[Note: This is the fourth entrance in my series about why the Saints’ Super Bowl XLIV victory should be a movie. See the other parts here, here, and here.]
2007, Year 2 After Hurricane Katrina, was, according to Duncan, one of anger. New Orleans at the beginning of the Saint’s football season was a tale of two cities. Only 66% of the population had returned while the surrounding area had reached 83% of its pre-storm level. The job market was at 85% of its pre-Katrina level. About 111 million cubic yards of debris had been removed from Gulf Coast communities, and while blight was still a problem, thousands of homes had been torn down. Electricity and water had been restored to virtually every town in the region.
The cost of living and insurance was higher than before the storm. Only 13 of the 23 major hospitals had reopened, with only 58% of their previously available beds in use. Long emergency room waits were commonplace. Billions of dollars in government grants and FEMA infrastructure repair programs were sitting idle in offices. None of the 115 critical priority projects identified by city offices had been completed. Less than one-third of 153,000 applicants had been approved for grants from the Louisiana Recovery Authority. 43,000 families were still living in FEMA trailers. Crime was on the rise with 130 murders reclaiming the title of “Murder Capital of America” for New Orleans. Ministers, social workers, and counselors saw signs of emotional and physical exhaustion in survivors as they dealt with contract delays and money problems. School test scores decreased. A spray-painted message on one home read, “Katrina, you won.”
Again, the Saints were a bright spot. The team was a popular pick by experts to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLII. Sports Illustrated picked them to win it all. However, they were humbled during a 10-40 loss by the Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning and wide receiver Reggie Wayne. Their defense ranked worst in the league. It was obvious that the team required another year to rebuild their defense at every level. Even key members of staff would have to be replaced.
2008, Year 3 After The Storm, according to Duncan, was the lowest point in recovery from Hurricane Katrina, marked by depression. Optimism was in short supply. Mayor Ray Nagin failed to inspire confidence with his leadership. The job and housing markets had decreased. Violent crime had reached epidemic stages. Seven in ten residents polled said they saw little to no progress in controlling crime and assuring public safety. The undermanned city police department was supplemented by Louisiana National Guard troops. Only 11 % of the pre-storm population of 14,000 in the Lower Ninth Ward had returned. In New Orleans East 14,000 residential houses set empty. Even middle-class Lakeview had seen only half of its former occupants return. Citywide there were still more than 65,000 blighted residential or empty lots. Of the remaining residents, 71% said they saw little or no progress in the rebuilding of destroyed neighborhoods
Slowly the city was rebuilt, stubbornly in piecemeal by private individuals and families. Many of the citizens gave up on the government and began rebuilding themselves. They only supported local businesses and refused to support national chains. They found solace and comfort in local cultural institutions, especially the Saints. Who Dats showed their loyalty by buying up every stadium suite and season ticket.
The Saints did not disappoint, beating the previous season’s 7-9 with an 8-8 season. But like the previous year, they did not make the playoffs. The defense was still terrible, numbering 23 in total defense and 26 in scoring defense. For the fifteenth time in their forlorn history, they came in last in the NFC division. The season ended with a heartbreaking 33-31 loss to the Carolina Panthers with 3:16 left on the clock. It was the fifth time in sixteen games that they lost in the final minutes due to the defense. Angry fans started firegarygibbs.com and signed petitions asking Coach Sean Payton to replace the defensive coordinator. They believed that Gary Gibbs’ lack of leadership was responsible for the loss. Payton defended Gibbs during press conferences, saying he would not blame just one coach. Gibbs had come to the Saints when they were still considered a career wasteland. He had been to Payton a friend and trusted confidant.
As much as he respected Gibbs, Payton let him go and replaced him with Gregg Williams. In a head-spinning 15 months, Williams turned the defense around, with 22 of the 36 defensive players on the roster signed, drafted, or traded. He did a complete workover on the defense. His message regarding the team’s offense was “Knock ‘em out.” During practice, he roamed from training group to training group, barking orders as players worked without pads. The practices between offense and defense escalated into Super Bowl-like intensity as training periods that were supposed to be played at three-quarter speed turned into full-contact sessions.
2009, Year Four according to Duncan, began with real optimism and was marked by acceptance and hope. The New Orleans economy was ranked among the healthiest in the nation despite the recession. Tourism was on the rise. Test scores were up. More seniors were graduating. Schools once considered the worst in America were now considered the models for the rest of the nation. College-educated entrepreneurs energized the workforce, introducing new and much-needed ideas into the community.
