Tom Dunn's game-day ride has its own name. It has its own website, fanbulance.com. It even has its own trading card.
The Fanbulance is Dunn's creation, a retired ambulance re-made into a tailgate transportation vehicle. Dunn and his family are kind of into the Falcons. They've held season tickets since 1979. Dunn and his wife, Diane, have attended all but two of the team's road games in the past four years.
"I just started going to games, and you kind of get hooked on it," said Dunn, from Peachtree City.
The Dunns arrived at the Georgia Dome at 3:30 p.m. in the Fanbulance, which has the likenesses of quarterback Matt Ryan and tea, greats Jessie Tuggle, Steve Bartkowski and Tommy Nobis affixed to the sides. Inside, the seats in the cab are custom-upholstered in Falcons' red and black. There are Falcons pillows, a Falcons clock, a Falcons rug and even a Fanbulance pennant hanging above the door. It also has a satellite dish and flat-screen television, on which a group of perhaps 80 friends watched the Pittsburgh-Baltimore game beforehand and dined on the Dunns' prepared feast.
"It's been kind of a family project," Dunn said. He has no idea how much money has gone into the Fanbulance, and "I don't want to [know] because it would break my heart."
Falcons watchers
Among those in attendance: former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, former Falcons stars Bartkowski and Warrick Dunn, musician Jon Bon Jovi and former Packers quarterback Don Majkowski, a Johns Creek resident. NFL executive vice president Ray Anderson, formerly a Falcons executive, also was at the game.
Gibbs is a good friend of team owner Arthur Blank. Bartkowski and Dunn are members of the team's board of advisors. Dunn, who was awarded the Heisman Humanitarian Award for his charity work, is fine leaving the running and pounding to someone else.
"I'm at peace," he said.
Fan gear
Who has the most popular Falcons jersey after Ryan? A very unscientific study would say wide receiver Roddy White.
Most unlikely Falcons jerseys worn by fans: Former quarterback Jeff George and former wide receiver Peerless Price.
Most unusual Falcons gear spotted: a red and black Falcons poncho. The wearer said he got it in Mexico.
Most out-of-place jersey: A fan in a Chicago Bears Brian Urlacher jersey. Ended up at the wrong game, perhaps?
On the roads
Despite -- or perhaps because of -- dire warnings about downtown traffic Saturday night, the Downtown Connector was running with little or no delay as game time neared.
"It wasn't bad at all," said Phil Clabo, father of Falcons offensive lineman Tyson Clabo, who was dressed in his son's No. 77 jersey.
What's something most people don't know about his son?
"He's a big teddy bear," Clabo said.
Cheeseheads arrive
Packers fans made up perhaps 10 percent of the sold-out crowd in attendance. More than a few made their way from Wisconsin, lured by the availability of several thousand tickets on the secondary market.
"At Lambeau, that's unheard of," said Laurie Kysely of Milwaukee, at the game with her husband, Chris.
Ticket scam
By halftime, dome officials reported that 65 counterfeit tickets had been confiscated outside the stadium, with one arrest made. After about 300 fake tickets were confiscated at the Falcons' Dec. 27 game against New Orleans, the Falcons and the dome made a push to alert fans to counterfeiters.
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