By: Brian Frank
Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement, a Rochester, New York native, grew up a huge fan of the Buffalo Bills.
“Me and all my buddies were big Bills fans,” Clement said from spring training in Dunedin, Florida. “I remember going to a game with my dad back in the day and that started the fandom.”
“To me, they’re just so fun to watch,” he continued. “I think even if I wasn’t from that area I would still enjoy watching them. It’s just so much fun watching Josh Allen and those boys go to work. I’m just a huge fan.”
Clement at spring training with the Blue Jays. Photo Credit: Brian Frank, The Herd Chronicles
Clement is now a regular at Bills home games, attending “probably four or five” games last season, as well as the home playoff games against the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens.
“I’m lucky enough to have a really good buddy who drives down from Rochester every Sunday in his big Bills RV,” he said. “So, I hop in there and then we sit in his box. He’s got a box and he’s nice enough to invite me. We had a really good thing going where we didn’t lose when we went to the games together.”
“I wish we would have gone to that last game,” he added with a chuckle. “I think it would have turned out a little different.”
Clement takes in the full game day experience, arriving early to enjoy the atmosphere in Orchard Park.
“He puts on a great tailgate right outside the big Bills RV lot,” he said. “We have dogs and burgers and Buffalo chicken wing dip and all that stuff, so it’s great.”
Clement is looking forward to attending games at the Bills' new stadium, which is due to be completed for the start of the 2026 NFL season.
“I like that they kept it in the same area, so it shouldn’t take away from the tailgating experience or the outdoor winter experience,” he said. “We definitely have that to look forward to.”
Clement (left) at a Bills game last season.
Along with the rest of Bills Mafia, Clement is ecstatic that Josh Allen brought home the NFL MVP Award.
“He earned the MVP,” Clement said emphatically. “I know not everybody is going to be happy and there’s always going to be some controversy about who should win and who shouldn’t. Maybe I’m a little biased, but watching every game, it was obvious he was the most valuable player on the field every game. It was fun to watch.”
Clement’s Bills fandom is no secret to Blue Jays fans. His walkup song the past few seasons has been the original version of Shout by the Isley Brothers.
“It’s just a great song,” he said. “It gets the spirits going and gets the spirits high. I’m a big Bills guy and I think that’s the first thing people think of when they hear that song, so it’s pretty cool.”
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