Anyone else become a Bills fan because of a player from college?

[ArdmoreRyno]

1988, 2nd round of the NFL draft... Buffalo selects Thurman Thomas from Oklahoma State. 

 

I was 13 years old and surrounded by Dallas Cowboys fans in Southern Oklahoma. My dad and grandfather are OSU graduates (I'm a 3rd generation grad) and started following the Bills when they were on TV because of Thurman. I fell in love with the team and haven't looked back. Even with the greatest RB in college (and probably pro) history coming in right behind Thurman at Oklahoma State, I couldn't pull for Detroit. 

 

Was wondering, anyone else become a fan of Buffalo due to a player? 

[Buffalo716]

No 

 

There's no choice being born into it

 

[Augie]

4 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

No 

 

There's no choice being born into it

 

 

Strangely, growing up in WNY college football was an afterthought. I remember watching those college football scoreboard things on Saturday where they told me how Lehigh did against Slippery Rock. I was 100% into the NFL, with no interest in college football. 

 

Things have flipped as an adult living in Atlanta. People care about college ball, and they are somewhat aware that the Falcons play here too, in that stadium where the SEC Championship takes place. 

[Buffalo716]

1 minute ago, Augie said:

 

Strangely, growing up in WNY college football was an afterthought. I remember watching those college football scoreboard things on Saturday where they told me how Lehigh did against Slippery Rock. I was 100% into the NFL, with no interest in college football. 

 

Things have flipped as an adult living in Atlanta. People care about college ball, and they are somewhat aware that the Falcons play here too, in that stadium where the SEC Championship takes place. 

🤣😂

[ArdmoreRyno]

17 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

No 

 

There's no choice being born into it

 

 

That's sorta how it is where I'm from with Dallas. *EVERYONE* rooted for the Cowboys, but my parents didn't follow the NFL, only college. Thank the Lord. Now it's a split between Dallas (I'd say 75%), KC (15%) and the rest Cleveland because of bandwagon OU fans rooting for Cleveland due to Baker. 

[LewPort71]

Several of my buddies in WV are Bills fans due to Darryl Talley and his play at WVU.

His number at WVU was recently retired.

 

[ArdmoreRyno]

On 3/29/2022 at 9:07 AM, LewPort71 said:

Several of my buddies in WV are Bills fans due to Darryl Talley and his play at WVU.

His number at WVU was recently retired.

 

 

When I went to Jackson Hole (going to Yellowstone and the Tetons) there were a boat load of Bills gear in town. I'm sure many-many Wyoming Cowboys fans are Bills fans now due to Josh. 

 

 

[Warcodered]

20 minutes ago, ArdmoreRyno said:

 

When I went to Jackson Hole (going to Yellowstone and the Tetons) there were a boat load of Bills gear in town. I'm sure many-many Wyoming Cowboys fans are Bills fans now due to Josh. 

 

 

That's how I got here.

[LanderPoke]

I am a die hard Pokes fan and am a Bills fan because of Josh Allen. Love the Bills!

[CircleTheWagons99]

1991 or 92 maybe. Im in Elementary school. Just moved from Long Island, NY to south Florida in 88.   Teacher made the kids pick the winner of the Miami v Buffalo playoff game. Went home and picked up the paper to read about the teams, I come from a Spanish background and was more into Futbol then Football. The sports page was a HUGE picture if a Dolphin bouncing a Buffalo on its nose. Was reading and found out it was the Buffalo Bills from NY, and I hated the fact that we moved from NY to Florida. Went to school, Picked the Bills, and they beat the ***** out of miami from what I remember, was a Fan since then. Made it better when I Realized later they were the only NY team to play in NY. 

[Plano]

On 3/28/2022 at 10:24 AM, ArdmoreRyno said:

1988, 2nd round of the NFL draft... Buffalo selects Thurman Thomas from Oklahoma State. 

 

I was 13 years old and surrounded by Dallas Cowboys fans in Southern Oklahoma. My dad and grandfather are OSU graduates (I'm a 3rd generation grad) and started following the Bills when they were on TV because of Thurman. I fell in love with the team and haven't looked back. Even with the greatest RB in college (and probably pro) history coming in right behind Thurman at Oklahoma State, I couldn't pull for Detroit. 

 

Was wondering, anyone else become a fan of Buffalo due to a player? 

Same exact reason I'm here. Except I was younger (around 5 years old) and loved watching Thurman @ OSU. That being said, when he was no longer in college, I was asking where he went, and they said he went to the NFL to the Buffalo Bills. So, I naturally followed them, and there we have it.

 

 

[ArdmoreRyno]

17 hours ago, Plano said:

Same exact reason I'm here. Except I was younger (around 5 years old) and loved watching Thurman @ OSU. That being said, when he was no longer in college, I was asking where he went, and they said he went to the NFL to the Buffalo Bills. So, I naturally followed them, and there we have it.

