Buffalo Bills

Sports fan from all over the country and even the rest of the world know that the Bills are the members of the professional football team from Buffalo, New York. This team, which played seven of its eight home games in Orchard Park, competes in the National Football League, Eastern Division. The franchise started in 1960 as one of the American Football League's charter members. The team was also first to join the NFL after the merger of the AFL and the NFL in 1970. The Buffalos have become famous when they won two consecutive AFL championships in 1964 and 1965. However, after the merger, the club has yet to win a single title. The franchise got its Bills name after the All-American Football Conference Buffalo Bills team. The AAFC Buffalo Bills team, in turn, got its name from William Frederick Cody. It is also important to note that the Bills are not the only NFL franchise that hail from New York State. Other New York NFL teams are the New York Giants and the New York Jets.

Much like any other NFL teams, the Buffalo Bills sported many team traditions that have persisted throughout the years. First of which is the Buffalo Jills, who simply are the cheerleaders of the Buffalos. In 1960, Buffalo cheerleaders were composed of only 8 members and they were just known as the Buffalo Bills Cheerleaders. However, in recent years, a group of women who wore revealing wool costumes formed the Buffalo Jills. Unlike other NFL teams' cheerleaders, the Buffalo Jills are not really sponsored by the team they are cheering for. Instead, they are sponsored by WGRF, WEDG, and WHTT stations of Citadel Broadcasting.

Still like other NFL franchises, the Buffalo Bills have also undergone several logo and uniform changes. In the 1960s, the team colors were white, royal blue and silver. These colors were very much similar to the ones used by the Detroit Lions. In 1962, the Bills changed not only their helmets from silver with blue numbers to white with a bison logo, but they also changed the colors to red, blue and white. In 1965, the team added blue and red stripes on the helmet. At present, the Bills wear scarlet helmets with two white, one navy blue, two nickel, and two royal blue stripes plus a white facemask. Meanwhile, the bison logo is now royal blue with a streak of scarlet, white horn, and an eyeball with a pupil that is royal blue. The most famous fight songs of the team include "Talkin Proud" by Alden Schutte, "Go Bills!" by Marv Levy, "Buffalo Bills Shout" by Buffalo Bills All-Star and "Feel the Power" by an unknown artist.

Even if the Buffalo Bills have not won a single championship since the 70s, the team boasts of very popular personalities. Probably the most popular player of the team is OJ Simpson, who was a running back in the class of 1985. Other Hall of Fame players from the Buffalo franchise include James Lofton, Thurman Thomas, and Marv Levy.

Writer and editor, Freddie Brister, is a former high school football coach of 25 years. His love of the game of football is reflected in his words and memories of growing up in the South and playing football in the back yard with his brother, cousins and neighborhood friends. His biggest thrill is watching former high school players he has coached play at the college level. His favorite pastime is watching NFL football on tv and attending the games in person every chance he gets. Freddie Brister is a huge fan of the NFL and the Buffalo Bills. Check out his Buffalo Bills Doormat or his Buffalo Bills Blankets