The Boys from the South

By Joe Cooper

The NFC South was once thought to be the weakest division in all of football after realignment but that misnomer has quickly been squashed. The NFC South has proven to be a tough division.

Since realignment, the Falcons became the first team to beat the Green Bay Packers at home during a playoff game. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won a Super Bowl and the Carolina Panthers put up a good showing in last year’s Super Bowl.

So how did these teams so mislead the rest of the NFL into believing that this was the weakest division in the NFL?

By building teams that not only play with ability but play with heart. The South has a no quit attitude. Take a look at your own Atlanta Falcons.

With the injuring to QB Michael Vick, the team was left without the most exciting player in the NFL however despite that fact, the Falcons played a much better season than what the record ultimately showed.

You see, the Falcons never quit. They played the entire game, the entire season. Not once did they throw up their hands in and say why go on.

Can this be attributed to coaching? Of course a part of it is coaching. A signature of a Dan Reeves coached team is that never give up. But it was more than coaching, it was the size of the valentine beating inside each of our player’s chests that wouldn’t allow them to quit.

Now add that never say die attitude with a big helping of Michael Vick, mix in some Rich McKay magic and a dash of Coach Mora’s West Coast Offense and you have a recipe for a successful 2004 campaign.

The remaining teams in the NFC South are also retooling and it will not be an easy year for our beloved birds, but it does mean that we as fans will be subjected to some of the best football in the NFL.

Be it Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay or the Atlanta Falcons, the rest of the league should take notice. Here come the boys from the South.

April’s Fan-atic's Meeting

We will have a meeting in April and it will be at Corky’s near Gwinnett Place Mall on April 13th at 7:00 p.m.

No guest speaker is announced at this time but we are working on it.

Directions to Corky’s:

Phone Number: 770-564-8666

From I-85N

• I-85N to Exit 104 (Pleasant Hill Road.

• Take a right and proceed approx. 6/10th of a mile.

• Turn right onto Sweetwater Road.

• Corky’s will be on the right

From I-85S

• I-85S to Exit 104 (Pleasant Hill Road.

• Take a left and proceed approx. 6/10th of a mile.

• Turn right onto Sweetwater Road.

• Corky’s will be on the right

It’s That Time Again

It’s April and you know what that means? Yes, that’s it. Time to renew your membership in the Falcon Fanatics. Cut out the application on page 6 and send it in with your dues. Deadline for renewal will be April 30th.

Please note that due to expense reduction initiative, if your dues are not in by April 30th, May’s Fan-atic Flyer will be the last one you receive until your dues are paid.

Don’t miss out on being a member of one of the best fan clubs in the NFL.

Fan-atic Web Site Grand Reopening

Our club is pleased to announce the reactivation of the clubs web site!

New web site operating for the Falcon Fanatics: www.FalconFanatics.com

a) Club news.

b) Calendar of Events.

c) Pictures of Club Meetings, Tailgates, Hospital Pizza, & Away game house parties.

d) Message boards.

e) Current & previous News Letters and upcoming meeting agendas and tentative speaker.

f) Printable membership Application & online membership application.

g) Soon we hope to have an online store to support the cost of the operating fees.

h) Anyone can add pictures or club info on the calendar through email to the webmaster@falconfanatics.com

i) Link other Falcon fans web sites.

Moving/Change of Address or E-mail

If any member has a change of address or e-mail or is planning to have a change of address, please let Joe Cooper know so he can update the records so that he can make sure you continue to get your newsletter. Thank you.

Falcons first Head coach dies

Atlantafalcons.com

Norb Hecker, the Falcons’ first head coach, passed away Saturday, March 13th in Los Altos, Calif. He was 76.

Originally named head coach of the Falcons on January 26, 1966, Hecker came to Atlanta after serving seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers under legendary coach Vince Lombardi, helping the Packers to three world championships and four conference titles in the process.

During Hecker’s three-year tenure with the Falcons, Atlanta posted a record of 4-26-1 playing in the NFL’s Eastern Conference and Coastal Division. He was dismissed after three consecutive losses to begin the 1968 season.

After leaving the Falcons, Hecker went on to serve as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants for three seasons and then later became the linebackers coach for the San Francisco 49ers from 1979-86, ultimately landing in the San Francisco front office.

A member of seven championship teams in his 21-year professional coaching career, Hecker also played offensive end on the Los Angeles Rams team that won the NFL title in 1951.

Spotlight on a Falcon Fan-atic

Domenic Bevevino has been a Falcon fan since 1976 . He became interested in the Falcons when the Falcons signed Tim Mazzetti, a bartender from Philadelphia. Domenic says Tim tended bar on a Tuesday and kicked 5 field goals on the following Monday to beat the Rams by a score of 15 – 7. Wow, what a game.

Dominic attended Falcon road games against the Giants, the Jets and Buffalo at locations much easier for him to reach from his home in Mechanicville, in upstate New York. He was excited to attend the super bowl, when the Falcons competed. Last year, Dominic and his wife to be, Mindy even made it to Atlanta to attend the Tennessee game. They both enjoyed the opportunity to tailgate and meet many of the Fan-atics. They can’t wait for a chance to return. When they cannot get to a game, they watch the Falcon games on Satellite TV.

“Mindy is the love of Dominic’s life” he says and one of the best things that ever happened to him. Mindy works for a pediatric cardiologist.

Dominic works for G.E. and he has two daughters, Anne and Dominica. He loves coaching Dominica, his 12 year old, in softball. Anne, 20, attends Iona College in NYC.

Mindy’s favorite player is Michael Vick. She thinks it is amazing how he runs around, making players miss him. Dominics favorite players are Brian Finneran and Keith Brooking. With a healthy team and the recent signings, Dominic is looking forward to an exciting season in 2004. If Michael doesn’t get hurt, Dominic thinks the Falcons may go to the super bowl.

The Award Goes To…

This is the season for awards. The Grammies, the Oscars, The CMAs etc. etc. As if there wasn't enough awards already….

It's that time again. Time for the Annual Fan-atic awards. Please take a moment to vote on which you think was the pivotal player on the Falcon's offense, defense and special teams. Every vote counts so be sure to turn yours in.

Last year, Mike Vick took Offensive Player of the Year, Keith Brooking took Defensive Player of the Year and Chris Mohr took Special Teams Player of the Year. All three made a video presentation at the annual Fan-actics Banquet to receive their awards.

So once again show your appreciation of how hard the players work and vote on the 2003 Player of the Year awards. If you have a player you wish to vote for and do not see the name on the ballot, please write the players name below the category you are voting for.

Remember to return ballots by April 30th or bring them to the April meeting. Winners will be announced at the banquet.

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