By Tim Graham
CLEVELAND -- This week's installment of MemoraBillia goes waaaaaaaay back in time to the first Buffalo Bills season.
It was 1947 in the All-America Football Conference. The Bills had just switched their name from the Bisons and, as this program from the Greater Buffalo Sports Museum archives of John Boutet shows, were going to test themselves against the defending champion Cleveland Browns in Week Two at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
The Bills trailed, 27-0, at halftime and lost, 30-14. Bills halfback Chet Mutryn ran 12 times for 114 yards, but the Browns were powered by Marion Motley, Otto Graham, Dante Lavelli and Luu Groza. I'm going to assume that Paul Brown outcoached Red Dawson, too.
But I'll also assume the Bills had the Browns beat in the mascot category.
As a native Clevelander, I have no clue what this little guy on the program cover was supposed to represent. Not exactly an intimidating creature, despite the balled-up fists.
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