Description

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Rockin' the Rockpile is a complete and comprehensive history of the Buffalo Bills AFL era -- from the first meetings of the "Foolish Club" to the eventual merger with the senior NFL -- and it brings to life the stories of a bygone time that fans regard as Buffalo's golden age of sport.

Rockin' the Rockpile resonates with the words of the men who lived it. More than 60 former players, coaches, and administrative staff -- including Ralph Wilson -- shared their thoughts and memories for this book. As this book was intended as a collective memoir of the Buffalo Bills' AFL era, those interviews constitute the foundation upon which this book was written. It offers the average fan a glimpse into the locker room, film room, whirlpool, coach's office, press box, as well as the huddle, to see and hear just what the players and coaches were thinking or saying during a significant game or play.

The Buffalo Bills of the 1960s represent a special time in the collective conscience of Buffalonians, a time when their team was twice champion of the renegade American Football League, and when Jack Kemp, Billy Shaw, Cookie Gilchrist, Mike Stratton, Tom Sestak, Elbert Dubenion, Ron McDole, and O.J. Simpson, captured the imagination of an entire community. They were the antithesis of the high-scoring, pass-happy AFL. When high-powered offenses were the main attraction, the Bills competed, and won, with a ball-control offense and a stingy defense. For three consecutive years, Buffalo's defensive unit was the best in the league, and was one of the best throughout the AFL's history. Western New Yorkers loved this team and its successful approach -- the Buffalo Bills mirrored the community they represented.

About the Author

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Jeffrey J. Miller lives in Springville, New York, with his wife and son. Miller grew up in Lime Lake, New York, and is a lifelong fan of the Buffalo Bills. His previous work includes Buffalo's Forgotten Champions: The Story of Buffalo's First Professional Football Team and the Lost 1921 Title. Miller is a member of the Professional Football Researchers Association, and in 2004 received the Ralph E. Hay Award from the PFRA for career achievement in pro football research and historiography.

Praise For…

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"It's all in there . . . Miller has it down in black and white. . . . Adding to it all are dozens of Smith's Hall-of-Fame-worthy photos . . . the pictures alone are worth the purchase price."  The Buffalo News

"A remarkable feat, providing an exhaustive history of the AFL era. Readers will find the best retelling of the dramatic build-up to the '64 and '65 championships here. There's even a year-by-year breakdown of action on the field and a 'Where are they now' section, not to mention dozens of classic images from every game of the era."  Sports & Leisure Magazine

"You don’t have to be a Buffalo Bills fan to enjoy this book."   The State

"Miller does a masterful job of going beyond the numbers to tell a very insightful story of the people who made the AFLE Buffalo Bills . . . a great read for Bills fans, and sports fans in general."  Polish American Journal

"A beautifully presented book that is both aesthetically pleasing and a wonderful reference, Rockin' the Rockpile is a must for fans of the Bills both new and old and earns five out of five touchdowns."  Buffalo at Home