The biggest news of 2009 was that Tom Benson and the New Orleans Saints had made a deal with the state of Louisiana keeping them in the city for another 15 years. As part of the deal, Benson bought two buildings near the Superdome and remodeled them. One would be called Benson Tower and occupied by state agencies. The state also added 3,100 seats, 16 suites and 43 concession stands to the stadium. The nightmare of losing the team was finally over.
New Orleanians forgave Benson, but not Mayor Nagin. They wanted him gone. Instead, they looked to the Saints for leadership. Payton showed it when he let a player who had been caught in a shady financial deal go. He did not want anything off-field distracting from the team’s on-field performance. Payton won back the trust of fans by firing Gary Gibbs. He further won the Who Dat Nation’s respect when he re-signed kicker John Carney. During the 2006 NFC Championship game, Payton had called on a different kicker, who missed the goal. He then traded Carney, who went on to have a successful run for other teams. The Saints went through three lackluster kickers before finding Garrett Hartley “out on the streets.” Hartley was performing well until the NFL suspended him for a few games after he admitted to taking a banned substance. To fill in for Hartley, Payton reassigned Carney. Unlike previous coaches and the city’s mayor, he showed he was willing to admit a mistake.
For people who had lost their faith in government in a sea of bureaucratic ineptitude, the Saints and quarterback Brees were their saving grace. Drew Brees’s popularity soon outpaced that of Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister, and he became the face of the franchise. In 2008 Brees was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year, a first for the Saints. In the NFL quarterback ranking, he was right below Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. His talent attracted players and coaches. Gregg Williams cited him as a factor in his signing with the Saints. He was driven to represent New Orleans on the field. He would spend hours on his day off studying film at the facility. He would be the last to leave practice. Everyone from Tom Benson to assistants trusted him and his commitment rubbed off on his teammates. He and his wife won the hearts of Who Dats when they restored a hurricane-damaged house and invested more than $2 million into funds for playgrounds and athletic fields. T-shirts reading “Drew Dat” and “Lou Brees-iana” became hot items. Even “Drew Brees for Mayor” banners appeared around the city.
Fans, some as far away as Kentucky, would show up to watch the team practices. Sometimes cars would be lined up outside of the Airline facility for hours. They would see Williams make his players perform vigorous practices, emphasizing for them to attack the ball. If the players weren’t up to snuff; he would have them stay after practice. This extra practice soon became apparent in games. The 2009 theme would be “Finish Strong.”
However, most of these quarterbacks in those first games were rookies or first-time starters. It would be in a game against the New York Giants that the Saints defense proved themselves. Giants quarterback Eli Manning only completed 14 of his 31 passes, and his record for the game would be his worst in years. The game against the Patriots ended with Tom Brady unable to throw a single touchdown pass. Even with three Super Bowl rings under his belt, he could not recover from the Saint’s 38-17 lead.
Perhaps that game was proof of divine intervention on the side of the Saints. Eight spiritual leaders participated in a pre-game mass. Three archbishops and six priests had joined Tom Benson in his box. One of them was the 96-year-old retired Archbishop Philip Hannan who had delivered a “Prayer for the Saints” in 1966, a supplication repeated by faithful Who Dats over the years.
“God, we ask your blessing upon all who participate in this event, and all who have supported our Saints. Our heavenly Father, who has instructed us that the “saints by faith conquered kingdom…. And overcame lions,” grant our Saints an increase of faith and strength so that they will not only overcome the Lions, but also the Bears, the Rams, the Giants, and even those awesome people in Green Bay.
“May they continue to tame the Redskins and fetter the Falcons as well as the Eagles. Give to our owners and coaches the continued ability to be as wise as serpents and simple as doves, so that no good talent will dodge our draft. Grant to our fans’ perseverance’ in their devotion and unlimited lung power, tempered with a sense of charity to all, including the referees.
“May our beloved “Bedlam Bowl” be a source of good fellowship and may the “Saints Come Marching In” be a victory march for all, now and in eternity. Amen.
In a movie, this prayer would be perfect for a Rocky-style montage combined with a voice-over like that of George C. Scott’s George S. Patton in the 1970 titular movie.
