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Who Dats Alive and Well in Gatlinburg
Written by Ken Trahan

Greetings from chilly Gatlinburg, Tennessee. In the modicum of sports, you might refer to this as “the frozen tundra.” While that moniker is applicable to Lambeau Field and the Green Bay Packers, Gatlinburg, as is the case with many other cities I suspect, has become “Who Dat Heaven” this week.

While it is fashionable for us to escape the fun and frivolity of Mardi Gras for a little “R & R,” we cannot and have not escaped the “Who Dat Nation.”

As we drove from our cabin in the mountains in Pigeon Forge to downtown Gatlinburg today, Saints shirts, sweatshirts, caps and jerseys were prevalent. Louisiana license plates were plentiful. A large part of the New Orleans population has found its way to this tourist region of Eastern Tennessee.

Today alone, I saw jerseys of Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Marques Colston, Deuce McAllister, Archie Manning Jeremy Shockey and even Joe Horn. At one point, my wife turned to an adolescent wearing a Saints’ shirt and uttered the magic words—“Who Dat?” The phrase drew a big smile in response.

Additionally, when you make your ways into stores in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, you inevitably find Saints items. You can escape Mardi Gras. You cannot escape the Saints nation.

What a pleasure it is to see such widespread support for the New Orleans Saints. I am fully cognizant of the fact that many wearing Saints items are doing so as the “flavor of the day.” The Saints are Super Bowl champions. They are hip. They are hot. They are a feel-good story for many.

In the midst of cold, frozen weather here, the sight of Saints fans wearing Saints items has warmed my system far better than hot chocolate or a non-fat latte.

When I returned to my cabin and turned on the television, there was a piece on Drew Brees. He was on Oprah. He was on Ellen. He was on Letterman. He reigned over Bacchus. He was the star of the Saints parade. Immediately following that show, there was Bobby McCray on the Jim Rome Show.

It is truly remarkable to see this attention being bestowed upon the black and gold. Of course, they have earned it. As we sought to escape the madness of carnival this year following a very busy seven sports months, we envisioned getting away from “homers” by heading into the cold.

On second thought, it has been great seeing all of our home boys and girls. Funny how they all seem to be wearing perpetual smiles. I wore a Saints shirt Sunday. People noticed. I will be wearing another Saints shirt on Wednesday. People will notice again, respectfully. It has never felt better to wear black and gold, weather in the blue skies of New Orleans, the white landscape of Gatlinburg or the bright orange of nearby Knoxville. Of course, my guess is that had we traveled to California this week as we did last summer, we likely would have seen folks wearing Saints garb as well, leaving fans of other NFL teams green with envy.

Happy Mardi Gras one and all from Tennessee. Saints fans are truly everywhere. It’s a beautiful sight!

www.sportsshooter.com/johnjcoleman

" Anyone can take a picture Only a Photographer can take a photograph "

Rugby Saint II

Saints fans are living the dream all across the nation.....the world even. I lived in Chattanooga and I have spent a lot of time in Gatlinburg. It's a beautiful place. Who Dat.......We Dat all over.