Eagles fans hop back on the band wagon

An Eagles rally is even more of a perk-me-up than a morning cup of coffee.

Especially after a playoff win.

Early yesterday morning, commuters were blearily traipsing the concourse under 15th Street when mascot Swoop and two cheerleaders started high-fiving and handing out "Believe in Green" posters.

Suddenly it was part-party, part-photo op, with cell phones and TV crews snapping the mascot's antics.

One generously circumferenced fan began chanting as a mechanical eagle frantically flapped on the bill of his cap.

"It ain't nothing but a Super Bowl, baby! No ifs, ands, or buts, or maybe!" crowed Monty Gee, 39, an entertainer from South Philadelphia who showed up after hearing media reports announcing the mini-rally. It was one of four events across the city yesterday that were sponsored by the team.

Gee held a homemade sign that read, "THE BIG PAYBACK! TURNING GIANTS INTO MIDGETS!" - a reference to the New York Giants getting soundly beaten by the Birds on Sunday afternoon. Next, the team plays Arizona, and the winner goes to the Super Bowl on Feb. 1.

"I fly high with the Eagles! I fly with the Eagles! I bleed green!" said Cassandra Lee, 45, a SEPTA traffic checker from South Philadelphia.

Yesterday, she said, "My son called all the way from France, spelling out

Eagles

."

Eagles cheerleaders Katheryn Mueller and Janelle Stangl wore fake beards - on orders from "up top," Mueller said before the proceedings started.

The petite blondes posed with the shaggy brown clumps beneath their noses - a salute to players, coaches and male fans refraining from shaving during the playoff run.

"I'll do anything for the Eagles," said Mueller.

"Gotta get in the playoff spirit," said Stangl.

"It looks like a possum died on their face," one man remarked.

"It's in the stars! It's in the cards!" said an animated Dave Scott, 56, a security guard from West Philadelphia.

"It might be a Pennsylvania Super Bowl," he said, noting that title game could include the Pittsburgh Steelers, who trounced the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

"I'm very excited," said Jennifer Palladino, 35, an administrative assistant from South Philadelphia. "Hopefully, we're going to bring another championship for the city."

The team's turnaround late in the season was largely because of the defense, led by safety Brian Dawkins, said Tracy Straudmuller, 44, an office worker from Mantua, N.J.

"He's like the powerhouse of that defense," said Straudmuller, proudly wearing her green Eagles jacket.

"I think this is the year," said Victoria Jenkins, 19, a City Year worker from Germantown. "I'm not going out like a sucker this time."

Gee admitted that, in November, he had lost faith in quarterback Donovan McNabb and coach Andy Reid, after disappointing games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens.

"I wanted McNabb and Andy Reid gone," he said.

Yesterday, Gee was completely back on board.

"I turned my feeling around, and then I said, 'They're going to go all the way!' " he said.