The Glow

December 27, 2006

 

In the preseason they looked so bad.

During the season they've looked so good.

Saints fans are in rarified air.

We're just not used to this.

We don't know how to act.

 

I hear our fans thanking the visiting fans for coming.  Does that happen in any other stadium?

Absolutely not, I can assure you.

It's something special that's going on in New Orleans.  Something that happens to every franchise at one time or another - a magical year  It's just that it's never happened to us.  But there is a special glow to this team.

 

And it's not just that we could go to the Super Bowl.  There's more to it than that.  This team and this organization, for the first time, are for real.

It's the realization that we actually have an opportunity to be good for the next several years.

So, the excitement is deeper and more palpable.   We have a chance to actually witness a period of competitiveness that could last awhile.  Another good draft, help at a few positions - and who knows.

We could get spoiled.

 

That's as long as the core of the team keeps their heads on straight and their priorities right.  After seasons like this, ego's chase free agent contracts, often missing the big picture of what its like to build a dynasty, rather than a swimming pool.  The former is a legacy - the latter is all wet.  Here's hoping that the players recognize what they're a part of - one of those once in a lifetime glows.

 

This level-headed, talented, well-lead team dispatched the Giants Sunday.  It's a Giant team rife with a bunch of hot heads and loud mouths in a divided locker room.  Pity that their attitude can't match their talent.  So many Saints teams we are used to pulling for had neither talent nor attitude.  This team's got both and could be, could be, beginning a Patriots-type run of competitiveness.  As we watched the game we remarked on how much fun it was to just watch a team that was well-coached, with talent, and discipline.  Suddenly the defense rose up and didn't allow the Giants to run a single play in Saints territory, and I can never remember seeing that in a football game.  But, it's indicative of the next month, in that when the opposing team runs the ball they are running it against a defense of not just 11 players, but another million or so fans on the field, stomping, barking, and filling the holes.

 

We're not sure how to act.

 

But, we can get used to it.