When players Curtis Painter and Daniel Muir along with cheerleaders Nicole and Tessa arrived at the fair they didn't go straight up to the stage and begin signing autographs. Instead, they took time to visit with Laura and Earl.
Laura is a dedicated fan, but she can no longer climb the stairs on the stage to get autographs let alone the stairs at Lucas Oil Stadium to see the Colts play because she has Multiple Sclerosis. MS may affect her balance and keep her from the stadium, but it doesn't keep her for watching all the games.
"I'm a huge Colts fan. I may have grown up in Packer territory but when I moved down here I became a Colts fan," Laura said. "I guess I'm just a football girl."
Laura and Earl were trilled to meet Painter and Muir and take in all the MIP Tour had to offer.
"The colts have a perfect reputation," she said. "They are outstanding citizens in the community and that means a lot to us, the fans."
Painter and Muir were just as excited to meet Laura and all of the fans in attendance.
"It is such a great opportunity for us to get out and meet people," Painter, who accounted for 80 touchdowns in his four years as a Purdue Boilermaker, said. "We see everyone on Sundays at the games but don't get a chance to interact with them. It is great to spend time outside of football and get to meet some of the people that are so dedicated to cheering us on."
One of those fans cheering on Painter and the Colts every Sunday from the first row in Lucas Oil Stadium is Duke.
"This is very enjoyable," Duke said of the MIP Tour. "This gets the players out here to the people and also brings fans closer to the players which, in turn, generates a lot of excitement around the team."
Duke, Laura, Earl and all the fans in attendance got to enjoy all the elements of the MIP Tour from the 42-foot traveling museum to the sponsor tents, rock wall and inflatables.
The Tour returns to the road July 15 with a trip to the Kosciusko County Fair followed by an appearance at the North/South All-Star game at North Central High School on July 16.
For more information on the tour click on the Fanzone tab above or head to mycolts.net to check out my (MIPInternCJ) blog from the road.