 

 

 

From Plano, Texas? 

I live about an hour north... right along the Oklahoma/Texas state line (Texoma area.. Tishomingo). 

Edited April 5, 2022 by ArdmoreRyno

[Plano]

1 hour ago, ArdmoreRyno said:

 

From Plano, Texas? 

I live about an hour north... right along the Oklahoma/Texas state line (Texoma area.. Tishomingo). 

Actually.....an Okie from Muskogee! 

 

Lived in Plano for a short stint and that's when I joined BBMB (back in prob 2003-2004) and the name stuck forever. 

 

 

[ArdmoreRyno]

22 minutes ago, Plano said:

Actually.....an Okie from Muskogee! 

 

Lived in Plano for a short stint and that's when I joined BBMB (back in prob 2003-2004) and the name stuck forever. 

 

 

 

Awesome. I lived in Broken Arrow for 4 years (2001-2005) and would drive to Muskogee to avoid the tornado paths when it was heading towards BA, lol. 

I was last there over Halloween... took the GF and her kids to the Castle there. Mistake! 😂

[Buffalo Barbarian]

Nope, became a fan when i knew we had a team

 

 

[Buffalo Barbarian]

On 3/29/2022 at 8:49 AM, ArdmoreRyno said:

 

That's sorta how it is where I'm from with Dallas. *EVERYONE* rooted for the Cowboys, but my parents didn't follow the NFL, only college. Thank the Lord. Now it's a split between Dallas (I'd say 75%), KC (15%) and the rest Cleveland because of bandwagon OU fans rooting for Cleveland due to Baker. 

 

Well that wont last long 😂

 

Now they can be Seattle fans , lol

 

 

[chongli]

On 3/28/2022 at 4:54 PM, Augie said:

 

Strangely, growing up in WNY college football was an afterthought. I remember watching those college football scoreboard things on Saturday where they told me how Lehigh did against Slippery Rock. I was 100% into the NFL, with no interest in college football. 

 

Things have flipped as an adult living in Atlanta. People care about college ball, and they are somewhat aware that the Falcons play here too, in that stadium where the SEC Championship takes place. 

 

Yeah, NY state as a whole is horrible for college football--there is not even a state team like Penn State or OSU. Got sick and tired of hearing about small-time Canisius and Buff State. But when I became a fan of the Bills in the 80's, Syracuse was somewhat good in the Big East Conference and even nationally. 

 

[As an aside, Canisus beat some powerhouse back in the 80's or 90's, and some national sports reporter pronounced it as "can - i - sigh - us", lol!]

Edited April 13, 2022 by chongli

[Solomon Grundy]

On 4/4/2022 at 3:59 PM, Plano said:

Same exact reason I'm here. Except I was younger (around 5 years old) and loved watching Thurman @ OSU. That being said, when he was no longer in college, I was asking where he went, and they said he went to the NFL to the Buffalo Bills. So, I naturally followed them, and there we have it.

 

 

I became a Thurman Thomas fan when he shredded the vaunted Oklahoma Sooners (Boz) defense. I hoped he would get drafted by the Bills 

[ArdmoreRyno]

1 hour ago, Solomon Grundy said:

I became a Thurman Thomas fan when he shredded the vaunted Oklahoma Sooners (Boz) defense. I hoped he would get drafted by the Bills 

 

I'd rather root for ISIS than OU.

[Buffalo Barbarian]

18 hours ago, chongli said:

 

Yeah, NY state as a whole is horrible for college football--there is not even a state team like Penn State or OSU. Got sick and tired of hearing about small-time Canisius and Buff State. But when I became a fan of the Bills in the 80's, Syracuse was somewhat good in the Big East Conference and even nationally. 

 

[As an aside, Canisus beat some powerhouse back in the 80's or 90's, and some national sports reporter pronounced it as "can - i - sigh - us", lol!]

 

That pronunciation sounds about right , LOL.

 

 

[Buffalo716]

On 4/13/2022 at 11:38 AM, chongli said:

 

Yeah, NY state as a whole is horrible for college football--there is not even a state team like Penn State or OSU. Got sick and tired of hearing about small-time Canisius and Buff State. But when I became a fan of the Bills in the 80's, Syracuse was somewhat good in the Big East Conference and even nationally. 

 

[As an aside, Canisus beat some powerhouse back in the 80's or 90's, and some national sports reporter pronounced it as "can - i - sigh - us", lol!]

