The answer to that question really starts on Saturday night as the Texans have a chance to make the Sunday game against the Jaguars, only important to the Jaguars. Should the Texans lose, only being inferior to the Jags should be the reason for a Colts loss. The Colts would again hold their destiny in their own hands and be two wins from an improbable return to the playoffs. There could be a lot of on the field reasons that the Colts lose, but lack of effort should not be one of them.
Why has it been so long since I have returned to Lucas Oil Stadium? In a nutshell, my disposable income vanished when my employer closed the doors and moved the manufacturing and assembly operations to Mexico and China in 2009. I had season tickets for 26 years, so I tried to sell enough tickets during the 2010 season to be able to offset the costs, but I found the Stub Hub process aggravating. I would not know if I had the seats sold and would have to leave for the game from Muncie, by 11:30 to make kickoff. If I hadn’t received word that I had a sale, I had to go to the game or drop the price low enough that I lost money on the tickets.
It paid off to keep the tickets, as I was able to make the home playoff game against the Jets, my last game (Thus, the Ryan photo). Our freaking kickoff coverage made sure that was the last game of the season. Anyway, we all know that the following season was Manning-less and sort of pointless for me to try to sell tickets to games with Painter as QB1. I could have gone to some of the Luck-led games, but it was still an expense that I found hard to justify. I moved to Southeastern North Carolina in 2015.
I found out just before making my way “Back home again in Indiana” for Christmas, that my Step Mother had won two tickets. When they were offered to me, it seemed like a really good idea at the time and my wife and I decided to extend our stay for an extra day to make it happen. This was before the loss to the Niners, which might have affected that decision. Anyway, it should at least be nostalgic, seeing the changes and maybe even cruising by my old section (152), to see if anyone that I may have used to high five with, are still season ticket holders.
I have to share an Old Fart story. My season tickets came each year on two sheets, which allowed me to tear off the tickets for the game I was attending. To attend Sunday’s game, I have to access the tickets from a phone. I understand that for 98% of the U.S., this is common practice. For me and my flip phone, it is not. So my 91 year old dad has an Android for emergency purposes that my sister was able to load the app for Ticketmaster on. I hope you don’t end up behind me as I am redeeming the tickets, as I am still not 100% sure that I can seamlessly complete the transaction.
I’m hoping for a chance to test the old pipes on defense and help force a turnover or two, but I fear it could be a half-hearted crowed, rooting on a half-hearted team. I’ve pretty well made up my mind that we should change our HC and GM, but a lifeless effort in a game that still mattered, would certainly cement that thought. I don’t think I could bring myself to boo during my first trip in 15 years, but I could see myself with an early exit, if the game started taking on the same look as last Monday night’s game.
My seats are in section 243, row 11, seats 23 and 24. Stop by and say hey if you are nearby. Let me know if you have liked or disliked anything that I have written, or if you have thoughts on what you’d like to see written about in the future. In the past, I would have suggested that you bring a Bud or Bud Light with you, but I don’t have the game I once had. Hope to see you there!
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