Defensive Line Coach
"Recruited by Woody Hayes, Jerry Wampfler arrived at Miami (Ohio) University after Hayes had departed for Ohio State and left the football program to Ara Parseghian. For three seasons, Wampfler was a standout offensive lineman under Parseghian.
Following graduation, Wampfler went directly into coaching, starting at New Philadelphia (Ohio) High School in his hometown as an assistant. A year later, he became offensive line coach at Presbyterian College in South Carolina. From 1956-62, Wampfler shifted between assignments at Perry High in Massillon, Ohio and Lancaster (Ohio) High.
He returned to Miami as offensive line coach in 1963 and remained there until 1966 when he was tapped by Parseghian for the same job at Notre Dame. Wampfler had a hand in the Irish's 1966 National Championship and, in four seasons at South Bend, developed such All-Americas as guards Tom Regner and Larry DiNardo, and tackles Jim Reilly and George Kunz.
Wampfler left Notre Dame in 1970 to accept the head job at Colorado State and was CSU coach for three years. Jerry entered the pros with Mike McCormack's Philadelphia Eagles in 1973, spending three seasons in Philadelphia. Lou Saban named him to the Buffalo staff in February 1976."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Sunday, January 17, 2016
1977 Profile: Richie McCabe
Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backfield Coach
"Newly-appointed defensive coordinator Richie McCabe is not new to his assignment or his surroundings. He conceived the Cleveland defensive strategy during his final two years of a five-year stint with the Browns (1971-75). Richie has been a member of the Buffalo organization twice previously- as a player in the formative years of the franchise (1960-61) and later as an assistant coach (1966-68).
A native of Pittsburgh, McCabe was a starter on both offense and defense for the Pitt Panthers. He was selected by the Steelers in the 22nd round of the 1955 college draft and played four seasons in his hometown before going to the Redskins in 1959. He signed with the Bills a year later and made the 1960 American Football League all-star teams selected by the Associated Press and the Sporting News. A 1961 knee injury forced an early end to his playing days. He had five interceptions in his abbreviated Buffalo career.
Returning to Pittsburgh, McCabe taught high school for two years before entering coaching at Carnegie Tech where he worked during the 1964-65 seasons. Richie broke into professional coaching with the Bills in 1966. His 1967 secondary established a team record that stood until 1974, permitting opponents only 1,825 passing yards in one season. Two of his defenders, George Saimes and Butch Byrd, won All-AFL honors during McCabe's tenure. Moving to Oakland for the 1969-70 seasons, McCabe helped the Raiders to a pair of Western Division championships, working with all-star performers Willie Brown and Dave Grayson. Four of the five years he was with the Browns, McCabe's pass defenders ranked among the top 10 in the NFL. His 1972 Cleveland group was third in the League."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook
"Newly-appointed defensive coordinator Richie McCabe is not new to his assignment or his surroundings. He conceived the Cleveland defensive strategy during his final two years of a five-year stint with the Browns (1971-75). Richie has been a member of the Buffalo organization twice previously- as a player in the formative years of the franchise (1960-61) and later as an assistant coach (1966-68).
A native of Pittsburgh, McCabe was a starter on both offense and defense for the Pitt Panthers. He was selected by the Steelers in the 22nd round of the 1955 college draft and played four seasons in his hometown before going to the Redskins in 1959. He signed with the Bills a year later and made the 1960 American Football League all-star teams selected by the Associated Press and the Sporting News. A 1961 knee injury forced an early end to his playing days. He had five interceptions in his abbreviated Buffalo career.
Returning to Pittsburgh, McCabe taught high school for two years before entering coaching at Carnegie Tech where he worked during the 1964-65 seasons. Richie broke into professional coaching with the Bills in 1966. His 1967 secondary established a team record that stood until 1974, permitting opponents only 1,825 passing yards in one season. Two of his defenders, George Saimes and Butch Byrd, won All-AFL honors during McCabe's tenure. Moving to Oakland for the 1969-70 seasons, McCabe helped the Raiders to a pair of Western Division championships, working with all-star performers Willie Brown and Dave Grayson. Four of the five years he was with the Browns, McCabe's pass defenders ranked among the top 10 in the NFL. His 1972 Cleveland group was third in the League."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook
Saturday, January 9, 2016
1977 Profile: Jim LaRue
Offensive Backfield Coach
"Coach of the Buffalo receivers in his rookie NFL season last fall, Jim LaRue takes over the offensive backfield responsibilities this fall.
