By By Richard Dark / EMG sports writer
Oct. 18, 2002
NEW ORLEANS Despite being arguably the top team in the NFC at 5-1, ticket sales are still lax for Sunday's game against a New Orleans Saints old rival, the San Francisco 49ers.
And that's including a record day at the Airline Drive facility where some 4,000 tickets were snapped up.
The problem is, as of Wednesday night, well over 4,000 more remained and if they did not sell by noon Thursday, then the greater New Orleans area will be under a blackout for the contest for the first time in 17 home dates.
While that won't affect fans in the Meridian-Laurel area, which are certain to view the FOX network matchup of two surging teams with a combined record of 9-2; it does disappoint Saints coach Jim Haslett.
As far as on the field matters are concerned, Haslett praised the improved play of cornerback Ken Irvin.
And he said the entire team was still cautiously optimistic and not viewing the Niners as easy prey because of their myriad of injuries. The team is also not worrying about the revenge factor, even though it has already handily put away two of the teams that contributed to a bad last quarter of 2001. Center Jerry Fontenot shared that sentiment.
Even though the season isn't at the halfway point yet, Fontenot believes this game could have home field implications down the road.
Defensive line coach Sam Clancy had strong statements of praise for Meridian native Kenny Smith. After his second week of action in which he tallied his first two career sacks, along with two sacks, the d-line coach admitted Smiths upside is vast.
"He's coming along fine. I would say next to Darren Howard, he has the most talent on the defensive line, maybe the whole defense. What he lacks is playing time, but he has been practicing hard and he is making plays." Smith said it only took him a few snaps to read the coverages, before he was able to get after the Redskin quarterback, Patrick Ramsey.