Tell Me About Average Bills Fans

[NobesBLO13]

3 hours ago, Rocky Landing said:

My neighbor put up a Patriots* flag in his front yard. I spray-painted "cheaters" across the front of their house, slashed all the tires of their cars, and killed their child's pet hamster, which the kid had named Tom. That makes me "average," right?

I would have just started out by leaving a phallic shaped sex toy in their driveway. So I think you’re slightly above average.

Edited August 19, 2021 by NobesBLO13

[Patrick Duffy]

1 hour ago, TheBrownBear said:

never met an "average" fan until I moved from Buffalo to California in my late teens.  I hated those people when I met them and I still hate them today.  Lol

How about the ones that claim they are big fans of a team and a conversation starts, only to realize they know next to nothing about the team they claim to be a huge fan of, or football in general? Lol

 

Have had the pleasure to speak very briefly with a good handful of those. All of a sudden they say to you, " How you think Tyrod gona do for yall this year"? Honestly thinks Tyrod is still Bills QB and it's been 5 years lol

Edited August 19, 2021 by Sheneneh Jenkins

[Don Otreply]

All I can tell you is they are all F ing crazy… 

[Blainorama5]

3 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

but they will miss a game here or there because the wife wants to shop for furniture

If my wife forced me to miss a game because of furniture?  Houston, we'd have a seeeerious problem.

Thankfully, she's a fan too and would never even attempt such a thing.  I would call her more of an average fan though.  She knows (recognizes) a bunch of player names, certainly some history (we've been married 15 years) and has definitely shared in some of the emotional scars that came along with the drought as well as recent playoff losses.  But any real details, more depthful back stories, or camp battles, etc. - she's just not tuned into that stuff.  She's just a Sunday Bills fan - but I love her anyway.

 

And no, she doesn't read fan forums, so I'm not just sucking up.  😉

[Shaw66]

5 minutes ago, Blainorama5 said:

If my wife forced me to miss a game because of furniture?  Houston, we'd have a seeeerious problem.

Thankfully, she's a fan too and would never even attempt such a thing.  I would call her more of an average fan though.  She knows (recognizes) a bunch of player names, certainly some history (we've been married 15 years) and has definitely shared in some of the emotional scars that came along with the drought as well as recent playoff losses.  But any real details, more depthful back stories, or camp battles, etc. - she's just not tuned into that stuff.  She's just a Sunday Bills fan - but I love her anyway.

 

And no, she doesn't read fan forums, so I'm not just sucking up.  😉

My wife is the same.  She knows five players, tops, but watches all the games to me.   She wants me to take her to Boston for away games, so we can go to the Harp and watch with all the other Bills fans.   That's pretty serious.  

[Blainorama5]

4 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

My wife is the same.  She knows five players, tops, but watches all the games to me.   She wants me to take her to Boston for away games, so we can go to the Harp and watch with all the other Bills fans.   That's pretty serious.  

She's clearly a good woman!

[Patrick Duffy]

13 minutes ago, Blainorama5 said:

If my wife forced me to miss a game because of furniture?  Houston, we'd have a seeeerious problem.

Thankfully, she's a fan too and would never even attempt such a thing.  I would call her more of an average fan though.  She knows (recognizes) a bunch of player names, certainly some history (we've been married 15 years) and has definitely shared in some of the emotional scars that came along with the drought as well as recent playoff losses.  But any real details, more depthful back stories, or camp battles, etc. - she's just not tuned into that stuff.  She's just a Sunday Bills fan - but I love her anyway.

 

And no, she doesn't read fan forums, so I'm not just sucking up.  😉

 

6 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

My wife is the same.  She knows five players, tops, but watches all the games to me.   She wants me to take her to Boston for away games, so we can go to the Harp and watch with all the other Bills fans.   That's pretty serious.  

My wife has always been a Ravens fan being from MD. Not a serious type fan or anything. She like Bills also just because of me. She would never force, or ask me to miss a Bills game unless it's an emergency of course. If something has to be done on Sunday, she will literally plan around the game. She knows how dedicated I am and have been all my life since the age of 7.

