BillyCarpenter1

Saints diehards gear up for another season
08/07/2003

By MARY FOSTER / AP Sports Writer


They are among the most wonderful of emotions -- love, faith, hope.


They're praised by spiritual leaders, emotional gurus, and New Orleans Saints sales people.


It's that time of year when those feelings bubble over among Saints fans. The first game has yet to be played, the Super Bowl is anyone's for the taking, and just watching a pass completion at practice can cause unlimited optimism to bubble up.


This summer the feelings are running rampant about the Saints.




WWL-TV
Diehard Saints fans are ready for another year
Hundreds to thousands turn out to watch the sweltering practices at the Saints facility, undeterred by the brutal sun.


When rain fell during the end of practice one day this week, many stayed rooted to their seats until practice ended.


The Black & Gold Scrimmage, a practice with a brief scrimmage tacked onto it, drew just over 18,000 people in Lafayette.


This is for a team that has not been to the playoffs in two years. A team that finished the last two seasons with dismal collapses that drove fans crazy with frustration.


It doesn't matter.


"I love them," said Robert Anderson of Metairie. "I always have, I mean, even when they were really bad. But now, they're not bad. In fact, I think they will be very good. I can just feel it."


Anderson isn't the only one.


Outside the practice field on Airline Drive, is a thermometer painting, very much like the one used on United Way fund raising campaigns. It shows the mercury rising to the magic number of 53,312, the franchise record for season tick sales set in 1988.


As of midweek the Saints were less than 500 tickets away from beating the old mark.


Even more astounding, the Saints were less than 2,000 tickers away from a sellout of their first preseason game. That's right -- preseason. A game that isn't really a game. One that is more of an audition for players trying to make the team. A game that doesn't count.


Of course, fans are optimistic every year before the season begins. But this year, Saints fans can, and obviously do, feel the optimism is justified.


The Saints appear to be loaded with talent. There are a lot of new people and a lot of new speed on the team.


No draft picks and only two free agents -- center Jerry Fontenot and defensive lineman Willie Whitehead -- were on the team before coach Jim Haslett took over.

Haslett built this team and believes in it. The fans are just following his example.


So if the Saints can just make it through December, something they haven't been able to do for the past two years, the long-suffering fans may finally have their faith justified.


As one fan watching practice this past week put it, Saints fans have to take their pleasure when they can get it. And if something should actually happen this year, no one would want to miss it.


"We've stuck with them since the beginning," said David Smith. "I deserve to feel good while I have the chance. Anything after that is just gravy."



http://www.wwltv.com/sports/saints/W...1068106e6.html