After watching the Atlanta Falcons’ 44-21 Sunday victory over the Green Bay Packers in the National Football Conference Championship game at the Georgia Dome earning them a berth in the upcoming Super Bowl against the American Football Conference Champion New England Patriots a week from Sunday in Houston Texas, my mind reverted back to the many Falcon memories I have had in their 51-year history.

The Falcons’ only previous Super Bowl appearance came in 1999 when they lost to the Denver Broncos 34-19. The Broncos were quarterbacked by Hall of Famer John Elway, who retired after the game. The Falcons were coached by Americus Georgia native Dan Reeves, who had played at South Carolina and previously coached the Falcons.

At Americus High School, Reeves played for former Bainbridge High School Bearcats head football coach Jimmy Hightower. The Falcons that season featured two All Pro defensive ends Claud Humphrey and John Zook. Zook was an avid bass angler who use to fish in some bass tournaments on Lake Seminole.

The Falcons have had a couple of real characters as head coaches through the years. One of the most colorful coaches the Falcons ever had was Jerry Glanville, who drove a pickup truck to practice and games.

Current Falcons Quarterback Mat Ryan is by far their greatest quarterback of all time. He played at Boston College which is just a few Miles from the Patriots home stadium and practice complex.

I am picking the Falcons to defeat the Patriots 27-24.