A Heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to Our Very Special Writers

As we prepare to close out another year, I’d be grateful if you took a moment of your time to allow me to thank our writers for another fabulous season of writing for the BuffaloFAMbase blog. As many of you know, I’ve had the privilege of functioning (questionably at times) as Editor-in-Chief for the blog for quite awhile now (I honestly don’t remember how long it’s been, lol). We’ve had many great writers come and go over the years. To each person I’ve ever interacted with in this role, I’m forever grateful.

We’re especially blessed because our writers share their love and passion for the Buffalo Bills without any compensation for their work. They tirelessly provide articles that enlighten, educate and entertain us. I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned about the game of football, drafts, free agency and BEER as Editor-in-Chief. Every writer brings their own perspective and the blog has become one of the things I’ve become most proud of over the years.

This year/season I’d like to mention a few words about our writers and hope they don’t mind my blowing the lid off their (collective) rather reserved nature.

Dean Kindig

Though Dean dislikes the characterization at times… we refer to Dean as our ‘Draft Wizard’. Dean is one of the most astute evaluators of college football prospects I’ve ever met. The depth of his research is unparalleled and you know he’s off the rails when he publishes his 500 best college prospects for the FOLLOWING YEAR the day after each NFL Draft.

A few years ago Dean also started watching interviews of each college prospect he scouts as a result of a conversation we shared about the lack of this sort of assessment being done in any kind of systematic fashion. Leave it to Dean to come up with a solid methodology for assessing qualitative data in a way no one else is doing to the best of my knowledge. Dean’s mind is a beautiful thing.

So thank you, Dean, for another fabulous year as our Senior Writer. You have become like a brother to me and your wisdom and perspective on life always helps guide me during times of turmoil. I appreciate your devotion to your wife and family and the role model you are for so many of us. Thank you for all you do and are… from the top to the bottom of my heart.

Joe Reagan

Joe is completing his third season as author of the best pregame quickie notes he calls his “Fedora Forecasts” for the blog. As valuable as his notes are on the upcoming game, his BEER recommendations in the “Pregame Plan” segment each week have become legendary. The man is a connoisseur of IPAs, and his taste is impeccable. Many of his recommendations aren’t available for purchase in Wyoming, but it doesn’t matter. It’s the first part of his “Forecasts” I look at when I open his posts. The pictures alone are worth drooling over.

I feel like Joe is also my brother. We are both students of Dean’s wisdom about college football prospects. I’m blessed to be part of a chat group called the “Dean’s List” with Joe and a bunch of other wise football minds. I don’t have much to offer, so I’m there mostly to learn from them.

So, thank you, Joe, for sharing your words of wisdom… and your beer selections… with us this year. You’re my ‘broski’ and I’m blessed our paths have crossed.

Ed Kilgore

It’s been so much fun getting to know Ed these last couple of years he’s been writing for the blog. Ed is my connection to a time when I lived in Buffalo and worked at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center during the 1970s. I was also a student at UB at the time and remember Ed as Sports Director at WGR. He was a local celebrity and I loved his coverage of the Bills and Sabres. So when I ran across a tweet by Ed asking about getting back in the swing of engaging on social media and maybe writing again, I jumped at the chance to bring him on the BuffaloFAMbase blog.

Ed’s perspective as Sports Director for FOUR DECADES is priceless. It’s especially enjoyable for us old farts who remember all the names of the players and teams most young people can only read about. Ed’s relationship with the community for so many years provides a treasure trove of experiences that shapes his unique perspective.

So, thank you, Ed, for sharing your experiences and view about the Bills and the Sabres. It’s been fun connecting with you… esp. since I knew you when you were young and now we are both old farts. I’m grateful for your friendship. Thanks, Gramps!

Colin Richey

Colin is so much more than our ‘token’ young person writing for the blog ;) Colin is a sports journalism student at Canisius University. What a time to become a journalist, eh? The digital world and social media has changed the landscape so much it’s difficult for us old farts to imagine what the profession will look like in the near future. But that’s what’s amazing about Colin. He writes like a dream and his future is so bright he has to wear shades.

We’ve enjoyed reading how Colin has grown as a writer since writing his postgame reviews for the BuffaloFAMbase blog. If you miss a game and must find a postgame review, his are THE BEST. You feel like you were at the game after reading them. Colin is a magnificent writer who will continue to grow his own brand. We are blessed to enjoy his contributions to our blog and welcome his posts anytime he feels like writing something during the off season.

So thank you, Colin, for bringing a fresh perspective and beautiful writing style to our blog. We old farts appreciate watching a young person learn and grow… and you are doing both with excellence.

Del Reid

I would be remiss not to include a note of gratitude to Del Reid for providing an avenue for our writers to flourish and grow. It’s an understatement to use the word “appreciate” for what Del means to our community, both online and in the Buffalo and Western New York area… and frankly around the world! ‘BillsMafia’ will always be special and in big part because of you and others who brought this BuffaloFAMbase to life.

So thank you, Del, for being a light and a mentor for so many of us. What you do and inspire in all of us who have the privilege of working with you is a beautiful thing. Thank you for being you.

Editor’s babble: Here’s to a Happy New Year! Looking forward to what 2025 brings, a Lombardi would be very nice :) Many thanks to each of you who read and support our blog. If you’re looking for more of my nonsense, you can find it on Xwitter @RobynMundyWYO or Bluesky @robynmundywyo.bsky.social.