ABSTRACT
It is November 30, 2009. The New Orleans Saints—formerly known to their often frustrated fans as the “Aints”—are 10–0 for the season and about to take on the New England Patriots in front of a raucous 70,000-strong crowd and over 21.4 million home viewers (Cruppi, 2010). It is Monday Night Football in the Superdome. The crowd erupts as the team enters the stadium; the noise level reaches 105 decibels, which is 15 decibels over the dangerous level for extended exposure (Times-Picayune, 2009). Music blasts, fans dance, and cheer, “Who Dat! Who Dat! Who Dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints!” This is uncharted territory for Saints fans. The team has never gone undefeated for 10 games and this night has been billed as one of the greatest matchups of the 2009 NFL season. For the fans, it also is time for the Saints to prove they are Super Bowl worthy.
