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HOUMA — There’s no shortage of finding someone locally chanting “Who Dat?” or donning New Orleans Saints merchandise in the midst of the team’s quest for a perfect season.

Just ask the fans that participated in a competition pitting themselves against The Courier/Daily Comet sport writers two years ago.

According to Raceland-based NFL draft analyst Mike Detillier, it really doesn’t get any better than this.

“I’ve been doing this for 26 years, and I think this is by far the most fun I’ve ever had,” Detillier said.

Locals Ralph Sapia, Casey Rodrigue, Sterling Washington, Ashley Dufrene and Jeannie Stewart were chosen from a list of respondents who were featured in a “We Still Believe” cover story that ran Aug. 10, 2007.

These avid fans were asked to pick the winners of six games each week throughout the football season, one which included the Saints. What’s surprising was how even these fans started to pick against the boys in black and gold after watching them post a disappointing 7-9 record.

After squandering numerous close games during their 2008 campaign, these same Joes were forced to see the Saints muster just eight wins.

Fast-foward to today.

The Saints have rattled off 10 straight wins entering their much-anticipated showdown with the New England Patriots on Monday.

Whether its the Joes or anyone else who considers themselves a Saints die-hard, there’s no denying times are good.

The Joes and Detillier point to a variety of factors that have led to the Saints’ 10-0 start.

While some credit team-unity others claim coaching changes.

Whatever it is, all agree it’s a great ride.

Take someone like Sapia.

Ralph and his wife, Mal, are loyal Saints fans ecstactic about the direction the team has taken.

On the day he was contacted, Ralph was busy printing up 11-0 banners off the WVUE Fox 8 New Orleans Web site.

“I was thinking about it, and I remember going to the first Saints game (1967) when John Gilliam returned the opening kick for a touchdown. To see it go from that to people wearing the paper bags to what we saw last weekend during the teams dominant performance against Tampa Bay is amazing. In the 40-plus-year history, we’ve truly gone from bottom of the bottom to now being at the top of the top. It’s really exciting.”

Rodrigue, a lifelong fan, who became a season-ticket holder in 2006, said he loves being in that number on Sundays in the Superdome.

“From the first game this year till now there’s something that’s just felt different about this team,” the 28-year-old Thibodaux resident said.

Rodrigue sees the Monday-night game against New England as a good measuring stick to figure out where the Saints are in terms of being a true Super Bowl contender.

“It’s hard to describe what it’s going to be like,” Rodrigue said of the anticipated atmosphere inside the Dome. “I believe this will be a barometer game for us to show where we’re at as a team. I’m really looking forward to it.”

In describing the game, Detillier barrowed a line from the popular American wrestler “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair.

“He would always say, ‘To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man,’ ” Detillier said. “Well guess what, the Patriots are that man.”

Former coach and current director of Terrebonne Parish Recreation, Sterling Washington, said he’s been most impressed with how well everyone in the Saints organization is clicking.

“That’s something I look at closely being a former coach myself,” Washington said. “From what I see, it seems like they’re all on the same page, and when that’s happening you’ll only have good things come about from it. The cohesiveness that exists on that team is evident when you see them play each week.”

The fans have certainly assisted the Saints in their efforts thus far.

Nowhere is this more visible than following a road game.

For years, Saints fans have made a pilgrimage to the airport to greet the players after a win.

Dufrene said the crowds for this year’s road-game returns are incredible.

“I first went out there during the 2002 season,” the 19-year-old University of New Orleans sophomore and Central Lafourche High School graduate said. “I started going back out there this year and it’s like Mardi Gras. It’s a big party and you wouldn’t believe how many people line up to see them.”

Dufrene expects the roof to come off the Dome if the Saints beat the Patriots on Monday night.

City officials in Orleans, St. Bernard and Jefferson parishes have already declared Monday a black and gold holiday.

“You have to think about it, we’ll already know the outcome of the Atlanta game, so if they lose and we win, we’ll clinch the division,” Dufrene said. “It’s going to be crazy regardless, but if that’s how it plays out, it’s going to be real wild.”

Detillier, who has appeared on tons of national radio talk shows as a result of the Saints success this season, said he expects a high-scoring contest.

He added this season’s current track has not come as a total surprise to him, but the way in which it’s been accomplished has shocked him a bit.

“Only me and John Gruden picked the Saints to go to the NFC Championship game,” Detillier said. “But I didn’t think they would do it in the way they’ve done it with their defense and running the ball being such a key element to their attack.”

Stewart thinks this team has the ingredients to go 19-0 and win the Super Bowl.

“They’re going to go all the way,” Stewart said. “Right now the only CD I play is my Saints’ one with a bunch of Dome songs. I don’t even listen to the regular radio anymore unless it’s a sports talk show or the Saints game itself.”

In summing up what’s happened to this point, Detillier said the ride everyone’s on has been something years in the making.

“I love that so many longtime fans are getting to be a part of this right now,” he said. “For me, it’s a blessing to do this. The excitement is electric. All I have to do is point to my trip to Burger King the other day when someone recognized me in the drive-thru line. They came up to my window and wanted to talk Saints football. It’s definitely a great time for all of us.”
Just ask the fans that participated in a competition pitting themselves against The Courier/Daily Comet sport writers two years ago.

