Jonesyyy Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 2 hours ago, billsfan89 said: 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. My first game my dad took me too was the old rock pile! If you are a real Bills fan you never give up on them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockinon Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 You call that long suffering? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundancer Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 2 hours ago, thenorthremembers said: I am beyond happy about the season but not being a Bills fan was never an option. Exactly. What is this "happy you stuck with it" BS. You're in or you're out. You get to pass through the door one time only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
appoo Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but blinding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenboy81 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 (edited) I been a fan since 1960 way before I was born and never ever considered quiting or switching. It's probably bad for my health how much the Bills control my life but wouldn't want it any other way.. Edited December 16, 2019 by goldenboy81 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJBrown7 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Present! Been on this ride since the 1970’s! And thankful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundancer Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, I am the egg man said: "Sticking with the Bills" ? You mean remaining loyal ? I call it being born in Buffalo. I lived in Rochester in the 80s into the 90s. That city is full of fans of other teams. They have a strange anti-Buffalo attitude even though the cities are basically suburbs of one another. I never could have imagined I'd meet as many Steelers and Dolphins fans--who were born in Rochester. They all hated the Bills with passion. So silly. Yay, you're special! I have some friends who have since moved away and they've adopted the Bills because it's "home," so they are getting that it's special to be tied to your place. Edited December 16, 2019 by Sundancer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John from Riverside Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanker Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I confess that after their 4th consecutive SB loss, I swore that I did not want The Bills to ever go to another one unless they won it all. So blame me (and others like us) for the long drought. If my voodoo is correct, when they get to the SB again - they'll win it. Go Bills! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helpmenow Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, JohninMinn. said: 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. Right behind you 1964 for me. Edited December 16, 2019 by Helpmenow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal Deek Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 To quote Galaxy Quest: “Never Give Up, Never Surrender!” (Most people panned that movie. I thought it was hilarious!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuckyBoys Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Gotta be exciting for some of you younger guys who didnt get to experience the super bowl era teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsgoodtime Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, BillsFanSD said: 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. I dont think successful teams do, look at Pans fans, spoiled to the max, lose a game and fans are ready to jump ship. Through all these bad years, it's what we are witnessing right now that has always been in the back of my mind, how special it is for us to be a Bill's fan today after all the suffering. They could literally win the Super Bowl this year, anything can happen in January. Also the day I'm not a Bill's fan is if they move the team or you are at my funeral Edited December 16, 2019 by Gunsgoodtime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearNorth Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I am an original Bills fan, (1 was 12 in 1960 when they played their first game in the Rockpile), many wonderful memories of games during my HS years, Jack Kemp actually was the speaker at our year end athletic banquet. My son [41] is also a Bills fan, Wide Right tested our faith, the Comeback restored it. Have always followed the Bills, in the service, in college, and since then. This year has lifted my spirits. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsgoodtime Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 1 hour ago, HOUSE said: If you pee on the bush long enough, it will eventually grow Not sure about that, I got a lot if dead bushes around the house. I do quite a bit of drinking during games though, so there is that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steptide Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I'm super happy with the current regime at one bills drive, but I still want more from the offense. They're not a finished product yet. I'm excited (and cautiously optimistic) how good the offense can be if they add the right pieces. But to the op's point, yes it's been a long tike coming that. Bills fans deserve this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Like most people here, I've been a Bills fan all my life. Was born in '90, and will be 30 this year. There's an odd part of me that's glad we lost those four back in the 90s. I remember the last two, a little bit, but was far from old enough to truly understand or appreciate it. My earliest memory of watching and truly understanding football was the Music City Travesty. Spent every Sunday with either my father, or my aunt watching the Bills. So I've been following them with actual football knowledge about as long as you have. Never thought about jumping ship. Always knew every bad season meant that the year we finally win it all it's gonna be that much sweeter. My great grandfather (who I never met) was a season from day one. All four of my grandparents were die