A Christmas present has turned into quite an opportunity for one Sulphur couple.
Back in December, Glen Bonin and his wife Georgia received a special present from their daughter, Glenda Bonin Jeansonne. Their gift package included tickets, travel arrangements and hotel accommodations for Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida.
Little did the life-long New Orleans Saints fan know that he would be watching the New Orleans Saints play in their first ever Super Bowl
“I am so excited over what has happened here that I am like a boy with a new toy,” Bonin said. “I watched them and for years I never saw them win.
“My daughter, Glenda, gave us football tickets, airplane tickets and room tickets for a Christmas present. I have never been to one (Super Bowl) before. We had no idea the Saints were going to be in the game. When she gave us these tickets the Saints had not lost a game yet so we were hoping that was how it would turn out. That is the extra that came out of this.”
Bonin and his wife, who just celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on February 3rd, along with his daughter Glenda and grandson Jeremy Jeansonne will all be heading to the big game. The Bonins will head to their daughter’s home in Baton Rouge on Friday and fly out of New Orleans on Saturday.
The Bonins have followed the Saints from the beginning when the team would hold benfit games for the Lions Club Crippled Childrens’ Camp. They have been there for some big games including when the Saints’ Tom Dempsey kicked a still record 63-yard field goal in the Saints’ 19-17 win over Detroit in 1970. At that time, the Saints still played at Tulane Stadium (demolished in 1979-1980).
“The Saints years ago played a benefit game for the Lions Club Crippled Children's Camp in one of their preseason games,” Bonin said. “They did that for over 15 years.
Even with a long history of losing and futile seasons, Bonin never stopped in his support of the Saints.
“I have seen all of that. I never were a bag over my head. I was on the board of directors for the Children's Camp and we had a box seat. We personally paid for a box seat every year. I was there the year that they beat Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh had one of their better teams ever. I kept going to them year in and year out. It was once in a while they would win.”
As any loyal Saints fan would, Bonin will be rooting for the ‘Black and Gold’ and a little divine intervention.
“If we play our normal game we will win. They are good enough to win. I have watched pro football for years and have watched the best teams. The Saints win by prayer every time they win. The Saints have the saints working for them.”
