Football: The scoop on New Orleans from…Leo Bates

Tim Buckley, The Advertiser, December 19, 2012

The senior starting offensive tackle is from L.W. Higgins High in New Orleans.

Best thing about New Orleans: The food. Definitely the food.

Worst thing about New Orleans: The streets. The streets are horrible. A lot of one-ways, and they’re beat-up.

Favorite on-field New Orleans Bowl moment (besides Brett Baer’s game-winning field goal): Running on it after we won it — running, ‘yeahhh.’ Being that excited. That was amazing.

Favorite off-field New Orleans Bowl experience: Going to the zoo. We had some elementary school students, and we walked through the zoo with them and enjoyed some time with them. I liked that. That was really fun.

What would you rename the NBA’s New Orleans Hornets if not the Pelicans: Can we have "» a basketball Saints?

Favorite all-time New Orleans Saint: Being an o-lineman, Willie Roaf.

Will Sean Payton coach the Saints next season? I think he will. I think they’re gonna fight to keep him. You know, he did a lot for the Saints.

Favorite New Orleans restaurant: Café Du Monde. (Beignets) and a cup of hot chocolate to top it off.

Gumbo or jambalaya? Gumbo.

Potato salad: inside your gumbo, or out? Out, but I’ll take some. I’ll definitely take some.

Crawfish: suck the heads or no? Yes, I do.

One thing Cajuns fans should not miss while in New Orleans: Don’t miss the game. It’s gonna be a fun time