The Toronto series featuring the Jills, Bandettes, Jills alumni, and friends

I won't get into the issues of the Toronto series this year, except to say that the only things that made this resemble a home game were having 97Rock's JP in the booth and the Jills and Billy Buffalo on the sidelines. Bears fans easily outnumbered Bills fans at this game and crowd response definitely was in favor of the Bears. Truth be told, after last year's debacle, I had no intentions of going to anymore Toronto games unless I got a great deal on a good ticket and/or there were a compelling reason. At the last home game, I got a compelling reason in finding out about the halftime performance scheduled for this Toronto game, easily the grandest halftime performance for any NFL game not staged primarily for television, like the Thanksgiving Day games and the Super Bowl. Then, a few days before the game, I got the best possible deal on a ticket in probably the best section in the stadium.

Alyssa, Meghan, Michelle, and Jessica at the Budweiser Tailgate Party

Prior to the game, a corporate-sponsored tailgate party, the only type allowed in Toronto, took place right underneath the CN Tower and next to the Rogers Centre. After an appearance onstage by HOF RB Thurman Thomas, members of the Buffalo Jills Ambassadors joined the festivities, selling out on the calendars they had on hand as well as posing for photos and signing autographs. Michelle, Alyssa, Meghan, and Jessica stayed pretty busy the entire time they were there with all the Bills and Bears fans there for the game.

Nicole, Kelly, Emily, Omarlla, and Eileen just prior to the game
After I found my seat, surrounded by family and friends of the Jills, some of whom I already have met many times, it was time to go to work taking photos and videos. Pregame featured the Toronto Jr Jills along with the Buffalo Jills in a special performance at midfield. As big as the Jr Jills program has gotten to be, Jills director Stephanie M wanted to expand it for the remaining 3 years of the Toronto series and a small group of young ladies worked with the Jills to get ready for this performance which should give more girls a reason to try it out in 2011 and 2012.

In addition to performing their normal routine after the 3rd quarter, complete with the big finish by gymnastics dynamo Jill, the Jills put on a performance after the 1st quarter as well, putting on a portion of their normal pregame performance for the fans in Toronto.
Halftime was the major reason I made this game and here's why. Rock group Hinder performed a 2-song set at halftime similar to what other bands do on Thanksgiving Day. However, unlike those halftime shows, this included dancers from more than a single cheerleading squad and some random dancers. Jills director Stephanie Mateczun called in the big guns for this performance.
Joining the Jills dancers for this performance in addition to several dancers from Kelli's Fusion Dance Studio...

• Jills Ambassadors Courteney, Sara, and Gina
• The 2011 Buffalo Bandettes
• several Jills alumni including, but not limited to....Nichole M (1998-2001), Amanda F (2001-2003 and Bandettes 2006-2007), Francine (2000-04), Aimee (2002-07), Nicole P (2004-09), Lynn (2008-09), Rita (2008), Kristin M (2008), and Alecia (2008)...those are just the ones that I knew about

After halftime, the photo opportunities kept coming...in the stands as the Jills ambassadors, alumni, and Bandettes filled up the empty seats in the section.

That's Bandettes 2nd year vet Lauren B on the right with a couple of her friends...or rookie Bandettes?
Check all the photos out at http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/buffalojills2005/2010/Bears/ and the compilation video here

Coming up next for the Jills, they'll be back at the Ralph next Sunday as the Bills play host to the Detroit Lions. Make sure to visit the Jills Ambassadors inside the Fieldhouse and at the 97Rock and 103.3 The Edge Tailgate parties before the game as well as making sure you're in Lot C at 11:30 for a Jills pregame performance!

Tuesday, November 16th, the Buffalo Bills Fieldhouse is the place to be as the Jills host an Open Practice in which they'll show young ladies some cheers and given them a taste of the Jr Jills program. Get all the info at http://buffalojills.net/Article.asp?id=1971677&spid=34534

Next up for the Bandettes, they'll be performing (well, the girls that are at least 21 years of age) at the World's Largest Disco on November 27th at the Buffalo Convention Center. Check eBay, StubHub, and Craigslist for tickets as this event has been sold out for months as it is every year.

December 5th, while the Bills are on the road, head down to HSBC Arena for the Bandits Open Practice. See the team that's going to bring Buffalo its next championship (and were responsible for its last) and see the 2011 Buffalo Bandettes perform as a full group for the 1st time.

The Jills, alumni, Bandettes, and Fusion dancers with Hinder