Linebackers Coach
"John Ray's varied coaching career includes experience at every level of the game- high school, college and professional.
A native of South Bend, Indiana, Ray has been closely associated with Notre Dame, as a student and football center for one year (1944) and for five seasons as an assistant coach. When his college education was interrupted by Army Service in World War II, Ray transferred from Notre Dame to Olivet College, where he received his B.A. degree in 1950.
Upon graduation, Ray immediately accepted a job as assistant football coach at Sturgis (Michigan) High School and, two years later, a head coaching position at Three Rivers (Michigan) High. Named to the University of Detroit staff in 1955, Ray served as an assistant for four seasons before becoming head coach at John Carroll University in Cleveland. His five-year record of 29-6 included three undefeated seasons and a string of six national defensive marks.
Ray left to join Ara Parseghian at Notre Dame, helping assemble the Irish's 1966 National Championship squad. He was Irish defensive coordinator for five seasons and assistant head coach, as well, for two. In December 1968, Ray was chosen head football coach at the University of Kentucky. He rebuilt the Wildcats' sagging football fortunes and , in the process, scored major upsets over Mississippi and Kansas State.
Ray became the Bills linebacker coach in 1973."
-Buffalo Bills 1975 Yearbook
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
1975 Profile: Stan Jones
Defensive Line Coach
"An All-America tackle at the University of Maryland, where he played on Jim Tatum's 1953 national titlists, Stan Jones has been a coaching companion of Lou Saban since 1967 when he joined Lou's Denver Bronco staff. Moving to Buffalo with Saban in 1972, Jones has responsibility for the Bills' defensive line.
During his varsity career at Maryland, Jones appeared in the Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl and College All-Star Game. The Terrapin All-America was runner-up in the 1953 balloting for the Outland Trophy.
Picked by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 1954 collegiate draft, Jones played 12 years in Chicago, nine years as an offensive guard and three as a defensive tackle. Captain of the Bears for three seasons, Stan was named to the All-Pro team four times and played in seven NFL Pro Bowl games. He closed out his career with the Washington Redskins in 1966.
Jones got his start in pro coaching at Denver, where he also handled the defensive line. In five seasons, he developed such Bronco standouts as Lyle Alzado, Pete Duranko, Rich Jackson and Paul Smith before leaving for Buffalo."
-Buffalo Bills 1975 Yearbook
"An All-America tackle at the University of Maryland, where he played on Jim Tatum's 1953 national titlists, Stan Jones has been a coaching companion of Lou Saban since 1967 when he joined Lou's Denver Bronco staff. Moving to Buffalo with Saban in 1972, Jones has responsibility for the Bills' defensive line.
During his varsity career at Maryland, Jones appeared in the Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl and College All-Star Game. The Terrapin All-America was runner-up in the 1953 balloting for the Outland Trophy.
Picked by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 1954 collegiate draft, Jones played 12 years in Chicago, nine years as an offensive guard and three as a defensive tackle. Captain of the Bears for three seasons, Stan was named to the All-Pro team four times and played in seven NFL Pro Bowl games. He closed out his career with the Washington Redskins in 1966.
Jones got his start in pro coaching at Denver, where he also handled the defensive line. In five seasons, he developed such Bronco standouts as Lyle Alzado, Pete Duranko, Rich Jackson and Paul Smith before leaving for Buffalo."
-Buffalo Bills 1975 Yearbook
Sunday, September 27, 2015
1975 Profile: Ed Cavanaugh
Special Assignments Coach
"Ed Cavanaugh was in college coaching for almost 20 years, four of them as football skipper at Idaho State University (1968-71). In a career that began in 1954, Cavanaugh also served as a collegiate assistant at Kansas State (1954-58), the University of Arizona (1959-66) and Utah State (1967).
An offensive lineman for the legendary Wallace Wade at Duke University, Cavanaugh graduated in 1951 after winning two football letters for the Blue Devils. He entered the Navy after leaving Duke and became player/coach of the Bainbridge (MD) Naval Training Center team.
Following separation from the service, Ed took a job as assistant football coach at Petersburg (VA) High School. He was head freshman coach for three years and offensive line mentor for two at Kansas State, served as line coach for eight seasons at Arizona and was appointed offensive coordinator at Utah State in 1967. A four-year tenure as head coach at Idaho State followed.
Cavanaugh's Buffalo responsibilities include the kicking and punting games and the handling of the Bills' special teams."
-1975 Buffalo Bills Yearbook
"Ed Cavanaugh was in college coaching for almost 20 years, four of them as football skipper at Idaho State University (1968-71). In a career that began in 1954, Cavanaugh also served as a collegiate assistant at Kansas State (1954-58), the University of Arizona (1959-66) and Utah State (1967).
