Next season could be amazing.
Indianapolis Colts fans can legitimately utter that declaration today. Last spring, not even the most optimistic Indy backers could have imagined their 2012 NFL season would produce hopes of an AFC South Division title, a Super Bowl berth, or — dare we suggest it — another Lombardi Trophy in the coming 2013 campaign. Such aspirations are now quite valid.
For those needing reminders of the adversities overcome by the Colts in the past 10 months, we’ll briefly recap the high points.
n The club chose to release Peyton Manning, the franchise cornerstone and maybe the best NFL quarterback ever, rather than pay a $28 million signing bonus to a 36-year-old healing from a career-threatening neck injury. (Manning, of course, recovered superbly and has led the Denver Broncos to the top seed in the conference playoffs, but that is now beside the point for the Colts.)
n The Colts also turned loose numerous well-known, standout veterans, and unloaded front-office mastermind Bill Polian and head coach Jim Caldwell following a disastrous 2-14 season in 2011.
n After retooling virtually the entire operation, from the offensive and defensive lineups to the coaching staff, the Colts lost their new head coach — Chuck Pagano — less than a month into the 2012 season. Diagnosed with leukemia, the 52-year-old Pagano was hospitalized and began rigorous treatments to save his life. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians stepped in as interim head coach.
Any one of those obstacles would be burdensome enough to unravel the toughest of teams. After all, just one season earlier, the loss of Manning to his neck injury turned Indianapolis from a Super Bowl threat into the least effective team in the league. And yet, the “renovated” 2012 Colts, as Pagano always put it, found success and played with inspiration. They finished the regular season with a sterling 11-5 record. When Indy lost at Baltimore in the AFC playoffs on Sunday, 28 of the 53 players on their active roster had never played a postseason NFL game, and 14 were rookies, including Manning’s replacement, Andrew Luck. With his treatments completed just weeks earlier, Pagano was back on the sidelines Sunday, pushing to the brink his doctors’ orders to take it easy, and strengthening the spirits of millions of Americans who’ve admired his courage.
More personnel changes will come in the offseason. The loss to the Ravens revealed some shortcomings, as Baltimore pass rushers swarmed Luck all afternoon, and the Indianapolis defense got stung by several big-yardage pass plays. Still, the core is solid.
Pagano painted the picture this way …
“The foundation is set, and we said we were going to build one on rock and not on sand,” he said. “You weather storms like this and you learn from times like this. This disappointment and the feelings they all have right now, that’s what’s going to propel us to 2013 and motivate us to come back and work even harder.”
We agree. Well done, coaches Pagano and Arians, staff and players.
Opinion
EDITORIAL: Foundation for future in Indy
Colts provide a real Hoosier inspiration
- Opinion
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RONN MOTT: Why Syria?
Russia is making a lot of noise in favor of Syria. They are supplying Assad’s army with more armaments and basic things such as ammunition and such.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Another beloved dog goes to heaven
We are short one granddog. This past week, “Indy” could no longer use her back legs and she went to that great dog kennel in the hereafter.
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READERS’ FORUM: June 18, 2013
• Beware those who follow Ayn Rand
• Poor excuse for gas price hikes
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MAX JONES: For loyal readers, a bit of news from the T-S newsroom
As journalists toiling to create a content-rich, relevant and compelling community newspaper each day, we feel a special bond with our legions of readers across the Wabash Valley and beyond.
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GUEST COLUMN: One Million Bones exhibit meant to raise awareness, inspire action to end genocide
The National Mall: A grassy corridor in Washington, D.C., lined with America’s greatest museums and monuments.
Ending at the U.S. Capitol building, it is a symbol of our belief in the power and greatness of America. Last weekend, we turned it into a mass grave.
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EDITORIAL: Insisting on ISTEP quality lawmakers’ primary duty
Now that everyone, on both sides of the aisle, seems backslappingly happy to agree that this spring’s ISTEP school testing debacle was unacceptable, that at least some of the results lack credibility and that the issue carries high-stakes significance, what next?
