TCU leadership welcomes New Orleans Saints to Fort Worth

TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati and head football coach Gary Patterson welcomed the New Orleans Saints to Fort Worth with a pair of statements on Wednesday.

It was recently announced that the NFL team would work with the school during the fallout from Hurricane Ida, which devastated the Gulf Coast this past weekend, as the Saints continue to prepare for the upcoming season.

There are several ties between the Saints and TCU, as detailed by the administrators.

“We have a good number of student-athletes and TCU students in general who are from Louisiana,” Donati said in a press release. “The New Orleans Saints are an important part of their communities and the entire state.”

The two are further linked by the long-standing connection between Gary Patterson and Sean Payton, the coaches of TCU and the Saints respectively. Payton’s son also attends TCU as a student.

“Thanks to our campus leadership and especially the support of head football coach Gary Patterson, which includes his relationship with Saints head coach Sean Payton, we are proud to welcome the Saints to TCU and Fort Worth,” said Donati. “We look forward to hosting them on campus as a practice site and being of assistance during this most difficult time. Our hearts go out to all those impacted by Hurricane Ida.”

Impact of Hurricane Ida

The Saints are unable to practice in their home facilities due to Hurricane Ida. As a result, TCU offered a helping hand as first reported by Pro Football Talk’s Cherean Williams on Tuesday. Jeff Duncan’s report confirmed that the Saints accepted the offer.

“The state of Louisiana, just like Texas, means a lot to us,” Patterson said in a press release. “Many of our past and present players are from there, and we recruit the entire state. The New Orleans Saints are very important to the people in Louisiana, and that’s why they’re important to us.”

He continued: “My relationship with Saints head coach Sean Payton is also very important to me. Coach Payton has always given our players a good look and this year spent time personally visiting with them at our Pro Day. The entire Saints organization, under Mrs. Gayle Benson, is first class and has always treated TCU and out NFL players great.”

In 2009, the Dallas Cowboys had their practice facility collapse due to tornado-like wind conditions. Without a facility to practice in, TCU then offered their building to Dallas as they are now with the Saints.

Hurricane displacement

The New Orleans Saints are unfortunately no stranger to being displaced due to catastrophic hurricanes. In 2005, the Saints were forced to practice and play “home” games in other cities than New Orleans. They used multiple practice locations around San Antonio in neighboring state Texas.

At the time, San Antonio officials were making an effort to keep the Saints in town permanently. In 2005, the Saints played three home games in San Antonio’s Alamodome stadium and four in Baton Rouge’s Tiger Stadium.

The lack of stability wore the team down. Multiple members of the 2005 Saints have recalled it as one of the worst times in their career. The Saints that season finished 3-13 in a disappointing season on and off the field.