The Lucas Oil Stadium era has officially begun for the Indianapolis Colts.
With this new era comes the excitement of an energized fan base, an added intangible from which the team can draw support all season.
The 63,000-seat stadium is one of only three with retractable roofs, the other two being Reliant Stadium in Houston and the University of Phoenix stadium in Arizona. The host of Super Bowl XLVI in 2012, Lucas Oil Stadium can expand to a capacity of 70,000, and like its predecessor, will play host to high school football, conventions and the NCAA Basketball Tournament in addition to Colts home games.
The Colts practiced for the first time in their new digs this week in an effort both to address the logistical details of the move and to soak in the newness before their first home game this Sunday versus the Buffalo Bills.
For most of the Colts players and coaching staff, Tuesday’s inaugural practice in the new stadium was their first time in their new place.
“Everything I’ve heard from people says it takes about 30 minutes to look at it and take everything in and so we’d prefer not to start off 30 minutes behind,” said Colts head coach Tony Dungy. “It will be different, going in there and I know some of the new venues, like when we went to Reliant the first time it was pretty awe inspiring to see. We want to do that and get some of those jitters out of the way.”
With a continual focus on improvement with two preseason games remaining, the jitters may actually be the least of the coaching staff’s worries. After performances that can at best be described as uneven, including last week’s 16-9 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, Dungy is looking forward to an approach that more resembles their regular season routine.
The team’s Rose Hulman training camp schedule now in the books, the coach said practices and games will focus more attention on the starters, providing additional time to correct errors. Starters will also expect to see even more game time in their first Lucas Oil stadium home game.
“We will have our normal preparation, regular season routine, we’ll have meetings actually get into a game plan, so hopefully that will cause us to sharpen up,” Dungy added.
In addition to a strengthened focus on starter preparation, two critical Colts defensive starters returned to practice this week, providing the jolt needed to return the Colts to a familiar defensive form.
Arguably the two most dynamic defensive players on the Colts roster, All Pro safety Bob Sanders and three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney were cleared for practice this week and will likely take the field this Sunday night.
For Freeney, this week’s return is the result of intense rehab after suffering a foot injury versus the San Diego Chargers last November. His return to the field is particularly timely given the recent injuries to the Colts’ defensive line.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Sanders said the road to recovery from offseason shoulder surgery has been long, but he is looking forward to getting back to the practice field to work on timing.
“I’m definitely ready, I’ve been anxious for a long time, I’m excited and ready to go,” Sanders said. “I’ve worked hard, got back, body feels great, I feel excellent. I’m just excited, man. Truly blessed to come back and just be ready.”
Like most Colts players, Sanders is equally anxious to try out the new home field and is looking forward to the energy that will be generated all season long.
“I haven’t seen it, but I’m definitely excited. It’s great for the city, great for this organization,” he added. “It’ll be a lot of fun this year to go out in front of the fans in a new stadium and just have a lot of fun.”
As a result of a short schedule next week, fans will have two opportunities to see the Colts up close at Lucus Oil Stadium. The team will follow Sunday’s match up in a quick turnaround, with the Cincinnati Bengals visiting for their regular I-74 rivalry game Thursday.
The Colts will break in the stadium for the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 7 in a prime time rematch of Super Bowl XLI against the Chicago Bears.
