What’s your earliest memory of the Buffalo Bills?

[Protocal69]

It was Nov 1984 and I was 8 years old and the Bills were playing against the Washington Redskins and were getting beat down and I recall me hoping the Bills would win and my step brother said don't waste your time because the Bills are garbage and at that moment my fandom for the team was born.

[noacls]

Ken Jones and Fred Smerlas throwing me up in the air at Fredonia training camp. Damn I'm old. Lol

[njbuff]

6 hours ago, mushypeaches said:

1981 playoffs - watching that wild back & forth game against the Jets

 

That's the day I became a Bills fan as a 10 year old.

[Marcus Aurelius]

Old enough to remember Dad sneaking us into the Rockpile, (he never paid). Old enough to remember the Silver Helmets. Old enough to remember M.C. Reynolds at QB and Wilmer Fowler at Halfback. 1961

[Big Turk]

Them going 2-14 and Kay Stevenson getting fired

[SinceThe70s]

6 hours ago, klos63 said:

OJ's stride was a thing of beauty, it was like he was gliding, but nobody could catch him. Still the most enjoyable back to watch, to this day.

I was at War Memorial for a game against the Boston Patriots in 1970, in 1971, i was at the Houston game,the fans were chanting good bye Harvey. I had to have my father explain that to me. I was 8 at the time.

 

No specific play or game but definitely OJ for me. 100% agree with the bolded. 

[DrW]

In September 1990, I came to Rochester as as a postdoc. On Mondays, all the other people in the lab and my "boss" were talking about "the Bills". I decided to give it a shot and started to watch a few Bills games, and I found the game of American football utterly confusing. More into the 1990/91 season, the rules and the game itself became more obvious to me. Thus, there is no precise date I can put on my earliest memory, but I can still remember how disappointed and sad I was after Super Bowl XXV.    

Fast forward, my son, who was born in Rochester in 1999, is now an avid Bills fan, although we moved to Texas when he was just 4.

[NEBuffaloBillsFan]

My father was a Giants fan (old school NFL guy). He wanted me to be a Giants fan too. I even remember wearing a Giants poncho to elementary school when it rained. 
We rarely watched any other games besides the Giants. But in ‘73 we would watch the Bills, mainly to watch OJ. When he got the 2000, I decided to become a Bills fan. I had just turned 10 years old.  My dad was probably disappointed, but he never said anything and never tried to discourage my fandom. 

[MiltonWaddams]

October 1987. My dad went down to Buffalo for a game with a group of friends. I listened  to it on the radio. I didn’t know much about it, but I knew my dad and his friends were excited to be there so I was excited to listen. The Bills beat the Giants in overtime and my dad came back from the game with a big smile and his friends all cheered when they drove away after dropping him off. I knew they had a good time and I heard the energy in the stadium through the radio. I was hooked.

[Old Coot]

56 minutes ago, Marcus Aurelius said:

Wilmer Fowler

There's a name I haven't heard in many a year.

[Shaw66]

Black and white striped socks on the Broncos at the first game in 1960.

[Bills4 life]

1990. Bills score 20 points in 77 sec, against Denver. It was a done deal.

[US Egg]

My Father inanely yelling at a radio, imo, when I was 4 or 5.

[CincyBillsFan]

December 1969 was a vivid memory for me.  I had earlier memories but this one stands out. The Bills lost to the Chiefs for the 2nd time that season.  The score was 22 - 19 and for the 2nd time Stenerud kicked 5 FG's to beat Buffalo.  I remember my dad and uncle complaining that they shouldn't even allow FG's in football.  They wanted to ban the damn things. I remember being surprised at how angry they got.

 

A month later our whole house was packed and rooting hard for the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl.  My dad & uncle loved it when Stenerud kicked those first 3 FG's to put the Chiefs up 9 - 0! 

 

Back then the AFL/NFL rivalry was a real thing.  The NFL lost something great with the merger.  You old school fans know what I'm talking about.  There was a camaraderie among AFL fans that was unique in sports.  We all rooted for the Jets in the 1969 and then the Chiefs in the 1970 Super Bowls.

