Issue date: 9/29/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Bob Snow Excitement filled the air as the Superdome was reopened to fans on Sept. 25.

The Louisiana Superdome reopened its doors to the NFL and its home team, the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 25, for the first time since the end of the 2004 season, some 13 months ago.

The devastation of Hurricane Katrina left the Superdome in total disarray. After the 30,000 plus refugees finally left, it was even worse for wear. Nobody knew if it could be rebuilt. Nobody knew if another NFL game would be played there. But just over a year later, it happened.

"When people come in here and see what's been done in less than a year's time," says Doug Thornton, the general manager of the building. "They are going to say, 'If the Superdome can be rebuilt after that tremendous destruction, my house can be rebuilt, my neighborhood can be rebuilt and my city can be rebuilt.' So much of this recovery is about confidence and belief. You've got to want it to happen. You've got to believe it. This is symbolism," according to an article on ESPN e-Ticket.

And after hosting over 70,000 rabid Saints fans on Sept. 25 for the undefeated Saints home opener, not only is the Superdome back, but it seems like New Orleans is back also.

The game itself oozed dominance, which can also be said about how the city is rebounding from the disaster. The Saints made the visiting 2-0 Atlanta Falcons look like a down-on-their-luck excuse for an NFL team with the 23-3 thrashing they handed out. The score doesn't portray the closeness of the game, as in actuality, it was much more distant than a 20-point separation.

In many ways, it was as though the city was playing with the Saints, making a victory for the Falcons an almost insurmountable task.

The Superdome was ready to explode in the hours leading up to the game and during the pre-game ceremony and entertainment (rock bands U2 and Green Day performed for the sold-out crowd), and the fuse was definitely lit at kick-off.

Things erupted about a minute and a half into the game when the Falcons were preparing to punt after going three-and-out on their first drive. Safety Steve Gleason shot up the middle and rushed to Falcons punter Michael Koenen. He dove straight at the ball and forced it backwards. Cornerback Curtis DeLoatch scooped up the ball on the Falcons goal line and rolled into the endzone for the first points of the game.

Continued...

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