A college football coach for 26 years prior to joining the Bills in 1976, the native of Clinton, Oklahoma was associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Wake Forest in 1975. LaRue masterminded the Demon Deacons' defense in 1974.
The new Buffalo assistant is a former head coach at the University of Arizona, where he led the Wildcats to a won-lost record of 41-37-2 from 1959-66. His 1961 Arizona team was 8-1-1, the best single season record in the history of the school, and ranked second nationally in both passing and receiving. Over one span, LaRue's Wildcats rolled up three straight victories over arch-rival Arizona State. Three of his Arizona products were picked in the first three rounds of the NFL draft.
After leaving Tucson following the 1966 season, LaRue went to the University of Utah where he was defensive coordinator and top assistant for seven years (1967-73). He also served on the coaching staffs of The University of Maryland (1950), Kansas State (1951, 1954), the University of Houston (1955-56) and Southern Methodist (1957-58). For two seasons (1952-53), Jim was athletic director and head coach of one of the nation's top service teams at the Bainbridge, Maryland Naval Training Center. Ten of his former quarterbacks are coaching in college, junior college or high school ball. Ex-Cowboy great Don Meredith was a LaRue pupil at SMU.
A two-way halfback in college, LaRue played at Carson-Newman, Duke and Maryland while working on a Master's degree. He appeared in three Bowl games, including the 1945 Duke-Alabama Sugar Bowl classic. Drafted twice, he passed up a professional career to teach and coach."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Yearbook
"Coach of the Buffalo receivers in his rookie NFL season last fall, Jim LaRue takes over the offensive backfield responsibilities this fall.
A college football coach for 26 years prior to joining the Bills in 1976, the native of Clinton, Oklahoma was associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Wake Forest in 1975. LaRue masterminded the Demon Deacons' defense in 1974.
The new Buffalo assistant is a former head coach at the University of Arizona, where he led the Wildcats to a won-lost record of 41-37-2 from 1959-66. His 1961 Arizona team was 8-1-1, the best single season record in the history of the school, and ranked second nationally in both passing and receiving. Over one span, LaRue's Wildcats rolled up three straight victories over arch-rival Arizona State. Three of his Arizona products were picked in the first three rounds of the NFL draft.
After leaving Tucson following the 1966 season, LaRue went to the University of Utah where he was defensive coordinator and top assistant for seven years (1967-73). He also served on the coaching staffs of The University of Maryland (1950), Kansas State (1951, 1954), the University of Houston (1955-56) and Southern Methodist (1957-58). For two seasons (1952-53), Jim was athletic director and head coach of one of the nation's top service teams at the Bainbridge, Maryland Naval Training Center. Ten of his former quarterbacks are coaching in college, junior college or high school ball. Ex-Cowboy great Don Meredith was a LaRue pupil at SMU.
A two-way halfback in college, LaRue played at Carson-Newman, Duke and Maryland while working on a Master's degree. He appeared in three Bowl games, including the 1945 Duke-Alabama Sugar Bowl classic. Drafted twice, he passed up a professional career to teach and coach."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Yearbook
Sunday, January 3, 2016
1977 Profile: Kay Dalton
Receivers Coach
"Formerly head coach of the CFL Montreal Alouettes, Kay Dalton is new to the Buffalo staff this year.
The Moab, Utah product who played collegiately at Colorado State, succeeds Jim LaRue as the Bills' receivers coach. Dalton comes from the Denver Broncos organization where he spent the last three seasons in a similar capacity, developing such Bronco standouts as All-Pro tight end Riley Odoms and sensational Rick Upchurch, an All-Rookie pick in 1975.
Dalton's first coaching job was at Trinidad State Junior College where he directed the football program for two years (1958-60). He subsequently served as head coach at Western State College for five seasons (1961-65). Montreal was Dalton's next stop, joining the Alouettes as an assistant in 1966. He became the head coach a year later and remained in that capacity through 1969. A year later, Dalton was still in the CFL but as offensive coordinator of the British Columbia Lions.
Kay left Canada for a job on the offensive staff at the University of Colorado. He went to the Broncos in a scouting capacity after two seasons in Boulder and, a year later, was on the Denver coaching staff. The ex-tight end did not play professionally but has eight years of experience as a coach in the NFL and CFL."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook
"Formerly head coach of the CFL Montreal Alouettes, Kay Dalton is new to the Buffalo staff this year.
