Saints agree to train in Mississippi

[Drakeshead]

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The New Orleans Saints are marching to Mississippi.

The Saints announced a four-year agreement Thursday to hold training camp at Millsaps College in an attempt to broaden the team's fan base and help new coach Sean Payton build team unity.
"We believe by having camp away, it's good for building a bond for coaches and owners and players," owner Tom Benson said. "We want these to be the Mississippi Saints - as well as the New Orleans Saints and the Louisiana Saints - and this is a major start in that direction."

Financial terms weren't disclosed, though the announcement had been expected for weeks, ever since Benson and other team officials toured the Division III campus a month ago.

"The enthusiasm and welcome that we received really made it an easy decision," general manager Mickey Loomis said.

The Saints will hold 35 practices July 28 through Aug. 25, the day before they play the Indianapolis Colts across the street from the downtown Jackson campus at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in their third preseason game.

The Saints held their previous three training camps at their practice facility in Metairie, La. Before that, they regularly went on the road for camp, traveling to cities in Louisiana, Mississippi, California, Ohio, Wisconsin and Florida.

Payton has said he would prefer to move the team during training camp to avoid distractions and build team unity. As an assistant with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, Payton routinely went on the road for preseason camp.

"With a new staff, opening the Sean Payton era, it's important that we get away and develop that bunker mentality," Loomis said.

[big gumbo]

Fitting, The Ain'ts fit right in, they suck.

[duckkiller]

Well Melvon better call up more National Gaurd Troops for this one

[Chipper]

Anytime you go torwards MS you're bettering yourself.

Look at Gumbo and Webby, they're trying to better themselves by hanging around here.

What is it, you have to go through Alabama to get to Arkansas or you have to go through Arkansas to get to Alabama!

I forget, they're about the same anyways.

[mottlet]

Reggie Bush at da 'Saps. Off the hook. Bet the Aints will be real happy with the outstanding weight room facilities in Hall Activities Center. And where they gonna live, the Cabot? Cuz as a proud survivor of Millsaps resident life, I'm here to tell you, ol' Galloway Hall ain't gonna cut it.

mottlet

[Drakeshead]

Milsap's has all new facilities. I can't remember which station it was, but one had the facilities on air last night. The only thing to be changed/removed is the normal two double style beds to a room to one queen bed in each room.

[rjohnson]

Reggie Bush at da 'Saps. Off the hook. Bet the Aints will be real happy with the outstanding weight room facilities in Hall Activities Center. And where they gonna live, the Cabot? Cuz as a proud survivor of Millsaps resident life, I'm here to tell you, ol' Galloway Hall ain't gonna cut it.

mottlet

I hear ya! Some of them big ole lineman sho' can't fit through that divider wall even turning sideways! I'll be over there watching a few of them practices and trying to get some signatures. Drakeshead the field is one of the nicest in D-III but they'll be roughing it in the dorms. Anyway it's good for the 'Saps nation!

[bigwater]

i wonder it the aints are aware that on 6-22-06 mayor frank melton declared that the spear chunkers were in a state of emergency

[Greenhead22]

Oh no.............we suck again.

[rjohnson]

i wonder it the aints are aware that on 6-22-06 mayor frank melton declared that the speak chunkers were in a state of emergency

Yeah, I wondered that too. I'm sure 'Saps withheld that little bit of information until the ink dried.