I should have seen the signs Friday.
The day started just fine, but it all went downhill when I stepped off the bus at my apartment. As soon as my foot touched the ground, the rain came pouring down and it didn’t stop all weekend.
By the time I walked through the door, I was soaked from head to toe and in a bitter mood.
Later, on my drive into New Orleans, I sat through the traffic of ignorant rubberneckers. After three hours on the road, I stepped into my parents’ house in an even fouler mood.
No big deal, I told myself. The LSU game is tomorrow and that will lighten my spirits.
Boy, was I ever wrong.
LSU put on arguably its worst performance in the Nick Saban era against the hated Auburn Tigers.
Domanick Davis fumbled on the first play from scrimmage. Three Marcus Randall interceptions later and the banged-up Tigers found themselves down 17-0 entering the half.
Again, I remained optimistic because the LSU offense had put up 25 points in the third quarter against South Carolina.
Even as Auburn increased its lead to 24 in the third quarter, I held a candle of hope that somehow the team would get the train back on the tracks.
Finally, the offense came alive toward the end of the third quarter with a 60-yard, 15 play drive. But Randall tossed up his fourth pick and I tossed around a few expletives.
Since the LSU-Auburn rivalry already has an “Interception Game”, I suppose this one could be dubbed “Pain in the Rain”.
I forced myself to calm down. After all, the Saints were putting their 6-1 record on the line against the 3-3 Falcons in the Superdome the next day.
Hope reeled me in as the Saints jumped ahead 10-0 on Atlanta. All of a sudden, the same bug that bit LSU came after New Orleans as penalties and turnovers allowed Atlanta back into the game.
The Saints went into halftime down 14-10 and found themselves down 21-10 early in the third quarter.
My foolish brain duped me into thinking the Saints could easily come back and win the game.
With the Saints down 34-28 and 3:33 left on the clock, Warrick Dunn fumbled the ball to New Orleans. Surely, Dunn, a Baton Rouge native, was trying to make it up to the LSU fans by delivering a Saints win.
Deuce McAllister rushed 16 yards for a touchdown to put New Orleans ahead 35-34. Yes! My weekend has been saved!
Wrong again.
Michael Vick valiantly marched the Falcons down the field for a field goal as time expired to give Atlanta the win.
As the Tigers go, so do the Saints apparently.
Now, both teams look vulnerable — LSU far more than New Orleans — and only time will tell if more weekends like this one will come.