 

She knows many of the Bills players now and former players. She knows more about Bills than she does of her hometown Ravens lol. Anyways, saw you guys brought up wives and figured I'd mention the ways of mine.

[PonyBoy]

Well...I look at this sight literally at least 2 or 3x a day even during the off season. That would probably label me as above average I guess. 🙂

[Augie]

5 hours ago, ndirish1978 said:

I would posit that there aren't really any "average" fans on this board, as they have taken the effort to sign up for and spend a decent amount of time on this board. Have you been to the boards of some other teams? There are still threads on the front page that are 6 months-1 year old with 16 replies total. 

 

Agreed, if you are here on this board you are more than an “average” fan. Most people do not go to this effort.

 

Our next door neighbor is from Tonawanda and thinks she’s a Bills fan, but in reality I doubt she could name more than a half dozen current players on the team. She will still give you a “Go Bills!” on game days or when I’m wearing Bills gear. But she lacks the deep passion and unhealthy, warped emotional obsession that afflicts so many of us! 

[Coastie]

I always considered myself a bit more than an average fan. I was in my second year of PeeWee football when OJ ran for 2,003 and I abandoned the Vikings (I was a fan because that was the name of my team my first year, I still have fond memories of watching Tarkenton and Foreman) for the Bills and never looked back. It was hard to get much information about the Bills when I was in the service outside my Shout subscription and reading the Sporting News but I always had Bills garb and there always seemed to be a least one other Bills fan at every unit I served at.

 

Once I retired, I began following more closely and found this forum and with Bills Daily it was my lifeline for knowledge. I don't follow college football other than very casually for the local schools so I know next to nothing about the guys coming in or their backstories unless I read it here. I had no preference over which Josh we should draft, I wanted us to trade back for Lamar Jackson since I had watched every game he played at Louisville, my hometown and my college for a few years.

 

I considered myself more average because other than a single overnight on a buoy-tender, I have never even been to Buffalo. Only seen a single Bills game, once in Indy in 1990. I am constantly amazed at the level of knowledge of the posters here and during the season I read nearly everything though my memory is like a sieve so I don't retain most of it. I can't tell you specific play from even last years games, much less from 20 years ago like some of you folks can. But during the game, I am emotionally invested. I enjoy the game day experience and my emotions run high so I do have that trait in common with you all.

Edited August 19, 2021 by Coastie
typos

[Augie]

2 hours ago, Blainorama5 said:

 If my wife forced me to miss a game because of furniture?  Houston, we'd have a seeeerious problem.

Thankfully, she's a fan too and would never even attempt such a thing.  I would call her more of an average fan though.  She knows (recognizes) a bunch of player names, certainly some history (we've been married 15 years) and has definitely shared in some of the emotional scars that came along with the drought as well as recent playoff losses.  But any real details, more depthful back stories, or camp battles, etc. - she's just not tuned into that stuff.  She's just a Sunday Bills fan - but I love her anyway.

 

And no, she doesn't read fan forums, so I'm not just sucking up.  😉

 Our son had an elaborate plan to propose to his wife In Asheville, NC at the Biltmore Estate. Had it all worked out to have both sets of parents there (staying at a different hotel so as not to run into us and give it away) for dinner afterwards, photographer at the proposal site, etc. He proposed while we watched the Bills play at a Bills Backers bar. His wife said “I knew something was up! You NEVER miss a Bills game!” Well, this ONE time he did. 

 

On a related note, their wedding date got moved several times because…..well, you know about the virus thingy. When they settled on a final date he called me and said “OMG, I’m so sorry! That’s the weekend of the draft! I’ll see if we can move it again!” I told him we would survive this one time.  BUT, I did have it all recorded and we ate at the Grove Park Inn’s sports bar that first night!

[Blainorama5]

3 minutes ago, Augie said:

 Our son had an elaborate plan to propose to his wife In Asheville, NC at the Biltmore Estate. Had it all worked out to have both sets of parents there (staying at a different hotel so as not to run into us and give it away) for dinner afterwards, photographer at the proposal site, etc. He proposed while we watched the Bills play at a Bills Backers bar. His wife said “I knew something was up! You NEVER miss a Bills game!” Well, this ONE time he did. 

