48 Years ago today, in Buffalo Bills History

[T&C]

https://www.buffalobills.com/news/april-5-in-bills-history-charging-buffalo-introduced-as-bills-logo-15104242

 

Took a little getting used to but I still love the standing buffalo the best.

 

April 5, 1974 - BILLS INTRODUCE NEW LOGO
The Bills announced a major change in the team's logo for the 1974 season. Gone was the red standing buffalo that had been the team's mark since 1962. It was replaced by a blue charging buffalo with a red streak, the crowning achievement of artist Stevens Wright.

 

How the Bills got their name:

Following the 1946 season, in an effort to generate more fan interest and distinguish the football team from the city's minor league baseball and hockey teams, which also bore the name "Bisons," the team ran a contest to select a new name. Over 4,500 entries were submitted, and "the Bills" won out over "Bullets," "Nickels" and "Blue Devils." Several contestants suggested the winning name, but James F. Dyson was named the winner of the $500 prize based on his essay comparing the team to a band of "Buffalo Bills." He wrote that, while the legendary Indian Scout William "Buffalo Bill" Cody helped trailblaze the American Frontier, the football team (owned by the president of Frontier Oil) was opening a new frontier in Buffalo sports.

[Momma Pecoraro]

Convince OBD to stencil the end zones with 'Buffalo' not 'Bills'.

Edited April 5, 2022 by Momma Pecoraro

[DJB]

 

Back in my day we walked uphill both ways!!! 

[The Wiz]

3 minutes ago, Momma Pecoraro said:

Convince OBD to stencil the end zones with 'Buffalo' not 'Bills'.

This makes me curious, is there a team that has the city name and not the team name in the endzone?

[NI Bills Fan]

25 minutes ago, The Wiz said:

This makes me curious, is there a team that has the city name and not the team name in the endzone?

Baltimore?  Nearly certain I saw that in and end zone recently.

[SoCal Deek]

I remember when the new logo was revealed. Back then, it felt like the Bills had officially made it into the big leagues, leaving behind the more traditional, old-school logo. Rich Stadium had just opened. The Bills were now officially in the NFL.

[RussellDopeland]

28 minutes ago, The Wiz said:

This makes me curious, is there a team that has the city name and not the team name in the endzone?

Washington and Indy

[K-9]

9 minutes ago, NI Bills Fan said:

Baltimore?  Nearly certain I saw that in and end zone recently.

 

This is a recent pic, but they’ve had Baltimore in their endzone before. I recall one with Ravens, the other with Baltimore. 

Edited April 5, 2022 by K-9

[The Wiz]

5 minutes ago, NI Bills Fan said:

Baltimore?  Nearly certain I saw that in and end zone recently.

 

2 minutes ago, RussellDopeland said:

Washington and Indy

Miami does too apparently.  I feel like all of these teams mentioned (other than Washington) have both names, one in each endzone.  

1 minute ago, K-9 said:

well nevermind on that one then.

[T&C]

5 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

I remember when the new logo was revealed. Back then, it felt like the Bills had officially made it into the big leagues, leaving behind the more traditional, old-school logo. Rich Stadium had just opened. The Bills were now officially in the NFL.

What is interesting is that there is no copyright on the standing buffalo but there Is on the charging buffalo. That's why you see all of the cheap knock offs and the stupid mafia stuff using  the standing buffalo.

[SoCal Deek]

25 minutes ago, T&C said:

What is interesting is that there is no copyright on the standing buffalo but there Is on the charging buffalo. That's why you see all of the cheap knock offs and the stupid mafia stuff using  the standing buffalo.

interesting.....I never knew that about the Standing Bison logo. I'm not sure who would've originally drawn it.

[dwight in philly]

I for one, have felt that the white helmet with the standing buffalo worn during the mid 60's rivals any sports logo .. or equip parcel ,  be it the NY for the Yankees, the Habs C with the H in it  .. the Maple Leaf, ..., GB.. anyway, when they first introduced the helmet it only had one red stripe , but they jazzed it a bit by 65 .. just a classic 

Edited April 5, 2022 by dwight in philly

[Chandler#81]

They only added blue helmet stripes in ‘65. Yes, it did jazz it up. Still/always my favorite look!

5 minutes ago, dwight in philly said:

I for one, have felt that the white helmet with the standing buffalo worn during the mid 60's rivals any sports logo .. or equip parcel ,  be it the NY for the Yankees, the Habs C with the H in it  .. the Maple Leaf, ..., GB.. anyway, when they first introduced the helmet it only had one red stripe , but they jazzed it a bit by 65 .. just a classic 

 

[Greg S]

9 minutes ago, dwight in philly said:

I for one, have felt that the white helmet with the standing buffalo worn during the mid 60's rivals any sports logo .. or equip parcel ,  be it the NY for the Yankees, the Habs C with the H in it  .. the Maple Leaf, ..., GB.. anyway, when they first introduced the helmet it only had one red stripe , but they jazzed it a bit by 65 .. just a classic 

 

I like the classic look with the standing buffalo. But the current helmet looks nice as well as the charging buffalo "pops" more off the white helmet then the red helmet. I didn't hate the red helmet but I am glad they went back to the white helmet. It just looks better IMHO.

[dwight in philly]

Absolutely , and never was a fan of the red helmet, but certainly can live with the current white one with the charging buffalo.. always afraid some marketing guru will get into the heads of the "powers that be" and go for  whatever the  current trend  is and we end up with  some half assed blue helmet or the like .

[Greg S]

4 minutes ago, dwight in philly said:

Absolutely , and never was a fan of the red helmet, but certainly can live with the current white one with the charging buffalo.. always afraid some marketing guru will get into the heads of the "powers that be" and go for  whatever the  current trend  is and we end up with  some half assed blue helmet or the like .

 

It reminds me of when the Islanders thought this was a good idea.

 

 

 

[dwight in philly]

10 minutes ago, Greg S said:

 

It reminds me of when the Islanders thought this was a good idea.

 

Exactly.. and even the goat head for the Sabres.. was never a fan of that ..

 

 

[Dopey]

1 hour ago, DJB said:

 

Back in my day we walked uphill both ways!!! 

In the snow

[Old Man]

Never understood the red stripe, just should have the charging Bison (it's not a Buffalo) in red

[Buftex]

I was a little younger when the charging Buffalo came around, but seem to remember most liked it.  Not the red helmets though...they were always pretty ugly.