Buffalo Red Zone auditions on Wednesday!

AUDITIONS!!
Wednesday November 18th at the BAC for Women, Colvin Eggert Plaza, Tonawanda, NY. Registration at 6 pm. Workshop 6:30-9:30 pm. Dress in appropriate practice wear and bring inside shoes for the workshop. No street shoes allowed in the gym. Open to ladies 18 and up. Please come in full hair and makeup for head shots. Warm up with the BAC staff prior to the workshop. $30 registration fee to cover insurance & facility fee.
1st appearance 12/6 at the BILLS vs.Texans game. Our home base will be at the WGR 550 Tailgate on Abbott Road along with other popular Game Day favorite areas. Contact us to register at buffaloredzone@gmail.com

2010 Buffalo Bills Draft Parties-revisited

In 2010, the NFL made a major change to its college draft format by starting the draft Thursday night and following it up with a Friday night session before finishing up Saturday afternoon. In 2009, the Bills held a draft party Saturday for all their season ticket holders but had to change things up with the format change in 2010. To accommodate fans as best they could, they held  3 separate draft parties with premium seat holders invited the 1st night and season ticket holders the other 2 sessions. With two of the events held in the evening, they put them all in the fieldhouse instead of the stadium.
I made it there for the Friday session shortly before it opened up and got a chance to talk to Kristen on her way in while I was waiting in line. She had made it onto the dance squad for the season after spending her rookie year as an ambassador and she was more than excited about it. After getting inside, I spent the bulk of the evening at the Jills booth taking photos, meeting rookies, and catching up with the vets.  The booth was stationed right next to the Bills alumni booth and the great Booker Edgerson visited with us for a little bit and grabbed some photos with the ladies. I wasn't there the entire time though as a few buddies showed up that I hadn't seen since the end of the season.

Courteney and Kristen

I also did make sure to accompany Loren and Jessica W as they visited the Quizmaster's booth as Dennis George was starting up a game of Family Feud with Loren and Jessica as the captains for the opposing teams. I was also front and center as several of the Jills dancers took the stage to perform for the crowd to the tune of a remix of Ke$ha's "Tic Toc" before heading back to the booth. The negative to the performance was that those running the event made a error on the lighting as they had the tv screen behind the dancers lit up in all white, which made it look on camera like the Jills were mainly silhouettes.

Lisa and Lindsey with Billy Buffalo

See  all the pics at https://buffaloprocheerbuffalojills.shutterfly.com/pictures/1936
After the event was over, I stopped off at my hotel room before grabbing dinner with a few friends and then it was off to Lauderdale's down the road from the stadium. A bar that is now known as Jack Devine's, they were hosting some friends of mine who were playing for the patrons. Studio 54 formerly were fronted by 2005 Buffalo Jill Ashlee A and while she was no longer with the band, they did have another Jills alum singing with them that night. 2003 Jills alum Aimee L had sung with Disco Duck and the Naughty Dawg Band up to that point and was onhand visiting her friend Ashley, who was the lead female singer for Studio 54 at the time. Aimee joined in for a few songs when we weren't talking about the Jills and exchanged some info that was kept from the girls while they were on the squad. A few months after this, Aimee helped form The Teasers, an extremely popular band based in Lockport that shut down after 4 years. However, a few weeks ago, the group reunited for a photo, getting fans anxious to find out if the band may reunite...and as it turns out, they're reuniting for a reunion concert at the Lockport Pub on December 12th!

The next morning, it was back to the Fieldhouse, this time meeting up with a couple of my tailgating buddies there. After we got inside, I split my time between them and the Jills where I met a few more of the rookies who had made the 2010 squad. However, that time with the Jills wasn't spent just at the booth as some of the girls decided to check out some of the other exhibits around the event. One of those exhibits was the QB challenge where Lindsay and Nicole had a little bit of fun.

Amanda F, Ruby, and Natalie

Before long, it was time to hit the stage as the Jills dancers that were on hand performed like they had the evening before and some of them actually had performed the evening before as while most Jills only appeared at one of the Draft Party events, a few were at 2 or even all 3 of them. Unfortunately, the lighting was still an issue as the screen behind the Jills as they performed was lit up like it was the previous evening.

