New Orleans Saints: 0-2 but Still a Symbol of Hope for New Orleanians

Although the New Orleans Saints opened the NFL season with two huge losses their fans still believe the team can get back on track. The Saints' office has been flooded with phone calls since the loss to Tampa Bay, fans requesting a Pep Rally with the team. Owner Tom Benson said "this was both unexpected and I think you can say expected". He responded to the calls and will host a Fan Rally at the Saints Camp on Friday, Sept. 21st before their big Monday night home opener against the strong Tennessee Titans. It will be difficult to duplicate the emotion and enthusiasm that filled the Superdome during last season's home opener against Atlanta, the first game in the Dome since Katrina. But undoubtedly the fans on Monday night will be loud doing their best to give the Saints that emotional boost they need to get the season going in the right direction.

Losing two games right out of the gate is certainly not what the New Orleans fans expected of the 2007 Saints. Fresh off of a first ever appearance in the NFC championship game, there were high hopes for this season, with most fans and even many sports commentators predicting a probable Super Bowl appearance. But losing the first two games by a combined score of 72-24 in Indianapolis and Tampa Bay was more reminiscent of the "bag over your head" days than today's hope of an NFC championship run.

While many in the National Press have now abandoned their high expectations of the Saints, relegating them to the middle of the pack, those at the local level still have guarded optimism. Jim Henderson a long time New Orleans Sportscaster gently chided he and the fans this week saying, "We were wrong to think it would be easy", but encouraged everyone to still believe, it's early in the season. The blogs and radio shows have been full of what's gone wrong, yet turning optimistic as the first home game approaches.

Losing the first two games may be exactly what they needed to do. The expectations going into the season were extremely high for a team that went 3-13 two seasons ago. Neither the team nor the fans have really adjusted to handling all of this positive press. As a long time Saints fan, I always get nervous when the commentators on Sunday (except for Terry Bradshaw) start singing the Saints praises. You just don't want to get your hopes up; they have been crushed way too many times. But now we have the press exactly where we want them. Their attention has turned to Dallas and New England and Indianapolis, as they rightly should be, and the Saints can start going about their business of winning games. Yes, as they win games the attention will turn back, but if they can get the momentum back that they had in 2006, it won't matter.

The fans just want that charged atmosphere that they had last season, when you could walk into any store or restaurant and everyone was smiling, excited about the prospects of the season. This carried over into the off season, with rampant talk of a run to the Super Bowl. Now the hopes may be waning, but not completely gone. You must remember that these are the same fans that have supported the team for nearly 40 years now, albeit at times with bags over their heads, yet still at the games, cheering, yelling, and often times cussing. After a win or two, fans will be able play that CD of U2 singing "The Saints are coming" and get all pumped up about this season again. I can't wait!