Colts Return To Freezing Indianapolis To A Warm Homecoming
By Michael Williams (3/8/2007)
After winning the Super Bowl in a rain soaked night in Miami, the Indianapolis Colts returned to cold and freezing Indianapolis and were welcomed by more than 40,000 fans who lined the streets of the city.
The Colts came returned to a homecoming parade cheered by a loud and noisy crowd who were celebrating the city winning its first major professional sports championship in more than 30 years.
Peyton Manning, who won the Super Bowl MVP, was happy to return and at the RCA Dome he thanked the fans for supporting the team.
Most fans arrived at the RCA Dome hours before and waited patiently for their victorious team to arrive. The parade started late because the Colts’ flight from Miami got delayed but this did not upset the fans. Many of the fans were wearing Colts blue and were holding placards to thank the players and declaring their love for the team.
Once the team arrived, coach Tony Dungy was one of the first ones to thank the crowd for their support and for turning up at the RCA Dome.
The Colts won their first Super Bowl in 1971 but at that time the team was based in Baltimore. The Super Bowl XLI victory was all the more sweeter for the city because it was the first major professional title Indianapolis has won in any sport since the Indiana Pacers won their third ABA championship in 1973.
Jim Irsay, the Colts’ owner, could not believe the fan turnout and said that he could not have been more excited than what he was now. He thanked the fans and told them it was because of them the team could achieve what it.
When the parade came near the RCA Dome, many fans rushed out to the streets to shout triumphantly and high five the players who came riding on top of slow moving trucks and floats.
The Colts will play just one more year at RCA Dome and then they would be moving to the Lucas Oil Stadium, which is expected to be completed by the time the 2008 season starts.
For the players and the fans, it was a true homecoming which will be remembered for years to come. |