WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Saints win spurs fans to call-in or skip

Saints win spurs fans to call-in or skip

By Caroline Moses - bio | email

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Showing up late or simply skipping school and work seemed almost acceptable on Monday after the Saints won the Super Bowl. Instead, some Saints fans were still shopping for merchandise when they were supposed to be somewhere else.

Adults and students across Baton Rouge area said the big win by the team encouraged them to not go in.

"We're playing hooky," said a group of healthcare workers. "I slept-in a couple of hours. I was so tired," said Makayla McManus. "I actually closed my office until noon," said Pat Bourque. "I ain't going nowhere," said Addie Washington. "This is my spot 'til the caps come in. When they come in, then I'm going."

So many people are buying Saints paraphernalia that stores are having trouble staying stocked. According to fans, it's a matter of capturing history. They're sacrificing almost everything else.

"It took us a long time, but we made it," Washington added.

Some skippers made more strategic moves than others in their Saints shirt searches.

"I'm going on my lunch break, so I got to hurry up," said one fan. "On a lunch break, run over here to grab something real quick," said another.

Almost 15 percent of East Baton Rouge Parish students did not show for class on Monday.

"Let's put it this way, it doesn't come as a surprise," said Chris Trahan, school board spokesperson.

Private schools saw similar numbers. Parkview Baptist had about twice as many people as normal either call-in or not show up.

"It's not that many absent in elementary, a few more in middle and a sizeable amount more in high school," said Headmaster Melanie Ezell. "They were up late and they knew we probably wouldn't be doing much today, so they probably just stayed at home," said Adam Roethele, a senior at Parkview Baptist. "I wish I would have."

Some classrooms were hard at work, even studying for tests. However, in hallways and on faces the signs of Super Bowl success were still evident. School officials said they would be slightly more understanding for the one day only.

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