plenzmd1 Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 My first game was a preseason game against the Rams. My first real game was a game where we killed Miami, I think JP was still there. My dad wouldn't let me go till I was sixteen because of how rowdy/drunk the crowds were. Except for the kids day. Funny how things change. I was going to Bills games with my brother when he was 16 and i was 14. Started as soon as he got his license in 77. We would go up and scalp 2 to almost every game.Dont think we ever paid more than $10 a seat, prolly did not have more then $12 in our pockets. Leave the house at 9 AM, get home at 6, no phones , no texts, no credit cards...two teenagers traveling from the Falls to Orchard Park, out front scalping tickets. Would never let my kids do that now
BuffaloBill Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 Funny how things change. I was going to Bills games with my brother when he was 16 and i was 14. Started as soon as he got his license in 77. We would go up and scalp 2 to almost every game.Dont think we ever paid more than $10 a seat, prolly did not have more then $12 in our pockets. Leave the house at 9 AM, get home at 6, no phones , no texts, no credit cards...two teenagers traveling from the Falls to Orchard Park, out front scalping tickets. Would never let my kids do that now Yeah ... Yeah ... You just send your kids out to buy your meth .....
plenzmd1 Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 Yeah ... Yeah ... You just send your kids out to buy your meth ..... Meth is bad for the looks, i am heroin chic dude
DrDawkinstein Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 October 20, 1985. A (rare) home win against the Colts. I was 6 so I dont remember much about the actual game. I remember asking a lot of questions, like "which color are we?". I remember meeting the guys who sat next to us, Coach and Fitz. A couple of tobacco chewing jokers in their mid-20s (seemed like old men to me at the time). The next year my parents got divorced so my grandfather gave me his season tickets because he wanted to make sure my dad and I still spent time together (which was never an issue, as my father never lived more than 1.5miles away from us and was always a part of our lives, but I digress). From that next season (1986), I never missed a home game until 2002. Coach and Fitz sat next to us for years, until they remodeled the stadium and our "under the cover" seats became ultra-expensive club seats in 1998. As did the family from Springville (father, mother, 3 sons and 1 daughter) who had the 6 seats directly behind us. As did "Doc" the dentist and human stat database, and his 3 friends who had the 4 seats on the other side of us. As did Brian and Lisa, the couple who sat next to the Springville contingent. Our Section G1 group shared some of the best times in Bills history, and watched the team change from a perennial loser into 4-times AFC champs. All of our families are still close, and we've also shared in each others weddings, graduations, and unfortunately a few funerals over the years. While we are now scattered around the stadium, we still meet to tailgate together before every game. A while back, during one of those tailgates, we were reminiscing about the good ol days when we all met and Coach and Fitz would jokingly offer 8 year old me their chewing tobacco with the question "Care for a breath mint?". We were talking about how many years we had been doing this, and with some quick math realized I was now older than Coach and Fitz were at the time of that first meeting. It truly put all of those years, and games, and experiences into perspective, and made us appreciate them. I share all of this because this is what the Bills are about to me. Bringing people together, bringing "family" together. Its why the Bills are such an important and large part of my life. It's more than just the stupid game being played on the field, or the diva players holding out for more money. And I dont think I am unique in that way. I think it is a major reason why Buffalonians seem to care more about their team than any other NFL city (except maybe Green Bay fans who probably have similar stories). To close on a joke, one of my first Bills memories comes from the 1986 season during the brief strike that went down that year. As we were pulling into the stadium lot Fred Smerlas and Darryl Talley jumped in front of our car. They were angry that we were crossing their picket line, and were yelling at my dad that he would take me to see "a bunch of scabs playing sub-par football" and "that's not even real football being played, man!". My dad rolled down the window and replied "You guys were 4-12 and 2-14 the last 2 years. How much worse could it be?!?". They had no reply and sulked off. Hahahaha, same ol Bills. :beer:
Johnny Hammersticks Posted April 7, 2015 Author Posted April 7, 2015 To close on a joke, one of my first Bills memories comes from the 1986 season during the brief strike that went down that year. As we were pulling into the stadium lot Fred Smerlas and Darryl Talley jumped in front of our car. They were angry that we were crossing their picket line, and were yelling at my dad that he would take me to see "a bunch of scabs playing sub-par football" and "that's not even real football being played, man!". My dad rolled down the window and replied "You guys were 4-12 and 2-14 the last 2 years. How much worse could it be?!?". They had no reply and sulked off. Hahahaha, same ol Bills. :beer: That is absolutely hilarious!! Good for your Dad.
PromoTheRobot Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 1969 home opener vs the SB champion Jets. Joe Namath vs Jack Kemp (plus Tom Flores and James Harris.)
Gordio Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 To close on a joke, one of my first Bills memories comes from the 1986 season during the brief strike that went down that year. As we were pulling into the stadium lot Fred Smerlas and Darryl Talley jumped in front of our car. They were angry that we were crossing their picket line, and were yelling at my dad that he would take me to see "a bunch of scabs playing sub-par football" and "that's not even real football being played, man!". My dad rolled down the window and replied "You guys were 4-12 and 2-14 the last 2 years. How much worse could it be?!?". They had no reply and sulked off. Hahahaha, same ol Bills. :beer: Man that is hilarious. I would of loved to see Smerlas' face when your dad said that.
