People in and around the Ravens? organization this week remembered the build-up to their Aug. 26, 2005 preseason game with the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome. There was a storm coming that had formed days before in the Bahamas. Some locals feared it, while others dismissed it.
The Ravens won the game and left town.
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Three days later, Hurricane Katrina tore through the town, displacing thousandsfrom their homes. The ensuing tragedy was played out for weeks on national television, as the Saints? home stadium became a makeshift shelter for about 26,000 people who saw their lives changed forever.
Throughout the entire 2005 season, the Saints played their games outside of the city.
A refurbished Superdome was ready for the 2006 season, and the current Saints (5-1) have gone undefeated at home. In many ways, the team has provided healing to the area.
“This game is so much smaller than what real life is about,” Ravens safety Ed Reed said this week.
Over a year since their last visit, the Ravens (4-2) will return to the Superdome to face the Saints on Sunday.
Reed, a native of St. Rose, a town about 20 miles outside of New Orleans, has thought many times about returning home as a player.
“Being there, we were the last team to play in the Superdome before the hurricane,” he said. “It?s definitely a significance to us, you know, as a team member, as a family member … and to the city of New Orleans. We just want to make sure we brought something back to give to the city.”
Reed implored teammates to help by handing out informational sheets.
“That?s why I?m passing out these slips to the team,” he said. “Whatever we can donate to the Habitat for Humanity down there and to help rebuild the city.”
Rookies David Pittman and Dawan Landry are both Louisiana natives. Pittman said his hometown of Gramercy is about 30 minutes away from New Orleans and escaped much of the devastation besides wind damage.
“It was a struggle,” Pittman said. “I think people are starting to get over it now that a year has passed, but it?s still in the back of their minds.”
Pittman said football is a major sport in Louisiana and that the Saints are a form of release. According to Landry, a native of Boutte, “That?s a good thing what?s going on with the Saints right now. They?re a winning team. That?s helped out the city, building up the economy.”
Reed spoke passionately Monday about the need to help out the areas still reeling from Katrina, and he looked forward to aiding the community.
“It?s always a dream,” Reed said. “I?m honored just to go back home, play in front of the home crowd, just to play in the Superdome itself. It?s a new beginning after everything that happened to it. A year has passed, and it?s going to be a great feeling.”
Ravens (4-2) at Saints (5-1)
Where: Louisiana Superdome
When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
TV: CBS Radio: 97.9 FM
