The Influence of Peyton Manning In Brining The Super Bowl To Indianapolis

January 26, 2012 - ISBN Frank Sprankle

The pairing of Super Bowl XLVI features of course the New York Giants and the New England Patriots, who four years earlier, entertain and thrilled everybody. The end result had the Giants denying the Patriots a perfect season. That game played at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona marked the first time the Super Bowl became housed in this facility. Now, it's time for Lucas Oil Stadium and the capital of the Hoosier State, Indianapolis, Indiana to showcase sports one day biggest spectacle, a first not just for the stadium but for the city with the nickname, "Circle City."

Only fitting the return match-up of quarterbacks, in Eli Manning of the Giants and Tom Brady of the Patriots dueling for the Vince Lombardi Trophy in off all places, the house that Peyton Manning built. Everyone knows Eli Manning as the younger brother while Tom Brady as the biggest rival for the Colts Manning over the last decade.

And truly Lucas Oil Stadium has become the house that Peyton has built, no questions asked. He has defined the accomplishments of the Indianapolis Colts over the last decade plus. From the time the Colts relocated from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984 to 1997, the year before Manning's arrival, this became an organization that experienced moderate success. In that span, the Colts only achieved postseason advancement three times, including the 1995 AFC Championship Game, won by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But in the time before Manning became a member of the Colts, some lean years marked disappointment. In their first three seasons in Indianapolis, before their 1987 playoff appearance, the Colts averaged a record of 4-12. In 1991, they only went 1-15, two years later they posted a 4-12 showing, while in 1997 displayed a 3-13 record.

1998 would mark the beginning of the era that brought upon Manning, drafted number one overall out of Tennessee while the majority of Colts fans believed that Ryan Leaf, a junior out of Washington State would have better suited the future. As we know, Manning's career has resulted in 11 postseason trips, two Super Bowl appearances, notably winning Super Bowl XLI against the Chicago Bears, and various NFL records set individually. From the 1998 to 2010 seasons, the Colts have posted an averaged record of 11-5. Leaf would exit the NFL by 2003.

Without these accomplishments, Manning has become more than just the Indianapolis Colts; he has become part of Indiana sports culture, added to the likes of the Indianapolis 500 and Bobby Knight coaching for decades at Indiana with three national mens'  basketball championships.

But with Manning help guiding the Colts to NFL elite status it led to the popularity of the team, thus the need for a new stadium. To that effect, Lucas Oil Stadium was constructed and opened for business for the 2008 NFL season, across the street from the previous home of the Colts since moving in 1984, the Hoosier/RCA Dome, located across West South St. on the north end of the road.

Currently, the future for Manning in Indianapolis remains uncertain after missing the entire 2011 season recovering from neck surgery. The result ended in a 2-14 season with the Colts receiving as they did in 1998, the number one draft pick. All of that talk will subside over the next couple of weeks as the attention builds in the direction of Super Bowl XLVI, confined within the walls of a stadium, built by the influence of the Colts decade of dominance, with the elder Manning operating the controls.

Alabama Rolls Tide To National Championship With Memories of Nov. 5 Loss

January 12, 2012 - ISBN Frank Sprankle

The second time around would prove different for Alabama. When they matched-up with LSU in their regular season meeting on Nov. 5 in Tuscaloosa, they missed four field goals, the notable one, a 52-yard attempt in overtime by Cade Foster. Losing 9-6 at home was then; they put it behind them and got ready for the ultimate, the BCS National Championship; No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama.

And for Alabama, they were ready, ready to Roll Tide to a second national championship in three seasons under Nick Saban. On Monday night, they made the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans their own playground, capturing the national championship 21-0 and dominating, especially on defense. The top-ranked defense said "access denied" to LSU's offense when it came to stretching across the midfield strip, a feat that became accomplished only once and that was midway through the fourth quarter. Plus they made Jordan Jefferson feel a sense of uneasiness on the playing field. In his final game for LSU, the senior quarterback only completed 11 of 17 passes but for 53 yards without striking the end zone, he did have one pick. Not to mention, Jefferson had trouble with a couple of snaps during the contest.

