Saints fans savor historic win

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Whether they're in Miami, New Orleans, or Mobile, the Who Dat Nation will be celebrating the Saints' Super Bowl XLIV victory for a long time.

New Orleans native Lyle Degelos has been patiently waiting for this moment.

"We're long suffering people," said the owner of the French Market Café on Government Street. "One time I had 33 season tickets and there came a point where you couldn't give them away without a cab fare!"

Degelos moved to the Port City after Hurricane Katrina destroyed his home. Just a few weeks before opening his Mobile restaurant, his wife died of cancer. Degelos says the Saints represent more than just football.

"They're out there in the community doing things, going to hospitals, caring about kids. They're in every known charity out there," Degelos said.

Degelos already owns plenty of Saints swag. But Monday, hundreds of others followed suit.

"I came over here on my lunch hour," said Tony White, a Who Dat since 1967. "It's important to have whatever we can get. It's a once in a lifetime experience for us."

"There was a long line all the way outside for Saints hats, new shirts, and everything," said Chris Simmons, a sales clerk at Sports Avenue in Colonial Bel-Air Mall. "This is the craziest it's ever been because it's so close to home. This is for sure the best."

Not just for sales, but for a city.

"They feel like they're chosen people down there. They're ready to go out and help that city back to the promised land, they'll get it too," Simmons said.