According to Raceland-based NFL draft analyst Mike Detillier, it really doesn’t get any better than this.

“I’ve been doing this for 26 years, and I think this is by far the most fun I’ve ever had,” Detillier said.

Locals Ralph Sapia, Casey Rodrigue, Sterling Washington, Ashley Dufrene and Jeannie Stewart were chosen from a list of respondents who were featured in a “We Still Believe” cover story that ran Aug. 10, 2007.

These avid fans were asked to pick the winners of six games each week throughout the football season, one which included the Saints. What’s surprising was how even these fans started to pick against the boys in black and gold after watching them post a disappointing 7-9 record.

After squandering numerous close games during their 2008 campaign, these same Joes were forced to see the Saints muster just eight wins.

Fast-foward to today.

The Saints have rattled off 10 straight wins entering their much-anticipated showdown with the New England Patriots on Monday.

Whether its the Joes or anyone else who considers themselves a Saints die-hard, there’s no denying times are good.

The Joes and Detillier point to a variety of factors that have led to the Saints’ 10-0 start.

While some credit team-unity others claim coaching changes.

Whatever it is, all agree it’s a great ride.

Take someone like Sapia.

Ralph and his wife, Mal, are loyal Saints fans ecstactic about the direction the team has taken.

On the day he was contacted, Ralph was busy printing up 11-0 banners off the WVUE Fox 8 New Orleans Web site.

“I was thinking about it, and I remember going to the first Saints game (1967) when John Gilliam returned the opening kick for a touchdown. To see it go from that to people wearing the paper bags to what we saw last weekend during the teams dominant performance against Tampa Bay is amazing. In the 40-plus-year history, we’ve truly gone from bottom of the bottom to now being at the top of the top. It’s really exciting.”

Rodrigue, a lifelong fan, who became a season-ticket holder in 2006, said he loves being in that number on Sundays in the Superdome.

“From the first game this year till now there’s something that’s just felt different about this team,” the 28-year-old Thibodaux resident said.

Rodrigue sees the Monday-night game against New England as a good measuring stick to figure out where the Saints are in terms of being a true Super Bowl contender.

“It’s hard to describe what it’s going to be like,” Rodrigue said of the anticipated atmosphere inside the Dome. “I believe this will be a barometer game for us to show where we’re at as a team. I’m really looking forward to it.”

In describing the game, Detillier barrowed a line from the popular American wrestler “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair.

“He would always say, ‘To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man,’ ” Detillier said. “Well guess what, the Patriots are that man.”

Former coach and current director of Terrebonne Parish Recreation, Sterling Washington, said he’s been most impressed with how well everyone in the Saints organization is clicking.

“That’s something I look at closely being a former coach myself,” Washington said. “From what I see, it seems like they’re all on the same page, and when that’s happening you’ll only have good things come about from it. The cohesiveness that exists on that team is evident when you see them play each week.”

The fans have certainly assisted the Saints in their efforts thus far.

Nowhere is this more visible than following a road game.

For years, Saints fans have made a pilgrimage to the airport to greet the players after a win.

Dufrene said the crowds for this year’s road-game returns are incredible.

“I first went out there during the 2002 season,” the 19-year-old University of New Orleans sophomore and Central Lafourche High School graduate said. “I started going back out there this year and it’s like Mardi Gras. It’s a big party and you wouldn’t believe how many people line up to see them.”

Dufrene expects the roof to come off the Dome if the Saints beat the Patriots on Monday night.

City officials in Orleans, St. Bernard and Jefferson parishes have already declared Monday a black and gold holiday.

“You have to think about it, we’ll already know the outcome of the Atlanta game, so if they lose and we win, we’ll clinch the division,” Dufrene said. “It’s going to be crazy regardless, but if that’s how it plays out, it’s going to be real wild.”

Detillier, who has appeared on tons of national radio talk shows as a result of the Saints success this season, said he expects a high-scoring contest.

He added this season’s current track has not come as a total surprise to him, but the way in which it’s been accomplished has shocked him a bit.

“Only me and John Gruden picked the Saints to go to the NFC Championship game,” Detillier said. “But I didn’t think they would do it in the way they’ve done it with their defense and running the ball being such a key element to their attack.”

Stewart thinks this team has the ingredients to go 19-0 and win the Super Bowl.

“They’re going to go all the way,” Stewart said. “Right now the only CD I play is my Saints’ one with a bunch of Dome songs. I don’t even listen to the regular radio anymore unless it’s a sports talk show or the Saints game itself.”

In summing up what’s happened to this point, Detillier said the ride everyone’s on has been something years in the making.

“I love that so many longtime fans are getting to be a part of this right now,” he said. “For me, it’s a blessing to do this. The excitement is electric. All I have to do is point to my trip to Burger King the other day when someone recognized me in the drive-thru line. They came up to my window and wanted to talk Saints football. It’s definitely a great time for all of us.

Saints fans share thoughts about exciting season | HoumaToday.com | The Courier | Houma, LA