Anti-Jauron Billboard Leaders: "Mission Accomplished"

"I'm sure what we did was not the final nail in the coffin or the final straw but I think we did have a little bit to do with showing of the frustration of the fans," said Michael Kruse, moments after learning Dick Jauron had been fired as Head Coach of the Buffalo Bills.

Kruse, after starting a facebook page dedicated to the cause of getting Jauron removed, became the local coordinator of the effort to erect an anti-Jauron billboard last month on I-190.

The billboard was paid for by hundreds of fans who donated a few dollars each over the internet, in a campaign which was the brainchild of Bills fan Ryan Abshagen.

"I was totally shocked, ...I definitely thought it (Jauron's dismissal) would only come after the season," Abshagen told 2 On Your Side from his home in New Freedom, Pa.

Asked if he thought the billboard campaign really had anything to do with Ralph Wilson's decision to fire Jauron, Abshagen replied; "I don't know if it had a huge impact, but I'd like to think that they definitely thought about the fans voice ...more than they would have without it."

Kruse believes that even if the Bills owner was influenced by the billboard he would never say so,.. and Kruse says he would understand why.

"If that was the case then going forward if there was a disagreement with a coach or players, fans would start putting up billboards knowing it would make a difference, ...but we tried to bring awareness that we were not happy and hopefully we accomplished that," Kruse said.

Kruse and Abshagen were actually half-way toward collecting enough money to place a second billboard calling for Jauron's head.

"It would have gone up on November 30th," Kruse confirmed.
"The subject of the next one was going to a Christmas present and the tag line was going to be 'all I want for Christmas is a new coach'."

With that Christmas wish already answered the two say the money collected -- nearly $700 --will be donated to one of four charities. 

 Follow this link to cast your vote on which charity should receive those funds.

Asked if he felt bad for Jauron, Kruse told WGRZ; " He's getting $6 million over the next two years so I don't really feel too much pain (for Jauron). "I'm sure he'll do just fine, ... he's not gonna be out on the street collecting money or begging for food."