How Saints build camaraderie? Some college trolling, real mascots and a smashed Purdue train

12-14-2018, 11:14 AM

jeanpierre · 12-14-2018, 11:16 AM

BY NICK UNDERHILL | nunderhill@theadvocate.com Dec 14, 2018 - 9:19 am

During one of the Saints’ weekly meetings, Sparty, the Michigan State mascot, came bursting into the room.

The crazy thing is, it wasn’t a particularly surprising occurrence. Just the week before, someone dressed as the Purdue mascot greeted the Saints after the Boilermakers beat Ohio State.

Quarterback Drew Brees, a product of Purdue, went around the room on that day and handed out trains to all the players who attended Ohio State.

“Obviously they were heavy favorites," Brees explained, "and we beat them.”

Obviously, but the high didn’t last long. With Sparty in the house, it was Brees’ turn to pay the price after Purdue fell to Michigan State. Coach Sean Payton spared no expense. He flew in the actual mascot with its handler from East Lansing. Sparty smashed a Purdue train upon entering the room.

The Saints players loved the spectacle, but the level of detail wasn’t lost on them. It was one thing when Payton purchased a couple of mascot uniforms and had someone dress up in it. Bringing in the real deal to town was next level, which made them appreciate it even more.

“Sean does nothing half-assed, whether it’s game planning for a team or trolling against Ohio State,” defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins said.

Payton has never been afraid of finding creative ways to motivate or reach his players. Finding new wrinkles and switching things up is essential when staying in the same place for more than a decade, even if the message becoming stale isn’t as prevalent as it once was with a young roster now in place.

But the best way to reach players has changed over the years. Payton has spoken before about being mindful of shrinking attention spans and the length of meetings. Players entering the league are different than they used to be, so the coaching staff has worked to find new and better ways to present information during the Wednesday meeting, something Payton called a “weekly project.”

“We’re teachers (at heart). And so what are the best ways to teach certain lessons?” Payton said. “Sometimes it might involve more video, a little bit more creativity now for these players where you’re not just putting up a chart or a graph. It might be a movie scene with some player’s head placed in the character, and yet there’s a message behind it that relates to a winning part of football.”

The way the Wednesday meetings look now compared to how they might have looked in 2006 or even a few years ago is different. The information is presented differently, and so is the attention paid toward creating an atmosphere designed to break up the monotony of the week.

Offensive tackle Terron Armstead has noticed how Payton is tailoring his approach to better reach the younger players on the team. The things the coach is teaching haven’t changed -- he’s still very particular about how things get done – only the packaging has.

And while those younger players might not know how things used to be, they appreciate having some elements of fun interjected throughout the week.

“It loosens everybody up, have everybody knowing know it’s fun still,” cornerback Marshon Lattimore said. “The season’s so long you can get bored real easy. It’s just fun having stuff like that. It’s really like a college atmosphere, but it’s still business at the same time.”

The mascots have been a big part of creating that atmosphere. Some of the players said they started to anticipate the weekly meeting because they were eager to find out what Payton had up his sleeve. The whole thing was elaborate. He would give a presentation on the history of the mascot, replete with GIFs and videos, and then bring it into the room.

Along with Michigan State and Purdue, Alabama and North Texas were also part of the mix. Some of the Ohio State players tried to arrange for Brutus to make an appearance but the logistics didn’t work out. The plan is to bring him to town if the school beats Washington in the Rose Bowl.

“It’s OK. Where’s Purdue right now?” safety Kurt Coleman said. “I think they’re 6-6. They’re going to Meineke Whatever Bowl. I think the Buckeyes are doing fine. They’re getting ready to go to the Rose Bowl.”

Purdue is actually playing Auburn in the Music City Bowl, but that’s not the point. The point is to talk a little trash and have some fun. The truth is, Coleman isn’t upset about anything. He loves it.

So do his teammates.

“It’s a special bond that we have. Those things add to these memories,” Coleman said. “I tell guys all the time; you don’t remember the wins and losses. What you remember are the times that you shared together with your brothers. Those are just some of the things we’re going to look back at and talk about those moments.”

