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Patriots may replace Miami as top rival....
New coach Gregg Williams, entering his second season, as the headmaster of the young Billies may have to wait to develop a coaching rivalry with an opposing coach.
There's nothing like a good old "lets-take-it-to-'em" rivalry to get the fans into it. The Bills vs. the Dolphins was something special. It was Levy vs. Shula. Second place went to Levy vs. Parcells with the Giants, Pats and Jets. Bills fans loved to hate Shula and Parcells whenever they faced off against against the Bills - especially the Dolphins. The fans at the tunnel were at the ready for Brian Cox whenever he sauntered out on the field with a salute that would make a sailor blush. Shula got his from the fans behind the visitor's bench. There was as much yapping about the coaches as there was about the players and the game itself.
The rivalry with the Dolphins isn't what it used to be. It would have been nice if Cleveland and Pittsburgh would have been put in the same division with the Bills since that would create some good rivalries with Williams (and Tom Donahoe) going at it with Bill Cowher. Playing these cities twice a year would insure sell-outs at each stadium. The Bills did not want to lose the Dolphin games so they're stuck with Miami, New England and the Jets. To me, the Patriots will probably replace Miami as the #1 target each year with the Jets running second. Before last season, there was always something special between the head coach of the Bills and coaches from other teams that stirred the passion of the Bills fans. There was as much talk about opposing coaches as there was about the game or players. We've mentioned Shula and Parcells. Add slick-haired Jimmy Johnson and you can even go back to the All America Football Conference Days when Paul Brown was targeted by the Bills fans when the Cleveland Browns would dominate the local team. Brown had the likes of Otto Graham, Mac Speedie, Dante Lavelli, Marion Motley and the toe Lou Groza. ...MORE...
New coach Gregg Williams, entering his second season, as the headmaster of the young Billies may have to wait to develop a coaching rivalry with an opposing coach.
There's nothing like a good old "lets-take-it-to-'em" rivalry to get the fans into it. The Bills vs. the Dolphins was something special. It was Levy vs. Shula. Second place went to Levy vs. Parcells with the Giants, Pats and Jets. Bills fans loved to hate Shula and Parcells whenever they faced off against against the Bills - especially the Dolphins. The fans at the tunnel were at the ready for Brian Cox whenever he sauntered out on the field with a salute that would make a sailor blush. Shula got his from the fans behind the visitor's bench. There was as much yapping about the coaches as there was about the players and the game itself.
The rivalry with the Dolphins isn't what it used to be. It would have been nice if Cleveland and Pittsburgh would have been put in the same division with the Bills since that would create some good rivalries with Williams (and Tom Donahoe) going at it with Bill Cowher. Playing these cities twice a year would insure sell-outs at each stadium. The Bills did not want to lose the Dolphin games so they're stuck with Miami, New England and the Jets. To me, the Patriots will probably replace Miami as the #1 target each year with the Jets running second. Before last season, there was always something special between the head coach of the Bills and coaches from other teams that stirred the passion of the Bills fans. There was as much talk about opposing coaches as there was about the game or players. We've mentioned Shula and Parcells. Add slick-haired Jimmy Johnson and you can even go back to the All America Football Conference Days when Paul Brown was targeted by the Bills fans when the Cleveland Browns would dominate the local team. Brown had the likes of Otto Graham, Mac Speedie, Dante Lavelli, Marion Motley and the toe Lou Groza. ...MORE...
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