Stand up and Get Crunk Fires up Who Dat Nation

As I’m sure most of you know (Halftime) Stand Up & Get Crunk has been played throughout the dome this season. It is even being played non-stop on the airwaves of New Orleans. The song began playing in the dome this year after a Saints TD when the kickoff team takes the field. It has become the perfect motivational song for Who Dat fans and Saints players. It’s a fun song and people in the dome go nuts when it is played. The song was even played by the U.S. Marine Corps band before the Cardinals game.

So why has this song become such a hot commodity? Is it only because the Saints have had such a wonderful season? Maybe it’s because it has the lyric’s “Here We Come to Get You” which could refer to the Saints opposing quarterbacks. Or maybe it’s the “If You Haven’t had Enough You Better Hide Yo Lunch Cause We About to Eat That Ass Up!” which could refer to what the Saints have done to most opponents this year.

I don’t know if the exact reason will ever be known. But, I can say this, the song is very catchy and has some wonderful bass to it. It reminds me of one of those songs that you love to hear at a parade. The ones where the St. Aug high school band stops right in front of you and starts to play. I’m sure the Purple Knights will be playing the song alot this parade season.

The song, performed by the crunk rap duo, the Ying Yang Twins, Kaine and D-Roc, was originally released in 2004 on their album “My Brother and Me” under the TVT record label. It was a follow up to their Album “Me and My Brother” which was released in 2003. A Who Dat video version can be found on YouTube.

So what exactly does it mean to get “Crunk”? According to the Urban Dictionary it’s either a combination of the words chronic(marijuana) and drunk or a combination of the words crazy and drunk. NO matter what the word means I’m sure on Superbowl Sunday plenty of Who Dat Nation fans will be getting “Crunk”!

Interviews are already taking place with Quarterback Drew Brees, Safety Darren Sharper and Running Back Reggie Bush. You can listen live on WWL Radio 870 AM and 105.3 FM or online at http://www.wwl.com/

Rodney Dangerfield once said “A girl phoned me the other day and said… Come on over, there’s nobody home. I went over. Nobody was home.” The poor man got no respect. Are the Saints the Rodney Dangerfield’s of the NFL? Why are they getting no respect after starting the year 13-0?

Rodney Dangerfield: I get no respect. The way my luck is running, if I was a politician I would be honest. (Not in N’Awlins Podna)

In 2006 the Saints went to the NFC championship game. Drew Brees led the league in passing yardage and the team led the league in yards per game. All of the pundits jumped on the bandwagon and were picking the Saints to represent the NFC in the Superbowl the following two years. But all the Saints could muster was a 7-9 record in 2007 and an 8-8 record in 2008.

Rodney Dangerfield: I told my psychiatrist that everyone hates me. He said I was being ridiculous – everyone hasn’t met me yet.

Maybe that is what is going on with the Saints. Maybe everyone hasn’t met the 2009 Saints. Although I can not fathom why this would be the case. The Saints have played in multiple primetime games this year. And all they did throughout the season was score 35 or more points on multiple opponents and led the league in scoring (31.9 points per game) and yards per game (403.8).

Rodney Dangerfield: My psychiatrist told me I was crazy and I said I want a second opinion. He said okay, you’re ugly too.

Maybe the national media and the odds makers need to take a second look at this years team. Have they overlooked some key pieces of the 2009 team? Have they not seen that we have a very aggresive defense? A bunch of ball hawks that can pick off an errant pass or strip a ball from an unsuspecting running back. I mean come on, even our offenseive players know how to strip a ball and take it back for a touchdown (Robert Meachem bring back any memories).

Rodney Dangerfield: This morning when I put on my underwear I could hear the fruit-of-the-loom guys laughing at me.

Don’t worry Rodney. Come Superbowl Sunday nobody is going to be laughing at you or the New Orleans Saints anymore. You will get your respect and so will we. Who Dat!

Listed below is a transcipt of New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Bees’ Super Bowl XLIV press conference Monday in Miami as released by the NFL. I would note that it is quite extensive.

On Saints Pro Bowlers greeting their team dressed as bellhops: “It was (Saints LB) Jon (Vilma)’s idea. Initially, it was just going to be Jon, but the fact that all the Pro Bowl guys were at the hotel anyways, and then we were planning on being out there to greet the team as they came in, he asked us if we’d join in. We were happy to do it.”

On if the Pro Bowlers took ice bags to the Saints’ hotel rooms: “It didn’t go that far. It was really just the appearance of us kind of standing on the curb, waiting ready to serve.”

On how the Super Bowl changes if Colts DE Dwight Freeney does not play because of injury: “They still will do a lot of the same things. Obviously, he is a tremendous player and one of the best, if not the best pass rusher in this league, as is the guy on the other side, (Colts DE Robert) Mathis. Really, I think their style is one that they have played for a long time. They’re getting a little bit more pressure now than they have in the past, but still it’s very much the same philosophy of ‘we’re going to get after you with our front four, we’re going to make you throw it underneath, we’re not going to give up big plays (and) we’re going to do a great job of rallying and tackling.’ Every guy on that defense is a good tackler. They know how to strip and get the ball out.”

