The Falcoholic Is Five Years Old Today

In blog years, we are really old.

On October 20, 2006, I put up my first post for The Falcoholic. It was your standard welcome affair, trying to hit the ground running in the middle of what would be a contentious season. At the time, I was a 22-year-old college student studying for a journalism degree, wooing my future wife and captaining the world's sorriest flag football team through its third losing season. Those were simpler times.

Back in 2006, we posted maybe once a day, didn't have access to the quality photos we do now and we were writing about a team that had Jim Mora Jr. as a coach, Michael Vick as a quarterback and Warrick Dunn at running back. And when I say we, I mean me, because at that point Adam, Caleb, James, Jason and Jeanna were just twinkles in The Falcoholic's eye. As time went on and the team went from national laughingstock to serious playoff contender, new readers came in, we added to the roster and The Falcoholic, in my humble opinion, got better and better.


I didn't get a ton of submissions for favorite articles over the life of the site, so I'm not going to do a detailed retrospective of our posts over the years. Besides, you've heard the detailed story of the site many times before, and there's only so many ways I can make sitting on my butt and writing posts sound exciting. You probably also have no interest in reliving the halcyon days of 2006 and 2007 for the Falcons.

Suffice to say The Falcoholic has traveled a long road over the last half-decade, and I'm enormously grateful for the countless opportunities I've been given, the praise you've all been so generous with, and the times I've totally embarrassed myself by predicting Matt Ryan wouldn't be any good or enthusiastically championing David Irons. It's been a humbling experience, to say the least.

I do want to thank every one of you, too. I've been exceptionally fortunate to have a laid-back, talented group of co-writers, a team and local media that's been Falcoholic friendly for years and the best damn readers on SB Nation, period. One love to all of you.

Take a moment to reflect, sing Happy Birthday or just  talk Falcons. That's what we're here for, and that's what we'll always be here for.

Oh, and just as a housekeeping note, I'm taking a week's vacation and leaving you all in Adam, Caleb, James and Jeanna's capable hands. Enjoy!