Native son

Sports

Discussion

February 5, 2010

New Orleans native Manning stands between city and Super Bowl

By TOM JAMES The Glasgow Daily Times Fri Feb 05, 2010, 09:30 AM CST

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLa. — Peyton Manning has always been a hero to long-suffering football fans in Louisiana.

After all, he has deep roots in the area. His father, Archie, played quarterback for the Saints and has stayed on to be one of the team's radio voices. He remains as much of an icon in New Orleans now as he was during his playing days.

The younger Manning, meanwhile, was one of the nation's top high school recruits, guiding Isidore Newman School to a 34-5 record in three years as a starter and being named as the national High School Player of the Year.

But that was then. Now it's Peyton Manning against New Orleans' beloved Saints. The city's favorite son is standing smack dab between a Super Bowl championship and a heartbreaking finish to an outstanding season.

Even many in the national media and many entertainment celebrities are pulling for New Orleans to knock off the big, bad Colts. After what the city and region went through in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Saints have become a feel good story.

“We certainly understand that we may not be the team that everybody is cheering for in this game. We are okay with that," Manning said. "It is going to be two great teams playing against each other. I think the Super Bowl, as far as non-New Orleans Saints, non-Colts fans, somebody is going to pick a team to follow and they are probably will pick the Saints and that is fine.

“Obviously we talk about all the stories this week. When it comes down to the game though, it gets down to the X’s and O’s. I think the more you can block out on the outside the better you are going to be on just focusing on how to move the ball against [defensive end Will] Smith, [safety Darren] Sharper, [middle linebacker Jonathan] Vilma. How to stop [quarterback Drew] Brees and their offense. That is what it comes down to all along. Once the game starts that is what it is really about.”

That's all true. Still, it can be somewhat disconcerting to realize that just about everybody in your home town will be rooting against you on Sunday evening. Or is it?

“I certainly understand people in New Orleans are Saints fans. They have outstanding fans, always have. I certainly appreciate the people of New Orleans supporting me and [younger brother] Eli throughout our careers," Manning said.

“That is our hometown. It is very important to us. Eli and I continue to support New Orleans (and the city's rebuilding projects) through charitable endeavors. I understand this game New Orleans people are Saints fans and I am fine with that.”

In that regard, the Colts' signal caller is appreciative — as a New Orleans native — for what the Saints, especially Brees, has brought to the city in the last couple of years.

“What Drew, and really the entire Saints team have meant to that community, has been extremely impressive. Being a fellow New Orleanian, I certainly appreciate it. Eli appreciates that. Eli and I both give back, charity-wise to New Orleans. The players that live there, guys that aren’t from there, Drew’s from Texas, other players from all over the United States, that they now play for the Saints have adopted that city as their hometown," Manning said.

“Those guys do a lot of things for that city, a lot of community activities. [Saints head coach] Sean Payton is great that way. You certainly appreciate that, people kind of adopting a city as their hometown, putting their monies and efforts behind it. Drew has spearheaded that. [He] has been the leader of that team on the field and off the field and I certainly appreciate that. And certainly the city of New Orleans appreciates it.”

Tom James writes for The Tribune Star in Terre Haute, Ind.

Text Only

Sports

Scotties top Trojans, earn No. 1 seed in tournament
Hunter Bowles scored 23 points Saturday night to lead the Glasgow Scotties to a 66-54 victory over Barren County in boys' District 15 basketball action. The victory give the Scotties the No. 1 seed for the district tournament beginning Monday, Feb. 20, at Allen County Scottsville High School.
For a complete recap of the game, check out Monday's issue of the Glasgow Daily Times.

February 11, 2012
Scotties do their job, take down Caverna
HORSE CAVE – It would have been very easy for the Glasgow Scotties to have had their minds on something else Friday night when they traveled to play at Caverna. After all, Glasgow is having a pretty good season and the Scotties are preparing for a big battle with District 15 rival Barren County on Saturday night. And the game has added importance as the winner gets the No. 1 seed in the district tournament.

February 11, 2012
Barren boys, girls win

Barren County had a solid win over the Cumberland County Panthers Friday night, 70-43.

February 11, 2012
Glasgow girls roll over Caverna
HORSE CAVE – After fending off a furious Caverna rally in the final minutes of the second quarter Friday night, the Glasgow Lady Scotties bumped up the defense in the second half and held the Lady Colonels to only three points in the third period and cruised away with a 59-41 victory.

February 11, 2012
One last chance
As Lora Garrett prepares the Glasgow High School swim team for this weekend’s Kentucky High School Athletic Association Region 1 Swimming and Diving Championships in Owensboro, she sees a lot of positives for her team. Meghan Taylor is swimming well in the freestyle and Grayson Reynolds is swimming well, as are a couple of the Lady Scottie relay teams.

February 10, 2012
Focused
Steve Metzger, the head swim coach at Barren County High School, is pretty excited about where his team is right now as the Trojans and the Trojanettes prepare for the regional championships this weekend.

February 10, 2012
Underdog role
Luke Pniewski, the head wrestling coach at Barren County High School, knows his team will be the underdog this weekend at the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Region 2 Wrestling Championships in Danville.

February 10, 2012
Swindle signs to play golf at Lindsey Wilson
Only three years after she picked up a golf club for the first time, Glasgow High School senior Courtney Swindle signed her letter of intent to play golf for Lindsey Wilson College.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Caverna girls lose close match, 58-50
The Caverna Lady Colonels lost a hard-fought battle Tuesday night to John Hardin High School out of Elizabethtown. Caverna lost, 58-50.

February 9, 2012
Cummings leads Trojanettes over Russell County
A coach, in any sport, prays for the night when everything comes together for his or her team. In basketball, coaches want their teams to play good defense, rebound and shoot the ball well. When a team can do those three things, and do them well, they’re hard to beat.

February 8, 2012
More Sports Headlines

Sports

Search Results

Discussion

Native son

New Orleans native Manning stands between city and Super Bowl

Site Map