On avoiding making assumptions about Freeney’s status based on the Colts’ injury report: “The fact is it’s the Super Bowl. I know any player would do as much as they could to get on that field. Obviously, he’s a competitor and a guy who… We’re expecting him to play. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t. Certainly, I feel like they’re coming into this game with all of their ammo.”

On comparing the Super Bowl hype to that of the Saints’ Week 12 game against the New England Patriots: “I would draw the similarity from the type of organization we were playing then and the type of organization we’re playing now. One (similarity) is it is really a model organization. The Colts have won 12 or more games in the last seven seasons and won a Super Bowl just a few years ago. They are a perennial playoff contender, a championship contender that has a great quarterback, head coach, management and a bunch of very talented players–guys that they know how to win. They know what it takes to win, and they play disciplined football. Anytime you go up against an organization like that, a team like that, you just understand that your mistakes all of the sudden get magnified. You need to be that much more disciplined with what you’re doing, and execution becomes critical.”

On his relationship with Saints QB Mark Brunell: “Mark has been awesome. Mark Brunell has been tremendous for me as a mentor (and) as a guy who has played a lot of football at a very high level. You’re talking about a guy who has been to three Pro Bowls (and) led those teams in Jacksonville to two AFC Championship games. He’s played in a ton of big games, big atmospheres. He’s a true professional. There are certainly a lot of things I have been able to gain from him over the last few years.”

On competing against Colts QB Peyton Manning: “That’s exactly the trap that I’m not going to fall into, which is trying to keep up with Petyon. I know that Peyton is going to make his plays, and he is going to be Peyton. That just means that I need to be me. Certainly, this is a game that very well could be back and forth or one team could get out to a lead and then all of the sudden the other team closes the gap. I think we’ve both shown the ability to come back from big deficits. The game is always within reach no matter what the situation. It’s me and my offense against their defense and vice versa. Certainly, I have a lot of respect for Peyton and what he has been able to accomplish and what their team has been able to accomplish, but it’s not me against Petyon Manning.”

On this Super Bowl’s impact on New Orleans considering the effects of Hurricane Katrina: “(It is important for) not only the people in New Orleans, but I think the people around the country because you do understand how much it means to that community and what they’ve been through. Our success as a team over the last four years, but especially this year, has been tremendous just in regards to giving so many of the members of that community hope and lifting their spirits. There is still a lot of work to be done there in regards to the rebuilding and the recovery post-Katrina. There are still a lot of people in some pretty dire straits. For us to be able to have the success we’re having, it just does so much for that community as far as bringing everyone together. There’s a bond that we have with our fans–between our organization and our fans–that’s truly special. This has been, obviously, a storybook season for all of us–a 13-0 start (and) a lot of firsts. (It was) our first time to host an NFC Championship game (and the) first Super Bowl appearance in the 42-year history of the organization, so we have a lot to play for. We don’t look at it as extra pressure. We look at it as a sense of responsibility, and we really gain strength from our fans from the ‘Who Dat?’ nation (and) from the people of New Orleans, just knowing that their spirit is with us.”

On the rainy weather affecting the Saints’ Monday itinerary: “It is what it is. ‘Weather the storm.’ We know how to do that. This (walk-through) is something that we wanted to do today. We got here early for a reason. Our team jumped right on the buses to the practice field. We got a good sweat in (and) got a good workout in. I think it has just really set the tone for us and our mindset for this week. It’s all business.”

On Vilma’s idea to dress as bellhops helping the Saints keep their usual mentality: “You could very easily get to this week and all of the sudden want to put too much pressure on yourself and feel the pressure and the hype of the media and all that stuff. I think that’s one of Jon’s great strengths is his ability to constantly have a finger on the pulse of the team and know when it’s time to work and when it’s time to joke and have a good time. Obviously, when the guys pulled up, he thought that would be a good way to welcome everybody in, and it was.”

On being in the Dolphins’ practice facility after considering signing with Miami as a free agent in 2006: “It’s kind of interesting, I guess. The (Dolphins’ practice) bubble wasn’t built yet, but it was under construction, so it’s not like I set foot in there. Just kind of walking around the facility and the weight room, obviously, to get in here brought back the memories of that free-agency period back in 2006, which was really a defining moment in my career and probably my life just the way that things worked out. Obviously, I’m where I belong.”

On serving as a leader in the New Orleans community: “I know that I have been blessed with a lot of opportunities in my life–the opportunity to go to a great university, Purdue University, play in the Big Ten, the opportunity I had out in San Diego and the opportunity I’ve had here in New Orleans. (I have had) so many great coaches and mentors around me. I just feel like it’s a big responsibility for me. I feel like I’ve been given a platform to really make a difference in a lot of people’s lives, especially those who are less fortunate and those who might not have the opportunities otherwise. I’ve embraced the community of New Orleans just because it is a special place, and they’ve embraced me and my wife in a way that I can’t even describe. There is nothing more that I want for them than a championship.”

