billsfan89 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I starting being a Bills fan in 2001 as I was just starting to really get into the NFL and the Bills were a bad team I felt was an underdog and I could get into without being a "bandwagon" fan. Little did I know I was in for a lot of suffering. The TD era from 2002-2005 was a lot of up and down. Some quality free agent adds but poor drafting led to some up and down seasons where they were far too capped out to add the 2-3 pieces of talent they needed to get into the playoffs. But I felt like they could rebuild and compete in the near future after the wheels came off in 2005. Then came the Jauron era which was poor free agency and poor drafting combined with cheap ownership (sorry Ralph the team wouldn't exist without you but he did not invest in the team.) Boneheaded decisions mixed with self imposed handicaps. That was another 4 years down the drain with a mediocre coach and a mediocre team. Then came the Chan era and I was honestly bottomed out at that point. The Bills had spent 4 years with a tired retread in Jauron and they hired another third tier retreat in Chan. And although I liked what Chan did with the offense it was just an era where you knew they weren't building to anything more than mediocrity with a cheap owner and a uninspiring coaching staff. But I stuck with my beloved Bills and then came the ups and downs of the Marrone and Rex eras where the ups and downs continued. They had talent but were never well coached and always had to cap themselves out to get into a position to be competitive but couldn't draft consistently to build up their talent base in a somewhat sustainable manner. But Pegula kept investing in the team and finally found someone that was going to rebuild the team the right way while also having the off the field investments. McD surprised and surpassed my expectations in 2017 making the playoffs and ending the drought. Finally lifting that dark cloud from the franchise. But they continued their rebuild in 2018 taking a step back to build a long term winner. Finally in 2019 they do what we all wanted them to do and rebuilt the O-line, they added a lot of skill position players around a young QB (giving a QB a chance) they added and retained their defensive talent which was already good. And now you have a 10 win team that has 2 games left to play and a chance at their division. I know nothing is guaranteed but it just feels good to be a Bills fan for once. I never got to enjoy the success of the 1990's (either the Super Bowl runs of the beginning of the decade or the solid competitive teams of the late 90's.) I know a lot of fans that came into watching the team post 2000 probably feel the same way as me. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 When Josh threw the TD pass to Kroft, I jumped off the couch and yelled "MY FAITH HAS BEEN REWARDED!" So yeah, I'm glad I stuck with it. There was a point in Tuhrod's second season where I briefly considered jumping ship. But I'm glad I held out. 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenorthremembers Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I am beyond happy about the season but not being a Bills fan was never an option. 10 1 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0017 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I’m happiest for my 10 year old son who lives and dies with every win or loss, he’s been a bills fan since he was born but really got into the games at about 6 years old and he cried a lot back then. I even had friends saying they were going to report me to CPS for making him a bills fan? But now it’s all paying off and he can’t contain his happiness, we live in Northern California and there is a lot of niner fans around, but he wears all his bills gear to school everyday (has a bills lunchbox!) now he wears it with pride! It’s really freaking awesome!!!!! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtimebillsfan Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 My first memories of the Bills go back to the 1963 season. I have been around a long time, and never even considered not being a Bills fan. During the 21st century it has been so difficult to accept the consistently bad teams that this organization has put on the field. New ownership, new gm, new coach...It is great to be a Bills fan again. We are relevant! 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo716 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 As a Buffalonian I could never bail on my buffalo bills 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFanSD Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I've been a fan since the late 80s, when I was in high school. Admittedly, I had a few "Why am I doing this to myself?" moments during the drought, but bailing out completely was never really an option for me. I did make a decision to boycott Bills merch after they brought back Dick Jauron after the 2008 season, but that was the closest I ever came to turning my back on the team. Strangely, it was almost worth going through the drought to fully savor what we have now. I literally cried in 2017 when the clock hit zero in the Cincinnati-Baltimore game and we ended the drought. I absolutely love the team that Beane and McDermott have built. Part of me wonders whether fans of regularly-successful teams like Pittsburgh (for example) really appreciate any of this sort of thing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickelCity Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Not being a fan never crossed my mind. But it was not enjoyable for awhile. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H2o Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I don't understand how people change teams, unless you're a kid. Their minds are all over the place. But once you get to be about 13 or 14, it's almost blasphemous imo. I have players that I have liked on other teams and rooted for the individual, but the Bills have and always will be my team whether winning, losing, or perpetually 7-9. The lows of fandom in any sport make you relish the high's. I can't wait to watch all of the Pats fans jump ship once their years of suck ensue and the stadium begins to be half empty. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klos63 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Never considered not being a fan of the team. I lived through some pretty crappy years in the 70's and 80's. I'm used to this. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewEra Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Breathing and a bills fan for 45 years. I feel like it’s part of me. Never really a choice. Not something I can “quit”. