Column: New Orleans Revels in Old Self

New Orleans Saints football fans walk along the famed French Quarter in New Orleans, La., early Tuesday morning, Sept. 26, 2006, wearing team t-shirts, jerseys and even Superdome hats, as they celebrate the 23-3 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) (Rogelio V. Solis - AP)

They may not have made a single play on the field, but they were as much a factor in the rout as Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and every other Saint.

"These people are special," said Falcons coach Jim Mora, whose father is the winningest coach in Saints history. "And resilient and tough and proud of their city, proud of their football team. It really showed."

So much so the Saints awarded the city their game ball.

"This is their reward from us," Deuce McAllister said. "Three hours of joy."

But it was so much more than that. What everyone else saw as another game was their respite from an endless recovery effort. A rare reminder of what it was like to feel normal.

In the French Quarter, happy fans with smiles on their faces, beads around their necks and drinks in their hands filled the streets. Everywhere you looked, people were in black and gold. There was even a baby decked out in Saints gear, right down to his bib.

Around the Superdome, the transformation was nothing short of amazing.

On most days, there's little traffic in the area. Several buildings remain shuttered, the mall next to the arena is a ghost town and there isn't much else to entice anyone to visit.

On this day, though, it was party central. Bands played and fans milled about several hours before kickoff, happy to be killing time again before a game. Scalpers paced the sidewalks, asking if anyone had extra tickets.

Every seat in the Superdome was filled 30 minutes before the game began, and fans danced and sang while U2 and Green Day rocked out. High up on the facade below the top deck, a simple black and white banner read, "Thank You America! New Orleans & Saints Are Here To Stay!"

"Tonight the word 'homecoming' will take on a new meaning and will forever be redefined by what is happening here in the Superdome," former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said.

One game doesn't mean that all of New Orleans' problems are solved, of course. The rebuilding will go on for years. Even the goodwill surrounding the team and owner Tom Benson will surely be tested.

There's no guarantee fans will continue to sell the Superdome out as they do year after year after year in Green Bay, New England and Indianapolis. It remains to be seen, too, if there will be the wealth to fill the luxury boxes that are the lifeblood of pro sports.

Those are problems for another day. For one night, the good times were rolling again in New Orleans.