You Can’t Talk About The Saints Without Mentioning The Saintsation Cheerleaders

Vanessa Bolano
ABC26 News
December 20, 2009

NEW ORLEANS – How can we talk about football without mentioning the cheerleaders. The “Saintsations” have been working out hard this year to keep up with the team’s winning ways on the field. ABC 26 News Reporter Vanessa Bolano went behind the scenes to show us how they fire up the crowd come game day.

The Saints aren’t the only ones getting fans excited about this dream season. The “Saintsations” are also working the crowds. the team of 31 women beat out hundreds of others for a chance to be on the sidelines come game day, and they work hard to look good in their flashy outfits. The team trains for nearly 10 hours a week to keep up with the undefeated boys in black and gold.

Rookie Deri’andra Tucker says, “For this to be my first year, and for the Saints to do this well, it’s amazing. It’s an amazing feeling.”

Fifth year veteran Chrissy Hamilton says, “This is just so awesome cause I think we’re going to win that NFC championship game this year.”

Most of the girls are from Louisiana, but we found two former cowboy fans on the team. Hope and Meagan say they don’t feel like traitors. Meagan insists, “This has been my home away from home for the past 3 and a half years.”

The “Saintsations” are more than just great dancers, there regular people. when they are not cheering they’re either at work or in school. Jennifer Hannah has a full time job as the Director of Marketing and PR for McDonald’s in New Orleans. To pull of this schedule she says she has to prioritize. “I kind of have to put everything in my week as far as lunch breaks and different opportunities to get away from work as far as scheduling a spray tan, your nails, working out.”

Jessica MacCray even even drives 150 miles each way to be part of the “Saintsations.” I drive from from Alabama every Tuesday and Thursday or Saturday, Sunday or Monday for the games.”

The girls are looking forward to possibly going to the Superbowl. They don’t usually travel to away games, but if the Saints make it all the way they are going to Miami! Yet, just like the men on the field, the “Saintsations” are taking it one game at a time.