EDITOR'S NOTE: As the Falcons draw closer to an NFC South showdown with the Buccaneers, AtlantaFalcons.com will present stories on the team's alumni, which will gather to watch the game. Now, J. Michael Moore catches up with Dave Archer.
Archer, along with play-by-play man Wes Durham, give fans across the Southeast a snap-by-snap account of Falcons games on the Falcons Radio Network, which is flag-shipped by Atlanta's 92.9 DaveFM.
Archer, has provided color commentary on broadcasts for the past four years on Falcons Radio. But, well before he picked up a microphone in the broadcast booth, Archer was giving fans the story of the game from under center.
A few moments remain fresh on his mind.
He came off the bench as an undrafted rookie in 1984 at the end of a 4-12 season for the Falcons and led the team to an unlikely 26-10, season-ending victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Less than 20,000 fans were in attendance at old Fulton Co. Stadium to see Archer throw for 181 yards a touchdown and an interception.
"It was like a 6-3 game (when I came in) and I had a pretty good day for a rookie quarterback," he said. "I threw for about 200 yards, ran for another 40 and threw a touchdown pass. That's the thing that sticks out in my mind from a Falcons standpoint. It was my first chance to be in a pro game and be a significant part of it."
Two years later Archer was involved in one of the best four-game stretches in a team history -- a 4-0 start in 1986. The Falcons won three of four on the road, including a 37-35 victory at Dallas. It was the Falcons' first road victory over the Cowboys.
"To this day it was maybe the greatest football games I ever played in," said Archer, who finished the season with 10 touchdown passes. "When we returned to Atlanta it was not lost on the fans because there were about three or 4,000 of them that met us at the airport."
Archer said airport officials changed the team's arrival gate from the "B" to "C" concourse to allow extra room for the fans that lined the walls on the Falcons' walk through the terminal.
"That will forever be one of the great memories that I have," said Archer, who played 13 seasons of professional football in the U.S. and Canada. "I separated my shoulder in week 10 and we finished a game or two out of the playoffs (but), for one shining moment, I was the NFC Player of the month for September. That was a neat time for a third-year quarterback."
Such memories led Archer to stay with the game after his retirement. He now does color commentary for college games with Lincoln Financial Sports prior to joining the Falcons for Sunday radio broadcasts.
"I love the passion of college football," he said. "I love the pageantry around the game and the venues that you go to. There is always a die-hard following in the NFL but, in college, it's a live or die. It's a religion in the South. It's such a different flavor.
"Obviously, in the pros, it's much more business. It might be the biggest sports business in the country. There's so much corporate interest that goes into pro football. This isn't a normal pro situation for me in Atlanta, though. I played; I wore the uniform. I've lived in the city since 1984."
Archer will alway have a special bond with the Falcons franchise, even if he doesn't boast as long a tenure as some other memorable Birds.
His weeks are filled with helping his three children with homework, research -- up to two days devoted entirely to breaking down the college and pro team's he'll watch over the weekend -- and travel. He's like a detective looking for clues in an effort to lock fans in with descriptive and compelling calls.
He hits another level of confidence at Falcons games, however.
"Wes and I are trying to paint a picture," he said. "If you're riding in your car, all of a sudden you see Carolina running the sweep on the right side of the defense."
It sounds easy and seamless for Archer, who provides a bit of Falcons-brand passion with every word.
"It's different than if you were doing TV or radio nationally," he said. "I've got a real serious tie and I guess an emotional tie to the Falcons. It's different than doing college. I've got a college game on Saturday and then I've got the home team on Sunday."
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
