The first kick off at the opening preseason game at Rich Stadium on August 17, 1973, did not go as expected. Washington running back Herb Mul-Key ran it back for a102-yard touchdown. The good news is that very few fans were actually present to witness this less than auspicious start. With over 80,000 fans heading up to Orchard Park for the first time the traffic was overwhelming, with the majority of the fans not making it until the second half. It was a symbol of the grit and stamina needed to be a true Buffalo Bills fan. Preseason touchdowns and historic traffic jams were only small pockmarks on the list of unfortunate events that have happened to the Buffalo Bills over the years. From Scott Norwood’s wide right field goal attempt in Super Bowl XXV to the 13 second playoff game against the Chiefs in January of 2022, we have had more than our fair share of disappointments over the years.
In this week’s Torah portion, Shoftim, a priest addresses the Israelites before they head out to war. “Hear, O Israel! You are about to join the battle with your enemy. Let not your courage falter. Do not be in fear, or in panic, or in dread of them. For it is the ETERNAL your God who marches with you to do battle for you against your enemy, to bring you victory” (Deuteronomy 20:3-4). The troops are then offered a list of several excuses they would be given permission to turn around, if their house was still yet undedicated, if their vineyard has yet to be harvested, if someone is engaged, but not yet married, and, if they were disheartened or fearful. Everyone who was set to proceed in battle had to be fully committed to the cause.
As we open the new Highmark Stadium this Shabbat at 1 PM for a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, we too, both players and fans, need to be fully committed to the cause. And, hopefully more than a half century after we first moved to Orchard Park, we will have figured out the traffic situation a little better and will have a better special teams effort to start the game. Go Bills!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Alex