re: To those years 30+ and older who are saints fans

Been a fan since the inception, some personal lowlights for me:

Letting my brother use my ticket for the Saints - Lions game in 1970. Yes, the one where Dempsey kicked the game winning 63 FG.
As if that wasn't bad enough, we're listening to the game on radio and just as Dempsey kicks the ball, the radio signal goes out and it seems like forever before it comes back on and the crowd noise tells us that the Saints won the game.

Having to sit through the entire 62 - 7 debacle vs. the Falcons on Opening Day of 1973. My grandfather absolutely would not leave a game early under any circumstances. Since he bought the tickets and we rode in his car...

Sitting in the Dome in 1977 watching Tampa Bay win their first ever game against the Saints. That game almost brought out the bagheads 3 years before their time.

Watching in horror at the Dome on Monday Night in 1979 as the Saints blow a 35 - 14 3rd quarter lead to lose to Oakland 42 - 35. I thought that I'd never see a worse Saints collapse until..

Being at Candlestick Park in SF in 1980 when the Saints blew a 35 - 7 halftime lead to lose 38 - 35 in OT. Thankfully, I managed to mostly block out my memories of that day.

The 1985 season finale when the Saints had a used up Earl Campbell. He broke free for a long run against the Falcons and just when it seemed like he'd score, he comes up lame from pulling a hamstring. A Falcons DB knocks the ball away from behind, then recovers it in the end zone for a touchback. A fittingly inglorious end to the era of John Mecom, Bum Phillips and his merry band of Ex-Oilers.

The 1987 Wild Card playoff. Saints are up early 7 - 0 before the roof caves in...in a BIG way. When the carnage is over, it's 44 - 10 Vikings.

I think I'll stop at this point to go back and see more SB 44 videos. I'm starting to get bummed.

Really aging myself, but I got hooked on the Saints in 1967 when I was little and when the Saints played the Vikings in Shreveport in the preseason and my dad took me.

quote:

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you old farts were getting played by an alter.

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thanks, baby pod, now go put back on your diapers.

I am 62 was in Fla bound for Nam when the saints played their first game. Watched on TV as the opening kickoff went for TD I have been a Saints fan since day one and this was very, very special for me . I used to tell my wife i would probably die before the Saints made the playoffs, so the Super Bowl is very special. Thanks for the post GO SAINTS

oldtimers reminiscence...

Ya know how every expansion team sez, we gotta get good young guys and build? The original Saints, not uh. They took every washed up veteran and any player with experience possible. Doug Atkins was old but he was still badass (HOF btw). It was a grizzly bunch.

If you're interested in that era I recommend Jeff Duncan's book 'Tales From The Saints Sidelines.'

My favorite: Archie tells about how HC J.D. Roberts did not know who O.J. Simpson was. "That #32 is really a good player!"

I once met Doug Atkins in a convenience store in New Orleans east. One LARGE dude, but very nice.
We both bought the same beer, Dixie. His hand practically covered a six pack.

Thanks for the tip on the book. I'll try to find it.