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMF2006 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 My low point was when they hired Wrex. I called my ticket rep and tried to cancel right then he wouldn't let me so I cancelled the next year. He said are you out of your mind besides losing your seniority Wrex is just what this team needs. I laughed and said when he gets fired after 2 or three years I will be back. I just knew McD and Beane were the right guys at the right time and from the depths of despair rose renewed hope That POS Wrex cost me 15yrs of seniority 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nextmanup Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 (edited) You started in 2001? Not sure that qualifies as long suffering! My fandom goes back to the 1970s, but no, I don't feel great about sticking with the team! That suggests switching teams or abandoning the Bills was some type of option, and I have never thought of it that way, nor could I. I'm a Bills fan until I'm dead, in good times and bad. Edited December 16, 2019 by Nextmanup 1 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted December 16, 2019 Author Share Posted December 16, 2019 (edited) 1 minute ago, Nextmanup said: You started in 2001? Not sure that qualifies as long suffering! My fandom goes back to the 1970s, but no, I don't feel great about sticking with the team! That suggests switching teams or abandoning the Bills was some type of option, and I have never thought of that way, nor could I. I'm a Bills fan until I'm dead, in good times and bad. At least you got to see a great run for a little over a decade. for 18 years I didn't see a 10 win season. I never thought of switching teams, but rather during the Chan years I just simply accepted that this team would never be good. Edited December 16, 2019 by billsfan89 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan in San Diego Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I started becoming a Bills fan in the late 60's early 70's . I was just a little kid back then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian Bills Fan Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 37 minutes ago, Joe in Winslow said: When Josh threw the TD pass to Kroft, I jumped off the couch and yelled "MY FAITH HAS BEEN REWARDED!" I jumped off my couch and yelled "suck it Collinsworth!" 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShakAttack Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I stick with this team every single season, but there have been several seasons in which I didn’t want to, but fortunately (I can say that now) there was not a damn thing I could do about it; my Bills obsession was too deep. Cool little side note: My only son was born on 1/11/2017, the day the Bills hired Sean Mcdermott . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted December 16, 2019 Author Share Posted December 16, 2019 38 minutes ago, Joe in Winslow said: When Josh threw the TD pass to Kroft, I jumped off the couch and yelled "MY FAITH HAS BEEN REWARDED!" So yeah, I'm glad I stuck with it. There was a point in Tuhrod's second season where I briefly considered jumping ship. But I'm glad I held out. I don't know how you could look at the Tyrod years and think of jumping ship. Compared to the JP Losman, Fitz, Trent Edwards, and post 2002 first half Bledsoe Tyrod was the best QB of the bunch and had produced a winning record. I get not liking Tyrod but he was far from the bottom of the pack. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayray808 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 fell in love with them when I would use Kelly/Thurman/Bruce Smith in Tecmo Bowl... love them now - this team is going places and Josh Allen will continue to get better 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohninMinn. Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 (edited) Bills fan since 1963. Not once was there even a choice of not sticking with the Buffalo Bills. It is imprinted into my consciousness. However, they are still capable of ripping my guts out as they ascend to the playoffs. I abhor moral victories. Edited December 16, 2019 by JohninMinn. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanC883 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 2 minutes ago, rayray808 said: fell in love with them when I would use Kelly/Thurman/Bruce Smith in Tecmo Bowl... love them now - this team is going places and Josh Allen will continue to get better I didn't think the Bills were in Techmo Bowl? I had to use Madden. But yeah, it feels good, but what will feel great is finally winning a SB! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxx Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 this is asked like there is an option? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFanNC Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 It's not like I ever had a choice but to stick with them. The Bills could leave me, but I cant ever leave the Bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royale with Cheese Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I've never considered leaving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMF2006 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 10 minutes ago, Nextmanup said: You started in 2001? Not sure that qualifies as long suffering! My fandom goes back to the 1970s, but no, I don't feel great about sticking with the team! That suggests switching teams or abandoning the Bills was some type of option, and I have never thought of it that way, nor could I. I'm a Bills fan until I'm dead, in good times and bad. That qualifies as the worst suffering The poor guy has never known a winning Bills team...….until now Let the good times roll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Egg Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 "Sticking with the Bills" ? You mean remaining loyal ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RochesterRob Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 My Bills history as follows. I'm in my 50's and have the vaguest recollection of the AFL playoff teams. Really did not follow sports during the late 1960's, 1970's and early 1980's for various reasons. Got interested in the Bills during the mid-1980's during a tough time for the team. Watched the glory years of the early 1990's and the attempt to recapture the glory under Wade Phillips late in the 1990's. I watched Gregg Williams, Mularkey, Jauron, etc. during the 2000's and while despair set in I never thought about quitting the team. It was tough at times especially around 2010-2012. I never had any ill will towards Ralph but knew the long down period was in large part due to Ralph's declining ability to run the team from the sports side versus the business side. Fortunately, Ralph had it together to the point to have had a good succession plan in place of which we are reaping the rewards from today. Terry Pegula made me feel confident that if he could hit upon a good management team that the team would start trending upward. He had newbie problems such as identifying good management and took his lumps accordingly. Through all this I never thought about quitting