Saints and Katrina (Espn.com)

TallySaint · 08-30-2005, 06:18 PM

Updated: Aug. 29, 2005, 11:41 PM ET

Aftermath of hurricane weighs on Saints' minds
By Alan Grant
Special to ESPN.com

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Katrina kicked them out of their house, so they ended up here. Here is the sloped, uneven practice field at San Jose State University, where the New Orleans Saints are calling home until further notice.

It looked and sounded like a routine practice. There was stretching, seven-on-seven, and team period. But when the final horn sounded Monday, and the players filed off the field, it was apparent that the Saints had suddenly become the league's only nomadic franchise.

Aaron Brooks and his displaced Saints teammates are concerned about what's to come once they return to New Orleans.
Defensive coordinator Rick Venturi slowly walked over to a bench, sat down and sighed. Not only is Venturi recovering from recent back surgery, the business of fleeing storms has become somewhat routine.

"It was about this time last year that we went to San Antonio to get away from Ivan," Venturi said. "I think we were lucky because it hit west instead of east."

Despite that bit of fortune, Venturi is rather matter of fact on his expectations. "I still expect our houses to be under water," he said.

Coach Jim Haslett had a similar view as he measured the predicament in relative terms. In recent days, the Superdome's structural foundation has been compared to Rome's infamous Coliseum, but after Hurricane Katrina's 145-mph winds sheared off portions of the dome's roof -- even ripped two holes in it -- that seems rather far-fetched.

"If something can happen to the Superdome," Haslett said, "imagine what the city must look like."

Story continues...
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2146484

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08-30-2005, 06:18 PM	#1
TallySaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 1,367	Saints and Katrina (Espn.com) Updated: Aug. 29, 2005, 11:41 PM ET Aftermath of hurricane weighs on Saints' minds By Alan Grant Special to ESPN.com SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Katrina kicked them out of their house, so they ended up here. Here is the sloped, uneven practice field at San Jose State University, where the New Orleans Saints are calling home until further notice. It looked and sounded like a routine practice. There was stretching, seven-on-seven, and team period. But when the final horn sounded Monday, and the players filed off the field, it was apparent that the Saints had suddenly become the league's only nomadic franchise. Aaron Brooks and his displaced Saints teammates are concerned about what's to come once they return to New Orleans. Defensive coordinator Rick Venturi slowly walked over to a bench, sat down and sighed. Not only is Venturi recovering from recent back surgery, the business of fleeing storms has become somewhat routine. "It was about this time last year that we went to San Antonio to get away from Ivan," Venturi said. "I think we were lucky because it hit west instead of east." Despite that bit of fortune, Venturi is rather matter of fact on his expectations. "I still expect our houses to be under water," he said. Coach Jim Haslett had a similar view as he measured the predicament in relative terms. In recent days, the Superdome's structural foundation has been compared to Rome's infamous Coliseum, but after Hurricane Katrina's 145-mph winds sheared off portions of the dome's roof -- even ripped two holes in it -- that seems rather far-fetched. "If something can happen to the Superdome," Haslett said, "imagine what the city must look like." Story continues... http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2146484 8)