Watching The Colts Give It Away
Monday, December 28, 2009 at 7:32PM By Ryan Jenkins
Since Lance is on vacation, I thought I'd keep his blog updated. Unfortunately, I was at the Colts game Sunday. Here's my take on what happened at Lucas Oil Stadium. Let me know your thoughts.
It was my first Colts game of the season, and what a bad one to have paid to see. Late in the third quarter, as I sit in Lucas Oil Stadium, the Colts are up 15-10 against the NY Jets. The game, even though close, seemed to
be an easy victory coming for Indy. The crowd was very into the game and supporting their team, and at this point, we the fans can start to smell the streak of wins continuing.
Then, with 5:36 remaining in the third quarter, Indianapolis takes the field and so does Vincennes-native Curtis Painter. The crowd slowly notices the absence of Peyton Manning on the field, and then the boos rain down. The fans are in shock, some having paid hundreds of dollars to watch their favorite team give up.
It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to watch in person. Worse then watching my favorite baseball team get eliminated from the playoffs. At least they tried to win. Ironically, the one-time Jets Head Coach, Herm Edwards said, “You play to win the game.” We as the fans pay to see them TRY to win the game. Not only were Colts fans denied that satisfaction, because of the decision to take out the starters, but so was the entire country.
Unfair to Painter, the boo birds continued every time he took the field. But let me say as a witness and willing participant, those negative words and sounds were towards Jim Caldwell for the decision he was making. During a TV timeout, a PSA played on the video screens in Lucas Oil with Caldwell as the spokesperson. No one there could have told you what Caldwell said…the booing that ensued when his face appeared on the screen drowned out the message.
Many fans left during the sad display of defense as the Jets kept driving down the field, but in the fourth quarter it was still a close game. The fans who stayed were hopeful Peyton would come back in and save the day, but he didn’t. Then Painter came in and threw an interception. The booing came again, and then there were fewer fans than at a Pop Warner football game.
The word from the Colts’ camp is that a perfect season has never been the plan. Please tell me what team in any sport goes out and says: “We don’t want to win every single game.” It would have been a lot easier to watch if Caldwell had come out and said the starters wouldn’t play in the second half. But before the game, Manning said he intended to play all 4 quarters. The home fans were stunned. The hurt everyone felt is hard to explain, but most fans around explain it as betrayal.
The Jets fans behind me asked: “How can you boo a 14 and 1 team? We wish we had a 14 and 1 team.” I thought about that question, and my best answer is that when your team goes out and loses, they’ve tried with all they have to get a win. But on Sunday the Colts, or should I say Jim Caldwell, forfeited the game.
Reader Comments (2)
Sitting with you at the game I couldn't agree more. You play to win the game. Players are paid to win the game, and most importantly fans pay to see their team win the game. This was a very sad day to be a Colts fan. A very classless way to treat your fans. If Caldwell doesn't set a team goal to go out and win every game then it's time for a change, Super Bowl or not.
I understand the Colts' fans being upset and not having a perfect season. But if the Colts go on to win the Superbowl will they be happy or will they still be upset about that loss to the Jets? Or possibly about a loss this weekend as well. If the team I am cheering for goes on to win a championship but has a couple of losses on the way, then so be it. I would much rather be a fan of a team that wins a championship than a fan of one who has a perfect season and loses the championship (New England Patriots). In response about the fans being entitled to seeing their team win the game I do agree with this. But I don't go to see many professional sporting events because I feel the ticket prices are too extreme in the first place.