Tài liệu Rockin'''' the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League pot

Jeffrey J. Miller

ECW Press

Copyright © Jeffrey J. Miller, 2007

Published by ecw press

2120 Queen Street East, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, Canada m4e 1e2

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any process — electronic, mechanical,

photocopying, recording, or otherwise — without the prior written permission

of the copyright owners and ecw press.

library and archives canada cataloguing in publication

Miller, Jeffrey

Rockin’ the rockpile : the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League / Jeffrey J. Miller.

Includes bibliographical references.

isbn 978-1-55022-797-0

1. Buffalo Bills (Football team)—History. I. Title. II. Title: Rocking the rockpile.

GV956.B83M54 2007 796.332’640974797 C2007-903490-X

Typesetting: Gail Nina

Production: Rachel Brooks

Front & back cover photos by Robert L. Smith, Orchard Park, NY

Printed by Thomson-Shore Inc.

distribution

canada: Jaguar Book Group, 100 Armstrong Avenue, Georgetown, on, l7g 5s4

united states: Independent Publishers Group, 814 North Franklin Street,

Chicago, Illinois 60610

printed and bound in the u.s.a.

Contents

v

Acknowledgments vii

Foreword xi

My Path to Buffalo . . . 1

The Birth of the American Football League 65

1960 The Beginning 73

1961 Growing Pains 117

1962 The Arrival 151

1963 Prelude 187

1964 Champions! 227

1965 Repeat! 277

1966 A Game Short 315

1967 The Slippery Slope 355

1968 Disaster 385

1969 As One Era Ends, Another Begins 427

Points After 463

Where Are They Now? 471

Buffalo Bills AFL Player Register 521

Buffalo Bills All-Time Coach Register 535

Buffalo Bills Yearly Statistics 537

Buffalo Bills AFL Records 557

Buffalo Bills Drafts 1960–69 563

AFL Yearly Standings 569

Sources 575

About the Author 577

vi ROCKIN’ THE ROCKPILE

There are many people to thank for their help and support in making this book

a reality. First and foremost are the members of the Bills’ family—the players,

coaches and administrators who gave so generously of their time in sharing

their personal stories, memories and memorabilia. The first player I inter￾viewed was quarterback Warren Rabb back in June of 2005, and the last was

fullback Billy Joe in February 2007. In between, I had the great pleasure of

speaking with more than 60 men connected with the Bills during the 1960s.

Several indulged me by sitting for two or three separate sessions. Many loaned

articles from their personal archives. Their willingness to be a part of this

project made it a more complete and colorful telling of the story.

Special thanks to Billy Shaw, the Bills’ Hall of Fame guard, for writing the

foreword for this book (Great job, Billy!).

I respectfully extend my sincerest gratitude to Denny Lynch, retired archivist

for the Buffalo Bills; Todd Tobias, author of Charging Through the AFL: Los

Angeles and San Diego Chargers Football in the 1960s; Bob Carroll, football his￾torian, author, and Executive Director of the Professional Football Researchers

Association; Dan DiLandro and Peggy Hatfield from the E.H. Butler Library at

Buffalo State College; Ange Coniglio, die-hard fan of the Buffalo Bills and the

American Football League; Randy Schultz, author of Legends of the Buffalo

Bills; Pat Abramoski and Sophie Canahai, wife and daughter of long-time Bills

trainer Eddie Abramoski; Greg Tranter, owner of the largest collection of

Buffalo Bills memorabilia on the planet; Roy Sheppard, the computer wizard;

Scott Berchtold, Bills’ vice president of communications; my friends Michael

Powers and Craig T. Irish for their sage advice; and Mr. Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.,

without whom …

My undying thanks to Jack David, the publisher and president of ecw Press,

for believing in this project, and for providing encouragement and gentle prod￾ding. Thanks also to Tania Craan and all of the fine folks at ecw who worked

so hard to get this book ready for publication.

Thanks to my father, Joe Miller, Sr., and Charlie Weidinger, my little league

football coach, for taking my sister, Nancy, and me to our first Bills game at the

Rockpile back in 1971. The Bills lost to the hated Dolphins that day, but it was

vii

Acknowledgments

a thrill nonetheless! This project is the culmination of a lifelong passion that

began that day.

Thanks to my mother, Dorothy Miller, for supporting and encouraging me

throughout this project. I love you.

And to my wife, Cathaline. You are not unappreciated or unrecognized—

sometimes I simply fail to acknowledge. Thank you for your love and support.

I love you, too. And Ben, it’s finally done!

