Most Valuable Fan: Diane Dunn
August 12, 2009 by admin
Filed under Just for Fun, Most Valuable Fan
Diane Dunn has been an Atlanta Falcons fan for more years than she cares to remember. She is the mother of two grown sons and has been married for more than 30 years. She is a graphic designer by trade.
Their Fanbulance is a focal point of Falcons home game tailgating. One of Diane’s sons did the graphics on the outside. Their other son created the logo for the Fanbulance. Diane did the interior decorating. The Dunns are also members of the Falcons BirdWatchers.
You can check both out at: www.falconsbirdwatchers.com and http://web.mac.com/macchiefs/Site/Welcome.html
Diane first started watching football as a young girl in elementary school. She was attracted to football as a means to bond with her dad, uncles, and male cousins when they’d disappear during family Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday gatherings. She played fast-pitch softball from the age of 11 until she was 16. Though she had no brothers who played football, her youngest uncle (who was only one year older) played from junior high school to the college level.
Her favorite team of course is the Atlanta Falcons. They were the closest NFL team to her hometown and Tommy Nobis became her favorite NFL player of all time.
Diane’s game day ritual begins the night before when food and game/team specific items are gathered for the next day’s tailgate (e.g. birdcage with large falcon perched atop it, containing a football helmet and other items specific to the opposing team, a menu board with team specific dishes, such as Jay’s Veal Cutlets or Joey Porterhouse Steaks).
Diane and her husband Tom have had season tickets since 1979. Not only do they attend all the home games, but for the last several years they’ve gone to most if not all of he away games as well. When they’re not at the game and the Falcons aren’t playing, she’s watching other NFL games, especially ones that will affect the Falcons playoff chances down the road.
Her life almost completely revolves around the Falcons’ during football season, both on a personal level and with their Falcons’ BirdWatchers Fan Club involvement. She works on the club newsletter and two websites as well.
She and Tom attend a weekly television taping throughout the season. As regulars, the producers save their group the front, center table for each show. They also attend training camp, annual breakfasts, luncheons, draft parties, charitable fundraisers, Roam the Dome, premiere of annual highlight film, and much more.
One of the craziest things she’s done as a fan was during the 2007 season when she was either on crutches or in a wheelchair most of the season due to a broken foot, she still did not miss a home or away game.
The team mascot, Freddie Falcon, came to her office (which of course is always decorated as a Falcons shrine) on her wedding anniversary and brought her flowers, candy, and Falcons souvenirs.
She’s looking forward to the upcoming season and is highly optimistic the Falcons will return to the playoffs and be heading to Miami in February.
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