What it was, it was FOOTBALL !

     I really have no idea what happens in parts of America this time of year, (it could be global warming or in this case cooling. Perhaps secret CIA planes are spraying something in the air which affects a specific group of people.) Suddenly, intelligent, usual rational people are going berserk or are at least acting strangely, (I have some very “colorful” friends so something serious is going on for me to notice a change.) 
      I am seeing Facebook postings, receiving e-mails and even an occasional phone call regarding FOOTBALL. Not that I don’t like football, I love football, (yes dear, my wife is a Whodat Honey) but the intensity of the emotions in generates is incredible. I tried to play in High School and broke my arm the first day of practice, (I was trying change the Nerd/Class Clown image which hung on me, you can’t fight fate I guess,) While living in College Station, Texas I did catch a bit of the Aggie Fever (the water supply there is tainted). We were having a winning season then,(this was obviously years ago). And a local exclusive men’s clothing store would give a discount each week based on the point spread after a TAMU win, I have a Maroon tie which was still expensive despite the discount.
     Both Louisiana and Texas are Football crazy. Six man Football, Eight man Football, Eleven Man Football any number you can find will play in, front yards, back yards, streets, parking lots even living rooms. It has been known to divide family, cities and even states (beatings and deaths have been attributed). Back in College I knew a couple, with whom my wife and I were good friends, we had Easter Egg Hunts, spring outings, 4th of July Celebrations even Sunday dinners until the FALL their house became Dallas Cowboys Central. The entire house became Blue and Silver; kids, cloths, furniture, dogs, faces, dishes  and on Sunday afternoons “talking” was only allowed during Budweiser Commercials. In their house she was a worse fanatic than her husband and swore that Roger Staubach could have anything he wanted including her Husband and Kids.
    Football in Louisiana is a large part of our cultural identity. We have only one University which counts for most people LSU, the Purple and Gold, (we have many other great Colleges and Universities with Football programs but they are quickly over shadowed.) Pro Football is, or was an issue in Louisiana. At one time there were a large number of Dallas Cowboys fans in Northeast Louisiana, due to our proximity to the Lone Star State along I-20, from time to time you will still see an occasional Silver Star on the rear window of an oilfield workers truck.(we have many here now as their is new production going on,) You see some Chargers, 49er's and Vikings but their usually on starter jackets worn more as a fashion statement than anything. The Saints have many die hard fans who haved love and supported them with out question and recently a whole new crop of supporters, richly deserved. The New Orleans Saints are a phenom and even I have caught the fever, below please find a little tome which I found this A.M. on Facebook;

Twas the
night before Training Camp and all through the Nation, not a Who
Dat was stirring, not even Sean Payton. The helmets were hung in the
lockers with care, in hopes that Lombardi would again be there. Saints
fans were nestled all snug in their gear, wondering "What's the
...chances.........of a repeat, a two dat this year?"...GEAUX SAINTS!