The New Orleans Saints nail-biter victory over the Minnesota Vikings Sunday night and the team’s upcoming, history-making trip to Super Bowl XLIV were the hot topics of conversation over steaming hot coffee and fresh on the minds of Teche Area residents headed to work this morning.

The Saints 31-28 overtime win against the Vikings represents the first time in franchise history the team has won two playoff games in one year and the first time the team will ever participate in the biggest game in professional football.

So many firsts have fans, die-hard and new ones, with serious cases of “Who Dat” fever.

Shermain Hector knew what was going to happen when Frave threw the interception and when the Saints had the coin toss for overtime. Advertisement

New Iberian resident Don Leslie said the team’s success this year is “destiny.”

“You just had to watch it,” Leslie said of Sunday’s big game.

He also said despite some tense moments as the game clock counted down, he never lost faith.

“You have to have confidence in these things,” Leslie said. “This is destiny and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.”

Byron Dunnahoe said he is a “huge” Saints fan.

Unlike Leslie, Dunnahoe did get nervous a time or two as increasing points on the scoreboard volleyed back and forth.

“I got pretty nervous,” Dunnahoe said. “It’s just so big and something very special. It’s probably a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing. There is definitely something special going on around here.”

Misty Lennie of New Iberia was headed to work dressed in Saints attire and still ecstatic after watching the team’s victory Sunday night.

“I was sitting on the edge of my seat,” Lennie said. “But, we gave them a run for their money.”

The team has historically been the underdog, Lennie said, and that is just how she believes they are facing their next game in two weeks.

“Just for them to get where they have is a great accomplishment,” she said.

Shermane Hector said she was standing on top of her sofa and has very little fingernails left to show after watching the football game.

“When Favre threw that interception and when they had the coin toss for overtime, I knew what was going to happen,” Hector said.

Not normally a big Saints fan, Hector said she can’t help but be excited now and admit the enthusiasm for the home team is “contagious.”

Though Hector doesn’t normally do the Super Bowl “up big,” this year she and friends and family will throw a big party, she said.

Victor Huckaby, owner of Victor’s Cafeteria, said he’s always hoped the Saints would play in the Super Bowl, but never expected it to happen in either his or his children’s lifetime.

“I’ve been a disbeliever for so long, I just didn’t expect it to happen,” he said.

Paul Schwing, one of the cafeteria’s morning regulars, said he wasn’t surprised to see the Saints pull through at the very end.

“It was a really good game, but I figured they’d do it,” Schwing said.

Schwing’s tablemate Gerald Patin said he’s on the fence for next game.

“I’ve been watching the Mannings since Archie beat the hell out of LSU in the Sugar Bowl,” Patin said.

“Because I’m a Louisianan, I have to pull for the Saints, but if Manning is on, they’re (Indianapolis Colts) going to beat ’em,” Patin said.

Jessie Dupuy, an SEC football referee who lives in New Iberia, said last night’s victory left him in a state of dismay.

“I think I was in a state of shock for the first 10 minutes, I didn’t know if I should cry or be excited.”

For the Super Bowl match-up against the Colts, Dupuy predicted a 35-28 Saints’ victory.

“I think they’ve got a good chance if the defense plays well,” Dupuy said.