Houston, TX
[The first Saints regular season franchise game in Tulane Stadium 49 years ago September 17, 1967 Saints vs Rams.]
It was a cool, overcast day in New Orleans. It was November 1, 1966 - All Saints Day. I was on a St. Charles streetcar heading to downtown, when the car came to a stop. There was a problem up ahead on Canal Street, so we had to get off now, on the neutral ground of Howard Avenue at Carondelet.
With nothing to do but wait until things were cleared up, I crossed Howard and picked up a paper. The Late Edition of the States-Item newspaper screamed in huge, bold headlines: "N.O. Goes Pro!". I dropped in a dime and got my own personal copy of sports history.
Because it was All Saints Day, it was decided to name this expansion football team the "Saints." I did not like the name initially, but the deal was done, and I was happy with the Dixieland tie-in with the jazz song "When the Saints Go Marching In." This song was already well-known...and it was about to get more famous and popular.
Though we didn't have a lot of money, the Saints offered, at least back then, affordable tickets, so my mother and I purchased season tickets. I had to stand in line to get them at the new Saints office on Lee Circle.
A couple of years passed, since All Saints Day, 1966, and finally the big day arrived. The first Saints regular season franchise game in the old Tulane Stadium, on the campus of Tulane University.
The date was September 17, 1967. Tens of thousands of football fans streamed from every direction, toward the stadium, often parking several blocks away. The stadium was built in the 1930's when few had cars, so there was virtually no parking! Buses and streetcars dropped off standing loads. This was going to be a memorable game.
The first regular season game for the Saints was now being held, and they faced off against a worthy and experienced Los Angeles Rams.
It was a beautiful, clear day. The stadium was PACKED: Official attendance 80, 897.
There was music, cheerleaders, and pre-game entertainment. Then the coin-toss: Saints won the toss, and elected to receive.
We all held our breath. The suspense was unbelievable. There came the kickoff, and the ball sailed high and oh, so long. It was caught by John Gilliam, way deep into Saints' territory. But he didn't care. He ran forward, past one defender after another, until he saw daylight. He gave it the gas, and ran faster than anyone I ever saw at any football game, and gobbled up 94 yards into the End Zone for the very first regular season score for the Saints!!
The crowd went WILD!!! The noise of jubilation was intense! It only got stronger after the point-after kick was good.
It was the best and finest part of the game.
Halftime was spectacular, with music and the usual marching bands, etc.
I went! I stood! I cheered!!! We ALL did!!!
We had a blast. We mostly were either standing, or when we did sit, we did so on the edge of our seats. That day, we were all one big, happy, family, enjoying the gorgeous day, and we watched with great attention as OUR team played.
Then, all too soon, the noisy stadium, once so filled with shouting and cheering, finally fell silent. The game was over. After all was said and done - the peanuts and hot dogs eaten, the soft drinks and beer gone - the crowd quietly headed home.
But just ask anyone that was there: the Saints WON! No, not according to the scoreboard. Local sportscasters Buddy D. and Hap Glaudi told us that night on TV that
the Rams won, 27 to 13.
But who cares? The Saints were victorious, anyway, because they won the hearts of all those who were there that beautiful Sunday afternoon - now a half-century ago.
Here was something we could be proud of, because it was our very own.
World-famous musicians Al Hirt and Pete Fountain knew it, and they played their hearts out for us - just as much fans as we were.
Win, place, or show, it was Go, Saints, Go ...all the way!!!
Man, it was great to be there!
Photo from Richard Campanella.
