Place Kicker
No. 5
Syracuse
"George was the Bills' kicker for 11 games last year, finishing with the highest field goal percentage in Buffalo history (12-for-17, .706). He now has a string of four straight field goals, and needs one more to tie the Bills mark for consecutive successful field goals.
He finished third in the AFC kicker rankings. His longest field goal was 49 yards and he hit 4-for-4 inside the 30, 4-for-6 from 30-40 and 4-for-7 from 40 on out.
In 1974 Jakowenko played in six regular season and two playoff games with the Oakland Raiders. He began his professional career as a free agent with St. Louis in 1971.
Jakowenko scored 129 points in his three-year career at Syracuse. He connected of 21 of 51 field goals and 66 of 76 extra points. His career field goals and extra points are both records at Syracuse.
He has a B.S. degree in management data systems and worked for an accounting firm in the off-season. George migrated to the U.S. from Belgium in 1955. He speaks Russian, French and Dutch."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Guide
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Friday, June 17, 2016
1977 Profile: Roland Hooks
Running Back
No. 25
North Carolina State
"A competent backup for O.J. Simpson and valuable kick return man, Roland was a versatile performer for the Bills last year. He was second in both kickoff and punt returns and was the squad's fourth leading rusher. Roland had the longest kickoff return of the year, a 79-yarder against Miami. His best rushing day was against New England when he carried 18 times for 80 yards after O.J. was ejected for fighting. He also caught six passes last year. Roland's combined offensive yardage last year was 754 yards. He missed the entire 1975 season with illness and injury.
Roland was a versatile performer at North Carolina State where he established a record for average yards per rush (5.6 yards, 1,368 yards on 246 carries). He led the Wolfpack with 850 yards and a 6.3-yard average in 1974 while scoring 17 touchdowns. He also holds the N.C. State record of 981 kickoff return yards. In his first varsity game he returned a kickoff 80 yards.
Roland is a history major who enjoys handball."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide
No. 25
North Carolina State
"A competent backup for O.J. Simpson and valuable kick return man, Roland was a versatile performer for the Bills last year. He was second in both kickoff and punt returns and was the squad's fourth leading rusher. Roland had the longest kickoff return of the year, a 79-yarder against Miami. His best rushing day was against New England when he carried 18 times for 80 yards after O.J. was ejected for fighting. He also caught six passes last year. Roland's combined offensive yardage last year was 754 yards. He missed the entire 1975 season with illness and injury.
Roland was a versatile performer at North Carolina State where he established a record for average yards per rush (5.6 yards, 1,368 yards on 246 carries). He led the Wolfpack with 850 yards and a 6.3-yard average in 1974 while scoring 17 touchdowns. He also holds the N.C. State record of 981 kickoff return yards. In his first varsity game he returned a kickoff 80 yards.
Roland is a history major who enjoys handball."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
1977 Profile: Ron Holliday
Wide Receiver
No. 82
Pittsburgh
"Ron injured his knee in the first preseason game last year and missed the entire season. He played 11 games with the San Diego Chargers in 1973, catching 14 passes for 182 yards.
In 1974 and 1975 Ron played in the World Football League with the Philadelphia Bell. Prior to joining the Chargers he had stints with Montreal in the CFL and with the Pennsylvania Firebirds and Norfolk Neptunes in the Atlantic Coast League.
Ron did not play football in college. He was a marketing major at Pittsburgh where he excelled in baseball; at one time he was in the New York Yankees' farm system. Ron's hobby is riding motorcycles."
-1977 Buffalo Bills Press-Radio-TV Guide
No. 82
Pittsburgh
"Ron injured his knee in the first preseason game last year and missed the entire season. He played 11 games with the San Diego Chargers in 1973, catching 14 passes for 182 yards.
In 1974 and 1975 Ron played in the World Football League with the Philadelphia Bell. Prior to joining the Chargers he had stints with Montreal in the CFL and with the Pennsylvania Firebirds and Norfolk Neptunes in the Atlantic Coast League.
Ron did not play football in college. He was a marketing major at Pittsburgh where he excelled in baseball; at one time he was in the New York Yankees' farm system. Ron's hobby is riding motorcycles."
-1977 Buffalo Bills Press-Radio-TV Guide
Monday, June 13, 2016
1977 Profile: John Holland
Wide Receiver
No. 80
Tennessee State
"Holland had a big yardage day as a Buffalo receiver in 1976 when he caught two Joe Ferguson touchdown passes in the Monday Night opener against Miami. The passes were 58 and 53 yards, and his 111-yard total was the biggest day for a Bill last year. He finished the season with 15 catches for 299 yards. Holland also scored a touchdown in the San Diego game when he recovered a Charger bad punt snap in the end zone.
He appeared in 13 games last year, eight as a starting wide receiver. John's biggest day as a pro came in 1975 when he stepped in for the injured Bob Chandler against the Colts and caught six passes for 121 yards, including a 63-yard hookup with Ferguson. He appeared in 12 games in 1975 and saw duty as a kickoff and punt return man. A second round draft choice of the Vikings in 1974, the Bills took him off the waiver wire.
