Firstdownguy,Eric(Bartender) and Tony Payne all tailgated in the South Lot which was open on a "first come,first serve basis". We began discussion of starting a fan club to rival the high end and expensive Thundering Herd. In that time frame Randy Collins stopped by my house in Fortville as a stranger when I was painting up my Colts van and introduced himself. I invited Randy to join Eric,Tony and myself in our tailgate. I set about helping Randy w/ his first Colts vehicle(a van) and we all continued discussing the formation of the fan club w/ Randy now included. We decided to invite others along the South Lot front row in as well. We formed a small group and held the first Blue Crew meeting on a Saturday at a bar down by either Union Station or Pan Am Plaza,not positive which. That group was made up of myself & wife,Randy(Prez) & wife,Eric(Bartender) & wife, Tony and wife,Dan(Original Web Dude and wife,the older couple from the corner spot(Pat Cole & wife I believe),"Bob Guy" and "Tammy Girl", the Tilleys and I think that is it. Original Web Dude may recall others? We took pictures of the meeting(Eric-"Bartender" still has them),discussed ideas,officially formed the club with a check made out to the club and set about soliciting signatures in the South Lot to recruit members. We quickly gained support as our battle cry was one of: "a fan club for Colts fans who tailgated,a fan club FOR Colts fans and ALL about Colts fans",not anyones personal interests. We made our intentions known to the Colts and the core founders: myself, Randy, Eric and Tony were invited and met w/ Zup and Ray Compton at the Colts Complex to inform them of our plans and to ask for support.We were all presented w/ autographed Peyton Manning Jerseys. The Colts allowed us to use their events(choose your seat day at the Dome,season tix pick-up day at the complex,etc...) as membership recruiting
points and the club continued to blossom.We also made ourselves available and were often called upon to bring members to media ploys by Compton and Zup to drum up ticket sales and other things.Anyone here take part in that commercial made in the South Lot w/ Irsays helicopter? I showed up w/ my van and got to sit in the helicopter but split before the commercial shot. They were throwing hot dogs out of the helicopter and we were all supposed to be scrambling to catch them. I quickly foresaw way too many jokes and ribbing coming from friends and family,so we left,it was juusttt a little cheesy. Original Web Dude started a web Site,Eric(Bartender)started bringing down a full bar which was used as a mobile headquarters for Blue Crew tailgates and is how he got his nickname.We began group fan club events such as attending away games at each others homes,organized road trips for away games(this needs to return),training camp day,the first allnighter(an absolute blast w/ very few present),later the "Rally around 465",purchasing Colts gear and throwing it to members/fans in the South Lot off randys RV(now Meanies & Crew) (NOW DEAD) before games,tossing out 1stDownGuy/Blue Crew T-shirts to the crowd in and around section 317 during games,etc....One particular Blue Crew "event" that took place was Randy spending the night in a port-o-let oustide of Sahms on 96th in Fishers to coincide w/ a ticket sales drive the Colts were doing. I stayed up all night keeping Randy company(outside the port-o-let thank you) and making up stupid songs w/ my guitar."Strange days indeed, most peculiar momma". Since those early days many have contibuted to the club and I hope too see it continue to evolve.The lean years which are sure to come will be the real first test. Considering that when we started this club we were 3-13, I think it will continue on just fine . Dan(Coltsdude): I still have all the original petition signatures that I walkedaround and collected about the bogus parking deal we got when construction at the Dome forced the Colts to move Suite holders and media over to our spots.That was in 1999 and really made us all mad. I also still have the Star articles that quoted myself,the Fricks,Casey McIntire,Matt McDermand and others about the old South Lot situation which helped lead to the formation of "Tailgate Alley" by the Colts which is where you were always set up. We were pro-active in supporting the Colts but also in getting things done for our fellow tailgators. We would have fit right in during the Woodstock era.
