NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) — High school reunions are one thing. But when you bring together those who wore the standing buffalo on the field, it’s a different party altogether.
As the Bills get ready for the Baltimore Ravens, alumni from the 1964-65 AFL championship teams gathered at the Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda.
Former Bills Ed Rutkowski, Booker Edgerson and Lou Piccone were among those who gathered to lay out party plans for the Buffalo Bills Alumni Foundation’s 1964-65 championship celebration.
“People ask me, why did I stay in Buffalo? I tell them that I stayed here because of my hometown, because the people here are just like my hometown people,” Edgerson said. “And that makes me feel great.”
The big highlight was the Buffalo-born film ‘Unbillievable’ — which all alumni plan to view next month alongside fans, kicking off the 60-year celebration of the Bills’ 1964-65 AFL championships.
“A good experience taking in the past right to the present,” said Piccone.
The film, from the mind of Buffalo native Scott Rubin, follows three generations of Buffalo fans during a watch party where the team has a chance to win the Super Bowl. The title may be un-believable, but the alumni can’t help but believe in Buffalo’s current roster.
“There are only 13 of us left from that ’64 championship team,” Edgerson said. “So we really, really want the Buffalo Bills to win a Super Bowl. We’re hoping it’s lucky 13.”
Edgerson said the team this year resembles his winning squad all those years ago.
“We’re still striving for the same thing — being No. 1 in the National Football League. And hopefully this is the year that we will have that No. 1 tag put on us,” Edgerson said.
So what do these legends feel will help the Bills make it past the Ravens this week and eventually raise the Lombardi Trophy?
“We have some very good, young, experienced ballplayers,” Piccone said. “You have to know what you’re doing and then execute. If they do that to the game plan, I believe we’ll be a winner moving forward into the Super Bowl.”
The 60-year celebration takes place Feb. 1 at the Rivera Theatre. You can get tickets here. All proceeds will go to the Buffalo Bills Alumni foundation and back into the community.
Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.