John set a Tennessee State record as a senior with 53 catches for 739 yards and 11 touchdowns and was named a Little All-America. He also played baseball and was drafted by Philadelphia.
John lived in Buffalo during the off-season and played on the Bills' basketball team."
-1977 Buffalo Bills Press-Radio-TV Guide
No. 80
Tennessee State
"Holland had a big yardage day as a Buffalo receiver in 1976 when he caught two Joe Ferguson touchdown passes in the Monday Night opener against Miami. The passes were 58 and 53 yards, and his 111-yard total was the biggest day for a Bill last year. He finished the season with 15 catches for 299 yards. Holland also scored a touchdown in the San Diego game when he recovered a Charger bad punt snap in the end zone.
He appeared in 13 games last year, eight as a starting wide receiver. John's biggest day as a pro came in 1975 when he stepped in for the injured Bob Chandler against the Colts and caught six passes for 121 yards, including a 63-yard hookup with Ferguson. He appeared in 12 games in 1975 and saw duty as a kickoff and punt return man. A second round draft choice of the Vikings in 1974, the Bills took him off the waiver wire.
John set a Tennessee State record as a senior with 53 catches for 739 yards and 11 touchdowns and was named a Little All-America. He also played baseball and was drafted by Philadelphia.
John lived in Buffalo during the off-season and played on the Bills' basketball team."
-1977 Buffalo Bills Press-Radio-TV Guide
Friday, June 10, 2016
1977 Profile: Dwight Harrison
Cornerback
No. 28
Texas A & I
"Buffalo's elevator man- up one week, down the next. Harrison has tremendous potential, but doesn't get what he should from his ability. The fastest Bill, the ran the 100 in 9.5 in college. Teammates call him 'Ripper.'
A slow healer, Harrison is subject to nagging injuries. The Bills are still hoping to solve the puzzle of how to get him to play consistently. The second leading interceptor in the league two years ago with eight, he had just one last year but knocked down 17 passes.
Born in Beaumont, Texas, Harrison doubled as defensive back and receiver at Texas A&I. The Broncos made him their second round draft pick and played him at wide receiver. He was traded to Buffalo for Haven Moses early in his second season.
An outdoorsman, Harrison plays the clarinet and the piano."
-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition
"Dwight started 12 games last year, missing two with a leg injury. He had an interception, increasing his career total with the Bills to 15 and placing him in a tie for seventh place on the all-time Buffalo list. Dwight was credited with 17 passes defensed and 29 tackles last year.
He led the Bills in interceptions in 1975 with eight, the second best total in the AFC. Harrison has played cornerback for four years after being shifted from wide receiver at the beginning of the 1973 season. He tied a Bills record with interceptions in four straight games in 1975.
Dwight led the Bills in interceptions in 1973 with five. He had a 31-yard return of a Marty Domres pass against the Colts that year that gave Buffalo a 24-17 victory in the final minute. The longest interception return of his career was a 40-yarder against the Patriots in '75. Dwight came from Denver in exchange for Haven Moses in October 1972 after being a second round draft choice of the Broncos in 1971.
He was a standout defensive back and receiver at Texas A & I, 'Flanker of the Decade' in the Lone Star conference, All-Conference and a Kodak All-America selection. Harrison played in the Oil Bowl game and was Texas A & I's most valuable player. A cornerstone of the track squad, he once turned in a 9.5 for the 100-yard dash, a 6-8 high jump and a 24-10 long jump.
Business management was his college major, and forestry and conservation are his career interests. Dwight plays both the clarinet and piano and hunting and fishing are his hobbies."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook
No. 28
Texas A & I
"Buffalo's elevator man- up one week, down the next. Harrison has tremendous potential, but doesn't get what he should from his ability. The fastest Bill, the ran the 100 in 9.5 in college. Teammates call him 'Ripper.'
A slow healer, Harrison is subject to nagging injuries. The Bills are still hoping to solve the puzzle of how to get him to play consistently. The second leading interceptor in the league two years ago with eight, he had just one last year but knocked down 17 passes.
Born in Beaumont, Texas, Harrison doubled as defensive back and receiver at Texas A&I. The Broncos made him their second round draft pick and played him at wide receiver. He was traded to Buffalo for Haven Moses early in his second season.
An outdoorsman, Harrison plays the clarinet and the piano."
-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition
"Dwight started 12 games last year, missing two with a leg injury. He had an interception, increasing his career total with the Bills to 15 and placing him in a tie for seventh place on the all-time Buffalo list. Dwight was credited with 17 passes defensed and 29 tackles last year.
He led the Bills in interceptions in 1975 with eight, the second best total in the AFC. Harrison has played cornerback for four years after being shifted from wide receiver at the beginning of the 1973 season. He tied a Bills record with interceptions in four straight games in 1975.
Dwight led the Bills in interceptions in 1973 with five. He had a 31-yard return of a Marty Domres pass against the Colts that year that gave Buffalo a 24-17 victory in the final minute. The longest interception return of his career was a 40-yarder against the Patriots in '75. Dwight came from Denver in exchange for Haven Moses in October 1972 after being a second round draft choice of the Broncos in 1971.