The Moab, Utah product who played collegiately at Colorado State, succeeds Jim LaRue as the Bills' receivers coach. Dalton comes from the Denver Broncos organization where he spent the last three seasons in a similar capacity, developing such Bronco standouts as All-Pro tight end Riley Odoms and sensational Rick Upchurch, an All-Rookie pick in 1975.
Dalton's first coaching job was at Trinidad State Junior College where he directed the football program for two years (1958-60). He subsequently served as head coach at Western State College for five seasons (1961-65). Montreal was Dalton's next stop, joining the Alouettes as an assistant in 1966. He became the head coach a year later and remained in that capacity through 1969. A year later, Dalton was still in the CFL but as offensive coordinator of the British Columbia Lions.
Kay left Canada for a job on the offensive staff at the University of Colorado. He went to the Broncos in a scouting capacity after two seasons in Boulder and, a year later, was on the Denver coaching staff. The ex-tight end did not play professionally but has eight years of experience as a coach in the NFL and CFL."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
1977 Profile: Jim Carr
Linebackers Coach
"Jim Carr has been either playing or coaching in the National Football League for more than 20 years. Appointed to the Bills' staff in February, Carr spent the 1975-76 seasons as defensive coordinator and secondary coach of the Detroit Lions. He was the architect of the Lion defense that wound up third in the NFL rankings a year ago.
A 1954 graduate of Morris Harvey College in Charlestown, West Virginia, Carr was a two-way halfback. He won a job as a defensive halfback with the Chicago Cardinals in 1955 and played three seasons with the Redbirds before landing with the CFL Montreal Alouettes in 1958. Carr spent five seasons (1959-63) with the Philadelphia Eagles, helping Philly to the NFL Championship in 1960. He closed out his career with two years in Washington (1964-65).
Carr made a quick transition from player to coach, joining Norm Van Brocklin's Minnesota staff in 1966. He went to Chicago in 1969, was with Philadelphia during the 1970-72 seasons, returned to Chicago for 1973-74 and moved on to Detroit in 1975."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook
"Jim Carr has been either playing or coaching in the National Football League for more than 20 years. Appointed to the Bills' staff in February, Carr spent the 1975-76 seasons as defensive coordinator and secondary coach of the Detroit Lions. He was the architect of the Lion defense that wound up third in the NFL rankings a year ago.
A 1954 graduate of Morris Harvey College in Charlestown, West Virginia, Carr was a two-way halfback. He won a job as a defensive halfback with the Chicago Cardinals in 1955 and played three seasons with the Redbirds before landing with the CFL Montreal Alouettes in 1958. Carr spent five seasons (1959-63) with the Philadelphia Eagles, helping Philly to the NFL Championship in 1960. He closed out his career with two years in Washington (1964-65).
Carr made a quick transition from player to coach, joining Norm Van Brocklin's Minnesota staff in 1966. He went to Chicago in 1969, was with Philadelphia during the 1970-72 seasons, returned to Chicago for 1973-74 and moved on to Detroit in 1975."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook
Monday, December 28, 2015
1977 Profile: Bruce Beatty
Special Teams Coach
"New special teams coach Bruce Beatty is linked with two of pro football's most hallowed shrines- Canton and Miami, Ohio. He was born in Canton, home of the legendary Bulldogs and the site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He played (1948-50) and was an assistant for five years (1951-55) at Miami, the widely acclaimed 'Cradle of Coaches' which has spawned such giants as Brown, Hayes and Parseghian.
An All-Mid-American Conference tackle, Beatty played two other positions during his undergraduate career, seeing service at both linebacker and end. He passed up a pro playing career to take a position on the Redskin's coaching staff immediately after graduation. From Miami, Beatty moved to Northwestern where he stayed for 14 years (1955-68) as an assistant coach and talent scout.
The Patriots tapped him as offensive line coach in 1969. He remained with New England through the 1972 season when he accepted a defensive position (line) on the Oiler staff. After a year in Houston and a year out of football, Beatty was named offensive line coach of the Lions. He spent two seasons in Detroit (1975-76) before accepting Jim Ringo's offer to join the Buffalo staff."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook
"New special teams coach Bruce Beatty is linked with two of pro football's most hallowed shrines- Canton and Miami, Ohio. He was born in Canton, home of the legendary Bulldogs and the site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He played (1948-50) and was an assistant for five years (1951-55) at Miami, the widely acclaimed 'Cradle of Coaches' which has spawned such giants as Brown, Hayes and Parseghian.