the Bills and always had the attitude that it was Buffalo or nothing as my identity with the city grew from knowing I had family on my mother's side of the family who resided in the greater Buffalo metro area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 18 minutes ago, billsfan89 said: I don't know how you could look at the Tyrod years and think of jumping ship. Compared to the JP Losman, Fitz, Trent Edwards, and post 2002 first half Bledsoe Tyrod was the best QB of the bunch and had produced a winning record. I get not liking Tyrod but he was far from the bottom of the pack. The game where he couldn't get the offense past the 50 against the giants INFURIATED me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Hammersticks Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I have a friend who has been a loyal, life-long Giants fan. After last season he told me he was done with the Giants forever. He even went as far as to adopt another favorite team, the Chiefs. I thought he was just being a tool, but he even has a bunch of KC gear now that he wears all the time. I just can’t relate... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formerly Allan in MD Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 27 minutes ago, JMF2006 said: My low point was when they hired Wrex. Mine got lower when they hired his brother. On yesterday's Redskins game, they showed the hairy blob and remarked what a defensive genius he is. That's what they said about Rex; I mean that's what Rex said about Rex. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RochesterRob Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 1 minute ago, Johnny Hammersticks said: I have a friend who has been a loyal, life-long Giants fan. After last season he told me he was done with the Giants forever. He even went as far as to adopt another favorite team, the Chiefs. I thought he was just being a tool, but he even has a bunch of KC gear now that he wears all the time. I just can’t relate... I don't understand this. The Giants have had rough stretches including no playoffs form 1967-1983. If a person has been a fan of that team any amount of time they would know that it is not all up all the time. There will be poor periods. I got people being fans of the Dolphins or Raiders years ago because they had many good years but not always back to back. I got that they could not handle a team being down more than a year or two and also realized when the bad times stuck around for several years that they would be onto the next hot team. But to quit on the Giants especially if you are much older than 40-45 years of age makes no sense to me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMF2006 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 1 minute ago, Formerly Allan in MD said: Mine got lower when they hired his brother. On yesterday's Redskins game, they showed the hairy blob and remarked what a defensive genius he is. That's what they said about Rex; I mean that's what Rex said about Rex. #4 your going to settle for #4? (wrex spouting off after firing Schwartz) I am going to get you bottom 5 guaranteed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal Deek Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Stick with the Bills? As a fan since the 1960s and to quote Richard Gere in An Officer and a Gentleman: “I got nowhere else to go!” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amarillo Bills Fan Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I've always been a Bill's fan, since the early 70's. My Dad is from Silver Spring's NY, I was taught to love the Bill's and hate the Cowboys. It's been touch and go over the years, but I've never given up on them. The early 90's were great, and now, hopefully, we'll start another good several years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Direhard Fan Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Been a Bill's fan since they started at the Rock Pile. I'm 74 and never even thought of not loving them. When Kim and Terry bought the Bill's I had tears in my eyes. Not a lie. Moved out of Buffalo when I was 19 and have been to games many times since. Know it's The Ticket. Never miss a game. My entire family room is Bill's. Yes, I still expect Bill's present on birthdays and Christmas. Go Bill's! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cage Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I grew up in Buffalo/Tonawanda in the '70s and have been a lifelong fan! I live in Virginia and have been with my wife for 15 years. They've never had a good season the whole time she's known me. She finally asked me a few years ago.... why don't you just choose a new team? Obviously that's not in the cards and yesterday was vindication! I'm so happy that they won their way in on the first opportunity rather than backing in through other team's losses. Onward! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalophil1948 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Just cause I'm used to yelling at them and throwing crap at my TV doesn't mean I don't love them. Quitting on them was never an option Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSE Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 If you pee on the bush long enough, it will eventually grow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 1 hour ago, Joe in Winslow said: When Josh threw the TD pass to Kroft, I jumped off the couch and yelled "MY FAITH HAS BEEN REWARDED!" So yeah, I'm glad I stuck with it. There was a point in Tuhrod's second season where I briefly considered jumping ship. But I'm glad I held out. that has to be one of the most unique fan yells I have ever heard of!! that said, in the moment, I have yelled some of the most random things and discovered dancing skills I never knew existed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah John Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 (edited) I moved away from WNY in 1976 but still consider it home, although I've lived overseas and in seven other states since then (military, government jobs). In all my travels I have met exactly ONE person who had been a Bills fan who switched loyalties to another team. He told me he became a Giants fan after the SB losses. I was shocked. There is something about being from WNY and/or being a Bills fan (almost redundant, there) that sticks. To suggest a Bills Mafia member would switch to the other side would be like a real Mafia member turning state's evidence. If I did that I think I'd have to go into witness protection. Fan since 1963, when my uncle, aunt, and cousins moved from Buffalo to Boston and the rivalry began. 23 minutes ago, HOUSE said: If you pee on the bush long enough, it will eventually grow Well if my dog pees on the bush long enough, it will die. I know from experience. Edited December 16, 2019 by Utah John edit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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