This team will remember the wins and losses if it goes far enough in the playoffs. But more wins along the way could mean more mascots during college bowl season. That’s as good of a reason to win as any.

homerj07 · 12-14-2018, 06:35 PM

Nice budget Coach has to fly in a mascot from Michigan...

vpheughan · 12-15-2018, 08:03 AM

Nice budget Coach has to fly in a mascot from Michigan...

No different than saying yes about a SHOULD WE? and bringing in "So and So" for a look. You know! Kick the tires, See what's in the tank, can we Get them on the Cheap and most importantly "ARE THEY A BEAST!"

Rugby Saint II · 12-15-2018, 01:41 PM

My my, how the times have changed since the days of Vince Lombardi.

QBREES9 · 12-15-2018, 01:43 PM

Great job!

Crusader · 12-16-2018, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II

My my, how the times have changed since the days of Vince Lombardi.

It sure has and I'm glad we have a coach that keeps with the times.

foreverfan · 12-16-2018, 11:46 AM

Did any of the rookie get a free turkey this year?

skymike · 12-20-2018, 08:33 AM

Love this...
somebody explain the train to me.
i know it ruins it, if you have to explain., but.. just so I know

AsylumGuido · 12-20-2018, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by skymike

Love this...
somebody explain the train to me.
i know it ruins it, if you have to explain., but.. just so I know

Brees went to Purdue.
Purdue's mascot is the Boilermaker.
Boilermakers built and maintained steam locomotives.

12-14-2018, 11:14 AM	#1
Threaded by jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39 Rating: (0 votes - average) Twitter
Views: 1886

12-14-2018, 11:16 AM	#2
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: How Saints build camaraderie? Some college trolling, real mascots and a smashed Purdue train BY NICK UNDERHILL \| nunderhill@theadvocate.com Dec 14, 2018 - 9:19 am During one of the Saints’ weekly meetings, Sparty, the Michigan State mascot, came bursting into the room. The crazy thing is, it wasn’t a particularly surprising occurrence. Just the week before, someone dressed as the Purdue mascot greeted the Saints after the Boilermakers beat Ohio State. Quarterback Drew Brees, a product of Purdue, went around the room on that day and handed out trains to all the players who attended Ohio State. “Obviously they were heavy favorites," Brees explained, "and we beat them.” Obviously, but the high didn’t last long. With Sparty in the house, it was Brees’ turn to pay the price after Purdue fell to Michigan State. Coach Sean Payton spared no expense. He flew in the actual mascot with its handler from East Lansing. Sparty smashed a Purdue train upon entering the room. The Saints players loved the spectacle, but the level of detail wasn’t lost on them. It was one thing when Payton purchased a couple of mascot uniforms and had someone dress up in it. Bringing in the real deal to town was next level, which made them appreciate it even more. “Sean does nothing half-assed, whether it’s game planning for a team or trolling against Ohio State,” defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins said. Payton has never been afraid of finding creative ways to motivate or reach his players. Finding new wrinkles and switching things up is essential when staying in the same place for more than a decade, even if the message becoming stale isn’t as prevalent as it once was with a young roster now in place. But the best way to reach players has changed over the years. Payton has spoken before about being mindful of shrinking attention spans and the length of meetings. Players entering the league are different than they used to be, so the coaching staff has worked to find new and better ways to present information during the Wednesday meeting, something Payton called a “weekly project.” “We’re teachers (at heart). And so what are the best ways to teach certain lessons?” Payton said. “Sometimes it might involve more video, a little bit more creativity now for these players where you’re not just putting up a chart or a graph. It might be a movie scene with some player’s head placed in the character, and yet there’s a message behind it that relates to a winning part of football.” The way the Wednesday meetings look now compared to how they might have looked in 2006 or even a few years ago is different. The information is presented differently, and so is the attention paid toward creating an atmosphere designed to break up the monotony of the week. Offensive tackle Terron Armstead has noticed how Payton is tailoring his approach to better reach the younger players on the team. The things the coach is teaching haven’t changed -- he’s still very particular about how things get done – only the packaging has. And while those younger players might not know how things used to be, they appreciate having some elements of fun interjected throughout the week. “It loosens everybody up, have everybody knowing know it’s fun still,” cornerback Marshon Lattimore said. “The season’s so long you can get bored real easy. It’s just fun having stuff like that. It’s really like a college atmosphere, but it’s still business at the same time.” The mascots have been a big part of creating that atmosphere. Some of the players said they started to anticipate the weekly meeting because they were eager to find out what Payton had up his sleeve. The whole thing was elaborate. He would give a presentation on the history of the mascot, replete with GIFs and videos, and then bring it into the room. Along with Michigan State and Purdue, Alabama and North Texas were also part of the mix. Some of the Ohio State players tried to arrange for Brutus to make an appearance but the logistics didn’t work out. The plan is to bring him to town if the school beats Washington in the Rose Bowl. “It’s OK. Where’s Purdue right now?” safety Kurt Coleman said. “I think they’re 6-6. They’re going to Meineke Whatever Bowl. I think the Buckeyes are doing fine. They’re getting ready to go to the Rose Bowl.” Purdue is actually playing Auburn in the Music City Bowl, but that’s not the point. The point is to talk a little trash and have some fun. The truth is, Coleman isn’t upset about anything. He loves it. So do his teammates. “It’s a special bond that we have. Those things add to these memories,” Coleman said. “I tell guys all the time; you don’t remember the wins and losses. What you remember are the times that you shared together with your brothers. Those are just some of the things we’re going to look back at and talk about those moments.” This team will remember the wins and losses if it goes far enough in the playoffs. But more wins along the way could mean more mascots during college bowl season. That’s as good of a reason to win as any.
	It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