A complete bibliography appears in the back of this book, but the following

sources were indispensable in forming the framework of this project: Total

Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (Bob

Carroll, et al.); Relentless: The Hard-Hitting History of Buffalo Bills Football (Sal

Maiorana); and Tale of the Tape: A History of the Buffalo Bills from the Inside

(Eddie Abramoski). Also the Buffalo Bills Media Guides (1960–1970), and the

articles and columns appearing daily in the local newspapers of the day,

including the Buffalo Evening News, the Buffalo-Courier Express, the Olean

Times-Herald, the East Aurora Advertiser and the Holland Orbit.

The book you now hold in your hands is the result of more than two years’

work. The manuscript went through numerous changes before emerging in its

final form. I wish to thank the friends who either offered advice or were kind

enough to proofread the text—either in part or in whole—before I felt confi￾dent enough to send it to the publisher, but I also wish to point out that any

errors in content, omission, grammar, typography, etc., are the exclusive prop￾erty of this writer. A heartfelt “thank you” to John C. Gethicker VI, Robin

Carter, Bill Litz, and Bob Carroll for their time and suggestions, regardless of

whether I had learned from past experience and listened to them.

viii ROCKIN’ THE ROCKPILE

Eddie Abramoski, Trainer (1960–96)

Glenn Bass, Wide Receiver (1961–66)

Al Bemiller, Center/Guard (1961–69)

Gary Bugenhagen, Tackle (1967)

Bobby Burnett, Halfback (1966–67)

Chuck Burr, Bills Public Relations Director (1960–65)

Butch Byrd, Cornerback (1964–70)

Bob Cappadona, Fullback (1968)

Wray Carlton, Running Back (1960–67)

Don Chelf, Guard/Tackle (1960–61)

Hagood Clarke, Safety (1964–68)

Paul Costa, Tight End/Tackle (1965–72)

Dick Cunningham, Tackle/Linebacker (1967–72)

Hilton Crawford, Cornerback (1969)

Dan Darragh, Quarterback (1968–70)

Elbert Dubenion, Wide Receiver (1960–68)

Bob Dugan, Guard (1964 Taxi Squad)

Booker Edgerson, Cornerback (1962–69)

Bill Enyart, Fullback (1969–70)

Wolfgang Felgemacher, Kicker (1966 Training Camp)

Ralph Felton, Linebacker (1961–62)

Charley Ferguson, Wide Receiver/Tight End (1963–69)

George Flint, Guard (1962–65, 1968)

Willmer Fowler, Halfback (1960–61)

Pete Gogolak, Kicker (1964–65)

Johnny Green, Quarterback (1960–61)

Joe Hergert, Linebacker/Kicker (1960–61)

Bob Hight, Kicker (1966 Training Camp)

Dick Hudson, Tackle (1963–68)

Harry Jacobs, Middle Linebacker (1963–69)

Billy Joe, Fullback (1965)

Jack Kemp, Quarterback (1962–69)

ix

Listed below are the names of the individuals who lent their

voices to this project …

Mailon Kent, Quarterback (1964–66 Taxi Squad)

Howard Kindig, Defensive End/Center/Tackle (1967–71)

Joe Kulbacki, Halfback (1960)

Roger Kochman, Halfback (1963)

Daryle Lamonica, Quarterback (1963–66)

Jack Laraway, Linebacker (1960)

Richie Lucas, Quarterback/Halfback/Defensive Back (1960–61)

Billy Masters, Tight End (1967–69)

Mike McBath, Defensive End/Tackle (1968–72)

Ron McDole, Defensive End (1963–70)

Pat McGroder III, son of Patrick J. McGroder, Jr. (Bills Vice President)

Mike Mercer, Kicker (1967–68)

Van Miller, Radio Announcer (1960–71, 1979–03)

Chuck Muelhaupt, Guard (1960–61)

Joe O’Donnell, Guard (1964–71)

Warren Rabb, Quarterback (1961–62)

Gary Ramsey, son of Buster Ramsey (Bills Head Coach)

Perry Richards, Wide Receiver (1961)

Ed Rutkowski, Wide Receiver/Quarterback/Cornerback (1963–68)

Lou Saban, Head Coach (1962–65, 1972–76)

George Saimes, Safety (1963–69)

Bob Schmidt, Center (1966–67)

Billy Shaw, Guard (1961–69)

Robert L. Smith, Bills Photographer (1960–2002)

Mike Stratton, Linebacker (1962–72)

Gene Sykes, Safety (1963–65)

Bob Tatarek, Defensive Tackle (1968–72)

LaVerne Torczon, Defensive End (1960–62)

Richard Trapp, Wide Receiver (1968)

Jim Wagstaff, Safety (1960–61)

Chuck Ward, Bills Beat Reporter (Wellsville Daily Reporter, Olean Times-Herald)

Ernie Warlick, Tight End (1962–65)

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., President and Owner (1960–present)

Mack Yoho, Defensive End/Kicker (1960–63)

x ROCKIN’ THE ROCKPILE

by Billy Shaw

(Billy Shaw was a perennial All-AFL selection during his nine-year career with the

Buffalo Bills, and is the only member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to have

played his entire career in the American Football League.)

