The Falcoholic’s Staff Spotlight: Carter Breazeale

Greetings, Falcoholics, welcome to the second edition of The Falcoholic’s Staff Spotlight. This series is similar to the “Fan Spotlight” articles, however, instead we profile a current staff member of The Falcoholic. You’ve read their articles, now get to know them a little bit more. This week’s “Staff Spotlight” is on The Falcoholic’s International Ambassador and world traveler, Carter Breazeale.

Carter was born in Norcross, Ga. in 1985, but eventually moved to Orlando, Fla. in 1995 when his dad’s job transferred him there. He is one of three UCF alums on the staff, and he currently works for a boutique public relations firm in Orlando, and his eighth anniversary at this job is coming up in July. Gabriel Garcia Marquez is his favorite author, and ‘100 Years of Solitude’ is one of the most important novels ever written, according to Carter. Also, he wants you all to know that “Waffle House is the basis of any healthy diet.”

I asked Carter some questions, so let’s get started.

How did you become an Atlanta Falcons fan, and also how did you start writing for The Falcoholic?

The Falcons were actually not my first love in Atlanta. Growing up in Georgia in the early 90’s meant that the Braves dominated all of the sports headlines and attention in town. They (rightfully) sucked up all of the oxygen in Atlanta, so I spent many a summer afternoon shambling back and forth through the rows at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium much to the dismay of other attendees. My mom dropped a beer on my head once. I was born into a family of devoted and hopelessly frustrated Atlanta Braves fans, so I guess you could say the heartbreaks between 1991-1993 and that Jim Leyritz homerun in 1996 prepared me for the Atlanta Falcons.

My foray into “Falcondom” started in 1998, after I had moved to Orlando, Fla. A franchise chronically ignored by major media outlets at the time, their ‘98 season caught the eyes, ears, and enthusiasm of my friends and family. I was immediately invested (and immediately doomed, although I didn’t know it at the time). I had to ask my mom what exactly happened with Eugene Robinson and why he didn’t play in the Super Bowl. I can’t recall her answer, but I’m sure it was awkward.

How did I end up writing here? Well, I spent some time over at Fansided’s Blogging Dirty, and after a year or so I reached out to Dave Choate about any contributor opportunities. I’m still waiting on him to reply. A few months later I shot Matt Chambers an email and after a few FanShots I joined the staff in early 2018. Thanks, Chambers.

What are your thoughts on the Atlanta Falcons 2019 offseason?

I was out of the country during the draft, so I didn’t get to enjoy it the way I normally do. When we traded up for Julio Jones I celebrated like I had just been drafted. In 2019 I saw the results once I could get on Wi-Fi from a bunk bed in Lisbon, Portugal, and admittedly I was extremely confused. Signing Jamon Brown and James Carpenter during free agency and then turning around and drafting two offensive linemen in the first round made little sense in my brain at the time, but I’ve warmed up to it.

Chris Lindstrom has All-Pro potential at right guard, and that’s been a virtual black hole for the Falcons offense for as far as I can remember. Kaleb McGary is massive aggressive at tackle so I’m looking forward to him mushing pass rushers. Draft picks aside, I think the signing of Luke Stocker is flying under the radar and will do worlds for this offense.

If you had to describe the Atlanta Falcons by choosing a Norwegian black metal song, what would it be and why?

Have you been lurking my Facebook, sir? In any case, black metal is an apt music genre for the Atlanta Falcons. It’s dark and angry and cold and loud and empty. Not sure there’s a particular song that encompasses the Falcons, but Darkthrone’s album “Transilvanian Hunger” is probably a good representation.

You’ve traveled all over the world, which location was your favorite?

Hands down: Sarajevo, Bosnia. The food, the people, the history -- it’s just an enchanting place. Bosnia has come an extremely long way since the war, and it’s definitely one of the undiscovered gems of Europe. I often find myself daydreaming about grabbing a stool at a coffee shop in the old town and people watching the afternoon away. Sarajevo is a place that everyone should visit and subsequently fall in love with (it’s impossible not to).

What’s your outlook/prediction for the upcoming season?

Injuries told the story of 2018, and although there was a lot of coaching turnover in the offseason, last year’s team was much better than their record indicated. When you lose your starting middle linebacker, strong safety, running back, and free safety early in the season, there’s not much of a foundation for success.

Health is the primary key for the Falcons team in 2019, and with their additions and their defensive and offensive cornerstones getting back on the field, I see no reason why this team shouldn’t be expected to notch double-digit wins.

What do you want to tell The Falcoholic readers?

@FalcoholicCartz on Twitter. Weekly in-season column “Hat Tips & Head-Scratchers” evaluating the good, bad, and ugly from the previous week’s game.

Well folks, that wraps up another edition of The Falcoholic’s Staff Spotlight. I greatly appreciate Carter for sharing some of his more personal opinions and interests with all of us. If you like people who drink and know things, make sure to follow Carter on Twitter @FalcoholicCartz.

Additionally, you can find me on Twitter @EvanBirchfield. If you missed last week’s edition on Jeanna Thomas and would like to read it, click here. Thanks for reading, Falcoholics!