 

 

 

 

 

[Golden]

September 30, 1973.  Jets vs Bills 

attendance: 80,020

     Final score: Bills 9/ Jets 7.

1st regular season game in the then Rich Stadium

 

[Bing Bong]

MCM, but if I'm being honest I was just kind of watching people around me freak out. Wasn't very memorable.

 

My first memory of being an invested Bills fan was vivid. It was something like watching JP Losman run a screen play, 4th and 10, en route to a 6-8 loss to the Browns.. at the time needing a win and like 3 other teams to lose to make the playoffs at 8-8.

 

It was miserable looking back. But it was the best fan experience I had ever had at the time. I was hooked.

 

So something like 2004 I guess.

Edited March 14, 2021 by FormerlyPT5P

[Stanley Lombardi]

"Golden Wheels" and "Cookie".

The nicknames are the first thing I remember.  It was probably 1962, listening to the radio when I was 9.  It was love at first listen.

[sherpa]

My uncle had season tickets and took me to the Sep 22, 1963 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

I still remember the smell of the hot dogs cooked over charcoal when we walked to the seats.

We sat behind Chief's wide receiver Chris Burford's parents.

The game ended up in a tie, but I never forgot the atmosphere.

[DPR]

Richie Lucas to #44 Elbert "Golden Wheels" Dubenion. TOUCHDOWN!!!   AFL's first season:  1960

 

1960 Bills vs Jets:  Head Coach Buster Ramsey running across the field to the Jets' bench, waving Bills players to follow, to fight (real fist fighting) the Jets. 
 

Early sixties (pre arrival of Cookie Gilchrist from Canadian League and of #15 Jack Kemp, who was picked up for $100 from Chargers in 1964 or 1965):  Billy Shaw, Mike Stratton, Glenn Bass #81(?), Wilber Fowler.  Please add others.

[machine gun kelly]

I had foggy memories of OJ and Fergy in the late 70’s, but one of my distinct memories was beating the Fins for the opener in 1980 at Rich 17-7.  It was so awesome as we were beaten 20 times in the 70’s by the Fish.  That was a great year.  Knox just exuded confidence and we would be a winner.  He’s definitely the forgotten winning coach for the Bills.  The old timers liked Saban, the middle aged guys was Levy, and the youngins McD, but Knox was the guy that turned our team around.  Had Ralph not had the ego problem as Knox was a stubborn guy, it could’ve worked out better.

[DefenseWins]

Jack Kemp being booed unmercifully entering the game coming off the bench, throws a long TD pass causing the crowd to go crazy instantly. From bum to hero on one play. This was at the ole Rockpile - War Memorial Stadium in the 60's... You could still get a REAL grilled hot dog at the concession stands, not the boiled or microwaved kind they sell you today...

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

20 hours ago, NewEra said:

@ SUNY Fredonia 1980, Joe Cribbs carrying me around on on his shoulders for 15 mins or so while he was signing autographs for the mob of fans.  I was hooked

Yeah, 'fess up.  You were 19 at the time, Cribbs was just showing off his off season weightlifting prowess. 😁

19 hours ago, jwolf02 said:

 

-Getting Jim Kelly's autograph in the back corner of a Toys R Us (it was a scheduled signing). I remember him wearing a canadian tuxedo.  Still have that ball on display in my kids room with a few other training camp autographs through the years.

What the devil is a 'canadian tuxedo'?  A 'Syd Silver' rental?

[NewEra]

8 minutes ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said:

Yeah, 'fess up.  You were 19 at the time, Cribbs was just showing off his off season weightlifting prowess. 😁

What the devil is a 'canadian tuxedo'?  A 'Syd Silver' rental?

Nah, I was 36 at the time.  

[jwolf02]

3 hours ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said:

Yeah, 'fess up.  You were 19 at the time, Cribbs was just showing off his off season weightlifting prowess. 😁

What the devil is a 'canadian tuxedo'?  A 'Syd Silver' rental?

