Mickles: Three Giants return home to face Saints

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Oct 16, 2009 - Page: 1C

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Eli Manning isn’t the only member of the New York Giants to miss out on a trip home to play the New Orleans Saints after Hurricane Katrina dealt the city and region a big blow in 2005.

Unlike his two older brothers, Cooper and Peyton, Eli Manning has never played in the Superdome — which stands just a short distance from the Garden District home he grew up in.

Cooper and Peyton played there with Newman High School, and Peyton has also visited twice since joining the Indianapolis Colts in 1998 — losing to the Saints in 2001 and winning two years later.

It was supposed to finally happen for Eli on Sept. 18, 2005. That was the day he and Giants teammates Corey Webster, who is from Vacherie, and Brandon Jacobs, who grew up in Napoleonville, were to play in the Superdome — Manning for the first time.

Webster, of course, was an All-American cornerback for LSU in 2003 when the Tigers won the BCS title there. Few people know, however, that he was a quarterback on the St. James High School team that played in the state championship game in the Superdome in 1996.

But the the trio’s return home was spoiled by Hurricane Katrina and the NFL had the Saints play a “home” game against the Giants in Giants Stadium on Sept. 19.

They’ll finally get their homecoming Sunday when the Giants and Saints meet in a clash of unbeaten teams with all three having their own rooting sections filled with family members and friends. Jacobs said he will have at least 45 people cheering him on.

“I’m excited about it. First time playing in the Superdome — ever — for any level of football,” Eli Manning said Wednesday.

“It’s been a long wait. Usually, you don’t have to wait this long to play an NFC team. We missed an opportunity a few years ago. So I’m excited about going back and playing in the Superdome, but also (for) the environment of the game.”

Playing in the same building that his father, Archie, played in is a plus.

“I’m excited about getting the opportunity to play where my father spent most of his career, going back to New Orleans and playing the Saints who are playing very well this year. Two undefeated teams. It should be a great atmosphere.”

Manning, who is armed with a new six-year, $97.5 million contract, doesn’t expect to get the same welcome as his dad, whose name and number hang from the Superdome ceiling.

“No, I don’t think so,” he said when asked if they’ll be pulling for him. “They’ll be rooting for the home team. I have to go out there and do the best I can do, and try to play good football.”