For Tori O’hara (Saintsation ’03 – ’08), Callie Huber (Saintsation ’03 – ’08) and Lindsey Willis (Saintsation ’02 – ’07), becoming Saintsations in the early 2000’s was the realization of a dream they didn’t even know was possible.
The Saintsations brought gameday cheer to Who Dat Nation, but beyond the sidelines, they contributed to their community variety of ways.
“It’s a lot of women who have careers already, so I think a lot of people don’t know that. I learned that very quickly. We had lawyers, we had nurses, we had people in med school. These were women who were dancing for fun, but they were doing so much more,” said Willis.
Willis, Huber and O’hara joined as college students, creating an unbreakable bond that lasts to this day.
“It was the most magical time in our lives because something about this city and the way that they love the Saints…and they love this team regardless of if they’re good, they’re bad, anything we’ll be there to support them,” said O’hara.
When Hurricane Katrina devastated their community in 2005, the ladies saw the tragedy play out through a TV screen in Baton Rogue. They watched as the places they grew up, the establishments they frequented and the city they loved were all under water.
The fate of the Saints and the Saintsations hung in the balance.
When the team headed to Texas, the Saintsations packed up their things, hopped on a bus and headed for the interstate, ready to bring joy back to the fandom.
“We were the cheer, we were the joy, we were the pep rally, we were the role models in all those times,” said Huber.
The dancers had represented the team and the city across the country, but they each agreed that no game compared to Domecoming. They say if they could relive any game of their life, it would be that first time back in the Superdome following Katrina.
The dancers, back in black in gold with poms in hand, looked up to the stands to see thousands of fans.
“They’re cheering and they’re so excited about the Saints and what it means for us to rebuild, and what it means for this community and the resilience that our city has, and that’s kind of what sums up New Orleans,” said O’hara.
20 years later, the women have passed on their talents to their daughters, who carry on their legacy as award winning dancers and UDA champions.
tori o’hara 03 – 08
callie huber 03 -08
lindsey willis 02 – 07
READ MORE:Sisterhood on the Sidelines: Saintsations reflect on impact of Domecoming game 20 years later