An offensive lineman for the legendary Wallace Wade at Duke University, Cavanaugh graduated in 1951 after winning two football letters for the Blue Devils. He entered the Navy after leaving Duke and became player/coach of the Bainbridge (MD) Naval Training Center team.
Following separation from the service, Ed took a job as assistant football coach at Petersburg (VA) High School. He was head freshman coach for three years and offensive line mentor for two at Kansas State, served as line coach for eight seasons at Arizona and was appointed offensive coordinator at Utah State in 1967. A four-year tenure as head coach at Idaho State followed.
Cavanaugh's Buffalo responsibilities include the kicking and punting games and the handling of the Bills' special teams."
-1975 Buffalo Bills Yearbook
Saturday, September 26, 2015
1975 Profile: Bill Atkins
Defensive Backs Coach
"An All-Pro defensive back for the Bills in the early 1960's, Bill Atkins gave up the twin responsibilities of football coach and athletic director at Troy State (Alabama) University to become part of Lou Saban's Buffalo staff in 1972.
A fullback, linebacker, punter and kickoff specialist, Atkins was an All-Conference choice and MVP of Auburn University's 1957 National Champions. He set school records for touchdowns (11) and points (84) in a single season. Bill was chosen to play in the North-South Shrine Game, Senior Bowl and College All-Star Game at the conclusion of his undergraduate career.
A third round draft choice of the San Francisco 49ers, Atkins played two seasons in the NFL before signing with the Bills in 1960. He had his best year in 1961 when he led the Bills in pass interceptions with 10 and punting with a 45.0 average. Both are still club records. He was named to the AFL All-Pro squad and participated in the 1961 League all-star game. Atkins also won the NFA Third Down Award, made on the basis of a vote by his Buffalo teammates.
Traded to the Jets in 1963, Bill was back briefly with Buffalo in 1964 before finishing up his playing career in Denver. He was appointed head coach and athletic director at Jordan High School in Columbus, Georgia in 1965, and a year later went to Troy State."
-Buffalo Bills 1975 Yearbook
"An All-Pro defensive back for the Bills in the early 1960's, Bill Atkins gave up the twin responsibilities of football coach and athletic director at Troy State (Alabama) University to become part of Lou Saban's Buffalo staff in 1972.
A fullback, linebacker, punter and kickoff specialist, Atkins was an All-Conference choice and MVP of Auburn University's 1957 National Champions. He set school records for touchdowns (11) and points (84) in a single season. Bill was chosen to play in the North-South Shrine Game, Senior Bowl and College All-Star Game at the conclusion of his undergraduate career.
A third round draft choice of the San Francisco 49ers, Atkins played two seasons in the NFL before signing with the Bills in 1960. He had his best year in 1961 when he led the Bills in pass interceptions with 10 and punting with a 45.0 average. Both are still club records. He was named to the AFL All-Pro squad and participated in the 1961 League all-star game. Atkins also won the NFA Third Down Award, made on the basis of a vote by his Buffalo teammates.
Traded to the Jets in 1963, Bill was back briefly with Buffalo in 1964 before finishing up his playing career in Denver. He was appointed head coach and athletic director at Jordan High School in Columbus, Georgia in 1965, and a year later went to Troy State."
-Buffalo Bills 1975 Yearbook
Thursday, September 24, 2015
1975 Profile: Lou Saban
Vice-President and Head Coach
"Lou Saban was on hand when the American Football League launched its bold new experiment on July 30, 1960, with a preseason game with the Boston Patriots, Saban's team then, and the Buffalo Bills, his team now.
Playing in Buffalo, where he has since achieved spectacular success in two different tours as head coach of the Bills, Saban directed the visiting Patriots to a 28-7 victory that got the AFL off and running.
That first game is only one of the many milestones Saban has marked in his 15 seasons of professional coaching. Others include:
-the AFL's first regular season game (9/9/60)- Denver 13,Boston 10;
-the AFL's first divisional playoff game (12/28/63)- Boston 26, Buffalo 8;
-the first AFL-NFL preseason game (8/5/67)- Denver 13, Detroit 7;
-the last game to be played in New York's Polo Grounds (12/8/63)- Buffalo 19, New York Jets 10.
It was also Saban who produced the AFL's first 1,000-yard rusher, fullback Cookie Gilchrist (1,098 yards) in 1962. He has since developed two more- Floyd Little at Denver and O.J. Simpson. Saban's 1973 Bills set a standard for rushing excellence unmatched in NFL annals when, triggered by Simpson's record 2,003-yard year, they became the first team in history to gain more than 3,000 yards on the ground.
In the three seasons since his return to Buffalo, Saban has restored the Bills to the stature they enjoyed with back-to-back AFL titles in the mid-1960s. The Bills' 9-5 record of a year ago put them in the playoffs for the first time since 1966.
