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Falcons training camp is always such an exciting time for fans, as it affords the first glimpse at how that season's team is coming together. It also marks the end of a long offseason and the return of football, which is always a welcome change.
Camp gives fans the opportunity to get a close-up look at this year's team, speculate wildly about which players are earning roster spots with their performances, and even meet their favorite players during autograph sessions after practices. There are so many memories to be made, and if you've been to training camp in the past, you likely already have many fond memories of your training camp experiences.
It's difficult for me to narrow it down to just one favorite training camp memory. The time my younger daughter met Falcons owner Arthur Blank would certainly be near the top of the list.
Blank was signing autographs after practice, and my daughter Chelsea, who was probably eight or nine at the time, was waiting patiently in line, but Blank finished signing before her turn had arrived. Blank must have caught a glimpse of Chelsea as he walked away and noticed her disappointment, because he came back, signed her Falcons flag and had a brief conversation with her, thanking her for her support. As he walked away, Blank patted Chelsea on the head like a dog, which makes me laugh every time I think about it.
Another favorite training camp memory for me is watching the Hard Knocks crew work last season. It was really interesting to see them shape the stories they were going to tell and highlight the players who became Hard Knocks stars last year. It was also fun to actually show up briefly on Hard Knocks, along with Dave Choate and Jason Kirk.
Share your favorite memories from Falcons training camps over the years in the comments.