When former LSU wide receiver Devery Henderson was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2004 NFL draft, he knew he was not going far from his college campus.
It was not until Hurricane Katrina that Henderson realized he would return to his alma mater.
In four years at LSU, Henderson gained national prominence as part of the national championship team, as well as earning an ESPY for the Blue Grass Miracle in 2002.
Yet after all the celebrations and all the Saturday nights in Tiger Stadium, Henderson’s return as a professional athlete is slightly different.
In former LSU coach Nick Saban’s return to Tiger Stadium as the Dolphins head coach, 61,543 fans witnessed the Dolphins defeat the Saints, 21-6.
The two following games only saw half of the premier crowd at approximately 30,000 fans.
“I don’t catch myself looking over [to the student section], but I know that it is different from Saturday nights,” Henderson said. “But that is expected.”
The crowd is only the beginning of the differences found from Henderson’s college days to his professional career.
While Henderson only lost 13 games in four years as a Tiger, he has yet to win a game in Tiger Stadium as a Saint.
Although the performances of the teams Henderson has been a part of has drastically changed, Henderson said his devotion to his team is unshakeable.
“It’s different to go from LSU to New Orleans, but I am with my team no matter what,” Henderson said. “We never talk negative – we only hang on to the positive.”
Henderson’s optimistic perception of the Saints is carried over to LSU this season and his former teammates. Although he could not watch the SEC Championship game, he still found a way to support them.
“All I could do was get phone calls [about the game],” Henderson said. “They couldn’t pull it out, but they did real good this year. I’m proud of them.”
Although Henderson finished his college career with a National Championship, he experienced difficulties as a Tiger as well. The wide receiver from Opelousas came to LSU as a freshman in 2000 along with first year coach Nick Saban.
In Henderson’s first season at LSU, the Tigers had four losses but managed a come from behind victory in the Peach Bowl against Georgia Tech. Two years later, LSU had another four loss season and was defeated in the Cotton Bowl by the University of Texas.
The 16-8 combined records were only a minor preparation for the Saints overall records since Henderson joined the team in 2004.
In two seasons with the team, the Saints have recorded an 8-8 record in 2004 and are 3-9 this season going into week 14.
“I just have to go out there and do my job,” Henderson said. “It’s frustrating, especially on the team. That’s football. Certain situations go our way and some times they don’t. That’s just football.”
Aside from the poor record, Henderson has been able to find a few perks to being a part of the Saints, including the chance to work alongside veteran players.
“He’s developing well,” said center LeCharles Bentley. “It’s hard not to when you got guys like Joe Horn or Dante Stallworth who he can pattern his career and work ethic after so it’s really hard for him not to succeed.”
Henderson and the Saints will return a final time to Tiger Stadium on Dec. 18 to attempt to defeat the NFC South leading Carolina Panthers for the second time this season. New Orleans defeated the Panthers in week 1, 23-20. Henderson was inactive in the Saints’ win but has since played in 10 games this season.