An All-Mid-American Conference tackle, Beatty played two other positions during his undergraduate career, seeing service at both linebacker and end. He passed up a pro playing career to take a position on the Redskin's coaching staff immediately after graduation. From Miami, Beatty moved to Northwestern where he stayed for 14 years (1955-68) as an assistant coach and talent scout.
The Patriots tapped him as offensive line coach in 1969. He remained with New England through the 1972 season when he accepted a defensive position (line) on the Oiler staff. After a year in Houston and a year out of football, Beatty was named offensive line coach of the Lions. He spent two seasons in Detroit (1975-76) before accepting Jim Ringo's offer to join the Buffalo staff."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
1977 Profile: Jim Ringo
Head Coach
"Ringo started for years under Vince Lombardi, but is not getting Lombardi-type results. His coaching career got off to a slow start last year when the team was 0-9 after he took over. The players think he'll win one sooner or later, though. Despite his record, they wanted him back again.
Credited with developing the 'Electric Company' while offensive line coach from 1972-76, Ringo learned his business while playing center on great Green Bay teams. After playing for Ben Schwartzwalder at Syracuse and Lombardi at Green Bay, he should know something about discipline. He's not a screamer, but he boils inside.
Ringo took over the Bills when Lou Saban walked out two days before the sixth game of the year. Unless he figures out how to put together a defense quickly, his coaching career will be a short one."
-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition
"'I started thinking about being a player and coach when I was five or six years old and I never stopped.'
Jim Ringo's dream- to be a head coach in the National Football League- became reality on October 15, 1976 when he was named to replace Lou Saban as boss of the Buffalo Bills.
'We wanted a man we could build a future upon,' Bills owner Ralph Wilson said at the time of the coaching change, 'and we feel Jim is such a man.'
In nine games under Ringo last fall, the Bills lost by a little and a lot but, as he is quick to point out, 'they never ACCEPTED losing. The distinction is important. It turns last year agony into this year's anticipation.'
Early frustration is not new to Ringo. When he joined the Packers as a seventh round draft choice out of Syracuse University, Green Bay was a franchise in ferment. In Jim's first season (1953), the Pack was a punchless 2-9-1 and, over the next five years, their best mark was a break-even 6-6 in 1955.
Ringo endured ... and, ultimately, he succeeded.
He made the All-Pro team in 1957, no small feat for the center on a 3-9 club that finished dead last in the NFL's Western Conference. It became an annual honor for the Syracuse product, who was selected eight times before he retired in 1967. He also made 10 appearances in the Pro Bowl.
Ringo's quiet leadership won the respect of his Packer teammates who elected him Green Bay captain eight times.
In 1959, Vince Lombardi arrived in Green Bay and Packers fortunes turned sharply upward. Green Bay won the Western Division title in 1960 and the NFL Championship in 1961 and 1962.
Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles after 11 seasons with the Packers, Jim played four years in Philadelphia before retiring. He established a National Football record for endurance, playing in 182 straight games over his 14 campaigns.
Appointed offensive line coach of the Chicago Bears in 1969, Ringo stayed there three seasons before leaving to accept a similar position with the Bills in 1972.
Like the Packers of the early 1950's, the Bills of the early 1970's were long on problems, short on solutions. Buffalo was recovering from a 1-13 season in 1971 and was especially talent-thin on the offensive line. To add to the dilemma, seven guards or centers were lost to injuries in 1972. Despite it all, Buffalo improved its rushing production by 800 yards over 1971 and O.J. Simpson won his first NFL ground-gaining title.
A year later, the Bills were the talk of professional football and the offensive line the cornerstone of the attack. The 1973 season will be remembered as the year Simpson broke the 2,000-yard rushing barrier and Buffalo became the first club to gain more than 3,000 yards on the ground.
The Bills' 1973 offensive line was named NFL Blockers of the Year by the National 1,000-Yard Foundation, the first time an entire unit had been so cited. Ringo was also honored by the 1,000-Yard Foundation as NFL Assistant Coach of the Year for, as one writer said at the time, 'a coaching job that ranks with the best of his All-Pro accomplishments as a player.'
