Al Bemiller
Encyclopedia
Albert Delane Bemiller is a former American football
offensive lineman for Syracuse University and in the American Football League
for the Buffalo Bills
, playing on two league championship teams.
in 1961, when he immediately became their starting center, replacing Dan McGrew
, although the latter was the All-AFL 2nd team center in the Bills' inaugural season of 1960. During the 1961 season, Bemiller played in all 14 games, between fellow rookie Billy Shaw
at left offensive guard and second year pro Chuck Muelhaupt at right guard, under head coach
Buster Ramsey
. In 1962, he continued to play center next to Shaw and new right guard Tom Day
under new head coach Lou Saban
. These three linemen would play together up to 1963, when the Bills tied for first place in the AFL east division, but lost a playoff game to the Boston Patriots.
In 1964, Bemiller was switched to right offensive guard, playing between veteran center Walt Cudzik
and right offensive tackle Dick Hudson
, when the Bills won their first AFL championship. They repeated in 1965, when Bemiller became an AFL All-Star at right guard, still next to Hudson but with a new center, Dave Behrman
. In 1966, under new head coach Joe Collier
, Bemiller switched back to center, playing between Shaw and right guard Joe O'Donnell
. From 1967 to 1969, he remained the starting center but also played left offensive tackle in 1967. In 1968, he played between Shaw and Bob Kalsu
and in 1969, his final year, between Shaw and O'Donnell.
He was replaced the following year by Frank Marchlewski
. In his 9-year career with the Bills, he never missed a game.
for the Buffalo Public Schools
and can be seen on occasion at Hutchinson Central Technical High School
in Buffalo, New York
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive lineman for Syracuse University and in the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
for the Buffalo Bills
History of the Buffalo Bills
This article details the history of the Buffalo Bills American Football Club. The team began play in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League and won two consecutive AFL titles in 1964 and 1965. The club joined the National Football League as part of the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger...
, playing on two league championship teams.
Buffalo Bills
Bemiller was drafted an an offensive lineman by the Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1961, when he immediately became their starting center, replacing Dan McGrew
Dan McGrew
Daniel Atwood McGrew is a retired professional football center.-Purdue University:During his college years, McGrew was a stalwart center at Purdue University.-NFL:...
, although the latter was the All-AFL 2nd team center in the Bills' inaugural season of 1960. During the 1961 season, Bemiller played in all 14 games, between fellow rookie Billy Shaw
Billy Shaw
William Lewis "Billy" Shaw is an American former college and professional football player.Drafted in 1961 by the American Football League's Buffalo Bills, Billy Shaw of Georgia Tech was the prototypical "pulling guard" who despite his size held his own against much bigger defensive linemen like...
at left offensive guard and second year pro Chuck Muelhaupt at right guard, under head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Buster Ramsey
Buster Ramsey
Garrard Sliger "Buster" Ramsey was an American football player who starred at William and Mary and was the first head coach of the American Football League's Buffalo Bills in 1960...
. In 1962, he continued to play center next to Shaw and new right guard Tom Day
Tom Day
Thomas Frederick Day was an American football player. A defensive end, he played college football at North Carolina A&T State University, and professionally in the American Football League for the Buffalo Bills and the San Diego Chargers...
under new head coach Lou Saban
Lou Saban
Louis Henry Saban was an American football player and coach. Saban played for Indiana University in college and as a pro for the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference...
. These three linemen would play together up to 1963, when the Bills tied for first place in the AFL east division, but lost a playoff game to the Boston Patriots.
In 1964, Bemiller was switched to right offensive guard, playing between veteran center Walt Cudzik
Walt Cudzik
Walter Jacob Cudzik was an American football center in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins...
and right offensive tackle Dick Hudson
Dick Hudson
Richard "Dick" Hudson was a four year starting offensive lineman at Memphis State University. In 1961 he was a second-round draft pick by the American Football League's San Diego Chargers....
, when the Bills won their first AFL championship. They repeated in 1965, when Bemiller became an AFL All-Star at right guard, still next to Hudson but with a new center, Dave Behrman
Dave Behrman
David Wesley Behrman is a former American football offensive lineman in the American Football League for the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos.-Buffalo Bills:...
. In 1966, under new head coach Joe Collier
Joe Collier
Joel D. Collier is a former American football coach. He was head coach of the American Football League's Buffalo Bills from 1966 through part of 1968, compiiling a 13–16–1 record....
, Bemiller switched back to center, playing between Shaw and right guard Joe O'Donnell
Joe O'Donnell
Joseph Roger O'Donnell was an American documentarian, photojournalist and a photographer for the United States Information Agency...
. From 1967 to 1969, he remained the starting center but also played left offensive tackle in 1967. In 1968, he played between Shaw and Bob Kalsu
Bob Kalsu
James Robert "Bob" Kalsu was an All-American tackle at the University of Oklahoma and an eighth-round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League in 1968....
and in 1969, his final year, between Shaw and O'Donnell.
He was replaced the following year by Frank Marchlewski
Frank Marchlewski
Frank Marchlewski was a professional American football player who played offensive lineman for six seasons for the Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, and Buffalo Bills.-Buffalo Bills:...
. In his 9-year career with the Bills, he never missed a game.
High school teaching
After playing for the Bills, Bemiller became a substitute teacherSubstitute teacher
A substitute teacher is a person who teaches a school class when the regular teacher is unavailable; e.g., because of illness, personal leave, or other reasons. "Substitute teacher" is the most commonly used phrase in the United States, Canada and Ireland, while supply teacher is the most commonly...
for the Buffalo Public Schools
Buffalo Public Schools
Buffalo Public Schools serves approximately 47,000 students in Buffalo, New York, the second largest city in the state of New York. It is located in Erie County of western New York and operates nearly 70 facilities.-History:...
and can be seen on occasion at Hutchinson Central Technical High School
Hutchinson Central Technical High School
Hutchinson Central Technical High School, informally known as Hutch-Tech, is a high school in the City of Buffalo, New York. Its founding on September 14, 1904 under the name Mechanics Arts High School marked the beginning of technical education on the secondary level in the city of...
in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
.