 

On a related note, their wedding date got moved several times because…..well, you know about the virus thingy. When they settled on a final date he called me and said “OMG, I’m so sorry! That’s the weekend of the draft! I’ll see if we can move it again!” I told him we would survive this one time.  BUT, I did have it all recorded and we ate at the Grove Park Inn’s sports bar that first night!

Love the thorough planning!  Nice to see our loved ones have learned to understand and accommodate our obsession with the Bills!! 

[Rc2catch]

I think Facebook is actually a good spot to see average fans honestly. 
Can’t be too many on here. 
Almost anyone on here has suffered greatly and average fans don’t stick around for what we went through. 
Id have to guess another big year this year and we’ll see a lot of new faces on here. Josh is starting to take that step to national media love and he’s been killing it for fantasy football, it’s silly but that creates a lot of fans. 

[Chandler#81]

2 hours ago, Sheneneh Jenkins said:

 

My wife has always been a Ravens fan being from MD. Not a serious type fan or anything. She like Bills also just because of me. She would never force, or ask me to miss a Bills game unless it's an emergency of course. If something has to be done on Sunday, she will literally plan around the game. She knows how dedicated I am and have been all my life since the age of 7.

 

She knows many of the Bills players now and former players. She knows more about Bills than she does of her hometown Ravens lol. Anyways, saw you guys brought up wives and figured I'd mention the ways of mine.

But.. But.. your avatar is .. well, I don’t think it’s a fella.. NOT that there’s anything WRONG with that.. 

You do you. 😉😁

[Buffalo716]

3 hours ago, Sheneneh Jenkins said:

How about the ones that claim they are big fans of a team and a conversation starts, only to realize they know next to nothing about the team they claim to be a huge fan of, or football in general? Lol

 

Have had the pleasure to speak very briefly with a good handful of those. All of a sudden they say to you, " How you think Tyrod gona do for yall this year"? Honestly thinks Tyrod is still Bills QB and it's been 5 years lol

Been there lol 

 

Not recently, but been there lol 

 

 

[mjd1001]

I'm probably what you would consider an average fan now.

 

Growing up as a kid through the late 80's and 90's I was a lot more than that. Season tickets for 10+ years since I was a teenager. Watched every game. Played as the Bills on all the video games. Took pride in knowing virtually the entire roster every year, knew where each Bills starter ranked among the league leaders in stats, etc. I had Bills hats, t-shirts, jerseys, a Buffalo Bills clock on my wall, posters, all of it.

 

Now, I'm not there anymore, not even close. I follow the conversation on this message board and on Twitter (that is MOST of how I am a fan.)  I watch most games, but not all of them. Haven't been to a game in person in years. Sometimes I start watching the game on Sunday, and after about a hour just start doing something else, checking in on it before it ends.

 

Why?  Not quite sure.  I'm like that with all sports now (especially baseball).  I think a large part of it is...when actually watching the game I don't see much new anymore.  I have seen countless comebacks, countless 50+ yard TD runs with broken tackles, countless game clinching interceptions.  Countless 50+ yard TD throws/catches.  Not much is new anymore.  When I was younger, my first 10+ years of watching football (200+ NFL games total) I was always looking for something I never saw.  I don't really see much that I haven't seen before anymore, so I guess I'm just not that interested.  I actually find the conversation on forums and the offseason more enjoyable than watching the actual games.

Edited August 19, 2021 by mjd1001

[Shaw66]

7 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

I'm probably what you would consider an average fan now.

 

Growing up as a kid through the late 80's and 90's I was a lot more than that. Season tickets for 10+ years since I was a teenager. Watched every game. Played as the Bills on all the video games. Took pride in knowing virtually the entire roster every year, knew where each Bills starter ranked among the league leaders in stats, etc. I had Bills hats, t-shirts, jerseys, a Buffalo Bills clock on my wall, posters, all of it.

