Colts Extravaganza (Part II)

Just one week after attending Colts Training Camp at Anderson University with Zach, I was offered four free tickets to the Colts' first preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium against the St. Louis Rams.  It was a Sunday afternoon game, and a beautiful day...

So...the roof and the windows were open!  Look at the banners signifying the winning legacy of the organization - flying in the breeze!

My last time at Lucas Oil Stadium was for the Super Bowl in February.  Dana and I were able to go to the Super Bowl - which was an incredible experience!  But...I must say that the atmosphere just before the Colts offense took the field for this first preseason game was almost as electric as that Super Bowl.  The anticipation surrounding this new team was palatable from the time we entered the stadium.

It was neat seeing the players and coaches that I had just seen at practice seven days ago - in full regalia and uniform, playing their first game together (albeit a preseason game)!  New coach Chuck Pagano was in mid-season form...

As was Andrew Luck!  His very first pass as a professional was a LONG touchdown to running back Donald Brown!  The crowd went nuts...as if it was a winning touchdown of a playoff game...  People were high-fiving, hugging, and yelling at the top of their lungs.  It was as if the entire Colts Nation took a huge, collective sigh of relief.  "It's all okay...last season is over...we now have Luck on our side!"

As for the boys, their highlight as either picking up the confetti on the ground that was released after each touchdown.  Or...more importantly...having their own drink from the concession stand!

Kaden chose Coke - and the boy chugged down the entire bottle in about ten short minutes!

Karter loves Sprite...and getting his own seat was a treat, too!

After a few minutes into the second half, the scrubs were on the field, and we spent a half hour or so walking around the beautiful stadium.  The highlight for the boys were the cars in the north entrance.  We had to stop for a photo at one of their favorites - the dragster!

What a fun afternoon as a family!  While the boys will not remember it, their daddy will be able to tell them that they were there when Andrew Luck threw his first professional pass...a touchdown (just like Peyton did in 1998)

Little did I know that my COLTS EXTRAVAGANZA would have a Part III...stay tuned for that post shortly...