It was a hot August day in Canton,

Ohio, in 1999. As I stepped to the

podium at the center of the Pro

Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement

Ceremony stage, all sorts of thoughts

raced through my mind. Looking out

and seeing my family in the audience

reminded me that nothing I’d accom￾plished would have been possible

without their love and support.

Seeing my former teammates looking

back at me with admiration in their

eyes humbled me in a way I can’t

describe. Friends from my past and

present called my name and waved to

let me know they were there. And

fans I’d never even met traveled from

Western New York to Canton to show

their support too. All I could think

was, “Oh, what a lucky man I am.”

Of course being elected to the Pro

Football Hall of Fame is the highest honor a player can ever

hope to achieve. But for me—the only player elected to the

Hall of Fame who played his entire career in the American

Football League—it was more than personal recognition. I

xi

FOREWORD

Billy Shaw, War Memorial

Stadium, December 2, 1962

Photo by Robert L. Smith,

Orchard Park, NY

truly felt that day that I was there not just to accept the honor bestowed upon me,

but to share my moment in the sun with all my former teammates and with all

those who like me grew up in the afl. My nine seasons with the afl’s Buffalo Bills

provided me with the fondest of memories and lasting friendships, and rein￾forced my belief that if you work hard and have the will to succeed, nothing is

impossible.

My football odyssey in Buffalo began in 1961. Although I was drafted by both

the Bills in the afl and the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League, I

chose Buffalo because the Cowboys wanted me to play linebacker. The Bills, to

my delight, wanted a lineman. To some it probably didn’t make much sense for

a kid from Vicksburg, Mississippi, to shun the opportunity to play in Dallas in

the established nfl, but Ralph Wilson and his staff convinced me otherwise. It

was the right decision and one I’ve never regretted.

The afl gave young players a chance to play and sometimes an nfl castoff

a second chance to prove he could play. My friend and former teammate, Jack

Kemp, bounced around in the nfl with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York

Giants prior to joining the Los Angeles (San Diego) Chargers. In his first year

in the afl he led the league in passing. What a break for the Bills when we were

able to get Jack off the Chargers’ waiver wire.

Although the afl was perceived as a pass-happy league with little defense,

that wasn’t always the case. In point of fact, in Buffalo, we were primarily a run￾ning team with a strong defense. But with Kemp throwing to the likes of Elbert

“Golden Wheels” Dubenion, Glenn Bass and Ernie Warlick, we could light it up

with the best of them.

The Bills’ defense of my era was more than outstanding. Guys like Tom

Sestak, Mike Stratton, Ron McDole and Butch Byrd could have played in any

league. There is no denying, however, the league as a whole preferred to play a

wide-open style of football. And as history now proves, fans preferred the afl’s

brand of football as evidenced by today’s wide-open offensive attacks.

As a player in the afl, you not only represented a team, you represented an

entire league. You were a member of a football fraternity that was unique.

Constantly compared to the older more established nfl, the afl was looked at

as “the other league.” In fact, as I understand it, “the other league” phrase was a

description the afl owners bestowed upon themselves in 1960 when Lamar

Hunt, Ralph Wilson, and a handful of other entrepreneurs formed the league.

Whatever its roots were, the phrase, like the constant comparison to the older

league, only served to strengthen the bond felt by afl players. When the nfl

said, “Jim Brown,” the afl countered on “Cookie Gilchrist.” When the nfl said,

“Charley Taylor,” the afl offered “Lance Alworth.” We had pride in ourselves,

our team and our league. It was a football family affair.

xii ROCKIN’ THE ROCKPILE

After the Bills’ first championship season in 1964, I remember homemade

signs decorating the rumbling walls of War Memorial Stadium that pro￾claimed, “Bring on the nfl.” The fans weren’t just Bills fans; they were “afl

fans” too. And we agreed with them. After just a few short seasons, the Bills and

several other afl teams were clearly the equal of any nfl team. Without a

doubt, our 1964 team would have matched up nicely against any of the top￾flight nfl teams. Imagine the excitement we felt as players at the prospect of

playing in one of those first four Super Bowls.

Although the pain we felt as players after afl losses in Super Bowls I and II

was substantial, it didn’t even compare to the jubilation we felt after wins in

Super Bowls III and IV. It was as if each and every afl player participated in

those games, and in a sense, we did. The Super Bowl wins were league wins—a

tribute to all that players, coaches, owners and fans had accomplished together.

To understand that feeling is to understand exactly how I felt that day in

Canton in 1999, when I stepped to the podium. It was a tribute to the afl and

the Buffalo Bills.

xiii