![Samuel L. Jackson encourages fans to "rise up" for the Atlanta Falcons.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/f5/ae/f5ae3e10d12c439a32a0c54dde0ef61c.jpg?itok=AubQGMWQ "Samuel L. Jackson encourages fans to "rise up" for the Atlanta Falcons.")
The Atlanta Falcons are set to take on the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game. Television and film actor Samuel L. Jackson is encouraging fans to “rise up” and support their hometown team. On Jan. 19, fans responded at a pep rally in Fulton County and cheered on the Falcons, an NFL team that is just one game shy of making it to the 2013 Super Bowl. However, to get the opportunity to the play in New Orleans, the Falcons must first defeat the 49ers.
“Rise Up” has become the battle cry for Falcons' fans ever since TV and film stars Samuel L. Jackson, Jeff Foxworthy and Deion Sanders recorded a commercial for the team encouraging fans to “rise up.” Although Jackson and the other famous fans taped the commercial in 2011, it’s more relevant than ever.
Jackson, Foxworthy and Sanders all have close ties to Atlanta. Samuel grew up in Chattanooga and attended Morehouse College in the Atlanta. He was one of the ushers at Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral. Jeff Foxworthy, who is best known for his “you might be a redneck” one-liners was born in Atlanta and attended Georgia Tech. Pro football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders was the fifth pick overall in the 1989 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons and played with the team until 1993.
With a trip to the 2013 Super Bowl on the line, fans in Atlanta are hoping that the players and fans can “rise up” with Samuel L. Jackson to help the Falcons defeat the 49ers. The Falcons might be the underdogs, but when it comes to professional football and the road to the Super Bowl, anything can and usually does happen.
The NFC Championship game between the Atlanta Falcons and the San Francisco 49ers kicks off at 3 p.m. EST on FOX. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will serve as commentators.
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