The New Orleans Saints Story

On All Saints Day in 1966, the New Orleans Saints became the NFLÕs sixteenth franchise. Enthusiastic fans showed their spirit by celebrating ÒMardi Gras in AutumnÓ at their home games. After Hurricane Katrina, the Saints came back stronger than ever and revived the cityÕs high spirits. Discover what it takes to persevere and succeed in this title for reluctant readers.

"Middle grade football fans are introduced to the extraordinary history of the NFL's New Orleans Saints with a photo-laden narrative of their greatest successes and losses"--

The New York Times bestseller that's "heaven in hardcover" (New Orleans Times-Picayune) for Saints fans. In the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, no symbol of disaster was more potent than New Orleans' Superdome: it became a horrific shelter of last resort where the utterly desperate rode out the storm. Four years later, in that very stadium, the New Orleans Saints won the NFC championship and earned their first-ever trip to the Super Bowl, where they defeated the favored Indianapolis Colts 31-17. This is the inspirational true story of a city recovering from disaster and a team with a history of heartbreak, as seen through the eyes of the coach who would help elevate them both to long- forgotten greatness.

Just because a team plays in �The Big Easy� doesn�t mean they�re easy to beat. �The New Orleans Saints� by Mark Stewart offers young fans a look into one of the greatest teams in the NFL while including fun facts, team spotlights such as Reggie Bush and Drew Brees, and pictures of Saints memorabilia. Have a young fan who likes to argue sports? Don�t miss the �Great Debates� section where readers get insight into some of the greatest debates surrounding the Saints and professional football!

"Filled with insider stories about the sports scene of New Orleans and previously untold secret political maneuvers made to bring the Saints to New Orleans." -New Orleans Times-Picayune "Dave Dixon offers a behind-the-scenes look at the New Orleans NFL." -(LA) The Daily Advertiser Before the Saints were synonymous with New Orleans, Dave Dixon was gathering support to create a team and build a Superdome to accommodate them. The man affectionately known as the "Father of the Saints" gives an insider's perspective on the historical events that shaped the New Orleans sports scene. Little-known facts reveal the negotiations, the payoffs, and the votes that eventually led to the announcement of the sixteenth franchise of the National Football League on November 1, 1966. Nine years after the NFL announcement, the Louisiana Superdome opened on August 3, 1975, as a fifty-two-acre, 269,000-square-foot facility that forever changed the skyline of New Orleans. The opening of this facility not only served as the home of the Saints, but later became home to evacuees of Hurricane Katrina. As Dixon reflects on the efforts of the key individuals who worked collectively to make this happen, he shares insight on a national scandal that he credits with altering our political landscape following the 1968 presidential elections and eventually leading to the fall of John McKeithen, a dear friend and supporter of the Saints. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dave Dixon, named one of the "Ten Most Important New Orleanians of the 20th Century" by New Orleans Magazine was widely known for his time as the executive director of the Louisiana Superdome. He was the founder of the United States Football League (USFL) in 1983 and cofounder of World Championship Tennis. He served as a member of Loyola University's Board of Trustees and spoke to both Harvard University and Stanford University graduate schools of business. Dixon passed away in August of 2010.

When a potentially career-ending shoulder injury left quarterback Drew Brees without a team—and facing the daunting task of having to learn to throw a football all over again—coaches around the NFL wondered, Will he ever come back? After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, leaving more than 80 percent of the city underwater, many wondered, Will the city ever come back? And with their stadium transformed into a makeshift refugee camp, forcing the Saints to play their entire 2005 season on the road, people questioned, Will the Saints ever come back? It takes a special person to turn adversity into success and despair into hope—yet that is exactly what Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees has done—and with the weight of an entire city on his shoulders. Coming Back Stronger is the ultimate comeback story, not only of one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, but also of a city and a team that many had all but given up on. Brees’s inspiring message of hope and encouragement proves that with enough faith, determination, and heart, you can overcome any obstacle life throws your way and not only come back, but come back stronger.

Relates the noteable and not so well known stories of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League's South conference.

FANtastic Saints is a hardbound coffee table book featuring dynamic portraits of 50 New Orleans Saints Super Fans telling their stories of dedication and love for their New Orleans Saints.