one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RochesterLifer Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 I believe (if I have my dates correct) we also stormed the field and tore down both goalposts in December of 1990 after defeating Miami. The key was that the win clinched home field advantage through the playoffs. I (both shamefully and proudly) had my hands on both goalposts as they came down. The fans remaining in the stands then passed one set of goalposts up to the owners box a a "gift" to Ralph Wilson. The network carrying the national late game periodically cut back to the stadium to track the progress of the goal post's journey. My single happiest day as a Bills fan. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papazoid Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 12 minutes ago, Lurker said: Beat Miami in 1990: Jets in 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-21-sp-374-story.html i was at that game.....part of the goal post upright , was carried up the lower bowl steps and tossed over the side.....thought for sure someone was gonna get killed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 3 minutes ago, papazoid said: i was at that game.....part of the goal post upright , was carried up the lower bowl steps and tossed over the side.....thought for sure someone was gonna get killed. I remember that well, and thought the same thing--look out below! Crazy how people brought hacksaws to the game (times sure have changed ) Do you remember when they put a ring of police around the field to keep fans from doing it again a few years later. Funny stuff... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Caveman Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 24 minutes ago, BarkLessWagMore said: In 1988 against the Jets when we cliched the division. I believe we won in OT 6-3. Fred Smerlas blocked a FG attempt and then we won it. That is where the famous photo of the fans storming the field on the "Fandemonium" poster came from. This was my first game attending in person. I came in a Jets fan (born in NYC) and left a Bills fan. My dad took me and my uncle, although if I remember correctly we left my uncle behind in the commotion. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigK14094 Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 16 minutes ago, RochesterLifer said: I believe (if I have my dates correct) we also stormed the field and tore down both goalposts in December of 1990 after defeating Miami. The key was that the win clinched home field advantage through the playoffs. I (both shamefully and proudly) had my hands on both goalposts as they came down. The fans remaining in the stands then passed one set of goalposts up to the owners box a a "gift" to Ralph Wilson. The network carrying the national late game periodically cut back to the stadium to track the progress of the goal post's journey. My single happiest day as a Bills fan. Yes, I was in the stands in front of Mr Wilson's box, and, one of the goal posts did make its way up to him. He grastiously accepted the gift. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RochesterLifer Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 13 minutes ago, papazoid said: i was at that game.....part of the goal post upright , was carried up the lower bowl steps and tossed over the side.....thought for sure someone was gonna get killed. What I remember most about that scene was when I jumped down (no small jump!) on to the field and ended up next to Dan Marino. My first thought was, "Holy crap, he's huge!". Then, I ran like hell out onto the field. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned Flanders Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 37 minutes ago, Lurker said: Beat Miami in 1990: Paul MaGuire: "I think the fans are going to beat up the horses!" Classic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 What kind of punkazz, snot nosed whippersnapper thread is this?!? What? Rockpile doesn’t mean anything to you? You weren’t even a gleam in your Daddy’s eye? This is Age Discrimination in its ugliest form! Did the Bills NOT play 2 -TWO!! title games within the glorious confines of War Memorial Stadium? Did we who attended NOT rush the field with the thrill of CHAMPIONS!! Finally beating a Division foe who beat the hell out of us for 20 straight games? Pfffft! Yeah, THATs something to cheer about!..? An OT FG for a Division title with 4 games left to play in the regular season? Oh Joy!! Rapture!! Pffffffffffft... Overcoming an early deficit against the highly favored best team to win a WORLDS CHAMPIONSHIP before our very eyes?? Now THAT rates carrying our QB off on our shoulders into football immortality! Punks!? 6 4 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevewin Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 50 minutes ago, papazoid said: i was at that game.....part of the goal post upright , was carried up the lower bowl steps and tossed over the side.....thought for sure someone was gonna get killed. I was going to say the exact same thing - I remember the piece being passed up to the owners box - then when they tossed the other piece over the side I was like holy crap someone's going to get killed. That video is awesome though - really captures the excitement that day. Kudos to that dude in the yellow too who single-handedly got up on the GP then over on the side to jump up and down to start the process of bringing it down. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thronethinker Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 I was at the 1990 game against the Dolphins. My first game ever attended. I was 12 years old. That whole week leading up to the game was full of tension. Miami clobbered Buffalo the first game, Kelly was out injured, the weather held out just long enough for the game, etc. The whole field was surrounded with security at the end of the game, but it wasn’t enough to keep the fans off the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marv's Neighbor Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 This could all happen again IF they keep jacking the price of beer up! 24 minutes ago, stevewin said: I was going to say the exact same thing - I remember the piece being passed up to the owners box - then when they tossed the other piece over the side I was like holy crap someone's going to get killed. That video is awesome though - really captures the excitement that day. Kudos to that dude in the yellow too who single-handedly got up on the GP then over on the side to jump up and down to start the process of bringing it down. Nobody got killed but they did come real close to the kid "watching my car." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucci Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 1 hour ago, BarkLessWagMore said: In 1988 against the Jets when we cliched the division. I believe we won in OT 6-3. Fred Smerlas blocked a FG attempt and then we won it. That is where the famous photo of the fans storming the field on the "Fandemonium" poster came from. I was one of the drunken idiots on the field Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFreeman22 Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 1980 opening day after they stopped the Dolphins streak. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Romes Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 The Comeback! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob71 Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 2 hours ago, Marv Levy said: 100% Correct. My dad and I were going crazy when Smerlas made that block. Bills ended up losing to The Bengals in the AFC Championship game. That damn "Icky Shuffle" dance killed us. But The 49ers beat them in the Superbowl 20-16. Jerry Rice was a god in that game, hence the MVP. My Dad also took me to this game! Great memory and the point when I became a bills fan for life. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 Some great pics from the 1990 game: https://www.democratandchronicle.com/media/cinematic/gallery/15292363/ 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDawkinstein Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 I was 9 years old at that Jets game in 1988 with my dad. As the game ended and the fans stormed the field I asked him if we could go down and just "get close". He agreed, and I tore down the steps toward the sidelines. I got down to the wall ahead of my dad, but it was a HUGE drop for a kid to make on his own. So my dad thought Id be stuck waiting there for him to catch up. NOPE! A couple of friendly, helpful (and drunk) adults grabbed me and safely passed me over the wall and down onto the field, because obviously a small child should be passed down into that sea of madness. My dad sure moved quick down the rest of those stairs and over the wall to catch up with me. Great times! Great memories! 4 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RochesterLifer Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 3 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said: I was 9 years old at that Jets game in 1988 with my dad. As the game ended and the fans stormed the field I asked him if we could go down and just "get close". He agreed, and I tore down the steps toward the sidelines. I got down to the wall ahead of my dad, but it was a HUGE drop for a kid to make on his own. So my dad thought Id be stuck waiting there for him to catch up. NOPE! A couple of friendly, helpful (and drunk) adults grabbed me and safely passed me over the wall and down onto the field, because obviously a small child should be passed down into that sea of madness. My dad sure moved quick down the rest of those stairs and over the wall to catch up with me. Great times! Great memories! An epic "Dad Story" where Mom would neither understand, nor approve. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDawkinstein Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 1 minute ago, RochesterLifer said: An epic "Dad Story" where Mom would neither understand, nor approve. Barely divorced a year, she definitely DID NOT APPROVE ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 (edited) 43 minutes ago, Charles Romes said: The Comeback! Nope. It was Fan-demonium, but no goal posts were harmed in the making of that memory... 4 minutes ago, RochesterLifer said: An epic "Dad Story" where Mom would neither understand, nor approve. Shush! Mom probably never heard that part.... Edited September 5, 2019 by Lurker 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wacka Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 2 hours ago, RochesterLifer said: I believe (if I have my dates correct) we also stormed the field and tore down both goalposts in December of 1990 after defeating Miami. The key was that the win clinched home field advantage through the playoffs. I (both shamefully and proudly) had my hands on both goalposts as they came down. The fans remaining in the stands then passed one set of goalposts up to the owners box a a "gift" to Ralph Wilson. The network carrying the national late game periodically cut back to the stadium to track the progress of the goal post's journey. My single happiest day as a Bills fan. One of the uprights cane up our section (was on the goal line press box side) before it was tossed over. We got to help pass it up including my mother who was 65 at the time (she just turned 93 las Sunday). She's anxiously awaiting Sunday's game. