ATLANTA – The Falcons know not every fan can make it out to Flowery Branch for a training camp practice or to the Georgia Dome for a game.
Wanting to spread the passion and excitement of the game, the team took over a city park and a high school stadium Saturday night for Allstate Midtown Touchdown. By the end of the evening, more than 20,000 Falcons fans got a chance to interact with their favorite team at Piedmont Park or at Grady High School Stadium.
Grammy award winning artist, Monica, took center stage in the meadow that cuts across the park, warming up the sun-screened crowd as five busses of Falcons players rolled to a stop.
The team signed autographs for an hour as lines of eager fans stretched for more than 50 yards. Fans brought everything from crisp, new autograph cards to footballs with years of backyard wear for players to mark.
Other fans like Constance Glass got more creative with memorabilia.
Glass, who has been a Falcons fan for more than three decades brought a helmet-shaped umbrella, its red canvas interrupted only by an original Falcons logo and more than a dozen autographs.
“I got this at old Fulton County Stadium in the late ‘70s,” Glass said, twirling the odd-shaped covering over her head. “It started to rain, so I bought this.”
The veteran fan said she started getting autographs on the umbrella during the team’s march to Super Bowl XXXIII in 1998.
“All the Falcons love it,” she said proudly. “Most of them want it!”
Others at Piedmont Park Saturday visited vendor booths. Younger fans enjoyed inflatable games and a Gatorade Junior Training Camp. Some got to work one-on-one with Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders as they showed dance moves to the crowd.
Countless more took up residence under shade trees or tossed footballs around the meadow.
But there were also plenty of laughs to go around on this summer afternoon.
Linebacker Michael Boley and wide receiver Michael Jenkins danced for fans that passed by their autograph table. The two carried their act on stage as the entire team passed through on the “Falcons Walk” on their way to practice at Grady High School.
Quarterback Joey Harrington took a moment to talk with each fan that passed an item under his autograph pen.
“I like it,” Glass said moments after getting her umbrella signed by Harrington. “It’s great for the fans. It’s also great for the kids – it gives them a little fun before they go back to school.”
The team left Piedmont Park around 5:30 for their eveining practice at Grady High. There, Falcons fans got a chance to see the workings of an NFL practice and interact with players on the field.
“I’d like to thank all the fans for coming out here tonight,” CEO and owner Arthur Blank said as the team wrapped up its practice. “This is a way to say thank you to our fans.”
Players said thank you by sharing time and instruction on the field. Throughout practice children were picked to run drills with players.
Return man Allen Rossum gave advice to three children who shagged punts from the jugs machine. Kicker Billy Cundiff and punter Michael Koenen had a word with contestants before the extra-point contest.
But the real fun started when Harrington, D.J. Shockley, cornerback DeAngelo Hall and receivers Joe Horn, Roddy White and Jenkins shared some knowledge on catching and defending.
Two kids got the best of the receivers.
Cheneah St. James and Elijah Grant got position on Horn and Jenkins, picked off the pass and took it the opposite way for a touchdown. St. James capped off her play with a spirited back flip.
It’s the type of passion Head Coach Bobby Petrino hopes fans bring to the stadium throughout the year.
“We really appreciate all your support,” Petrino said to the crowd gathered at the stadium moments before a fireworks show capped the evening. “And we’re looking forward to that home field advantage this year.”
Proceeds from the practice session will go to renovation projects at the Grady High School Stadium.
The team partnered with the City of Atlanta, the Piedmont Park Conservancy and Atlanta Public Schools for the festival. The 2007 Midtown Touchdown was presented by Allstate Insurance Company. Other sponsors included AT&T, Russell Athletic, Miller Lite and St. Joseph’s Hospital.