In just three months the Saints had gone from being picked the worst in their division to being considered one of the finest and were bona fide Super Bowl favorites. There was a run on Saints and fleur-di-lis merchandise and Crescent City area stores extended their hours to keep up with the demand. Grocery stores in New Orleans began announcing the scores over their sound systems. Tailgaters showed up at 4:00 am for games that did not start until 7:30 pm. Fans lined up at the airport in a Mardi Gras-like mood to greet the team as it returned from victories. Even Tom Benson got caught up in the celebrations, making his way like a kid to a candy store down to the locker room to congratulate the players. After a series of wins that brought them to 10-0, the city began making plans for the Super Bowl. Officials worried that the Super Bowl would distract people from the city’s mayoral primary the Saturday before the big game.
The only thing that stood between the Saints and a Super Bowl was the Minnesota Vikings. The game started with the Saints trailing the visiting team. With a championship on the line, Payton began to protest the referees not flagging the Vikings. The fans shared their anger. One bolted from his seat and ran up to the press box and began shouting at an official, “You’re cheating us! …you know it!” Reggie Bush’s former agent and Saints marketing consultant Mike Ornstein finally rushed down and told the irate fan to get out of there. Payton barked out that he needed a Juicy Fruit, his game day totem. Someone accidentally gave him Spearmint, much to his annoyance. But the mojo still worked.
The Vikings were trying to get within field goal range, but when the officials finally called an infraction, they tried a pass. Tracy Porter intercepted the ball, putting the game into overtime. The Saints worked their way down the yards to field goal range. As kicker Garrett Hartley sent the ball sailing toward goal, the announcer declared “It’s good! It’s Good! It’s Good! It’s goooo-gooood!” Hell had frozen over! The Saints were going to the Super Bowl!
Spontaneous celebrations and “fleur-de-lirium” broke out across the city and neighboring parishes. Cars honked, fireworks went off and fists pumped the air as the Gulf Coast experienced a shared catharsis. Despite the crowds, no property damage or crime was reported. “This is for everybody in this city,” Sean Payton told the press after the game. This stadium used to have holes in it. It used to be wet. It’s not wet anymore. This is for the city of New Orleans.”
The Monday edition of the Times-Picayune headlined with SUPER SAINTS sold an extra 150,000 copies, the most in its 173-year history. Governor Bobby Jindal declared “Who Dat Nation Week” in Louisiana, proclaiming the Saints fans as “the most loyal, compassionate, dedicated, passionate, courageous and downright loud-as-heck fan base in the league.” Louisiana Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao read Who Dat testimonials on the House floor in DC. George Rodrigues decorated his famous Blue Dog sculpture with “Go Saints” stickers. Men ran in red dresses through the French Quarter in honor of a departed radio host who said he would do so if the Saints ever went to the Super Bowl. Mardi Gras crews canceled parades that were scheduled to take place the day of the big game. School children turned in Saints-themed homework and educational districts and businesses announced they would be closed the Monday after the game because the students and employees would be “tired.” Local musicians churned out Saints-themed songs. During mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu’s victory party, his opponent Troy Henry showed up and in a show of unity, joined him in a Who Dat chant.
None of this was dampened by sportscasters favoring the Colts to win the game. The Hoosier team had been to the Super Bowl before, including a 29-17 victory just two years earlier. On the other hand, according to Duncan, the Saints were a team of castoffs. Their best receiver was a third-round draft pick from Hofstra. Their kicker and rusher were undrafted. A defensive lineman was a year removed from drug rehab, and their star player had been on the free-agent heap where he had nearly been neglected by the whole league. They are led by a first-time head coach. Who better to represent a city that had experienced the worst national disaster in American history and had been considered by many a total loss that should have been abandoned just four years earlier? (Duncan, 256-257)
On the day of the big game, a Saint’s NFC Championship flag hangs over the entrance to St. Louis Cathedral, which is packed with parishioners dressed in Saints jerseys and t-shirts. Church organs across the city and region churn out “When The Saints Go Marching In.” Many pray to Saint Jude, the patron saint of Lost Causes. In Our Lady Star of the Sea, which Tom Benson attended in his youth, Father Tony instead prays to the Lord God of All Victories. The Thursday before the game, Tom Benson comes through and throws a lavish party for the team. But on Super Bowl Sunday the team watches a video that contained highlights of their 2009 season. Spliced in between was footage of Katrina, the refugees, and the chaos at the Superdome. The Saints are well aware of their place in New Orleans’ history and their psychological impact on the city.