DrDawkinstein Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 Man that is hilarious. I would of loved to see Smerlas' face when your dad said that. If memory serves me correctly, it was a look of stunned disgust and defeat before they just turned and walked away. It's one of my dad's favorite Bills stories to tell. I think it does a great job illustrating the fans' long running love/hate relationship with the team. We still went to the games, and we still cheered for those players when they eventually returned.
plenzmd1 Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 If memory serves me correctly, it was a look of stunned disgust and defeat before they just turned and walked away. It's one of my dad's favorite Bills stories to tell. I think it does a great job illustrating the fans' long running love/hate relationship with the team. We still went to the games, and we still cheered for those players when they eventually returned. Just one little nitpick..strike was 87. I remember going to the Giants game during the strike...that 6-3 classic, but do not remember the picket lines. We got there after kickoff though, so they had prolly packed it in by then
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 Just one little nitpick..strike was 87. I remember going to the Giants game during the strike...that 6-3 classic, but do not remember the picket lines. We got there after kickoff though, so they had prolly packed it in by then The strike was before my time. Did any of the "scab" players stay or make anything of themselves?
DrDawkinstein Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 Just one little nitpick..strike was 87. I remember going to the Giants game during the strike...that 6-3 classic, but do not remember the picket lines. We got there after kickoff though, so they had prolly packed it in by then Ah yes, 87. My bad. Hey, I was 8! Gimme a break! And that would make sense since the Bills were 4-12 in 86 and 2-14 in 85.
plenzmd1 Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 The strike was before my time. Did any of the "scab" players stay or make anything of themselves? Not from the Bills..outside the immortal Willie Totten at QB, cant remember a one of them ...but Totten was a gamer!
DrDawkinstein Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 The strike was before my time. Did any of the "scab" players stay or make anything of themselves? Not that I know of. But a number of real players crossed the lines themselves. Per Wikipedia: The NFLPA went on strike for a month in 1987 upon the expiration of the 1982 CBA; the league's free-agent policy was the major matter in dispute.[41] This time, however, the strike only canceled one week of the season. For three weeks, the NFL staged games with hastily assembled replacement teams,[30][42] made up principally of players cut during training camp and players left out of work from the closure of the United States Football League two years prior (along with, to a lesser extent, the Montreal Alouettes, who had folded just three months prior to the strike). They were joined by a few veterans who crossed the picket lines,[30] including New York Jets defensive end Mark Gastineau, Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Randy White, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana, New England Patriots quarterback Doug Flutie, and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Steve Largent.[42]
eball Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 Just one little nitpick..strike was 87. I remember going to the Giants game during the strike...that 6-3 classic, but do not remember the picket lines. We got there after kickoff though, so they had prolly packed it in by then My dad and I were at that game...it was during fall break so I was home from college, and we had planned on going to the game prior to the start of the season so nobody considered it could be a scab game. Ugliest display of football ever seen. LT broke the picket line and played. The Bills' scab kicker (Todd Schlopy) was 2/5 on FGs and the Bills turned it over SEVEN times -- but they won, 6-3, in the final minute of OT, and the crowd still in the stands chanted "Schlopy, Schlopy, Schlopy..."
plenzmd1 Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 In that Giants game at then Rich Stadium, LT needed some blow and was out of cash...so he played both ways for the Giants and just dominated. My dad and I were at that game...it was during fall break so I was home from college, and we had planned on going to the game prior to the start of the season so nobody considered it could be a scab game. Ugliest display of football ever seen. LT broke the picket line and played. The Bills' scab kicker (Todd Schlopy) was 2/5 on FGs and the Bills turned it over SEVEN times -- but they won, 6-3, in the final minute of OT, and the crowd still in the stands chanted "Schlopy, Schlopy, Schlopy..." that game was awesome though...like 10,000 people, sit wherever you wanted, no beer lines..just a ton of fun
DrDawkinstein Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 (edited) My dad and I were at that game...it was during fall break so I was home from college, and we had planned on going to the game prior to the start of the season so nobody considered it could be a scab game. Ugliest display of football ever seen. LT broke the picket line and played. The Bills' scab kicker (Todd Schlopy) was 2/5 on FGs and the Bills turned it over SEVEN times -- but they won, 6-3, in the final minute of OT, and the crowd still in the stands chanted "Schlopy, Schlopy, Schlopy..." That's hilarious. Good ol Bills fans. :beer: I remember the Colts game from that year too, because of how empty the stadium was. It seemed like my dad and I were the only ones at the stadium, and I recall moving around to a bunch of different seats all over the place (50 yard line, front row, etc), just because we could. edit: Wow, sure enough, wikipedia shows the attendance of that game at 9,860! Wonder if that was lowest attendance on record?? Edited April 7, 2015 by DrDareustein
CowgirlsFan Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 Mine was an away game. In Charlotte with Aussiew and the group. Trent was knocked out in AZ the week before. Bills WON!! What a blast it was chanting "Let's go Buffalo" going down the ramp from the upper deck!! Have seen the Bills play 7 times and the Charlotte game was the only time to have seen them win.
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 That's hilarious. Good ol Bills fans. :beer: I remember the Colts game from that year too, because of how empty the stadium was. It seemed like my dad and I were the only ones at the stadium, and I recall moving around to a bunch of different seats all over the place (50 yard line, front row, etc), just because we could. edit: Wow, sure enough, wikipedia shows the attendance of that game at 9,860! Wonder if that was lowest attendance on record?? Nope. 216. CGFs Cowgirls. 216. Same year though for the same reason. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198711220dal.htm
DrDawkinstein Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 Nope. 216. CGFs Cowgirls. 216. Same year though for the same reason. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198711220dal.htm I meant at Rich Stadium/RWS
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 I meant at Rich Stadium/RWS Oh, yeah, that has to be it.
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