Excitement Builds as Training Camp Starts

The Buffalo Bills held their first practice of training camp Thursday at St. John Fisher College and fans from all over showed up.

For some fans, neither distance nor dollars will keep them away.

Jessup Pierce admits he goes a little overboard when it comes to spending money on the Buffalo Bills.

"I'm going to get a couple of Nike dri-fits, everything is Nike now, everyone likes to get Nike gear. Other than that, I will probably get a couple of dri-fit shorts, maybe a hat, usually I get a jersey," said Pierce.

Jessup traveled from Albany to see his favorite team practice all week. For the fifth year in a row, he will stay at a hotel in downtown Rochester until Sunday Night. Total cost...around 800 dollars.

"I don't count it as a vacation, it's a responsibility, I have to be here," said Pierce.

For fans like Jessup, money doesn't matter. It's all about the love of the game.

"I have been a fan of the bills since 1978, I haven't missed a game going on 23 years, well actually 24 years right now," said Tony Califano of Henrietta.

"Huge fans. My father has been a fan since they started. He's retired and lives with us. My husband did semi-pro football. He's a huge fan. We are just a bunch of freaks with it all. We have five boys," said Kandi Scammell of Webster.

"Sit in the same seat, first row in the end zone, scoreboard side," said Califano.

Although the Bills have not made the playoffs in over ten years, expectations are high, and for fans of the team, love don't cost a thing.

"I hope we just take it one step at a time, like the Bills have done in the past, one game at a time, and if they do that, and they stay healthy, looks like they have some depth, could be time to go up," said Califano.

"Hopefully new excitement and the new players, and hopefully no one gets hurt," said Scammell.

"Winning, you know, it's time, it's got to happen, it's been a little bit of a drought, so we are expecting big things," said Pierce.