Big Easy believers cheer on Saints

Hours before the New Orleans Saints took the field for the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance, someone added the following sentence to the top of the team’s Wikipedia page: “The Saints are going to win Super Bowl XLIV.”

Former New Orleans residents living here were just as confident as that anonymous Saints fan Sunday night at Blue Orleans restaurant.

“New Orleans fans are the best NFL fans there are, and as a community, we’re the greatest city in this country,” said Lauren Gray, who moved to Chattanooga from New Orleans two weeks ago. “You can’t stop something as powerful as our team because it means more than football to us.

“It’s not about the trophy, it’s not about the title, it’s what it does for our city,” she said.

Her twin sister, who moved to Chattanooga at the same time, felt good about the Saints chances against the Indianapolis Colts.

“Basically, I’m not surprised this year,” Erin Gray said. “We believed all year, no matter what. You could just feel it — the whole team coming together. We have all the pieces, all the parts.”

Blue Orleans staff offered New Orleans fare for the occasion — fans enjoyed buffet-style jambalaya, red beans and rice, Cajun chicken wings, and king cake. About 50 fans packed the restaurant, which was decked with a team’s gear from a former home.

Fans said the team’s 42-year Super Bowl drought was difficult, but nothing compared to what New Orleans residents have dealt with since Hurricane Katrina struck almost five years ago.

“After the struggles and after Hurricane Katrina, you can’t be a Saints fan without an emotional attachment,” said Cherita Adams, co-owner of Blue Orleans and former New Orleans resident. “If they win, we win. If they lose, we lose. That’s what makes New Orleans so different. We’re people who feel, we’re people who love. We’re just incredibly strong.”

“I am ecstatic,” said Michael Adams, co-owner of Blue Orleans. “The city of New Orleans has a tremendous victory. We pulled it out — I knew that we would inside. You don’t want to be too optimistic, but I had an inner feeling that this was the year that New Orleans would rise and reclaim the victory that it lost in Katrina. It’s a great feeling to be an New Orleanian.”

Patrons wearing Saints gear and Mardi Gras necklaces yelled for quarterback Drew Brees and head coach Sean Payton during the game. The Gray sisters were equally vocal about the other Peyton playing for a title.

“He already has his championship,” Lauren said. “In the end, we’re going to pull through. It’s destiny.”