Lou's personal mark in seven seasons as skipper of the Bills is 58-36-4, a winning percentage of almost 60%. Only one of his clubs finished with less than a winning season, and his 1964 AFL champions reeled off 12 triumphs, still the Bills' best effort ever.
Born in on October 13, 1921 in Brookfield, Illinois, Saban was a single-wing quarterback at the University of Indiana under Bo McMillan. Captain of the Hoosiers, he was the team's MVP in 1942. His collegiate playing career was cut short by World War II. Saban served in the Army for four years, much of it as a Chinese language interpreter in the China-Burma theatre.
Returning from service, Saban caught on as a free agent with the fledgling Cleveland Browns of the infant All-America Football Conference. He played linebacker for Paul Brown's powerhouse teams of the late '40s, appearing in four consecutive Conference championship games and earning a berth on league all-star teams in both 1948 and 1949.
Captain of the Browns' undefeated (14-0) 1948 squad, Saban intercepted 13 passes in his four-year playing career. In addition to linebacker, he was also Otto Graham's backup at quarterback although, 'thankfully,' as Lou puts it, 'Otto was able to play most of the time.' Injuries to both shoulders forced Saban to retire following the 1949 season.
First stop on a coaching career that now spans 25 years was Case Institute in Cleveland, where Saban directed the football program for three seasons (1950-52). He moved to the University of Washington as an assistant in 1953 and to Northwestern in the same capacity a year later. Named head coach of the Wildcats in 1955, Saban left Evanston after one season and spent the next year in private business.
Western Illinois University beckoned in 1957 and Saban accepted the assignment of rebuilding the Leathernecks' football fortunes. He did it in dramatic fashion, taking Western from a 5-4 record in his rookie season to an unbeaten 9-0 mark in 1959.
His success at Western Illinois attracted the attention of the Boston Patriots, who selected Saban as the first coach of the new American Football League club. The Patriots won five games in their initial season and were 2-3 after five weeks of the 1961 campaign when Saban was replaced by Mike Holovak.
Ralph Wilson promptly hired Lou as the Bills' Director of Player Personnel, and a year later (1962) gave him the Buffalo coaching job. The move paid off with AFL titles in 1964 and 1965, back-to-back AFL Coach of the Year citations for Saban, and a flood of Buffalo victories.
A yearn to return to college coaching took Saban to Maryland in 1966, but a year later he was back in professional football as general manager-head coach of the Denver Broncos. The Broncos' stock rose steadily on the field and off under Saban's imaginative leadership. His effort was instrumental in a $1.8 million stadium renovation and his judgement of player personnel laid the foundation for the Broncos' recent successes.
Saban's triumphant return to Buffalo quickened the pulses of victory-hungry Bills fans. 'The Buffalo Bills,' one writer put it, 'are pinning their hopes on the second coming of their very own messiah.'"
-Buffalo Bills 1975 Yearbook
"Lou Saban was on hand when the American Football League launched its bold new experiment on July 30, 1960, with a preseason game with the Boston Patriots, Saban's team then, and the Buffalo Bills, his team now.
Playing in Buffalo, where he has since achieved spectacular success in two different tours as head coach of the Bills, Saban directed the visiting Patriots to a 28-7 victory that got the AFL off and running.
That first game is only one of the many milestones Saban has marked in his 15 seasons of professional coaching. Others include:
-the AFL's first regular season game (9/9/60)- Denver 13,Boston 10;
-the AFL's first divisional playoff game (12/28/63)- Boston 26, Buffalo 8;
-the first AFL-NFL preseason game (8/5/67)- Denver 13, Detroit 7;
-the last game to be played in New York's Polo Grounds (12/8/63)- Buffalo 19, New York Jets 10.
It was also Saban who produced the AFL's first 1,000-yard rusher, fullback Cookie Gilchrist (1,098 yards) in 1962. He has since developed two more- Floyd Little at Denver and O.J. Simpson. Saban's 1973 Bills set a standard for rushing excellence unmatched in NFL annals when, triggered by Simpson's record 2,003-yard year, they became the first team in history to gain more than 3,000 yards on the ground.
In the three seasons since his return to Buffalo, Saban has restored the Bills to the stature they enjoyed with back-to-back AFL titles in the mid-1960s. The Bills' 9-5 record of a year ago put them in the playoffs for the first time since 1966.
Lou's personal mark in seven seasons as skipper of the Bills is 58-36-4, a winning percentage of almost 60%. Only one of his clubs finished with less than a winning season, and his 1964 AFL champions reeled off 12 triumphs, still the Bills' best effort ever.
Born in on October 13, 1921 in Brookfield, Illinois, Saban was a single-wing quarterback at the University of Indiana under Bo McMillan. Captain of the Hoosiers, he was the team's MVP in 1942. His collegiate playing career was cut short by World War II. Saban served in the Army for four years, much of it as a Chinese language interpreter in the China-Burma theatre.
