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.
Erin is the 21-year-old daughter of Tom Pridemore, a former safety who played for the Falcons from 1978 to 1985. She now works as a seasonal assistant in the Falcons event marketing department. She may not play the game like her brothers and her father, but she's never been far from the action.
"I guess (the sport) is in me a little bit," she said. "It's something I love."
Erin was a newborn when her father left the game, but remembers going to Falcons games to watch family friend Scott Case lineup on Sundays. After that it was time to watch her brothers (19-year-old Matt and 17-year-old T.J.) play at Buford High School. It was then off to the University of Georgia, where football is anything but optional. Matt is now a sophomore at Duke. T.J. is committed to play at Georgia Tech.
The only one in the Pridemore family without a direct connection to the game -- for now -- is 15-year-old Jamie.
The former Falcon said Erin's continued involvement in the game is a bit of surprise.
"I never gave it a great deal of thought," said Tom, who now owns and operates Pride Utility Construction with Case. "Erin is really the biggest surprise. It's kind of natural for the boys to want to play football and they've been fortunate; they both seem to have a passion for it and a desire to work hard, play hard and be able to further their careers.
"She's the one that's always enjoined going to the games. That was big part of her life. I think it was a natural fit for her because she always enjoyed going to the Falcons games and keeps up with what's going on down there. It's been a great learning experience for her."
Erin said she hopes to stay with football after her internship is over. Even if she doesn't make a career in the NFL, however, she'll have plenty more chances to watch her younger brothers.
Both -- like their father -- play defense.
"I think they've grown up with that mentality," said Tom, who constantly thrilled fans with hard hits and high-motor play. "I was able to coach those guys when they were much younger coming up through rec ball and before they got into high school. I think the things that I used as a player -- toughness and being very aggressive -- both of the boys seem to have that."
The former Falcons star said the brothers weren't very competitive with each other growing up and have never played against each other outside of the backyard.
That could change when they become ACC rivals.
"I think they're both good choices for the boys," said Tom. "The thing I'm as proud of as anything is the education they get was a high priority for both of the boys in choosing where they were going to school. Regardless of how far your football career goes, you're always going to use your education... You're going to use it a lot longer in life."
Fans will always remember Tom for his actions on the field, however.
"Football has always been a big part of my life," he said. "Football is a game that I think needs to be played by people who really have a passion for it and it was something I was always passionate about. For me to be effective as a player my heart really needed to be in it and it always was."
It appears that's filtered down to the rest of his highly-successful family.
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
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