Alumni gather for annual tailgate party

ATLANTA -- Falcons alumni from more than four different decades made their way to the Georgia Dome Sunday for the annual Alumni Tailgate. More than 50 alumni from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s gathered at the Georgia World Congress center before the game for a meal, presentation and a chance to catch up with some old friends.

They then went to the game and honored at halftime of the Falcons 31-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"I've been out of the league for close to 20 years," said wide receiver Stacey Bailey (1982-90). "To come back and see the guys I haven't seen in maybe five years is big. I enjoy it."

Bailey led the team with 67 catches for 1,138 yards and six touchdowns in 1984. For his career, the San Jose State product hauled in 206 passes for 3,422 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Alumni in attendance Sunday included Tommy Nobis, Jeff Van Note, William Andrews and Ray Buchanan.

"It's a great opportunity to catch up with some of the guys we played with," former safety Tom Pridemore said. "Unfortunately we go our separate ways and we all seem to be too busy today to keep up like we would like to. It's a great thing the Falcons do to bring us all back together and give us an opportunity to catch up and see where everybody's at and renew those relationships you build over the years around the game of football."

MORE FROM FALCONS ALUMNI WEEK 2007:

• NEWS: Alumni gather at annual tailgate party
• FEATURE: Former quarterback stays close to Falcons
• FEATURE: Team remembers tight end Mithcell
• FEATURE: Pridemore family involved in all levels of game
• VIDEO: 2007 Alumni Week Tailgate