At this Saturday draft party, the turnout wasn't as strong as previous nights so the Jills had plenty of time to have fun as well as meet and greet the fans. Kelly and Murissa even got a chance to explore the inflatable slide.

rookies Emily, Jaclyn, and Jen

See all the pics at https://buffaloprocheerbuffalojills.shutterfly.com/pictures/1982
From the Bandettes comes a photo from the regular season finale against New England. Shown cheering on a Bandits goal is outgoing appearances captain Cheri. She spent 3 seasons on the Bandettes and has been known for her strong work ethic and her beauty. Sweet and petite in physical stature, she leaves big shoes behind to fill.

Cheri

Buffalo Red Zone team aims to fill the void while we wait for the Jills to return

About a year and a half ago, a huge void was created when Stejon Productions President Stephanie Mateczun made the choice to shut down operations of the Buffalo Jills. The reasons why she did so aren't totally clear but speculation is that the move was financially-based since several sponsors, including the Bills, backed out of their agreements after the allegations about how she ran the squad came to light in the lawsuit filed against Stejon, Citadel Radio, the Bills, and the NFL. 

That all being said, the fact of the matter is, we need the Jills back. Reaction to their absence from the sidelines has been mixed but anyone who knows the first thing about pro cheerleading knows that their biggest impact isn't on adults watching the games, but on the children in the community. In 2008, with 48 ladies on the Jills, they still had troubles meeting all the appearance requests they had so it's hard to think that the Bandettes and Lady 716ers can cover everything.

For those worried that this squad will make people forget the Jills, don't be. While we all want the Jills to return, and they shall once all the legal issues are resolved, this isn't meant to replace them. This squad is meant to help fill the voids left by the squad being shut down. There are community events that need covered that aren't being filled. There are also several young women who are qualified to join a pro cheerleading/dance squad but lack the opportunity due to the lack of spots that were available on the Lady 716ers and the Bandettes.

To help fill the void, Diane Ringer is putting together the Buffalo Red Zone Cheer and Dance team to make game day appearances at Bills games, community events, and charity events. Outside of charity events, compensation for the young ladies involved on the team will happen in time. Sponsorships will be put together from supporting businesses to ensure that no one will feel exploited. The goal, for the time being, is to fill the same role in the Western NY Community that the Gotham City Cheerleaders fill with Giants fans in the NYC area.

A new squad may, in fact, speed up the process of returning the Jills to the sidelines. Obviously nothing can be done until legal issues are resolved, that of the lawsuit and maybe even that of who runs the squad. A new squad won't be contracted out ever again but will be run by the Bills organization directly to avoid what allegedly happened under Stejon. Once the legal issues are resolved, a squad that's already operating can help prove to the Bills how much of an asset that having a squad is and instead of starting the new Jills over from scratch, a temporary squad can be a solid foundation upon which to build on.
Learn more about the Buffalo Red Zone at http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=buffaloredzone

2010 Buffalo Jills 1st cuts-revisited

Less than a week after the tryout process began with the Open Practice, we were back at the Conference Center of Niagara Falls for 1st cuts. As per usual, I was one of the 1st ones there to help set up as, for the second season in a row, 1st cuts were open to the public. 1st cuts had been done at the Conference Center before but the Grand Ballroom wasn't set up for an audience. Luckily, they had us set up with a stage, seating, a judge's platform, and even a backstage area where the hopefuls could prepare in their Event Center. Joining us to help out with the process were Kelly Ann (2003-04,09), Kelly H (2002-08), and Kristin B (2008-09).

Amanda F and Kelly Ann

We had met a few prospective rookies and saw a few alums who had decided to give it a go at coming back at the workshop. However, not everyone can make it to that Open Workshop or decides to try out after the workshop and goes to the Optional Workshop held on Thursday night before 1st cuts take place. Among those alums who decided at the last minute were Stacy and Anna. Stacy had been on the squad in 2007 but left early while Anna spent all of 2008 and a part of 2009 as a Jill. One of the prospective rookies we met was Emily, a friend of Nicole and Kristen's.

