It’s Gameday.

I was born a covenant child of New Orleans Saints fandom and, to put it politely, it has been a long 24 years.

Rick Cleveland of Mississippi’s Clarion Ledger has a great article about just how bad the Saints have been from day one:

More than 43 years later, the Saints’ long and winding road has finally led them to a Super Bowl. To say there were detours, wrong turns and crashes along the way is to understate matters entirely. For most of their first two decades, the Saints were the Aints, a fumble or a false start waiting to happen. Fans, to show their embarrassment for cheering such ineptitude, wore bags on their heads.

This is an ideal Super Bowl matchup. I have always been a Manning fan and, I am convinced that a certain Southernness attaches to them that allows someone in Mississippi to pull for teams in New York and Indianapolis. However, as between a Manning and the Saints, my allegiance lies with the Saints.

WHO DAT?!

That’s what I’m rooting for. Honorary coaches for the coin flip: Barry Lynn (Patriots) and Jay Sekula (Saints). No matter what the toss’s result, Lynn attributes it to the laws of physics while Sekula credits providence (though, as a Thomist, I think they’re both right!)

Every two years, the unwashed LSU faithful crawl out of their brackish swamp and travel to Oxford, MS, bent on defiling our cosmopolitan soil like so many socially-perverse locusts. But we welcome you, that even one of your young might leave with the indelible mark of civility.

As to the game: beware of the man who has singlehandedly redeemed the name “Dexter.” Be sure and wave as he runs past you, because it’s all you can do.

Update: Dexter McCluster also passes.

The only team that really matters

Goldy the Gopher (ferocious mascot for U of Minnesota) decided to mock a Penn State player who was praying before kickoff. The player refused to shake Goldy’s hand afterward.

Penn State won 20-0.

(Originally posted at Underdog Soldier)

The Game kicks off tonight at 7 CST in Tiger Stadium.  LSU-Florida:  the last three national champions, the only schools with two crystal footballs.  Sorry, Bama-Ole Miss, but you’ve got the undercard.

October 6, 2007:  The game came down to one huge LSU drive for the go-ahead touchdown.  Fourth down after fourth down.  One relentless back, Jacob Hester, and five big uglies that outmanned a great Florida front.  Spread offenses be damned; this was pure SEC goodness.