In Sunday's second matchup in a football doubleheader of NFL Conference Championships, the New Orleans Saints pulled off a thrilling overtime defeat against the Minnesota Vikings. The win marked the franchise's first appearance in the Super Bowl.
When the Saints take on the Indianapolis Colts in Miami on Feb. 7, cornerback Tyrann Mathieu and linebacker Travis Williams of USA Football's Junior National Team will be cheering for the same team.
"I'm rooting hard for the Saints!" Williams said.
They have high hopes that the magical season for the Saints that began with a blistering 13-0 start will end with one more victory. And they both have their reasons.
Mathieu's support and desire for the Saints runs deep. It's the same hope carried by an entire city. The main storyline that has followed the Saints over the past couple years, other than a long history of playoff ineptitude and absenteeism, is what the team has meant to New Orleans following the horrendous devastation left on the city and region in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.
Just as many inhabitants of the city were forced to leave, the Saints set up headquarters in San Antonio for the season and played "home" games between Giants Stadium, LSU's Tiger Stadium and the Alamodome. Their home, the Louisiana Superdome, became a shelter for victims and an iconic landmark of the tragedy. Mathieu, a New Orleans native, and some of his family were among those who left town along with the Saints.
"We left probably a day or two before the hurricane hit," Mathieu said. "A lot of my family stayed, but we wound up getting back together a couple days after the storm."
As New Orleans attempted to rebuild itself, the Saints provided the city with a tremendous emotional boost by returning to the Superdome the following season, going 10-6 in the regular season and advancing to the NFC Championship game for the first time ever. This year's squad can add to that impact with a Super Bowl win, and the city is excited about it.
"I was watching it on TV," Mathieu said of Sunday's game against the Vikings. "My family had a little party, so we all watched it together.
"It was exciting. I mean you should have seen the city last night ... everyone was out partying and having fun."
Part of the Saints team that gave New Orleans the reason to celebrate is linebacker Marvin Mitchell. After starring at the University of Tennessee for four years, Mitchell became New Orleans' seventh round pick in 2007. Over the years, he has developed into a top special teams performer while also allowing the Saints depth at the linebacker position.
Mitchell is Williams' cousin and played his high school football at Lake Taylor (Va.) High School. Williams, a University of Miami (Fla.) recruit, just finished his senior season at Lake Taylor and draws much of his football inspiration and support for the Saints from his cousin.
"I'm real excited for him," Williams said of his cousin playing in the Super Bowl. "He comes back to our high school to talk to us, and I watch every Saints game to see how he's doing - he's got my support.
"I'm looking forward to taking my success to another level like he did at Tennessee and in the NFL."
Before Mathieu and Williams get to watch Mitchell and the Saints on Super Bowl Sunday, they have their own competition to face in USA Football's "Team USA vs. The World" game, presented by Riddell. For Mathieu and Williams, the only thing better than seeing the Saints hoist the Lombardi trophy will be earning a trophy of their own on Saturday.