hard fans. My mom never really caught the bug, but all of her brothers and sisters did. My father always tells me the story of his dad (Who I barely remember), who was usually a very mild mannered guy, throwing beer cans out the window after the big Miami win in the 70s. I have an uncle and a cousin who lived and died without a championship. My point being, It's not just for me. I want to experience what they never did. And hopefully I can experience it while my father is still alive. It's something that bonds generations together, even in the worst of times on the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky Landing Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I was pretty much born into Bills fandom. I remember my father yelling "JUICE, JUICE" at the TV screen in the early seventies. I guess the four years we were losing the Super Bowl were pretty fun, but I was in my twenties back then, I wasn't really following them that closely, and I honestly don't remember much from my twenties. So, unquestionably, this is the funnest year I've ever had being a Bills fan. It feels... weird. Like an abused, stray dog that's still afraid to trust anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xwnyer Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 3 hours ago, billsfan89 said: 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. Been a fan since 1964 will always be a Bills fan if Bills moved never would follow nfl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Lightning Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 3 hours ago, thenorthremembers said: I am beyond happy about the season but not being a Bills fan was never an option. Ditto. I've been following them since 1963. Ain't going anywhere else. If I can share for the likes of Mike McBath, Dennis Shaw, Preston Ridelhuber, Earthquake Entart and a series of 2-12 teams I am here for the duration. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregPersons Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 The last time the Buffalo Bills had a double-digit winning season, I was in middle school. Feels good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fires Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 (edited) Bills fan since the 70's. Still get nervous anxiety in the close games so much that I set myself up to expect a loss. It's been great to watch them this season. ? Edited December 17, 2019 by Fires Misspelled words 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 The Bills take years off of your life. It sucks, but what can you do. There's no cure... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerome007 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Maybe it's one of the reasons why I stuck with the Bills so long, but while thrilled with the playoffs, it seems oddly... normal, part of the process so to speak ha ha. So I'm more thrilled than relieved. Denial is bliss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuba guy Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 I have been a bills fan since I was born late 68' I got my oj jersy when I was 4. Grew up in marilla ny we had more cattle than people. In the summer you diff know you were in the country. Saw fergy thru interception when playing the Bengals and it knocked us out of making the playoffs, dad said the bookies made there money on the game. Watched first super bowl with teammates on the swim team at rit. I was the only bills fan of the 30 other people. Everyone laughed at me at the end of the game. Got tickets to the Washington sb all the people around us after the middle of the second quarter felt bad and started buying us drinks they felt so bad for us. Rochester is diff not a totally bills town for sure. People always said your crazy for being a bills fan. Most of my friends that were fans would not adit it. The bills are in my blood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. K Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Been a Bills fan since the 1960s. There were some hard moments, but I never abandoned them. It just feels like part of my identity at this point. It's a pleasure to see them play well, and not just that, to feel that they have turned a corner and are on an upward path. I remember feelign this way in the late 1980s as the Marv Levy Bills became a juggernaut. I was not impressed with McDermott and Beane when it seemed they were determined to get rid of every good player on the team, but I was wrong and I'm happy to admit it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codyny13 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 There was never any alternative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan130 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Was born a Bills fan and never considered jumping ship. They could be 0-16 every year and I would still watch every game. But yes it’s very nice to get rewarded and finally see a good Bills team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TigerJ Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Having been a fan for just under half a century, I've experience tough times before the last 2 decades, and I also experienced the golden years of Kelly and company. It feels great right now, and it also feels real.We're not being teased only to wake up one day to find this was all a sham and the Bills are ready to disappoint again. They actually look like they are set up to have a multi year run of playoff caliber football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 54 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said: Was born a Bills fan and never considered jumping ship. They could be 0-16 every year and I would still watch every game. But yes it’s very nice to get rewarded and finally see a good Bills team I can't fathom jumping off a team you have been a diehard fan of as an adult. However I can understand having apathy over a team that has horrid ownership. It is one thing if the team isn't cheap and tries to get the right people in there but they just can't put it together consistently. But if you have a cheap owner who isn't interested