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The Obama Debate: Is he a liar or incompetent?
I read the letters on the opinion page daily and I find an unusual silence from your liberal progressive contributors lately. Could it be because they don’t have anything to expound upon? Well, maybe I can give them some material.
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A Fathers Day Tribute: Transition — from child to father
Transition seems like a big word to use as his story unfolds. Transition was probably never used in conjunction with speech, his speech, but it demonstrates his life, as it does in many lives lived in his generation.
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READERS' FORUM: June 16, 2013
Horrible crime cries out for stern justice
Confused about groups’ merger
Global warming fraud exposed
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The Obama Debate: President has served us well
I have not heard a positive thing by those in this area about this president since his 2008 election and 2009 inauguration. Why this manifestation, I just can’t understand.
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RONN MOTT: Not hurried a bit by 21st century tech
Unlike so many of you, I do not get up in the morning and run to turn on my computer. In fact, if you need to reach me in a hurry, I would say that 19th century invention of Alexander Bell’s would be the best way. If you do email me or use some other electronic convenience, better give it a couple of days because I am not in that big of a hurry.
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READERS' FORUM: June 15, 2013
America needs another hero
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EDITORIAL: And now we wait for justice
It is a word we would rather never have on our front page — homicide. That we had to use it twice on Wednesday’s front page is sad, but unavoidable.
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READERS' FORUM: June 14, 2013
Mott statements contradict history
Display the flag
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RONN MOTT: Kill the Umpire!
I don’t know who appointed Major League Baseball’s umpires “Gods,” but if they have been appointed “Gods,” they have appointed people who cannot see or think very well.
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READERS' FORUM: June 13, 2013
Bad odor from gas prices
Build personal library
Morning after? No worries
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EDITORIAL: Remembering Sister Jeanne
Terre Haute is mourning the loss this week of an accomplished and beloved community activist and leader whose life’s work is an inspiration to all who strive to serve.
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EDITORIAL: Embrace the value of traffic planning
Never underestimate the value of a good plan to deal with a crisis, large or small, even if the final analysis of the management of a specific crisis is, “It could have been worse.”
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READERS' FORUM: June 12, 2013
Like it or not, change coming
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RONN MOTT: What’s happening?
I know I may have looked at these situations differently when I was in my twenties. The world, my life, my career, and the growth of my family all lay ahead of me. So perhaps now, many years later, I see it differently.
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READERS’ FORUM: June 11, 2013
• Great support for local cause
• Another idea on housing issue
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LIZ CIANCONE: Withdrawn society not very social any more
My Best Friend and I went out for lunch the other day. It was a sit-down place with our own “server” (in my day I was called “a waitress”) and everything offering personal attention. The manager even came over to ask if everything was all right.
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READERS’ FORUM: June 10, 2013
• What is the cost of our austerity?
• Vintage campers to gather at rally
• Seek a healthy food alternative
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EDITORIAL: It’s time to assess ISTEP
Later this month, the company behind this spring’s abysmal online administration of ISTEP testing for 27,000 Hoosier schoolchildren is being called to the principal’s office.
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Readers’ Forum: June 9, 2013
• Taking time to help the world
• Reform by politics will not improve education
• Questions from a wondering mind
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FLASHPOINT: Storm chasers must heed warnings, remember why we chase storms
The tragic death of noted weather researcher and former Discovery Channel storm chaser Tim Samaras has shaken all of us in the meteorological community.
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Will you be happy if you win the lottery?
A Psychology Today article titled “What Will You Do if You Win the $550 Million Powerball Lottery?” caught my attention. Helping lottery winners with their money is my long-time gig.
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RONN MOTT: The ‘wilds’ of Collett Park
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EDITORIAL: Fix fraud, don’t punish needy
Waste and fraud in government programs should be rooted out vigilantly. Legislation should fix a problem with a fitting solution, not punish the needy.
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READERS' FORUM: June 7, 2013
Thanks to those who helped VYFL
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