Buffalo Jills
Encyclopedia
The Buffalo Jills are the cheerleading squad for the Buffalo Bills
professional American football
team.
The Bills had cheerleaders in 1960 known simply as the Buffalo Bills Cheerleaders. At the time, they were a group of 8 Buffalo State College cheerleaders. They ran this squad until 1965 and went without cheerleaders in 1966.
In 1967, the Buffalo Jills were founded and have progressed from a few young men in wool uniforms to a squad of 43 young ladies in more-revealing attire.
They've annually sold a swimsuit calendar since the 2000-2001 season and participate in various events in the Western New York area. Troop visits are a regular occurrence as well and a group of 8 girls spent February 22-March 4, 2007 visiting troops in Iraq, the only NFL squad on that tour at the time.
Unlike some squads, the Jills aren't sponsored by the NFL team they cheer for. Instead, they are sponsored primarily by Cumulus Media
stations WGRF
, WHTT
, and WEDG
in Buffalo with additional sponsors on a year-to-year basis. WGRF and WEDG are co-flagship stations of the Bills' radio network
.
In 2002, the new director instituted an Ambassador Squad, a group of 8-12 Buffalo Jills who didn't dance on the sidelines and field. This was not only to allow the squad to more easily meet the demands of all the public appearances they were asked to make, but allowed more young ladies to make the squad. The Ambassador Squad Jills became a good way to contribute for young ladies who either didn't have the dancing ability required to make the field, or didn't have the free time to make all the dance squad practices.
In 2006, a pair of Jills swept their first round events in the first year of the NFL Cheerleader Playoffs
before falling in the second round.
In 2008, the Jills were the first NFL squad to be multi-national, performing at "home" games both in Orchard Park, New York and Toronto, Ontario.
Buffalo 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...
professional American football
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...
team.
The Bills had cheerleaders in 1960 known simply as the Buffalo Bills Cheerleaders. At the time, they were a group of 8 Buffalo State College cheerleaders. They ran this squad until 1965 and went without cheerleaders in 1966.
In 1967, the Buffalo Jills were founded and have progressed from a few young men in wool uniforms to a squad of 43 young ladies in more-revealing attire.
They've annually sold a swimsuit calendar since the 2000-2001 season and participate in various events in the Western New York area. Troop visits are a regular occurrence as well and a group of 8 girls spent February 22-March 4, 2007 visiting troops in Iraq, the only NFL squad on that tour at the time.
Unlike some squads, the Jills aren't sponsored by the NFL team they cheer for. Instead, they are sponsored primarily by Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
stations WGRF
WGRF
WGRF is a radio station in Buffalo, New York, USA. The station's on air branding is "97 Rock". The station mostly plays Classic rock from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s...
, WHTT
WHTT
WHTT-FM 104.1 FM, is a commercial radio station based in Buffalo, New York United States. The station has a classic hits format and is known by the name "104.1 WHTT".WHTT is owned by Cumulus Media. Its transmitter is located in Buffalo....
, and WEDG
WEDG
WEDG is a radio station in Buffalo, New York, USA. The station's on air branding is "103.3 The Edge" and broadcasts on 103.3 MHz FM. WEDG has an active rock format and is best known for its afternoon-drive hosts, "Shredd and Ragan," and being the co-flagship of the Buffalo Bills Radio Network...
in Buffalo with additional sponsors on a year-to-year basis. WGRF and WEDG are co-flagship stations of the Bills' radio network
Buffalo Bills Radio Network
The Buffalo Bills Radio Network is a broadcast radio network based in Buffalo, New York, the official radio broadcaster of the Buffalo Bills. The network's radio broadcasts are currently flagshipped at WGRF in Buffalo, New York, a station owned by Cumulus Media...
.
In 2002, the new director instituted an Ambassador Squad, a group of 8-12 Buffalo Jills who didn't dance on the sidelines and field. This was not only to allow the squad to more easily meet the demands of all the public appearances they were asked to make, but allowed more young ladies to make the squad. The Ambassador Squad Jills became a good way to contribute for young ladies who either didn't have the dancing ability required to make the field, or didn't have the free time to make all the dance squad practices.
In 2006, a pair of Jills swept their first round events in the first year of the NFL Cheerleader Playoffs
NFL Cheerleader Playoffs
NFL Cheerleader Playoffs is a television show that debuted in 2006 on the NFL Network. The official channel of the National Football League premiered each episode on Saturdays at 3 p.m. Eastern Time ....
before falling in the second round.
In 2008, the Jills were the first NFL squad to be multi-national, performing at "home" games both in Orchard Park, New York and Toronto, Ontario.