Colts camp in Franklin draws a crowd

FRANKLIN, Ind. (WISH) - Not often football takes center stage in early June. But the Indianapolis Colts took a bit of a road trip in the middle of their mini-camp Saturday after weeks of pre-season workouts and a day of practice at the team complex.

The Colts boarded buses and drove 38 miles south to show off a new look to the public for the first time at Franklin College. The Division Three school added bleachers and sold all 5,000 tickets.

Even though the Colts were just practicing it was the main event in Franklin where blue and white filled the Franklin College's Red Faught Stadium instead of the Grizzlies' navy blue and gold.

Fans got a chance to see the players up close and personal.

Donna Burke brought her binoculars so she wouldn't miss a moment of the action.

"Now he's sweating. He's wiping off his sweat," Burke said.

Some fans, like Sandy Linneman, have never even been to Colts game or had a chance to see the players in person.

"I think it's nice that people that can't afford to go," Linneman said. "We watched them get off the bus. We (were) as far from here to that. We could have touched them. But there was a little yellow rope there saying we couldn't."

Some people traveled hundreds of miles to see the Colts practice but for some Franklin residents. It's right in their back yard.

"I don't think too many people can say they've had the Colts in their backyard. It's definitely a unique experience," said Franklin resident Mark Brandt. "This is the most people I've seen here for 12 years. It's pretty crazy."

Brandt lives right across the street from the stadium. He was a bit awe struck by some of the players.

"I always like seeing Bob Sanders, he really hurts people. He's a very large scary man. I got some pictures of him over there," Brandt said.

But this practice session also let fans assess the upcoming season to see if the Colts can make it back to the Super Bowl.

"With all the changes. I'm really waiting to see what is going to happen. They've got the talent, they've got the team. They can go all the way. When you've got challenges you never know what to expect," said Colts fan Gary Service.

Saturday's session marks only the second time the Colts have taken a mini-camp practice away from their Indianapolis facility.