The New Orleans Saints will unveil a dedicated area which pays tribute to the individual high school football programs across the state of Louisiana in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Friday, August 26, 2016 when the gates open before the team's preseason contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Saints and the LHSAA reached out to every high school in the state during the offseason and collected one helmet from each school that elected to participate, thus collecting well over 200 helmets from high schools. The helmets are proudly on display at Gate E (Loge level) in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and fans attending Saints games are encouraged to visit the area to view the collection of football helmets.

"We recognize that it is the goal and aspiration of every high school player and coach on every level to reach the state championship of their respective class of play each and every season and play in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome," said Saints President Dennis Lauscha. "While obviously that is impossible to do, we certainly admire the commitment and dedication of the coaches, players, parents and administrators that have and continue to make youth football such a wonderful part of our state's heritage. We are proud to have them be a part of our fans' gameday experience and we believe that Saints fans will appreciate seeing the schools that represent each town and community across our state."

Louisiana annually ranks amongst the nation's elite in discussions surrounding which state offers the most competitive high school levels of play. Each year countless former Louisiana high school football players help compromise NFL rosters, a tradition that dates back to the formation of professional football in the United States.

"We are proud of our organization's long-time association with the Louisiana High School Athletic Association." Lauscha stated. "We believe that athletics plays an important role in teaching values and important life lessons and fostering teamwork among peers. These helmets reflect the dedication and determination that those who wore and wear the helmets of their high schools represent."