Tough week for Saints fans

RIP Hokie

Howard “Hokie” Gajan, a football presence in Louisiana for more than 40 years, died Monday. He was 56

For the past 15 years, Gajan was the analyst of New Orleans Saints broadcasts on WWL-AM, but he was an all-state back at Baker High School and later a productive back at LSU under Charlie McClendon and Jerry Stovall. He went from being a 10th-round draft choice — the 249th pick in 1981 — to a prominent runner with the Saints under Bum Phillips and Jim Mora.

Gajan was diagnosed with cancer last year, and his daughter Kristin Gajan Sell told WWL Radio on Monday morning that Gajan had been moved to intensive care.

Meanwhile, memorial preparations are underway for Will Smith who, as everyone knows, was shot Saturday night in a bizarre, apparent road rage incident.  

A second-line parade for late New Orleans Saints great Will Smith will take place Wednesday near the location where he died in a shooting late Saturday, and the Saints on Friday will host a celebration of Smith's life to be open to the public.

An event listing on Facebook asked second-line participants to meet at the Half Moon Bay Bar (1125 St. Mary St.) at 6 p.m. Wednesday for a march to the Smith memorial at Sophie B. Wright Place and Felicity Street.

Update: Here's the 1984 Saints Yearbook episode. Lots of Hokie highlights.