New Orleans was founded/governed by the Catholic French and Spanish in its early stages, and the city was home to many Catholic Italian/Sicilian immigrants in the early 20th century. The Saints' Fleur-De-Lis symbol is considered an old representation of the trinity and the French monarchy, and it has long been a symbol for the city of New Orleans. This history and epic tunes like "When the Saints Go Marching In" might explain how the Saints received their name. As a franchise, the Saints have never had consistent success in the NFL until recently, yet fans never lost faith in the team even during years of losing records and dismal performances. Now that the Saints are successful, this quasi-religious devotion to the Saints is at a fever pitch. Given the religious fervor with which the local fan base embraces this team, the Saints' team name really is appropriate for this team in this City. The Saints' performance this year truly has uplifted the spirits of New Orleans residents, many of whom are still going through a difficult recovery process.
We will be going to see John Scofield with George Porter, Jr. & Jon Cleary at Tipitina's for New Orleans-style gospel/blues afterwards no matter what happens, but we would be going in much better spirits with a W. The Who Dat Nation will be watching closely this weekend.