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clearwater cadet Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 55 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said: I was 9 years old at that Jets game in 1988 with my dad. As the game ended and the fans stormed the field I asked him if we could go down and just "get close". He agreed, and I tore down the steps toward the sidelines. I got down to the wall ahead of my dad, but it was a HUGE drop for a kid to make on his own. So my dad thought Id be stuck waiting there for him to catch up. NOPE! A couple of friendly, helpful (and drunk) adults grabbed me and safely passed me over the wall and down onto the field, because obviously a small child should be passed down into that sea of madness. My dad sure moved quick down the rest of those stairs and over the wall to catch up with me. Great times! Great memories! Same happened to me, it was great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clearwater cadet Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 One thing I remember with that game is that (after the block I think). The bills got the ball back, Kelly thru a bomb to Reed. Reed got behind the double coverage, and the ball just slipped thru his hands just before the goal line. If he would have caught that and scored the place would have went totally nuts. The fans would have torn down the upper decks at that point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned Flanders Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 1 hour ago, clearwater cadet said: One thing I remember with that game is that (after the block I think). The bills got the ball back, Kelly thru a bomb to Reed. Reed got behind the double coverage, and the ball just slipped thru his hands just before the goal line. If he would have caught that and scored the place would have went totally nuts. The fans would have torn down the upper decks at that point. I thought of that play as well. Buffalo's Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy called the game for NBC and while the ball was in the air, Trumpy yelled out "REED!!!" and you're right, he almost came up with it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xwnyer Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 3 hours ago, SteveFreeman22 said: 1980 opening day after they stopped the Dolphins streak. Twice that season Opening day and winning game at end of season against the LA Rams in a sleet and rain storm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaBillsFanSince1973 Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 (edited) has to be when they beat the fins in 1980. sure there were other times but that game stands out the most to me. Buffalo Bills ended longest losing streak in NFL history vs. Miami On September 7, 1980 we finally beat the Miami Dolphins and snapped the longest losing streak (team vs team) in NFL history. Fans stormed the field and tore down the goalposts, not to celebrate a championship, but a 1-0 record. Ralph Wilson was overjoyed in the aftermath as well. "It’s the biggest win this club’s ever had," he commented. "Bigger than the AFL championships. I’ll be happy to buy new goal posts." Rookie running back Joe Cribbs rushed for 60 yards and the winning touchdown, and also had 9 catches for 71 yards. Fullback Roosevelt Leaks had the Bills’ other trip to paydirt, a four-yard TD reception from QB Joe Ferguson, who had lost to the Dolphins 14 straight times to start his career. Edited September 6, 2019 by DaBillsFanSince1973 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadonkadonk Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 I was there in 1988 with my brother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBrownBear Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 I was at the Jets game as a 9 year old in '88. Great moment that I will never ever forget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Romes Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 9 hours ago, Lurker said: Nope. It was Fan-demonium, but no goal posts were harmed in the making of that memory... Correct, no posts came down in the comeback but this thread is about storming the field not taking down the posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned Flanders Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 15 hours ago, Xwnyer said: Twice that season Opening day and winning game at end of season against the LA Rams in a sleet and rain storm. I was at the Rams game and don't recall fans on the field afterwards...some Bills came out of the locker room back to the field to dance with some Jills but that was about it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
folz Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 I was on the field celebrating after beating the Jets in 1988 to clinch the AFC East (for the first time in so many years) and I was one of the crazy fans who carried part of the goalpost up to Ralph's box after the Dolphins game in 1990. ???Great memories! I also remember the win ending the streak against the Dolphins in 1980, but I wasn't at the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4_kidd_4 Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 I have a piece of the FG net from that 1980 Miami game, courtesy of my dad and his drunken work buddies. Obtained totally legally I’m sure 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4merper4mer Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 Week 4 2019 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giving' em the Business Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 We should have stormed the field after we beat the Pats at home in 2011 after being down by two touchdowns. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Playoffs? Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 Was at the Miami game in 90. Have a piece of the goal post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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