On Sunday, April 3, Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas paid a visit to the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y. to participate in a Q & A session with fans. The "Chalk Talk" took place before the 5 p.m. puck drop, as the Rochester Americans took on the Grand Rapids Griffins. Thomas, who was joined by long-time local sportscaster Scott Pitoniak, spoke to fans about his legendary tenure in the NFL, addressed current Bills franchise topics and opened the mic up for questions.
Fans—who were proudly dressed in a combination of Amerks and Bills gear— filled the room to show their support for the five-time Pro Bowler. When given the chance to speak to Thomas, generations of eager Bills fans posed a variety of questions. Thomas charmed the crowd with each response, as he shared stories about the Bills during the franchise's Super Bowl trips, his take on today's running backs, and the promising future of the team.
When asked by a fan whether or not he would change anything about his football career, with the knowledge he has now, Thomas referenced his teammates as he confidently expressed that he would not.
"Not a lot of things—probably not anything," said Thomas. "If I could have the same group of guys that I played with for 12 years…I wouldn't change that. I would go through those four or five years, that we had our run, with the same exact guys."
As the event concluded, raffle tickets were drawn to award a few lucky fans with autographed memorabilia.
Not only was the experience a positive one for the fans in attendance, it was also a great one for Thomas. In reflecting on the day, Thomas expressed his gratitude for the opportunity.
"It's a great experience to see some of the fans that you don't normally get a chance to interact with," said Thomas. "So to come out and to answer their questions about the Buffalo Bills and even about the Buffalo Sabres—I'm a big hockey fan also—just come here...and let them know that we're still doing well and we appreciate all the support that you give us."