Two Buffalo offensive linemen won All-Pro laurels under Ringo's tutelage- guard Reggie McKenzie in 1973 and guard Joe DeLamielleure in 1975 and again last fall. DeLamielleure has appeared in two Pro Bowl games (1976, 1977) and tackle Dave Foley in one (1974).
In 15 seasons as a player and seven years as an assistant coach, Jim Ringo has established a reputation as an ultimate professional.
Professional ... no one word is more descriptive of the head coach of the Buffalo Bills."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook
"Ringo started for years under Vince Lombardi, but is not getting Lombardi-type results. His coaching career got off to a slow start last year when the team was 0-9 after he took over. The players think he'll win one sooner or later, though. Despite his record, they wanted him back again.
Credited with developing the 'Electric Company' while offensive line coach from 1972-76, Ringo learned his business while playing center on great Green Bay teams. After playing for Ben Schwartzwalder at Syracuse and Lombardi at Green Bay, he should know something about discipline. He's not a screamer, but he boils inside.
Ringo took over the Bills when Lou Saban walked out two days before the sixth game of the year. Unless he figures out how to put together a defense quickly, his coaching career will be a short one."
-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition
"'I started thinking about being a player and coach when I was five or six years old and I never stopped.'
Jim Ringo's dream- to be a head coach in the National Football League- became reality on October 15, 1976 when he was named to replace Lou Saban as boss of the Buffalo Bills.
'We wanted a man we could build a future upon,' Bills owner Ralph Wilson said at the time of the coaching change, 'and we feel Jim is such a man.'
In nine games under Ringo last fall, the Bills lost by a little and a lot but, as he is quick to point out, 'they never ACCEPTED losing. The distinction is important. It turns last year agony into this year's anticipation.'
Early frustration is not new to Ringo. When he joined the Packers as a seventh round draft choice out of Syracuse University, Green Bay was a franchise in ferment. In Jim's first season (1953), the Pack was a punchless 2-9-1 and, over the next five years, their best mark was a break-even 6-6 in 1955.
Ringo endured ... and, ultimately, he succeeded.
He made the All-Pro team in 1957, no small feat for the center on a 3-9 club that finished dead last in the NFL's Western Conference. It became an annual honor for the Syracuse product, who was selected eight times before he retired in 1967. He also made 10 appearances in the Pro Bowl.
Ringo's quiet leadership won the respect of his Packer teammates who elected him Green Bay captain eight times.
In 1959, Vince Lombardi arrived in Green Bay and Packers fortunes turned sharply upward. Green Bay won the Western Division title in 1960 and the NFL Championship in 1961 and 1962.
Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles after 11 seasons with the Packers, Jim played four years in Philadelphia before retiring. He established a National Football record for endurance, playing in 182 straight games over his 14 campaigns.
Appointed offensive line coach of the Chicago Bears in 1969, Ringo stayed there three seasons before leaving to accept a similar position with the Bills in 1972.
Like the Packers of the early 1950's, the Bills of the early 1970's were long on problems, short on solutions. Buffalo was recovering from a 1-13 season in 1971 and was especially talent-thin on the offensive line. To add to the dilemma, seven guards or centers were lost to injuries in 1972. Despite it all, Buffalo improved its rushing production by 800 yards over 1971 and O.J. Simpson won his first NFL ground-gaining title.
A year later, the Bills were the talk of professional football and the offensive line the cornerstone of the attack. The 1973 season will be remembered as the year Simpson broke the 2,000-yard rushing barrier and Buffalo became the first club to gain more than 3,000 yards on the ground.
The Bills' 1973 offensive line was named NFL Blockers of the Year by the National 1,000-Yard Foundation, the first time an entire unit had been so cited. Ringo was also honored by the 1,000-Yard Foundation as NFL Assistant Coach of the Year for, as one writer said at the time, 'a coaching job that ranks with the best of his All-Pro accomplishments as a player.'
Two Buffalo offensive linemen won All-Pro laurels under Ringo's tutelage- guard Reggie McKenzie in 1973 and guard Joe DeLamielleure in 1975 and again last fall. DeLamielleure has appeared in two Pro Bowl games (1976, 1977) and tackle Dave Foley in one (1974).
In 15 seasons as a player and seven years as an assistant coach, Jim Ringo has established a reputation as an ultimate professional.
Professional ... no one word is more descriptive of the head coach of the Buffalo Bills."
-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook
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