After Three-and-a-Half Weeks in Terre Haute, Colts Break 2008 Training Camp
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The rooms were empty, and the cars were packed.

The whistle blew shortly after 10:30 a.m. at Cook Stadium at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Fans in the stands stood and cheered, and as players and coaches streamed quickly from the field, smiling, it was official.

The Terre Haute portion of 2008 Colts Training Camp was over.

“Another one in the books,” Colts defensive captain and middle linebacker Gary Brackett said after a Friday morning practice.

“I think we did well down here, built some chemistry. We obviously got some guys back healthy. Let’s see what happens this week in Atlanta.”

The Colts, who lost their first two preseason games, traveled on Friday afternoon to Atlanta, where they will play the Falcons in a preseason game at the Georgia Dome Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

According to Rose-Hulman officials, 22,308 fans attended practice the last three-and-a-half weeks, the second-highest total in the 10 seasons the Colts have held camp at the school. On Friday’s final day, the fans in attendance gave the team a standing ovation.

“That’s a little unusual, but it was fun,” Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy said. “I thought we had a good camp, this part of it. Now, we’re into Phase 2, which is to see if we can play a little bit better in the games and go back and get ourselves geared up in Indianapolis.

“But I thought this part of it was very successful.”