Tom James
Tribune-Star Correspondent
INDIANAPOLIS —
The Indianapolis Colts have yet to make an official announcement concerning the site of the team’s summer training camp. It appears, however, that a decision could be coming rather quickly.
There were indications Tuesday afternoon that the team would be moving back to Anderson University, which initially hosted the camp from 1984 to 1998. Players are slated to report for training camp on Aug. 1.
Indianapolis radio station WFNI 1070 AM reported that the Colts would be making an announcement about the camp’s future site sometime this week. There was also unconfirmed speculation from other sources that the team would be making an announcement Thursday in Anderson.
An agreement with corporate sponsor Tire Barn, an Anderson-based automobile tire retail sales company, is also reportedly part of the deal.
There hasn’t been any confirmation from the Colts or representatives from Anderson University on a potential move. Craig Kelley, Indianapolis’ vice president of public relations, said Tuesday morning that the team had hoped to announce the camp’s eventual location soon.
When asked later in the day about a possible move back to Anderson, Kelley replied via e-mail that he had not heard the radio reports and that he would have nothing to say beyond his earlier comments.
Chris Williams, Anderson University’s director of communications, said in an e-mail Tuesday evening that the school has not received any confirmation regarding a possible move by the Colts. Williams referred all questions to Kelley.
There have been rumors over the past several weeks that the defending AFC champions were contemplating leaving Rose-Hulman, which has been home to the Colts’ preseason workouts since 1999.
The delay in determining where training camp will be has not slowed second-year head coach Jim Caldwell, though. Caldwell acknowledged Tuesday that his preseason practice plan won’t change much.
“Our schedule will be the same regardless of where [training camp] is located,” he said.