Haha, Jeans and a jean jacket.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

54 minutes ago, jwolf02 said:

Haha, Jeans and a jean jacket.

Take off! 😁

[34-78-83]

first significant memory was live at this game watching Walter Payton flip over our D line. By far he's my favorite non-Bill ever.

 

I was 8, LOL.

 

 

[Mcdermott]

Not sure what happened first but these three were early;

1) OJ tearing up his knee on a kick return at the Rockpile after Bill Enyart missed a block

2) Preston Riddlehuber’s half back option pass

3) Greg Jones returning an onside kick fir a TD against the Patriots

[Fr. Jerk]

When they blew out the raiders in the playoffs, ya dig?

[Pete]

“Miami might have the Orange Bowl, but we got the Juice  🎵 “

[1st Ammendment NoMas]

My first game was the home opener in 1972. We lost to the Jets 41-24 but it was the first time I saw OJ Simpson run the ball. I was hooked and wore #32 everywhere. I remember the seats were just rows of metal and you could bring in food and beer.  I didn't have a seat. I sat on the cooler in front of my dad with two of my uncles and my grandpa. I was in charge of passing the beers to everyone. It was so cool to be able to bring a picnic full of food and beer and pay a few bucks a ticket to see the Bills play.  #Goodtimes

[Locomark]

On TV OJ being carried off the field in the Jets game when I was a tiny kid. 

[phxbacker]

On 3/13/2021 at 1:45 PM, SoCal Deek said:

I believe he gained 2,000 in 73 after moving to Rich Stadium. They stuck the fork in War Memorial on a cold late December day against the Lions. My thermos bottle nearly froze. 😂

May have been, I just know I froze in both stadiums. Great memories  .. ....

[Slack_in_MA]

I vaguely remember going to the Rockpile with my parents and my brother to see them play the Jets in 1971 or 1972 when I was 5 or 6.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Bills Steelers pre-season game either in 79 or 80.  I believe it was 80 after they had won their fourth SB.  While trying to find the preseason schedules for those years, I found a you-tube highlight film of Bills Steelers 1980 regular season game in November.  Van Miller was great calling the game and as the Bills clinched the win, he states the Bills have arrived.  It would take a couple more weeks and a win over a young Montana and the 49ers to clinch the AFC East. Also found that highlight film on you-tube.  

[biggerdaddynj]

Like many of my generation, it’s the memories of my childhood hero, OJ Simpson—he ran with grace, agility, speed and power.  Watching the old highlights of him running with the ball will always amaze me (he’s in that special class of all time greats). 

[Orlando Tim]

My first impactful memory was Jim Kelly diving into the end zone to beat the dolphins early in the season by beating two LBs to the goal line. I don't remember year but I remember my uncle's being excited.

[Mango]

I couple vague memories when I was super young and going to peoples houses with my parents and everybody ignoring me. 
 

But as I came of age, one of the first games ever actually sitting through with my dad, I was about 7. I couldn’t tell you who we were playing but it was definitely December. I asked why 78 wasn’t wearing long sleeves when it was cold and snowing. My dad said “that’s Bruce Smith, he’s so tough he doesn’t get cold”. I said I want to be like Bruce Smith and my dad went outside with me and let me run around in shorts, T-shirt, and boots, in the snow in the yard. 
 

Bruce Smith has been my favorite Bill since then. Although Josh and Tre are catching up quickly now that I am 34. Tre is a national treasure. 

[mabden]

The Buffalo Bills drafting OJ Simpson.

[John Gianelli]

On 3/13/2021 at 11:27 AM, Mojo44 said:

The 1963 season. They lost the AFL championship game to the Boston Pats*. I was 10 growing up in Niagara Falls.  Do the math. Yes, I’m that old. 😁

That's my earliest memory too, watching the game with my dad on t.v.  I'm not quite as old as you. I was 6 at the time!

[hjnick]

Don't remember the exact year, but I remember seeing Joe Ferguson at QB and Joe Cribbs at RB.  I think it was Chuck Knox was coach.