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Posted

Sorry about the vague title. I don't really know how to title this question. It's rather specific, and something I haven't been able to answer for years. Also, I haven't posted here in a long time, so if my post isn't following the rules, or needs to be moved, by all means do so. 

 

Several summers ago I interned for the Buffalo Bills, writing for the team. In the press room, located to the side of where the writers sit, are several artifacts. Below I have attached a link to the picture of one of the exhibits. The artifact is an old typewriter with an article from the Buffalo Evening News, by Dick Sedler, typed out. The article is dated September 1, 1959. It tells of Ralph Wilson announcing to a crowd of Buffalonians that he was starting an NFL franchise in the city. Below the article is paragraph which states, "Once more the strains of the stirring Buffalo fight song, one of the finest in the realm of football, will resound in the caverns of the Civic Stadium, in parties and wherever else Bills fans gather." 

 

I was hoping an old poster, or a Buffalo sports buff, could remember the "fight song" to which the article is referring. If nothing else, I hope you all find the picture - and snapshot into Bills history - interesting. 

 

Go Bills!

 

https://imgur.com/a/iNNo4Vx

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Posted (edited)
9 minutes ago, StHustle said:

Very interesting. Do you have a clearer image in which the paper can be read? Looks like 1.0 Megapixels was the thing "several summers ago."

 

Sorry, I could find a good way to upload the picture clearly haha

 

The article says, "It was like music to the ears of approximately 600 listeners at the Buffalo Athletic Club's Sports Dinner Monday night when Ralph C. Wilson Jr. crouched over the mike and said: 

 

'They say the pro American football league hasn't even a football: Well I've got news for them: The Buffalo Bills have one.'

 

Timing his remarks and the handling of a box with the precision of a quarterback on a handoff to a halfback, Wilson pulled a football out of the gift wrapped package and held it up in the air. On the ball, in white painted letters were the words: Buffalo Bills 1960. The dining room rang with cheers of the crowd. Almost ten years to the day that the old Buffalo Bills succumbed along with the All-American Conference, the name "Bills" is revived again."

 

10 minutes ago, chaccof said:

I was born shortly after the Bills first game back in the fall of 1960.  I believe the song that is referred to is the song that was played when Buffalo had a team in the old AAFC.  Here's a wiki on it:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Bills_(AAFC)

 

The article refers to the Buffalo Bills which played in the AAFC. So, that is definitely the correct time period. 

Edited by Cub Reporter
Posted (edited)
9 minutes ago, \GoBillsInDallas/ said:

Talk about going back into TBD's past!

 

2004 thread and video:

 

 

 

 

Edit: I did a little research. It appears this fight song was written by Marv Levy. So, it can't be the one referenced to in the article. I didn't know Marv Levy wrote a fight song, so that's another interesting tidbit of Bills history.

Edited by Cub Reporter
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Posted
17 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

I was at the opener in 1960 but the AAFL was before my time.

I was too!  My mom was there and she was 8 month pregnant with me....

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Posted

Yes, it is 100% a reference to the fight song of the original AAFC Buffalo Bills franchise (1946-49). I can't find the lyrics, but here's one reference to it (with an amusing description of perhaps the first instance of Bills fans greeting the team at airports following games):

 

https://buffalonews.com/2019/12/04/bills-playoff-win-causes-a-near-riot-in-baltimore-1948/

 

Also, the fight song is being played in this video, but once again...no lyrics:

 

 

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Posted
1 minute ago, \GoBillsInDallas/ said:

 

Ha ha ha you can't fool me with this. I'm not as dumb as Hapless Bills Fan looks you know.

 

LOL. First time I ever tried it, I saw my opportunity and ran with it. ;)

Posted
50 minutes ago, Cub Reporter said:

Sorry about the vague title. I don't really know how to title this question. It's rather specific, and something I haven't been able to answer for years. Also, I haven't posted here in a long time, so if my post isn't following the rules, or needs to be moved, by all means do so. 

 

Several summers ago I interned for the Buffalo Bills, writing for the team. In the press room, located to the side of where the writers sit, are several artifacts. Below I have attached a link to the picture of one of the exhibits. The artifact is an old typewriter with an article from the Buffalo Evening News, by Dick Sedler, typed out. The article is dated September 1, 1959. It tells of Ralph Wilson announcing to a crowd of Buffalonians that he was starting an NFL franchise in the city. Below the article is paragraph which states, "Once more the strains of the stirring Buffalo fight song, one of the finest in the realm of football, will resound in the caverns of the Civic Stadium, in parties and wherever else Bills fans gather." 

 

I was hoping an old poster, or a Buffalo sports buff, could remember the "fight song" to which the article is referring. If nothing else, I hope you all find the picture - and snapshot into Bills history - interesting. 

 

Go Bills!

 

https://imgur.com/a/iNNo4Vx

 

I believe that the chap you may want would be @BADOLBILZ.

I am told from a reliable source that he knows a damn lot about the history of the Buffalo Bills.

 

Paging....

Posted
25 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I believe that the chap you may want would be @BADOLBILZ.

I am told from a reliable source that he knows a damn lot about the history of the Buffalo Bills.

 

Paging....

 

 

I do not know that.   They were pretty young themselves then but maybe @rockpile or @Guffalo would know or have it somewhere because their families were very involved with the team/booster scene in the 1960's.  

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