Returning from service, Saban caught on as a free agent with the fledgling Cleveland Browns of the infant All-America Football Conference. He played linebacker for Paul Brown's powerhouse teams of the late '40s, appearing in four consecutive Conference championship games and earning a berth on league all-star teams in both 1948 and 1949.
Captain of the Browns' undefeated (14-0) 1948 squad, Saban intercepted 13 passes in his four-year playing career. In addition to linebacker, he was also Otto Graham's backup at quarterback although, 'thankfully,' as Lou puts it, 'Otto was able to play most of the time.' Injuries to both shoulders forced Saban to retire following the 1949 season.
First stop on a coaching career that now spans 25 years was Case Institute in Cleveland, where Saban directed the football program for three seasons (1950-52). He moved to the University of Washington as an assistant in 1953 and to Northwestern in the same capacity a year later. Named head coach of the Wildcats in 1955, Saban left Evanston after one season and spent the next year in private business.
Western Illinois University beckoned in 1957 and Saban accepted the assignment of rebuilding the Leathernecks' football fortunes. He did it in dramatic fashion, taking Western from a 5-4 record in his rookie season to an unbeaten 9-0 mark in 1959.
His success at Western Illinois attracted the attention of the Boston Patriots, who selected Saban as the first coach of the new American Football League club. The Patriots won five games in their initial season and were 2-3 after five weeks of the 1961 campaign when Saban was replaced by Mike Holovak.
Ralph Wilson promptly hired Lou as the Bills' Director of Player Personnel, and a year later (1962) gave him the Buffalo coaching job. The move paid off with AFL titles in 1964 and 1965, back-to-back AFL Coach of the Year citations for Saban, and a flood of Buffalo victories.
A yearn to return to college coaching took Saban to Maryland in 1966, but a year later he was back in professional football as general manager-head coach of the Denver Broncos. The Broncos' stock rose steadily on the field and off under Saban's imaginative leadership. His effort was instrumental in a $1.8 million stadium renovation and his judgement of player personnel laid the foundation for the Broncos' recent successes.
Saban's triumphant return to Buffalo quickened the pulses of victory-hungry Bills fans. 'The Buffalo Bills,' one writer put it, 'are pinning their hopes on the second coming of their very own messiah.'"
-Buffalo Bills 1975 Yearbook
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
1975 Profile: Budd Thalman
Vice-President, Public Relations
"Budd Thalman came to the Buffalo organization in 1973 after spending 11 years as Sports Information Director at the U.S. Naval Academy. A native of Wheeling, West Virginia, he is a 1957 journalism graduate of West Virginia University.
He worked for one year in the Associated Press bureau in Huntington, WV before entering the Army where he served from 1958-60 as Public Information Officer for Fort Jay, Governor's Island, New York. Thalman returned to the AP in 1960, transferring to the Annapolis, Maryland bureau. He went to the Naval Academy in January 1962."
-Buffalo Bills 1975 Yearbook
"Budd Thalman came to the Buffalo organization in 1973 after spending 11 years as Sports Information Director at the U.S. Naval Academy. A native of Wheeling, West Virginia, he is a 1957 journalism graduate of West Virginia University.
He worked for one year in the Associated Press bureau in Huntington, WV before entering the Army where he served from 1958-60 as Public Information Officer for Fort Jay, Governor's Island, New York. Thalman returned to the AP in 1960, transferring to the Annapolis, Maryland bureau. He went to the Naval Academy in January 1962."
-Buffalo Bills 1975 Yearbook
Monday, September 21, 2015
1975 Profile: Jim Cipriano
Ticket Director
"Tickets have always been Jim Cipriano's business. Starting with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad following World War II service in the U.S. Marine Corps, later with the Pennsylvania Railroad and the University of Pittsburgh athletic department, Cipriano has accumulated almost 30 years of experience in his profession. The likable native of Youngstown, Ohio was named Bills Ticket Director in April 1969.
Prior to his Buffalo appointment, Cipriano was Assistant Business Manager of Athletics for 12 years at the University of Pittsburgh. While at Pitt, he attended evening classes for six years to earn his Bachelor of Business Administration degree."
-Buffalo Bills 1975 Yearbook
"Tickets have always been Jim Cipriano's business. Starting with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad following World War II service in the U.S. Marine Corps, later with the Pennsylvania Railroad and the University of Pittsburgh athletic department, Cipriano has accumulated almost 30 years of experience in his profession. The likable native of Youngstown, Ohio was named Bills Ticket Director in April 1969.
Prior to his Buffalo appointment, Cipriano was Assistant Business Manager of Athletics for 12 years at the University of Pittsburgh. While at Pitt, he attended evening classes for six years to earn his Bachelor of Business Administration degree."
-Buffalo Bills 1975 Yearbook
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