12-14-2018, 06:35 PM	#3
homerj07 In Doh We Trust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 7,027 Blog Entries: 16	Re: How Saints build camaraderie? Some college trolling, real mascots and a smashed Purdue train Nice budget Coach has to fly in a mascot from Michigan...

12-15-2018, 08:03 AM	#4
vpheughan 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,499	Re: How Saints build camaraderie? Some college trolling, real mascots and a smashed Purdue train Nice budget Coach has to fly in a mascot from Michigan... No different than saying yes about a SHOULD WE? and bringing in "So and So" for a look. You know! Kick the tires, See what's in the tank, can we Get them on the Cheap and most importantly "ARE THEY A BEAST!"
vpheughan 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,499

12-15-2018, 01:41 PM	#5
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 23,722	Re: How Saints build camaraderie? Some college trolling, real mascots and a smashed Purdue train My my, how the times have changed since the days of Vince Lombardi. Thirty3 likes this.

Latest Blogs
2023 New Orleans Saints: Training Camp Last Blog: 08-01-2023 By: MarchingOn Puck the Fro Browl! Last Blog: 02-05-2023 By: neugey CFP: "Just Keep Doing What You're Doing" Last Blog: 12-08-2022 By: neugey

12-15-2018, 01:43 PM	#6
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,982	Re: How Saints build camaraderie? Some college trolling, real mascots and a smashed Purdue train Great job!

12-16-2018, 08:44 AM	#7
Crusader Resident Swede Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Märsta, Sweden Posts: 7,984	Re: How Saints build camaraderie? Some college trolling, real mascots and a smashed Purdue train Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II My my, how the times have changed since the days of Vince Lombardi. It sure has and I'm glad we have a coach that keeps with the times.

12-16-2018, 11:46 AM	#8
foreverfan 12,000 BS Posts Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 13,457 Blog Entries: 5	Re: How Saints build camaraderie? Some college trolling, real mascots and a smashed Purdue train Did any of the rookie get a free turkey this year?

12-20-2018, 08:33 AM	#9
skymike E. Side Cholo Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Barrio, H-town Posts: 6,089	Re: How Saints build camaraderie? Some college trolling, real mascots and a smashed Purdue train Love this... somebody explain the train to me. i know it ruins it, if you have to explain., but.. just so I know

12-20-2018, 08:37 AM	#10
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,392	Re: How Saints build camaraderie? Some college trolling, real mascots and a smashed Purdue train Originally Posted by skymike Love this... somebody explain the train to me. i know it ruins it, if you have to explain., but.. just so I know Brees went to Purdue. Purdue's mascot is the Boilermaker. Boilermakers built and maintained steam locomotives.