50 years ago today, the final game at The Rockpile

[JÂy RÛßeÒ]

https://www.stadiumsofprofootball.com/stadiums/war-memorial-stadium/
 

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197212100buf.htm

 

 

Edited December 11, 2022 by JÂy RÛßeÒ

[PromoTheRobot]

I went to one Bills game there. My first, the '69 season opener versus the Jets, right after they won the Super Bowl. We lived near St. Stanislaus Parish so my sister and I walked up to Humboldt Park, then down Best to the War Memorial. The place looked like the Roman Colosseum.

Edited December 11, 2022 by PromoTheRobot

[Wacka]

Went to the game before that one, vs SF. I remember we knocked  Brodie out of the game and won. Only game at the Rockpile and my first one.  Next year(OJ's 2000) went to 5 games.

[wagon127]

When the new stadium brings us back to grass, its going to have better drainage right?

[US Egg]

The free for all fighting for the field goal and extra pt. balls was a must watch when there.

[LeGOATski]

You guys are old

[MiltonWaddams]

5 minutes ago, LeGOATski said:

You guys are old

I’m a bit jealous. Seeing a game at the Rockpile is a badge of honor.

[LeGOATski]

17 minutes ago, MiltonWaddams said:

I’m a bit jealous. Seeing a game at the Rockpile is a badge of honor.

Nah, it's just a badge that says "I'm Old"

 

[Old Man]

4 hours ago, Wacka said:

Went to the game before that one, vs SF. I remember we knocked  Brodie out of the game and won. Only game at the Rockpile and my first one.  Next year(OJ's 2000) went to 5 games.

I was at that game too, we used to the bus from the Thruway Plaza.

[Dan Darragh]

Growing up in Rochester I only got out to the Rockpile 3 or 4 times.  Because of TV blackouts, I had to listen to the other games on the radio (Van Miller was great).

 

For the last game I remember that they played "Auld Lang Syne" on the radio broadcast when the game ended, and the fans came on the field to tear down the goalposts.  Only problem was that these were not '50s-style wooden goalposts, they were '60s-style metal ones.  Van was very concerned that someone would get hurt.

[Toledo Bill]

4 hours ago, I am the egg man said:

The free for all fighting for the field goal and extra pt. balls was a must watch when there.

It was a sad day when they started using nets.

[nucci]

I was there with my Dad

[machine gun kelly]

1.  I’m jealous I’ve never been there.

 

2. You guys are old!  
 

Just kidding.  Thanks for the memory.  My dad talks occasionally about the rockpile.  He’s a dinosaur too at 92 and still kicking.  I was a whoops as my siblings are much older than me.  I remember in college delivering bundles of papers by there (buff news hopper was my college job) and it did look like the Roman coliseum. 

[First Round Bust]

the parents were sick so a friend and I went as 11 year-olds by ourseleves...I do remember JD Hill TD catch and people tearing the place apart to take souveniers home.

Went to three games at the Rockpile...71 Cowboys...72 Vikings...and the grand finale against Lions...

[Dan Darragh]

53 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

I was a whoops as my siblings are much older than me. 

You weren't a "whoops," you were a "Honey you're looking especially wonderful tonight."

[Stuartjohn]

7 hours ago, I am the egg man said:

The free for all fighting for the field goal and extra pt. balls was a must watch when there.

Funny that’s what I Remember too! I was 10 years old when my cousin would take me to the games in the old Rockpile

[machine gun kelly]

5 minutes ago, Dan Darragh said:

You weren't a "whoops," you were a "Honey you're looking especially wonderful tonight."

As my mom said so many times, I was a pleasant surprise.  God rest her soul.  
 

That was funny.  Thanks brother, now let’s whoop the J-E-T-S, Jests, Jests, Jests arses.

 

As Boomer used to say, “ITS GAMEDAY”!

[behind a post WMS69]

I went to a bunch of Bills games there, my family had season tickets and I sat "behind a post".

My grandmother also took me to a ton of Bisons games there as well.

That's probably why Highmark doesn't seem so bad to me, I've seen much worse.

[nucci]

1 hour ago, machine gun kelly said:

1.  I’m jealous I’ve never been there.

 

2. You guys are old!  
 

Just kidding.  Thanks for the memory.  My dad talks occasionally about the rockpile.  He’s a dinosaur too at 92 and still kicking.  I was a whoops as my siblings are much older than me.  I remember in college delivering bundles of papers by there (buff news hopper was my college job) and it did look like the Roman coliseum. 

I am

[MarlinTheMagician]

I was there twice with my Dad.  Vs. Raiders in 67 and Pats in 70.  Barely remember 67, but I don't think I was ever as wet and cold as during that Pats game.  James Harris replaced Shaw and almost brought us back.  Joe Kapp on the other side.  I was a big Haven Moses fan.

[nucci]

1 minute ago, MarlinTheMagician said:

I was there twice with my Dad.  Vs. Raiders in 67 and Pats in 70.  Barely remember 67, but I don't think I was ever as wet and cold as during that Pats game.  James Harris replaced Shaw and almost brought us back.  Joe Kapp on the other side.  I was a big Haven Moses fan.

