Politics

It’s barbecue vs. clam chowder as Deal decrees Friday as Falcons Day

Gov. Nathan Deal holds up William Childers and Reese Werner, two children of senior staffers, during his announcement Thursday at the state Capitol declaring “Falcons Friday” in advance of the Super Bowl. (HENRY TAYLOR / HENRY.TAYLOR@AJC.COM)
Gov. Nathan Deal holds up William Childers and Reese Werner, two children of senior staffers, during his announcement Thursday at the state Capitol declaring “Falcons Friday” in advance of the Super Bowl. (HENRY TAYLOR / HENRY.TAYLOR@AJC.COM)
Feb 2, 2017

Gov. Nathan Deal is rising up.

The governor walked into his ceremonial office on Thursday with a wide grin on his face and a Matt Ryan jersey on his back.

“Hello! Is everyone ready to rise up?”

With that, he announced he was signing a proclamation declaring that Friday is Falcons Day ahead of the team’s Super Bowl game against the New England Patriots.

“The Falcons are set for victory,” he said, “and ready to make history.”

Deal boasted of his bet with Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, predicting he’ll soon be the recipient of Kofee Kup’s lucky cupcakes and Legal Sea Foods clam chowder “when the Patriots lose.”

(For the record, Deal countered with Brunswick stew from Fresh Air BBQ and chocolate-covered blueberries from Byne Blueberry.)

And he urged the state’s employees — all 103,706 of them — to wear Falcons gear at work on Friday.

As for the final score, Deal had a bolder prediction: The game will end with a 42-21 score. In Atlanta’s favor, of course.

“After 51 long years of waiting,” he said, “it’s now time for Falcons fans across the nation to rise up.”

About the Author

Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution's chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.

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