The game does not start off well for the Saints. At the beginning of the second quarter, they trail the Colts 10-3. Their inexperience is showing. But midway through the second quarter, they start to gain points. At halftime, they are behind 10-6.
Back in New Orleans, the streets are nearly empty. Businesses are closed. Everyone is inside watching the game. Across the Gulf Coast people huddle around small TVs in living rooms or stare at gigantic screens in bars as viewership breaks the world record set nearly 30 years earlier.
During halftime Payton and the coaches discuss their next move. He wants to spring a surprise punt on the Colts. The other coaches advise against it, suggesting a surprise onside kick. Payton decides that they will kick from left the right, a superstition to keep the momentum going their way. But as they head back out to the final half, he realizes that such a kick would fly into the Colts’ sideline. He quickly changes it from right to left.
Punter Thomas Morstead is terrified, but he calms his nerves and kicks The ball careens for 10 yards, and bounces off the helmet of a Colts lineman who is unable to catch it before it bounces into Saints safety Chris Reis. He catches the ball and with the help of lineman Johnathan Casillas is about to clench it against his stomach as Colts players tackles him and try to pry it from his hands as he collapses into a fetal position. It takes a full minute for officials to unearth Reis and declare the possession for the Saints. Hail Ambush!
From then on out the Saints continue to rack up points. Hartley makes Super Bowl history by scoring three field goals at 40 yards or more. The Colts reach 17 points but then are stuck there as the Saints defense proves that Williams’ training is paying off. He had planned three different schemes for the first half and the last two quarters to keep Colts quarterback Peyton Manning off balance. One of the most dramatic moments is when corner Tracy Porter intercepts a pass from Manning to Reggie Wayne. Then he dashes 74 yards down the field for a touchdown. Saints players and fans in the bleachers follow him down the sidelines. With 3:12 left on the clock, the once-maligned “Aints” scored their 31st point in the Super Bowl.
No paperbacks were in sight back in New Orleans as fans burst into celebrations as the Saints were declared World Champions. People poured out into Bourbon Street, blocking traffic. The drivers and passengers rolled down vehicular windows, leaned out, and joined in the cheering. Young, old, black, white, rich, and poor, Catholic, and Baptist joined together in euphoria. They hugged, jumped, screamed, and wept for joy. Some climbed lampposts as car horns blared approvingly. Policemen on horseback gave up trying to crowd control, instead high-fiving fans. The celebration lasted for three days. Fans lined themselves along the victory parade route at 10 am when it did not start until 5 pm. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway was packed with license plates from Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. The parade route started at the Superdome and ended at the Convention Center, two buildings that had served as refugee shelters, “Temples of Dome,” during the storm. The symbolism was obvious.
The people of New Orleans and The Gulf Coast were no longer victims but victors
There is so much potential for a movie about the Saints’ Super Bowl Victory. It is a Cinderella story of underdogs. It is the comeback story of a great American city. It is a story of healing. It is a triumphant story of overcoming divisions. It is a story of the power of faith, belief, hope, and community. Universal themes that transcend cultural and national barriers.
While the idea of a 3D football movie is cool, I do believe that the story of the New Orleans Saints and their loyal Who Dats would be best told in IMAX. When the Superdome was designed, the architects had temperature, not sound, in mind. The circular design created a supersonic sound machine. Because of its age, the Dome lacks any kind of sound absorption. This gives the Saints an advantage over visiting teams as their fans are amplified over the field. Drew Brees has been known to rally the crowd into a “Bedlam Bowl” with exhortations to ‘Get Loud!” Thus with the right sound design and special appearances by musical talents Carrie Underwood, Harry Connick Jr., Jimmy Buffet, Green Day, Hank Williams, Jr. Kenny Chesney, Bono, U2, the Goo Goo Dolls, The Ying Yang Twins, The Who, and Louisiana talent William Riley, K. Gates, Aaron Neville, Harrison Avenue, Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint, Kermit Ruffins, Tim McGraw, and Trace Adkins, it would be an experience best experienced in the theater.
Because it is a story of healing and overcoming adversity with the universal themes of faith and community is why the New Orleans Saints’ Super Bowl victory should be a movie.