On attempting passes to the back shoulder of his receivers: “It’s a simple philosophy. It’s throw it to our guy away from their guy. Just because your guy is running right next to one of their guys doesn’t mean that there isn’t a place where you can throw that ball where only your guy can get it. That’s the point of the back-shoulder throw or any throw where… Maybe it looks like a really low throw or a really high throw, but you’re taking your receiver and kind of using it to their strengths where you can throw that ball, where you know they can get it and nobody else can.”

On his rapport with his receivers: “That takes time. That’s chemistry. That’s working at it. (Saints WR) Marques Colston and I have had four years together, and (I’ve had) the same with (Saints WR) Devery Henderson. (Saints WR) Lance Moore is in his third year. All of these guys, even (Saints TE Jeremy) Shockey, the difference from last year to this year… (There are) so many guys where you just build that rapport over time.”

On the Saints’ offensive personnel: “We have an arsenal. We have a lot of guys who can do a lot of great things, great athletes. What we try to do within our offense is put everybody in position to succeed according to their strengths.”

On if former Dolphins coach Nick Saban contacted him at 12:01 a.m. on the first morning of free agency in 2006: “He probably called me before that (laughter). The fact of the matter is I went to New Orleans and I came to Miami as free-agent possibilities. I had great visits at both places. I have a lot of respect for both organizations, but in the end I felt like New Orleans was my calling. That’s where I belonged, not only to help rebuild that organization and get it back on the right track, but also to help rebuild a community and a region and to do something special.”

On previously mentioning that everything happens for a reason in 2006: “I do believe everything happens for a reason despite the fact that the (shoulder) injury is what caused me to leave San Diego. At the time, I was picturing myself as being the San Diego Chargers’ quarterback for my entire career. That was my dream. That was my goal at the time. For that to be kind of taken away and all of the sudden you are in limbo, (I was wondering) not only what other team am I going go to, but am I ever going to be able to play at the level that I know I can play at ever again because of this serious shoulder injury? God puts you in a position for a reason, and it goes way beyond football, I think.”

On what continues to drive him considering all of his success: “I think you’re always driven by the opportunity to be the best. I am blessed to be able to play in this league. How many people would only dream to be able to play quarterback in the NFL and to take it one step further and have the opportunity to play for a Super Bowl Championship, a world championship, especially for a city like New Orleans and an organization like the New Orleans Saints and for a coach like (Saints Head Coach) Sean Payton and a general manager like (Saints GM) Mickey Loomis and an owner like (Saints Owner) Tom Benson, who really believed in me when nobody else did. They had as much confidence in me as I did in myself. That’s meant the world to me. I want to win it for them, just like I want to win it for all my teammates and my city.”

On what he spoke to Manning about at the Pro Bowl: “I’ve known Peyton (Manning) for a long time since I was at Purdue and he was at Indy. I used to go to games. I went to a few games when I was at Purdue as a student. I think he was always very good to me when I was a college quarterback. To think, here we are 10 years later, and it’s gone by fast, that we’d be playing in the Super Bowl against one another, at least our teams… (It’s) pretty crazy how things work out.”

On staying focused after not playing a game in two weeks: “From the time that we won the NFC championship, it was kind of 24 hours of celebrating a little bit and also starting to think about what the plans were going to be like for the next two weeks and really kind of coming up with a plan and a routine and a process for last week and this week, just understanding the hype and the media and the potential distractions and all of those things and just trying to kind of manage all of those things. I talked to a lot of my mentors. I talked to a lot of former quarterbacks who have been to this game before and just got a gauge for just how I wanted to handle this week so that I could get all of my preparation in and be as ready to play and win this game as I could.”

On Saints RB Reggie Bush’s potential: “I think the sky is the limit for Reggie Bush. I think he could continue to get a lot better and continue to… Just like any young running back in this league, there’s that time period or that learning curve where you’re just continuing to develop and continuing to learn how to be a pro and kind of honing in on your skills. Obviously, he’s one of the most talented players in the NFL, but to see him in that Arizona game have the game that was very complete–probably one of the most impressive performances since I’ve seen from him since he’s been here–I think he just needs to continue to build upon that (and) continue to fulfill his role. He can really help us win if he does that.”

Heavy rain in the Miami area has forced the Saints to move their practice to an indoor facility. The team was initally set to have their practice at the University of Miami but due to the rain the practice was moved to the Miami Dolphins indoor facility. The sceduled time was also changed due to equipment having to be moved from one site to the other.

The NFL also moved it’s media day to a drier location. They will no longer be holding the interviews on the field of Sun Life Stadium. Instead the interviews will be conducted inside on a concourse on the club level of the stadium.

The daylong rain covering the area brought back unpleasant memories of the last time the NFL title game came to town. That was the first time rain fell on a Super Bowl, and it continued throughout the game, chasing some fans away at halftime and sending others into concourses to watch on televisions.

You can however look at the sunny side of things. The weather forecast for game day calls for partly sunny skies and a high temperature of 73 degrees.