The Saints will go marching in

By: Ben Escude

Posted: 2/4/10

For football fans, the New Orleans Saints have conjured up many feelings in the team's 43-year history. Saints fans have felt sadness, anger, befuddlement, joy and hope.

This year, however, the Saints have given fans a new feeling, the feeling of accomplishment and something one might feel when standing at the "Pearly Gates." This is a team that began its freshman season with a 94 yard kick-off return for its first touchdown and ended with 11 loses. This has been the story of the Saints: ups and down, highs and lows, and the rare feeling that they aren't that bad.

True Saints fans have been through it all; they have cheered with paper bags over their heads when the Saints were the "Ain'ts." No matter how badly the team did, Saints fans cheered for the rare moments of success. Who knew all along they had a chance to give Saints fans the ultimate high for a sports fan: winning a championship. This has been much needed for the state of Louisiana and for the city of New Orleans. This team has been there to help the city in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and now they have the chance to boost state morale.

If the Saints win the Super Bowl they will be put back into an American sports psyche that has forgotten about them. The Saints have provided hope since their return to the Superdome, and this year was no different. Fans rooted for a 13-game winning streak only to see them lose the final three regular season games.

Saints fans will continue to cheer and support the team. The cheers will come even if the Saints lose, but these cheers will be nothing compared to if the Saints bring home that Lombardi trophy.

The Hebrew people spent forty years in the desert before reaching the Promised Land, and the Saints are one game away from doing the same, even if it took them three years longer. Now fans will know what it is like to be rewarded for their unweathering faith.

So, cheer for Saint Brees, Saint Reggie, Saint Colston, and Sharper, Saint Smith, Saint Shockey, Saint Peyton, and Harper.