Tank4Payton

Hello Saints fans. To show you that I am not a bad guy despite my joke earlier this week that Asylum Guido sniffed out I thought I'd share some info with you that I write for a private Cowboys forum. For each game I do a primer thread. Most of this info you as Saints fans may know, but I hope you will still enjoy.

It is slanted towards my Cowboys and I hope you will understand why since I generally write them for those fans.

Consider this a peace offering and apology to the site for my joke. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

I do sincerely hope Sean Payton returns to your sidelines. That part wasn't a joke.

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In 1965 the NFL had fourteen teams and the AFL had their original eight. That changed in 1966 when both leagues began to realize a need to grow. The NFL added the Falcons. The AFL added the Dolphins. In 1967 the NFL added yet another team to bring their total to sixteen teams. That team was the New Orleans Saints.

In 1966 the NFL was split into two Divisions. They were the NFL East and the NFL West. The Champions of these two divisions faced each other for the NFL Championship as the NFL had since 1933. Prior to 1933 the NFL Champion was awarded to the team with the best record. From 1933 to 1965 the NFL Division winners played each other for the Championship. In 1966 this Champion earned the right to go on to face the AFL Champion in the Super Bowl.

In 1967 the NFL split into four divisions with four teams each. They were the NFL Capital, NFL Coastal, NFL Century, and NFL Central Divisions. I have no idea why the letter C was chosen for all four Divisions. I have searched for an answer and never found one.

The Dallas Cowboys were placed in the NFL Capital Division along with the Eagles, Redskins, and the expansion Saints. We swept the Saints who were 3-11 that year. Dallas won the NFL Capital Division crown.

In 1968 the NFL moved the Saints out of the NFL Capital division and moved the Giants into the NFL Capital. The Saints went to the NFL Century Division. The AFL expanded to ten teams by adding the Bengals. Dallas again won the NFL Capital Division crown.

In 1969 the Saints and Giants again swapped Divisions and the Saints were once again a division rival. Dallas again swept the Saints. Dallas again won the NFL Capital Division crown and will forever be the only Champion from that Division.

The next year the twenty six teams of the AFL and NFL became one league, the National Football League, and the NFC East was officially born. Why am I taking you all the way to the AFL-NFL merger? Because a not well known fact is that that merger needed Congressional approval to happen and one caveat demanded by Congressman Hale Boggs to Commissioner Pete Rozelle was that New Orleans be granted a professional football team. For a long time it was debatable if they had one or not.

On November 1, 1966 the NFL awarded its sixteenth and final original franchise (prior to the merger) to the New Orleans Saints. The announcement happened on the catholic "All Saints Day" and with New Orleans being noted for jazz music; the mascot Saints was quickly chosen and "When the Saints Come Marching In" by Al Hirt became their fight song.

Incidentally, Al Hirt was part of the halftime performances for both of our Super Bowl wins in the 1970's. Both were played in New Orleans. Super Bowl VI was at Tulane Stadium and Super Bowl XII was at the Super Dome, the first ever indoor Super Bowl.

A Houston, Texas oil man named John Mecom was the Saints first majority owner. Their colors, black and gold, a tribute to his ties to oil, often called "black gold."

In 1985 Tom Benson purchased the Saints from John Mecom. From their inception in 1967 and up until 1979 the Saints were losers every single season. In 1979 they finished 8-8 for their first ever non losing season. Imagine that Cowboys fans, twelve straight years of sub .500 football; before one season of .500 football could even be achieved.

In 1980 the Saints went right back to their losing ways and finished the season 1-15. That year a New Orleans DJ started calling them the Aints and fans began the tradition of being anonymous by putting bags over their heads. In 1983 the Saints again finished 8-8 for their second non losing season.

They didn't have a winning season until 1987 when they finished 12-3. If you are wondering why 15 games, that was the year of the replacement games during the players strike.

The Cowboys and Saints have played each other twenty four times. The Cowboys hold the all time edge 15-9. They Cowboys are 9-3 against them at Dallas. The series is tied 6-6 for games played in the Big Easy. The Saints are the only current NFC team that the Cowboys have never faced in the Post Season.

Tom Landry dominated the Saints. He was 11-2 against them. No other Cowboys coach has. Jimmy and Barry were the only other coaches to even defeat them until Wade Phillips and the Cowboys ended the Saints undefeated season in 2009. Jimmy was 2-1 against the Saints, and Barry Switzer was 1-0. Chan Gailey and Bill Parcells were both 0-2, Dave Campo was 0-1. Wade Phillips was 1-0 and Jason Garrett came within just under two minutes of being 1-0 against them, but a Drew Brees 12 yard TD pass sent Jason Garrett his very first loss as a Head Coach.

Geaux Cowboys!

AsylumGuido

Thanks, Hos! You know I have always enjoyed your primers. Always good stuff.

But, something to point out, there was never a tradition of wearing bags. There was the protest called upon by Buddy Diliberto that took place at the very end of 1980 and into the 1981 season. The "bag heads" were limited in number, yet very visible in the media.

Also, you failed to point out that the Saints have won six of the last seven meetings between the two teams.

Edit: Actually, you did in a way. Nevermind.

Rugby Saint II

Very informative...........thanks for posting.

SaintsBro

Cowboys fan talking about Tom Landry ... yawn.

stickman

What's that old saying about teams that tout their history must not be having a very good present?