MANATEE — As Drew Brees, quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, threw a touchdown pass to running back Pierre Thomas in the third quarter of Super Bowl XLIV against the Indianapolis Colts, Elsie Nolan cheered, “They just did it. All right, there they go.”
Nolan, a Saints fan, was enjoying the game on one of the giant screens at Beef O’Brady’s, 6703 Manatee Ave. W., with her friend, Peg McGariety.
Nolan said she was rooting for the Saints because New Orleans went through Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and “they deserve some happy times.”
McGariety agreed, saying, “It would be nice to give them something to celebrate again.”
The two women enjoyed dinner at the popular sports pub as they watched the game, with about 30 other customers.
But not all were Saints fans.
Ramon Negrete, who was with family and friends at Beef O’Brady’s taking in the game, said he was hoping the Colts would win, but at halftime he admitted the Saints were playing a good game.
“The Saints are trying,” said Negrete, dressed in his blue-and-white No. 18 Colts jersey, with Colts quarterback Peyton Manning’s name on the back.
Spencer and Sharon Hudon were also hoping the Colts would win.
“I like Peyton Manning,” Spencer Hudon said. “He’s one of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever watched.”
But next year the University of Florida fan said he hopes he’ll be rooting for Tim Tebow, the Gators’ phenomenal quarterback who is awaiting April’s NFL Draft.
Across the table from the Hudons sat their friends, Heather and Robert Campbell, cheering for the Saints.
“They’re the underdogs and have never gotten this far before,” Heather Campbell said.
Pat Goneau, who owns Beef O’Brady’s with his son, Kyle, said there has been a steady stream of costumers all night.
“We’ve had a lot of carry out for parties,” said Goneau, who is from Indiana and was cheering on the Colts.
Down the street at Tequila Beach Sports Grille, 7423 Manatee Ave. W., the good times started at 2 p.m. with a tailgate party in the parking lot, said assistant general manager Fiona Ferrell.
“We’ve had a great day,” Ferrell said. “We had about 200 people out there participating in a football toss, the dunk tank and corn hole toss.
“It’s been fun all day,” she said shortly after the game resumed from the halftime break.
Tom and Julienne McNeil were enjoying the competition on one of several television screens scattered around Tequila Beach but were hoping the Saints could pull it off and win their first Super Bowl trophy.
“They’ve never been to the Super Bowl,” Tom McNeil said, “and after (Hurricane) Katrina they didn’t even have a stadium.”
Cyndi Radford also was on the side of the New Orleans team.
“The Saints all the way, ’cause you can feel the Brees,” Radford cheered confidently while making a play on the name of New Orleans’ quarterback.
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