in building a consistent winner you could easily get discouraged at following your team because they are at such a self imposed disadvantage. In the Chan years I really just started to accept that the Bills were never going to win more than 8 games in a season and that when Ralph died the team would move. I would still watch the games and root for them hard but my expectations were always low even that one year when they got off to a 5-2 start I just felt the bottom falling out. Ralph was cheap in his later years not just with cash to cap (although that is a big hinderance) but with the outside investments into facilities, staff and such. But then Pegula came in and 2014 the team had that elite defense and it looked like with a new owner willing to spend they could add talent to a talented roster and build the infrastructure needed to compete. The Rex years were up and down but they did restore my faith in the team because I felt like it was only a matter of time before they could find the right coach and get the talent around the coach. Well they found McBeane right after the Rex years and so far it has been a good run. So while I never condone jumping ship (unless ownership is completely disrespectful to fans) I get apathy towards a team if the owner doesn't seem to care to win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junyto Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Been a bills fan since 1988 and this was a long time coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 NOT sticking was....NOT an option. Ever. It’s just more fun when they win. Patriots fans, however, will be jumping ship in droves in the coming years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orlando Tim Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 My wife made me stop watching games live last year after watching them all live since we got married in 2001. After watching replay of Dolphin game last year I told her I was fully invested this year. She said I am like an addict- she is not wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick the Greek Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 I’ve never considered not being a Bills. At heart, I’ll always be an upstate New Yorker. The Bills are upstates team, I gotta pull for them. That said, I remember some idiot that used to post on here, saying he stopped rooting for the Bills and became a Steelers fan. He’d say how much more enjoyable it was pulling for them, a winner. Man, I hope he cried seeing the Bills beat the Steelers last night. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muppy Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 8 hours 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. DITTO in all respects. Concur 100% Having gone through the 70’s 80’s and 90’s with the team during all those extreme highs and lows made me a true bills diehard. I think I can even pinpoint a game for me personally that sealed the deal. It was on Monday night football in 1973 I believe when Ahmad rashad caught 2 TD passes to beat the raiders and the then Rich stadium went NUTS the scoreboard end zone was vibrating from everyone jumping up and down screaming it was FANDEMONIUM I’ll never forget it. I imagine there are folks on this board that were there also it clinched it for me and I never looked back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsintaiwan Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 (edited) 9 hours 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. The second year of Rex is when I almost lost it. I have been watching games in Hawaii at seven a.m. and in Taiwan at one or two a.m. for almost twenty years. I was very close, late at night, deprived of sleep, watching rex's team bumbling about with no discernible bright future. I admit to almost wanting them to leave at one point so I would be free of basically the last thing in my life over which I have no control that I allow to emotionally manipulate me. However, starting in the early 80s Bills games were the one day a week when my father, grandfather, uncles, friends, etc...were all together in the same room. Through the turbulent teenage years, no matter how rough our relationships might have gotten, we always watched the Bills game together. I am 45 now and I will cry like a small child when we finally win the big one. Edited December 17, 2019 by billsintaiwan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDogg20 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 I was born in 1993. My first game was in 1998. I remember when we were great, I remember when we weren’t great. I love this team so much and was so happy I cried when we broke the drought. I never once thought about switching teams. When we were going through the “we may lose our Buffalo Bills” years I said i’d rather stop watching football than root for another team. My family raised me a Bills fan and I will never root for another team so long as I live (unless it benefits us) “Sticking with the team” was the only option I ever had. The only thing id change would be that my old man were here to share these good times with us again, Go Bills!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LikeIGiveADarn Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Born a Bills fan, son of a season ticket holder, but started really following when Takeo Spikes signed, really exciting time to be alive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan692 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 "Sticking with the team" as if switching is even ever an option? Switching teams is pretty lame and anyone who does that i seriously question their fandom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hapless Bills Fan Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 9 hours ago, thenorthremembers said: I am beyond happy about the season but not being a Bills fan was never an option. This is where I am. I am so happy! Beyond thrilled right now. But not being a Bills fan was never an option. As it's said it's in my DNA 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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