houstonspartan
All Pro
I just did some reading about New Orleans' coach, Sean Payton. I'd totally forgotten that he took over a really bad team in 2006, and had to re-build.
Then, on top of that, he came in right after Katrina. This was when the city was still a total disaster, and people didn't even know if the city was going to survive. The Superdome had been condemed, and the team had to play games in different cities.
I also remember that at the time, Tom Benson, the Saints owner, was considering moving or selling the team. There was a lot of rumors that Benson was cheap, and just wanted out of the NFL, especially considering that it was questionable whether New Orleans would survive. But, he hung in there, and they made major repairs to the dome, even though it took a while.
So, in four years, Sean Payton has:
a) re-built the team from scratch
b) dealt with the distraction of the aftermath of a hurricane
c) dealt with transitioning into a head coach
d) dealt with having to play games in different cities.
e) dealt with a poor fanbase that really didn't have a lot of money to go to games.
He has dealt with all of this, and now has an undefeated football team. That plays in a packed stadium every single week. In a broke-ass city. In FOUR YEARS.
Damn, that's impressive.
Then, on top of that, he came in right after Katrina. This was when the city was still a total disaster, and people didn't even know if the city was going to survive. The Superdome had been condemed, and the team had to play games in different cities.
I also remember that at the time, Tom Benson, the Saints owner, was considering moving or selling the team. There was a lot of rumors that Benson was cheap, and just wanted out of the NFL, especially considering that it was questionable whether New Orleans would survive. But, he hung in there, and they made major repairs to the dome, even though it took a while.
So, in four years, Sean Payton has:
a) re-built the team from scratch
b) dealt with the distraction of the aftermath of a hurricane
c) dealt with transitioning into a head coach
d) dealt with having to play games in different cities.
e) dealt with a poor fanbase that really didn't have a lot of money to go to games.
He has dealt with all of this, and now has an undefeated football team. That plays in a packed stadium every single week. In a broke-ass city. In FOUR YEARS.
Damn, that's impressive.