Actually UB is THE state flagship university of NY 

[chongli]

27 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Actually UB is THE state flagship university of NY 

 

Yeah, I get that, along with Stony Brook, but UB is really not known as a college football powerhouse. In fact, NY is the largest state in the nation, population-wise, without a state (public) football team in the Power 5 (fourth most populous). The next is Massachusetts, with the 16th largest population; then Connecticut at 29 and Nevada at 31. That NY doesn't have a bigger college football team is kind of shocking, really.

Edited April 16, 2022 by chongli

[Buffalo716]

22 minutes ago, chongli said:

 

Yeah, I get that, along with Stony Brook, but UB is really not known as a college football powerhouse. In fact, NY is the largest state in the nation, population-wise, without a state (public) football team in the Power 5 (fourth most populous). The next is Massachusetts, with the 16th largest population; then Connecticut at 29 and Nevada at 31. That NY doesn't have a bigger college football team is kind of shocking, really.

SU(private) was a massive football program for a long time ... 8 NFL Hall of famers tied for 4th all time ... Home of Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Marvin Harrison, Larry csonka 

 

Multiple undefeated seasons and a claimed national title 

 

Not to mention all the big time schools have been playing non stop for 120+ years... UB had a great team in 1899 lol and thru the 50s was a good program... 

 

Losing their D1 team for nearly 30 years put them back at ground zero.   It literally takes 15-20 years to build a program... And the program is 100x further along than in 1999... and outspends and out recruits other mac schools 

 

Its honestly about what the brand can be in 30-40 years , not rn

Edited April 16, 2022 by Buffalo716

[chongli]

55 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

SU(private) was a massive football program for a long time ... 8 NFL Hall of famers tied for 4th all time ... Home of Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Marvin Harrison, Larry csonka 

 

Multiple undefeated seasons and a claimed national title 

 

Not to mention all the big time schools have been playing non stop for 120+ years... UB had a great team in 1899 lol and thru the 50s was a good program... 

 

Losing their D1 team for nearly 30 years put them back at ground zero.   It literally takes 15-20 years to build a program... And the program is 100x further along than in 1999... and outspends and out recruits other mac schools 

 

Its honestly about what the brand can be in 30-40 years , not rn

 

I did not know this. Thanks for the history lesson! Someday...big time college football in upstate NY would be awesome (besides Syracuse).

[Buffalo716]

13 minutes ago, chongli said:

 

I did not know this. Thanks for the history lesson! Someday...big time college football in upstate NY would be awesome (besides Syracuse).

I honestly believe it's coming in the near future  

 

UB has the resources to become the Boise st of the MAC

 

 

[machine gun kelly]

As my nurse

educator for a company I used to manage said, “In Alabama, you either decide or the decision is made

for you at birth it’s Roll Tide, or Go Tigers”.

 

Well in Buffalo even if youve

moved away for 30 years, red, white, and royal blue bleeds through our arteries and veins.

 

Ive heard crap from friends and coworkers for years, and I’ve always said on both topics, I was born Catholic, I was raised Catholic, and I’ll die Catholic.  I know when to get up, knell, and sit.  The same holds true for my Bills.  I was born a bills fan, I was raised and Bills fan, and I’ll die a Bills fan.

 

im fortunate to know friends who never stepped foot in the Buffalo area, and are diehard Bills fans.

[SirAndrew]

On 4/15/2022 at 9:26 PM, chongli said:

 

Yeah, I get that, along with Stony Brook, but UB is really not known as a college football powerhouse. In fact, NY is the largest state in the nation, population-wise, without a state (public) football team in the Power 5 (fourth most populous). The next is Massachusetts, with the 16th largest population; then Connecticut at 29 and Nevada at 31. That NY doesn't have a bigger college football team is kind of shocking, really.

Agree, that is interesting about NY state, but it’s mostly due to a lack of in state football talent. That’s why you see a couple New England states as well, the football talent just isn’t there. 

[Buffalo716]

On 4/20/2022 at 1:25 PM, SirAndrew said:

Agree, that is interesting about NY state, but it’s mostly due to a lack of in state football talent. That’s why you see a couple New England states as well, the football talent just isn’t there. 

There's plenty of division one talent around New York City and Central New York

 

Even Western New York in the Catholic schools puts out division 1 talent 

 

The problem is most of them don't stay in state.. the high profile ones at least

 

Edited April 21, 2022 by Buffalo716

[The Jokeman]

On 4/15/2022 at 9:26 PM, chongli said:

 

Yeah, I get that, along with Stony Brook, but UB is really not known as a college football powerhouse. In fact, NY is the largest state in the nation, population-wise, without a state (public) football team in the Power 5 (fourth most populous). The next is Massachusetts, with the 16th largest population; then Connecticut at 29 and Nevada at 31. That NY doesn't have a bigger college football team is kind of shocking, really.

UB was developing into a good MAC team but not sure if the program is better under Linguist or not as last year was a mess.