100 Things Falcons Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die

by Glier, Ray; Bardeen, Knox

• ISBN13: 9781600787256
• ISBN10: 1600787258
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-08-06
• Publisher: Triumph Books

Summary

From their humble start in the NFL as an expansion team to their current journey toward becoming one of the hottest teams in the NFL, this handbook spotlights the most compelling and truly great moments in the 46 years of the Atlanta Falcons. Scattered throughout the pages are pep talks, records, and Falcons lore, including the origins of the famous Freddie Falcon mascot, the best place to grab a meal before or after a game, and which famous quarterback the Falcons drafted in 1991 and quietly traded a year later. Some the most critical moments and important facts about past and present players, coaches, and teams that are part of the storied history that is Falcons football are also shared. Fans who bleed red, black, and silver will particularly enjoy reading about some of the more colorful and unique personalities such as Deion Sanders, Jamal Anderson, Eric Dickerson, Dan Reeves, and Michael Vick. Whether a die-hard from the Norm Van Brocklin era or a new supporter of Mike Smith and Matt Ryan, any fan will value this collection of all of the things Atlanta fans should actually see and do in their lifetime.

Author Biography

Ray Glier has been a freelance journalist for 20 years. He contributes to publications that include the New York Times, USA Today, MSNBC, the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the Miami Herald, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and he is the former executive sports editor of the Knoxville Journal. He is the author of Always a Hokie and several books in the What It Means to Be a…series. He lives in Decatur, Georgia. Knox Bardeen has covered the Atlanta Falcons since 2009. He previously worked for AOL’s FanHouse and currently is the Rapid Reports Correspondent covering the Falcons for CBS Sports. He lives in Woodstock, Georgia.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xi
Introduction	p. xiii
Finally, a Super Day	p. 1
A Super Kick	p. 3
The 1998 Season: The Games That Led to the Super Bowl Run	p. 6
The Smiths Made It Happen	p. 10
The Gritz Blitz: Best Defense Ever?	p. 14
Listen to Jessie "the Hammer" Tuggle	p. 17
The Falcons-Saints Rivalry	p. 19
Arthur Blank: The Owner Who Keeps On Giving	p. 25
Remember Dan Reeves	p. 29
Mike Smith Is Solid	p. 31
Neon Deion	p. 34
The Big Heart of Warrick Dunn	p. 36
Arch and Wes	p. 39
The Big Back of Gerald Riggs	p. 41
The Wonder of Vick	p. 44
Dave Hampton: 1,000 Yards…or Not	p. 46
The New Stadium	p. 47
Mike Turner: Swell Guy	p. 50
Riggs Enters Record Books As Falcons Top Rusher	p. 53
Hometown Kid, Keith Brooking	p. 54
William Andrews-a Sad, Injury-Shortened Career	p. 58
The 200-Tackle Club	p. 60
Falcons' First Win: November 20, 1966	p. 63
Finally, Back-to-Back Winning Seasons	p. 66
Norb Hecker: Atlanta's First Head Coach	p. 73
Mike Kenn: No One's Played More Games for the Falcons	p. 75
The Catch That Gave Atlanta Its First Winning Season	p. 77
1983: The Year of the Comeback	p. 79
Two-Sport Stars: Sanders and Jordan	p. 81
Rolland Lawrence: A Cover Corner Like No Other	p. 84
Bob Whitfield: All-Pro Tackle, Media Mogul, Original Mr. Housewife of Atlanta	p. 86
The Falcons Got It Right	p. 88
White Shoes	p. 91
Roddy: What the Falcons Needed	p. 93
The Dirty Bird	p. 97
Center of Attention	p. 98
The Note: Petrino's Exit	p. 101
Roddy White: Momma's Mandate	p. 103
Ryan: He Is the Guy	p. 107
Speaking of QBs: Bart	p. 109
Covering Vick, Sort Of	p. 111
The Man in Black: Glanville	p. 112
Brett: We Hardly Knew You	p. 115
Glanville's Trophy	p. 116
Leeman Bennett: A Playoff Win…Finally	p. 119
Jeff vs. June: The Debacle of 1996	p. 121
The Spike and Bike: Dimitroff Rules Roster	p. 123
Turner's First Day on the Job	p. 125
Here, Hold My Monkey	p. 127
1981: The Year That Could Have Been Great	p. 130
1978: Atlanta's First Playoff Run	p. 133
Want to Succeed in Atlanta as a Wide Receiver? Wear No. 84	p. 135
Claude Humphrey: Sack Master	p. 138
Eat Like an All-Pro	p. 140
Quarterback Bob Berry: First 300-Yard Passer	p. 142
Tony Gonzalez vs. Jim Mitchell for Greatest Falcons Tight End	p. 144
Visit the Hall of Fame and Find Deion's Bandana	p. 147
1973: Two Big Wins to Put Atlanta on the Map	p. 149
Watch Live from the D-Block	p. 152
Catch the Alumni Weekend Festivities	p. 156
The "I-85 Rivalry"	p. 157
See a Game under the Big Top	p. 159
Falcons Training Camp 2004: So Close You Could Feel It	p. 161
Routing the Ghosts in Lambeau	p. 163
5-for-1: Julio	p. 165
1967, 1968: Back-to-Back Nightmares	p. 167
1980: What Might Have Been	p. 169
1991: Farewell to Outdoor Football	p. 172
Todd McClure: The Steady Mud Duck	p. 174
The Pro Bowl Lineup	p. 176
John Zook/Claude Humphrey: "NFL's Best Defensive End Combo"	p. 179
Falcons' First Monday Night Football Experience	p. 181
1995: The Falcons' Individual Accolades	p. 182
Ovie Mughelli and the Falcons Go Green	p. 184
Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor	p. 186
Why "Falcons"	p. 188
Visit Heritage Hall	p. 189
The Beatdown in the Dome	p. 191
Big-Play Ray Buchanan: The Good and the Bad	p. 193
Terance Mathis: Great WR, Not-So-Great NASCAR Owner and Potential GM	p. 196
Atlanta Falcons As Wrestlers: Bill Goldberg, Bill Fralic, and Roddy White	p. 198
Falcons Uniforms Throughout History	p. 201
Dunta Robinson Comes Home	p. 202
Entire Falcons Team Employs MMA Training after 2009 Season	p. 206
Glanville's Black Uniforms	p. 207
Trading Schaub Too Early	p. 209
The First Time Ticket Prices Were Raised	p. 212
40,202 No-Shows	p. 214
Back to School: John Rade	p. 215
Pat Sullivan: High Expectations Led to Worst Draft Pick of All Time	p. 218
What's Said Here…Doesn't Stay Here	p. 219
Press Box Coconut Crème Cake	p. 221
Man On Fire	p. 222
Postgame Blather	p. 224
Get Tied In With the Foundation	p. 226
Bill Fralic: The Anti-Steroid Champion	p. 228
The Freak	p. 231
Visit the Tommy Nobis Center	p. 232
2004-2006: The Falcons' Vaunted Rushing Attack	p. 234
Colonel Joe: End With Him	p. 236
Sources	p. 241
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