BY SPENCER JACKMAN

The New Orleans Saints’ path to the Super Bowl XLIV Title began long before their 2009 training camp. In fact, the franchise has faced many lean moments dating back to its inception into the National Football League (N.F.L.) in 1967. The Saints waited 33 years until their first playoff victory, and the organization was once well known for its “fans” wearing paper bags over their heads at games. However, these obstacles proved obsolete relative to the devastation and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

When Katrina struck southeast Louisiana on August 29, 2005, it caused unprecedented damage to The Superdome, the Saints’ home stadium, in addition to the homes, businesses, and people of New Orleans. In the aftermath of the Hurricane, the Saints moved their home games to New York, San Antonio, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the duration of the 2005 regular season, while the Superdome functioned as a much-needed shelter for those enduring the effects of Katrina.

Midway through the season, it was speculated that Saints owner Tom Benson planned to move the franchise to San Antonio and ultimately Los Angeles. Had the Saints relocated, New Orleans may have never again hosted a professional football team, let alone a Super Bowl Champion. Losing the Saints would have symbolized the struggle and loss the people of New Orleans experienced following Katrina. However, with the support of FEMA, the NFL, the state of New Orleans, and the Louisiana Stadium and Expedition District, a $185 million project to repair The Superdome served as a beacon of hope for the city’s recovery.

On Monday Night Football, September 25, 2006, over 70,000 fans packed inside the Superdome to see the Saints’ first game in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina struck the city. From this point forward, the Saints, once on the verge of leaving New Orleans, have inspired recovery efforts on and off the field. For this reason, their Super Bowl victory serves as both a milestone for the organization and symbols of progress and resilient optimism for the city. Although New Orleans’ rebuilding efforts will continue long after the Super Bowl, it has emerged as a unified city from its most desolate days.

I hope that the Haiti Relief organizers and devastated Haitian people can draw inspiration and hope from the Saints and New Orleans. The road to recovery presents many immediate challenges and trying moments. However, if the affected people rally together and take small steps towards improvement, their actions could lead to a celebratory moment of progress. This possibility alone makes initiatives such as NU Stands with Haiti worthwhile.