Me too. My Dad bought seasons in '63 I think. 

Edited December 11, 2022 by nucci

[Neo]

3 hours ago, nucci said:

I was there with my Dad

I was there with my grandmother and grand aunt!  Interesting links in the OP.   Bills were 13 point underdogs and fumbled 5 times, losing 3.   Detroit had no turnovers.

[LewPort71]

My dad and co-workers shared season tickets for several years and I was lucky to attend several games.

One year the tickets were two rows up right behind the visitors bench.   Players standing on their benches did

not make for good viewing.

As others have mentioned a game highlight was security chasing after balls kicked into the stands

for extra points of FG.  Ralph was cheap and nets were installed.

[Long Suffering Fan]

10 hours ago, JÂy RÛßeÒ said:

https://www.stadiumsofprofootball.com/stadiums/war-memorial-stadium/
 

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197212100buf.htm

 

 

 

Shaw looks like a modern QB when he drops.  The Lions QB doing that run backwards for a drop back looks so awkward, especially since it is so deep.  No three step drops here.

[BuffaloBill]

Can you imagine the whining today if players had to experience field conditions like that?

 

Loved the dudes in sport coats painting lines  

[Chandler#81]

10 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I went to one Bills game there. My first, the '69 season opener versus the Jets, right after they won the Super Bowl. We lived near St. Stanislaus Parish so my sister and I walked up to Humboldt Park, then down Best to the War Memorial. The place looked like the Roman Colosseum.

33-19, iirc. We managed to tie them in the 3rd before they scored 2 unanswered TDs to win. Rookie OJ Simpson’s 1st game. He scored on a 5 yard run.

[SoCal Deek]

I was there. I remember that it was really damp and cold. Game ended in a tie if I recall correctly....which seemed fitting at the time, as everyone knew we were moving on to better things.

[Chaos]

31 minutes ago, Long Suffering Fan said:

 

Shaw looks like a modern QB when he drops.  The Lions QB doing that run backwards for a drop back looks so awkward, especially since it is so deep.  No three step drops here.

"who often play like their field looks"

[WotAGuy]

First game I remember going to at the Rockpile was against the Raiders in 1968.  George Atkinson had about 200 yards returning kicks and interceptions. 

[Low Positive]

16 minutes ago, Chaos said:

"who often play like their field looks"

"The best the Lions could muster was a 21-all tie, but in this case instead of kissing their sister they kissed the playoffs goodbye."

[Sargent Hulka]

48 minutes ago, Long Suffering Fan said:

 

Shaw looks like a modern QB when he drops.  The Lions QB doing that run backwards for a drop back looks so awkward, especially since it is so deep.  No three step drops here.

I really had high hopes for Dennis Shaw when the Bills drafted him, but it didn't work out. People began saying he threw a loaf of bread.

[chris heff]

My father had season tickets, I went to a lot of games there. As the Bills got worse in the late 1960s my father would give me late season game tickets. There was nowhere to hide from the cold in that place. Saw the Chiefs beat the Bills to go to first AFL NFL Championship (Super Bowl I). One of my favorite memories has nothing to do with a game. There was no parking around the stadium, my father paid two kids to park in “their” driveway. After the game we were greeted by a very angry woman, who had been at church when kids sold her driveway. Watching my father apologize profusely was great.

[PonyBoy]

7 hours ago, LeGOATski said:

You guys are old

But still alive & posting! 

Live long & prosper as they say. 💪👍

[dwight in philly]

I truly am old.. was at the last game , and went as a kid to games  the first season at the Rockpile and thereafter.. The Rockpile took many "hits" in the  media, but for me , always holds a special place , to say the least.. 

[Robert Paulson]

st louis cardinals 10/31 /71 beer kegs in the end zone

 

i was 7

 

[PromoTheRobot]

40 minutes ago, FrenchConnection said:

"The best the Lions could muster was a 21-all tie, but in this case instead of kissing their sister they kissed the playoffs goodbye."

They don't make sports announcers like that anymore.

[PromoTheRobot]

4 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

 

 

2. You guys are old!  
 

 

 

Call it institutional memory. When we say Josh is the greatest ever, we aren't just blowing smoke.

[Eastport bills]

7 hours ago, LeGOATski said:

You guys are old

You got to have good genetics and pure luck to achieve the rewards of advanced age. Hopefully you and your loved ones will get there. It’s something to celebrate not look down your nose at. Most cultures around the world, treat their seniors with great respect and value their wisdom and life experience.

[HOUSE]

I actually had one season ticket there, cost me $55 on the 30 yard line. I took the 8a bus from University plaza all the way to the stadium 25 cents.

I was such a big spender in those days....

[PonyBoy]

5 minutes ago, HOUSE said:

I actually had one season ticket there, cost me $55 on the 30 yard line. I took the 8a bus from University plaza all the way to the stadium 25 cents.

I was such a big spender in those days....

 

Sooo.... you actually did own a wallet at one point in your life is what you are saying? 😀