 

Now, I'm not there anymore, not even close. I follow the conversation on this message board and on Twitter (that is MOST of how I am a fan.)  I watch most games, but not all of them. Haven't been to a game in person in years. Sometimes I start watching the game on Sunday, and after about a hour just start doing something else, checking in on it before it ends.

 

Why?  Not quite sure.  I'm like that with all sports now (especially baseball).  I think a large part of it is...when actually watching the game I don't see much new anymore.  I have seen countless comebacks, countless 50+ yard TD runs with broken tackles, countless game clinching interceptions.  Countless 50+ yard TD throws/catches.  Not much is new anymore.  When I was younger, my first 10+ years of watching football (200+ NFL games total) I was always looking for something I never saw.  I don't really see much that I haven't seen before anymore, so I guess I'm just not that interested.  I actually find the conversation on forums and the offseason more enjoyable than watching the actual games.

An attitude like that may get you banned here!  It's downright normal.  

[sherpa]

Not an average fan.

First game was in Sep 63 when the Bills tied the Kansas City Chiefs. My uncle took me. Sat behind Chief's receiver Chris Burford's parents. The smell and the excitement got to me.

Throughout grammar school, my best friend's dad was an usher. He could take two with him so my friend and I went to every home game. Standing room only for usher's guests at War Memorial, but never missed a game.

Did one week as a ball boy. Long, complicated story, but got to hand Juice a roll of tape and spot the ball all week for the offense.

It was the H. Preston Ridelhuber game against the Pats. A win. Saw them practice that option a number of times during the week.

 

One game, listening on the radio to Van, my mother insisted that I wash the "storm windows" for installation during half time.

Rushed it and ended up putting my knee through one and four stitches later at Mercy Hospital, the usual loss.

As an adult, during the Super Bowl loss to the Cowboys, fractured a small hand in my right hand as the result of pounding it in a sofa wood trim piece screaming "go" at the Nate Odom's interception in the first half.

 

Three kids, two born in San Francisco during the 49'ers heyday. The two boys are lifelong Bills fans who we share every Sunday afternoon game at my house. Sunday Ticket, big meals.

My daughter is as well, but not in the area.

Two grand daughters, both are being well groomed as Bills fans 

Last week, my son was reading a book with his three year old that had a number of cupcakes displayed. She asked him which cupcake each one of the family would like the most. When she got to me, he told her grandpa would probably like this one with the football on it.

She said, "Grandpa loves the Buffalo Bills." 

[WhoTom]

My Dad was a casual sports fan. The Indians and Browns were the regional teams, and both teams were good ... before my time. I came of age in the early 70s, and while I did cheer for the Cleveland teams like Dad (and my older siblings), it was more likely that there'd be a Mets or Bills game on TV. I became a four-season fan (Bills, Braves, Mets, Sabres), but lost interest in the NBA after the Braves left. By the time I had a driver's license and a job, school, work, and a social life took precedence, especially when I went away to college, so sports went on the back burner. (I did watch the Mets win the '86 World Series when I was in grad school.) Got married in '88, and in '89, we moved to the Midwest for a job. By that point, I hardly ever watched sports.

 

When the Bills made their first Super Bowl, I had to watch. Every year after that, I'd watch them when they were on TV, which wasn't a lot. In '98, when the Magic Flutie took over, my interest was rekindled. Got DirecTV in '99 and thanks to Sunday Ticket, I suffered through the entire drought, game by game. Now I find myself on a Bills message board, pretty much every day.

 

 

[slipkid]

One of my former students down here in SC is probably an “average” fan. A few years ago, she didn’t watch football at all, but after she graduated, her friends in Augusta would meet in a sports bar. They were Falcons or Panthers fans, so she joined in and happened to catch the coverage of Kyle Williams and kids celebrating Boyd’s TD. She got excited, read up on the Bills, thought of me and better understood, and  texted me something like “Go Bills! The playoffs! New fan here—won’t miss a game.”

 

Then she watched “Four Falls of Buffalo,” and as far as I know, hasn’t missed a game since. I do know for certain, however, she couldn’t name more than a half dozen players.

 

All this is to say that the Bills have fans because of their fans. That’s pretty cool!