By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – With the New Orleans Saints nearing training camp, the region is gearing up for what is hoped by most to be a great follow-up season to February’s Super Bowl win. Only a handful of teams in the history of the NFL have managed to win back-to-back championships, but after the Saints brought the Lombardi Trophy back to New Orleans, there was a renewed sense that anything was possible.

Still, opinions both locally and nationally have ranged when discussing the Saints’ prospects for the upcoming season. Accordingly, last week L’Observateur asked visitors to its website what their predictions for the Saints 2010-11 season are.

Not surprisingly, almost half said they think the Black and Gold will repeat as champions.

Another quarter of respondents had almost equal optimism, believing the Saints will fall just short of winning their second Super Bowl. Another fifth think the gridiron warriors will win their division but not make it much farther than that.

And, of course, there are a few pessimists out there, but overall only 6 percent of respondents think the Saints of seasons past will return.

A full breakdown of results follows:

• 49 percent of respondents chose “Two Dat!”

• 26 percent of respondents chose “I think they will fall just short of repeating as Super Bowl champs.”

• 19 percent of respondents chose “They will win their division but not make it very far in the playoffs.”

• 2 percent of respondents chose “They will do OK but miss making the playoffs.”

• 4 percent of respondents chose “Back to the basement.”