Colts Converge on Rose-Hulman

Press Release

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology campus will take more of a blue and white tone as the Indianapolis Colts, one of the most successful and popular National Football League teams, begin training camp for the 2008 season on Friday, July 25, bringing thousands of fans and national media.

This marks the 10th straight year that the NFL team has conducted its preseason practices and team meetings on Rose-Hulman's athletic fields and campus buildings. Practices will continue until Aug. 15.

Last year, a record 27,340 fans attended practices for the 2006 Super Bowl champions. The total marked a 35 percent increase from the previous record of slightly more than 21,000.

National media expected to attend this year's Colts training camp include ESPN, which will broadcast its NFL Live program from Rose-Hulman; the NFL Radio Network's NFL Training Camp Tour, broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio; The Associated Press; USA Today; CBS Sports; NBC Sports; NFL Films; Sports Illustrated; ESPN.com; and The Sporting News. The Indianapolis Star, all Indianapolis television stations and several Indianapolis radio stations will lead Indiana and Midwest newspapers in providing daily coverage of training camp activities.

The Colts' training camp is among the most "fan-friendly" camps in the NFL, according to ESPN Football Analyst John Clayton in a camp preview story on ESPN.com. He highlighted "a family setting for a family-oriented team", featuring popular Colts City activities, including interactive inflatables, carnival games, sponsor booths, several sports simulators and theme days.

Preparations for Rose-Hulman hosting this year's camp started nearly nine weeks ago with work to ensure that the campus intramural fields and the Cook Stadium game field meet NFL quality standards. These fields are used for morning, afternoon and evening practices throughout the camp. Rose-Hulman employs more than 100 persons to provide field maintenance, food service and other campus facilities to ensure a successful camp.

"There's a lot of work to ensure a successful training camp," said Matt Sinclair, director for recreational sports and athletic facilities at Rose-Hulman. "We have a very successful formula with the Indianapolis Colts. We're two solid groups that fit together."

Since training at Rose-Hulman, the Colts have been one of the NFL's most successful teams, winning one Super Bowl, five straight AFC South Division championships and a 63-18 overall record during the past five seasons. Since 1999, the Colts have won all but one of their regular season opening games. Over the same period, the team won all but five of the first three games of each season for an overall season-starting record of 22-5.

Parking will be available at Rose-Hulman on a daily basis for $10 per car (not per person). Car pooling is strongly encouraged for fans attending the camp. Concession items will be available for a nominal fee, along with official team merchandise from the Colts' team trailer.

The training camp schedule, along with the special Colts City theme days, is as follows:
* July 24 - Players report (no activity for fans)
* July 25 - 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. (special teams only)/Colts City Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (All-Sports Day I)
* July 26 - 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m./Colts City Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Cheerleader Day/Blue's Birthday)
* July 27 - No Practice
* July 28 - 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m./Colts City Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (All-Sports Day II)
* July 29 - 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. (special teams only)
* July 30 - 8:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m./Colts City Open 4-8 p.m. (Night Practice Party)
* July 31 - 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. (special teams only)
* Aug. 1 - 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m./Colts City Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Kids Day)
* Aug. 2 - 9:30 a.m.
* Aug. 3 - Colts vs. Washington Redskins in Canton, Ohio, 8 p.m.
* Aug. 4 - No Practice
* Aug. 5 - 11 a.m. (special teams only) and 3:30 p.m.
* Aug. 6 - 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
* Aug. 7 - 8:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
* Aug. 8 - 9:30 a.m.
* Aug. 9 - Colts at Carolina Panthers, 7:30 p.m.
* Aug. 10 - No Practice
* Aug. 11 - 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
* Aug. 12 - 8:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
* Aug. 13 - 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. (special teams only)
* Aug. 14 - 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
* Aug. 15 - 9:30 a.m. & Break Camp
Daily information about Colts training camp is available on the Indianapolis Colts Web site at http://www.colts.com/.