Fans enthusiastically streamed into the park in droves on June 22 wearing Colts hats, jerseys and t-shirts. The line for player and cheerleader autographs wrapped around the park.
While waiting for autographs fans enjoyed music from the Jai Baker Band, who played throughout the three hour extravaganza. Children got a chance to play in the bounce house, take on the mountain slide and walk through Colts In Motion.
Fans also enjoyed sponsors Sun Tan City, Harrison College, Indiana Blood Center, College 529, Indiana Corn and Soybean Alliance, and Novartis lined up along the autograph line.
Making a special appearance and hopping on top of Colts In Motion to shoot t-shirts into the crowd was Colts' mascot Blue. He rolled around the park on this scooter, signed autographs for fans and posed for pictures.
Colts faithful also had the chance to register to win free preseason tickets, sign their children up for the Kids Club, or visit the Maingate trailer to purchase Colts merchandise.
When wide receivers Dudley Guice and Sam Giguere arrived along with Colts Cheerleaders Breanna, Nicole, Abbey, Stefani to sign autographs the fans greeted them with a roar.
"It is my first time here in Evansville and just to see all the fans show up is awesome. This is a great response, there are a lot of kids out here having fun and that great to see," Giguere, a native of Canada, said. "The Colts fans are the best fans in the NFL so it is great to come down here and touch base with them."
Also on hand to greet the players was an assortment of media including Super-Hits 105.3, WKDQ 99.5, 103GDF, Kiss-Fm 106.1, Evansville Courier Press, FOX7 News, WFIE 14 and News 25
"If it wasn't for the fans, it wouldn't be the Colts," Guice told one member of the media. "This fan base is the 12th man, and it's a humbling experience for all of them to come out and support a group of guys that they don't even really know like this."
Waiting for Guice and Giguere's autographs was one special young fan. Meet Matthew, a diehard Colts fan who was out to enjoy the Fan Fest with his parents. Matthew has cerebral palsy and had a stroke as a baby. As a result he is wheelchair bound. But it doesn't stop him.
"I have enjoyed seeing the mascot the Cheerleaders and the players," Matthew said. "I have been a Colts fan my whole life and I hope they win the Super Bowl next year. I hope they do well just like they did this year."
The only thing more special than Matthew meeting Guice and Giguere was Guice and Giguere getting the opportunity to meet Matthew.
For more information on the Make It Personal click on the Fanzone tab and follow it to the events page.
You can also head to myclots.net to check out my blog about life on the Make It Personal Tour.