Nicole and Kristen with their friend Emily

Returning alum Stacy with Eileen

One of the fun things about tryouts is the opportunity to make yourself stand out to the judges and one way vets have typically done that is with matching outfits. On occasion, some rookie hopefuls tried this but the tricky part of that was ensuring they performed together while vets were able to ensure they were able to by getting to select their numbers ahead of time. Val and Lisa were always #1 and #2, for example because they chose those numbers each time. The negative to that was the previous year when I didn't take video of them...but in 2010, I was set up to video all the dancers.

Matching outfits for Gabrielle and Loren

Val and Lisa in matching outfits

After everyone had performed, it was time to wait for the judges' deliberations and while waiting, there were some fans anxious for photo ops, including a few who hope to be on the sidelines one day themselves. After the results were posted and most of those who missed the cut left, squad management went over a few things with the ladies that remained before several of us went over to the Hard Rock for lunch...and so that Val could get a look at hers and Lisa's video...lol.

Group shot with a future Jill?

Murissa, Anna, and Stefanie

Listening to what's to come in the 2nd round after 1st cuts are done

See all the pics at https://buffaloprocheerbuffalojills.shutterfly.com/pictures/1799
From the Bandettes comes a photo from the 1st quarter of the April game against the Vancouver Stealth. Shown shortly after a Bandits goal is scored is 5th year vet Chrissy. Sadly, Chrissy decided to call it a career after the season ended and won't be back for 2016. Thankfully, she leaves us with many memories from over the years.

Brittany and Chrissy

2010 Buffalo Jills Open Workshop-revisited

In the spring of 2010, the time came for Jills tryouts once more. On one hand, it's exciting to see all the new young ladies trying out to join several veterans. But on the other, it also meant several vets wouldn't be returning which is always sad, whether it was by choice or not. One change in 2010 was that only the main dance captains were named before tryouts so Omarlla, Christina, and Eileen were on their own helping Kelli to teach the routine to everyone that day. Keisha and Amanda had already been named captain and co-captain of the Ambassador Squad, however.

We held the workshop back up at the Conference Center of Niagara Falls and I was one of the 1st to arrive to help set up. It wasn't long before all the captains and team management were there, as well some more people there to help out, including Heather, who had chosen not to return for a second season. As I recall, she was on the fence about it as recently as the Jills comedy show. By the time we had everything set up, vets and prospective rookies alike started arriving. Among the first to arrive was Brianne, an alum who had spent the 2007-09 seasons on the squad but left during 2008 tryouts due to illness. In addition to Brianne returning, we also had a few ambassadors trying out for dance, including Kristen and Nicole, breaking up the Three Musketeers, so to speak.

Gabrielle, Kristen, and Nicole

In all, we had about 85-90 girls showing up to try out in 2010 and we got to meet a few of the prospective rookies, including some who wound up making the squad. Included among those were Gina, introduced to us by Alyssa B, and Natalie, who was doing a daily blog of the tryout process for BuffaloBills.com

incoming rookie Gina with Alyssa

Dance captains Omarlla, Christina, and Eileen off to the side

Jills coordinator Nichole B going over some of what everyone needs to know

Once everyone arrived, we started out with an information session in which squad management went over the format of tryouts and delved into the rules and regulations of what was expected of a young lady who became a Buffalo Jill. With the size of the group and the size of the room, they went over it all once with everyone before excusing the ambassador hopefuls and getting things going with the dancers. The previous season was the 1st one in a long time that the 1st round of tryouts were open to the public and one thing that was brought up was how the same music was played over and over again throughout the day. With that in mind, and due to the fact that, during the season, they'll be dancing a routine on the sidelines to many songs the same way, Jills choreographer Kelli Wagner made a big change. Instead of trying out to one song, Kelli put together 3 different remixes for everyone to learn and practice to. Kelli and the captains taught the dance moves without music at first but then went over them again to music, changing up the songs each time to keep everyone on their toes and to get them used to learning to all 3 songs.

Heather, retired after a season, selling workout gear

rookie hopeful Natalie

You can see all the pics at https://buffaloprocheerbuffalojills.shutterfly.com/pictures/1607
From the Bandettes comes a photo from before the April game against the Vancouver Stealth when the Bandettes were selling autographed lacrosse balls to raise funds for the organization. Shown posing for the camera are MaKenzie, Janelle, and Jennifer. Happily, all three of these ladies will be back in action for the Bandettes in 2016!

MaKenzie, Janelle, and Jennifer