He was a standout defensive back and receiver at Texas A & I, 'Flanker of the Decade' in the Lone Star conference, All-Conference and a Kodak All-America selection. Harrison played in the Oil Bowl game and was Texas A & I's most valuable player. A cornerstone of the track squad, he once turned in a 9.5 for the 100-yard dash, a 6-8 high jump and a 24-10 long jump.
Business management was his college major, and forestry and conservation are his career interests. Dwight plays both the clarinet and piano and hunting and fishing are his hobbies."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook
Saturday, June 4, 2016
1977 Profile: Tony Greene
Free Safety
No. 43
Maryland
"Greene led the Bills in interceptions in 1976 with five thefts for 135 yards. He set a Buffalo record with a 101-yard return for a touchdown against Kansas City on October 3, the longest interception return of the year in the NFL. He started all 14 games at free safety where he earned All-Pro honors in 1974. Greene moved into a second place tie with Booker Edgerson on the Bills' all-time interception list with 24, trailing only Butch Byrd. He was involved in 59 tackles in 1976, credited with two fumble recoveries and knocked down 10 passes.
He started nine games at cornerback in 1975, replacing the injured Robert James. Tony earned All-Pro honors in 1974 despite missing the final two games with a knee injury that required surgery. He was voted by teammates as the Bills' MVP on defense [that year].
Tony ranked second in the NFL with nine interceptions in '74 and tied a Bills record with interceptions in four straight games. Elected permanent defensive captain the last three years, he has 20 interceptions in the last three years. Tony once had a 105-yard interception return against Miami wiped out by a penalty.
He saw action at both cornerback and safety in 1973 after earning a starting berth the previous year. He was used as a kick returner in 1972 and 1973.
Greene was a defensive back and captain of Maryland's 1970 squad and led the Atlantic Coast Conference in interceptions. He was voted as the Terrapins' outstanding defensive back as both a junior and a senior. A sprinter for the Maryland track team, he set records in the 50 (5.3 seconds), 60 (6.0) and 100 (9.5).
He majored in physical education at Maryland. He worked for two years in the off-season for the Commerce Department's Business Management Fellowship Program in Buffalo. Tony was the 1976 winner of the Dodge Man of the Year balloting in Buffalo. He enjoys music and dancing."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide
No. 43
Maryland
"Greene led the Bills in interceptions in 1976 with five thefts for 135 yards. He set a Buffalo record with a 101-yard return for a touchdown against Kansas City on October 3, the longest interception return of the year in the NFL. He started all 14 games at free safety where he earned All-Pro honors in 1974. Greene moved into a second place tie with Booker Edgerson on the Bills' all-time interception list with 24, trailing only Butch Byrd. He was involved in 59 tackles in 1976, credited with two fumble recoveries and knocked down 10 passes.
He started nine games at cornerback in 1975, replacing the injured Robert James. Tony earned All-Pro honors in 1974 despite missing the final two games with a knee injury that required surgery. He was voted by teammates as the Bills' MVP on defense [that year].
Tony ranked second in the NFL with nine interceptions in '74 and tied a Bills record with interceptions in four straight games. Elected permanent defensive captain the last three years, he has 20 interceptions in the last three years. Tony once had a 105-yard interception return against Miami wiped out by a penalty.
He saw action at both cornerback and safety in 1973 after earning a starting berth the previous year. He was used as a kick returner in 1972 and 1973.
Greene was a defensive back and captain of Maryland's 1970 squad and led the Atlantic Coast Conference in interceptions. He was voted as the Terrapins' outstanding defensive back as both a junior and a senior. A sprinter for the Maryland track team, he set records in the 50 (5.3 seconds), 60 (6.0) and 100 (9.5).
He majored in physical education at Maryland. He worked for two years in the off-season for the Commerce Department's Business Management Fellowship Program in Buffalo. Tony was the 1976 winner of the Dodge Man of the Year balloting in Buffalo. He enjoys music and dancing."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
1977 Profile: Van Green
Strong Safety
No. 21
Shaw
"Van appeared in five games last year, seeing special teams duty before being sidelined with a knee injury. Torn cartilage required surgery and he was placed on he Injured Reserve list.
An eighth round draft pick of the Browns in 1973, Green saw action at just about every defensive backfield position with the Cleveland Browns, starting at free safety, strong safety and right cornerback. He had two interceptions in 1974, including one for a touchdown (36 yards), and added another interception in 1975. He is also credited with four fumble recoveries.
Green was a standout at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Guide
No. 21
Shaw
"Van appeared in five games last year, seeing special teams duty before being sidelined with a knee injury. Torn cartilage required surgery and he was placed on he Injured Reserve list.
An eighth round draft pick of the Browns in 1973, Green saw action at just about every defensive backfield position with the Cleveland Browns, starting at free safety, strong safety and right cornerback. He had two interceptions in 1974, including one for a touchdown (36 yards), and added another interception in 1975. He is also credited with four fumble recoveries.
Green was a standout at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Guide
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