NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 09: The banners representing achievements of the New Orleans Saints, including the newly unveiled 2009 Super Bowl World Champions banner, hang above the fans in the upper deck during the Saints game against the Minnesota Vikings at Louisiana Superdome on September 9, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

It’s hard to believe that eight years have passed. Now in 2017, the Saints are looking to build new memories with mixed expectations.

There is so much irony for myself when this occurred in 2009. Actually, when my New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl in that amazing season, I was 1,000 miles away. Who would have thought that my address would show a zip code in Cleveland, Ohio. Additionally, since the move back home in 2013, the city of Cleveland won one championship and went to a World Series. What are the odds?

What’s even more coincidental, is that the Saints and Browns face off in the first game of the preseason. Yes how ironic. That being said, the younger generation of fans are just now getting a small taste of what the older fans had to suffer through.

There’s no way my pain compares to some of the older Baby Boomers who still roam the city. That’s a fact that cant be denied. For those poor souls that have followed the Saints since 1967, a 7-9 record was outstanding. That’s a hard pill to swallow, but it’s the truth. In 20 years from 1967-1986, the Saints finished with just seven wins or better just FIVE TIMES! Think about that.

Of course, the league went to a 16 game schedule in 1978. There’s something to say about those previous years that’s really scary. From 1967-77′ the Saints NEVER won six games in the 14 game schedule. Yikes! The 5-9 record was the best mark set in those wretched years.

On the other hand, it’s not really the Millennial’s fault. The Saints simply started winning in 2006, which brought expectations higher and higher. To be honest, that 2006 season seemed to be the closest that the Saints would ever get to a Super Bowl. But that was just an appetizer. The 2009-10′ season was like Disney World invading the “The Big Easy.” Pigs would fly, and people were living out their own fantasies.

We were champions. Our team and city was on top of the world. No more Aints. No more “there’s always next year.” The glory was ours. The New Orleans Saints in 2009 had destiny with them. Who Dat Nation was prosperous. Now, eight years later, Saints fans wonder about what’s ahead. Where were you then and how are you feeling now?