Saintsgiving is a blessing to thankful New Orleans fans

SmashMouth · 11-22-2018, 08:06 AM

On Thanksgiving (Nov. 22), when the New Orleans Saints take on the Atlanta Falcons in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, folks chowing down at the always-food-centric tailgate have a plan.

“We will be having our first ever parking lot Thanksgiving feast on Poydras Street, complete with all the fixins’,” Jeff Maumus said in a discussion on the Where NOLA Eats Facebook group. “We are planning on a fried turkey, oyster dressing, creamed cauliflower, pecan pie and more.”

Kickoff is at 7:20 p.m., so most folks say they can do both: Enjoy the traditional family meal and watch the Saints pluck the dirty birds.

“If you’re having dinner at 7 p.m., something’s wrong,” Melvin Brown said. “You’re encroaching on valuable leftover time.”

Avid fan Jim Rapier agreed: “Eating early (and then) going to the game. going for two birds down in one day.”

Football and Thanksgiving go hand-in-hand, but this is a Saints home game and it isn’t just any home game, it’s against the black and gold’s archenemy. And the 9-1 Saints are winning and winning big.

The Falcons-Saints’ intense rivalry dates to the 1960s and has long been a part of the city’s sports lore. In 2006, it became part of the city’s Katrina recovery story.

Many New Orleanians can tell you where they were on Sept. 25, 2006, the so-called Domecoming, when “the punt block” — as fans refer to it — by Steve Gleason allowed Curtis Deloatch to go in for a touchdown that led to a victory in the first game played in the newly reopened Superdome.

Gleason’s play is commemorated with a statue called “Rebirth” on Superdome grounds.

Moments like that make the meet-up with the Falcons serious business for fans like Cheryl Jarrell, who took a hard stand on this confluence of the holiday and the game back in spring.

“There will be no Thanksgiving dinner at my house,” Jarrell said. “There’s a Saints game, and I’m going! Been warning the family since the schedule came out.”

Rhonda Terrell Walters, who is going to the game as well, is simply moving the holiday meal: “We will celebrate on Saturday.”

Kim Este Campbell is adjusting her plans, too.

“We usually have Friendsgiving on Thanksgiving night,” Campbell said. “This year, we’ll be having it the night before.”

Some, rather than work around it, are embracing the collision of two much-anticipated events.

“I’ve changed the whole menu to sports food,’’ Charlene Carter told the Facebook Group.

Michele Williams is planning a mash-up: “We will have both Thanksgiving and tailgating food. We will put tents up outside with table and chairs and TV and boil seafood and celebrate my son’s birthday. It will be wonderful.”

The game, with its evening kick-off, will bleed into another holiday tradition that is equally important to many: holiday sale shopping.

“Black Friday shopping will not happen,” Desiree Egan said. “I want to see my boys roast that bird.”

New Orleans Saints fans lived through lean times in the Saints’ early years, games that included heavy losses and bag heads.

read more on NOLA

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11-22-2018, 08:06 AM	#1
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,554 Blog Entries: 29	Saintsgiving is a blessing to thankful New Orleans fans On Thanksgiving (Nov. 22), when the New Orleans Saints take on the Atlanta Falcons in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, folks chowing down at the always-food-centric tailgate have a plan. “We will be having our first ever parking lot Thanksgiving feast on Poydras Street, complete with all the fixins’,” Jeff Maumus said in a discussion on the Where NOLA Eats Facebook group. “We are planning on a fried turkey, oyster dressing, creamed cauliflower, pecan pie and more.” Kickoff is at 7:20 p.m., so most folks say they can do both: Enjoy the traditional family meal and watch the Saints pluck the dirty birds. “If you’re having dinner at 7 p.m., something’s wrong,” Melvin Brown said. “You’re encroaching on valuable leftover time.” Avid fan Jim Rapier agreed: “Eating early (and then) going to the game. going for two birds down in one day.” Twitter Football and Thanksgiving go hand-in-hand, but this is a Saints home game and it isn’t just any home game, it’s against the black and gold’s archenemy. And the 9-1 Saints are winning and winning big. The Falcons-Saints’ intense rivalry dates to the 1960s and has long been a part of the city’s sports lore. In 2006, it became part of the city’s Katrina recovery story. Many New Orleanians can tell you where they were on Sept. 25, 2006, the so-called Domecoming, when “the punt block” — as fans refer to it — by Steve Gleason allowed Curtis Deloatch to go in for a touchdown that led to a victory in the first game played in the newly reopened Superdome. Gleason’s play is commemorated with a statue called “Rebirth” on Superdome grounds. Moments like that make the meet-up with the Falcons serious business for fans like Cheryl Jarrell, who took a hard stand on this confluence of the holiday and the game back in spring. “There will be no Thanksgiving dinner at my house,” Jarrell said. “There’s a Saints game, and I’m going! Been warning the family since the schedule came out.” Rhonda Terrell Walters, who is going to the game as well, is simply moving the holiday meal: “We will celebrate on Saturday.” Kim Este Campbell is adjusting her plans, too. “We usually have Friendsgiving on Thanksgiving night,” Campbell said. “This year, we’ll be having it the night before.” Some, rather than work around it, are embracing the collision of two much-anticipated events. “I’ve changed the whole menu to sports food,’’ Charlene Carter told the Facebook Group. Michele Williams is planning a mash-up: “We will have both Thanksgiving and tailgating food. We will put tents up outside with table and chairs and TV and boil seafood and celebrate my son’s birthday. It will be wonderful.” The game, with its evening kick-off, will bleed into another holiday tradition that is equally important to many: holiday sale shopping. “Black Friday shopping will not happen,” Desiree Egan said. “I want to see my boys roast that bird.” New Orleans Saints fans lived through lean times in the Saints’ early years, games that included heavy losses and bag heads. read more on NOLA Attached Thumbnails iceshack149 and foreverfan like this.
	Last edited by SmashMouth; 11-22-2018 at 08:21 AM..

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