Not only did Alabama hoist the crystal football, they did so in returning the favor. On Nov. 5, Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa became the site as witness by 101,821, a partisan Alabama crowd, in which field goals tailed all the points, but in the end LSU prevailed to tops of the BCS. Now take New Orleans, only an 80-mile drive to the southeast of the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, and one can expect the majority of the 78,237 fans in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to show their loyalty to the purple and gold. For Alabama, no better way to even-up the score with LSU then by capturing the national championship in their backyard. Perhaps only fitting, the lone touchdown of the game marked the last score, a 34-yard sprint by Heisman Trophy finalist, junior running back Trent Richardson.

For Saban, he has received the crystal football a third time as head coach, his second with Alabama. But ironic that he captured this feat against the school that he guided to the 2003 national championship and in the same stadium. On Jan. 4, 2004, LSU's 21-14 Sugar Bowl victory over Oklahoma in the Superdome, paved the way for Saban to earn the title "National Champion Head Coach."

For the 14^th time, Alabama claims the National Championship and stands tall on college football's mountaintop. What started in 1925 with a Rose Bowl victory over Washington with Wallace Wade as head coach, carried over to the era of Paul "Bear" Bryant, has continued into two championships in the early portion of the 21^st century. Not bad for Nick Saban.

Memories of Sports In 2011

December 28, 2011 - ISBN Frank Sprankle

As 2011 draws to the brink of ending a 12-month period full of moments that translated into memories, the time has come to reflect on what the year meant in terms of the sports scene. Granted there were stories that delighted one and all, edged in memory long after this year has ticked its final second with the ball dropping on Times Square in New York City.

For starters, Cam Newton demonstrated a year of progression. On Jan. 10, he embarked on playing in the BCS National Championship Game in Glendale in helping guide Auburn pass Oregon 22-19. He would enter the NFL draft where the Carolina Panthers would select Newton with the number one pick overall. In 2011, Newton has stood out with record setting performances that will be viewed upon when the Rookie of the Year is announced.

Also in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers became the third team to win three road playoff games and claim the trophy named for their legendary coach of the 1960s. The Packers went on the defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 at the Cowboys Stadium and have made a strong regular season statement in repeating as champions. The Packers went 13-0 until a Week 15 loss at Kansas City. Maybe not undefeated, but the question is, upon looking back at the next year, will there be the discussion of a team repeating as Super Bowl champs? Just wait awhile and find out.

In the NBA, the Dallas Mavericks prevailed in the NBA Finals over the much anticipated team in the league that year, the Miami Heat. The Big Three of Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh however could not live to the hype of a title squad. The Mavericks pulled it off, claiming the championship in a six-game series, thus Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd got to the top of the mountain after a long time coming.

The St. Louis Cardinals sent Tony LaRussa into retirement with his third World Series ring, the second in six seasons that he guided the team from the Gateway City to Fall Classic glory. Of course, the series that went seven games will have the Game 6 edged in memory with the Texas Rangers just one strike away from claiming the World Series in the 9^th and 10^th innings. Who will forget, David Freeze tying the game in the ninth inning with a two-run RBI triple and then unlocking Game 7 with a solo homerun in the bottom of the 11^th. The boy from St. Louis claimed the MVP of the series as he help his hometown team to what appeared to be an improbable championship.

Not only did LaRussa depart St. Louis a World Series winner, so too did Albert Pujols, who found his 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  After winning the World Series, and slugging three homers in Game 3 alone, Pujols ended-up leaving the Gateway of the West for the southern part of the west coast, signing with the Angles for $254 million.

Then there were a couple of milestones in 2011. On July 9, Derek Jeter became the first Yankee to achieve the 3,000 hit mark, accomplishing this on of all hits a homerun, while Drew Brees on Dec. 26 surpassed Dan Marino's single season passing mark set in 1984 in a 45-16 Saints win over the Falcons. Both milestones for Jeter and Brees came in front of their respective home crowds.

Then of courses comes the allegations of Jerry Sandusky as everyone knows. The former Penn State football assistant faces multiple counts of child molestation charges, but that's part of the story. What it led to was the dismissal of personal at Penn State, notably Joe Paterno. The firing of Paterno in November set off some rebellion as students took to the streets to express their disapproval, damaging vehicles. The charges and the saga surrounding Sandusky and for that matter Penn State will continue into the new year.

But on a bright side, 2011 might have marked a year of lockouts in both the NFL and NBA, but both sides in both leagues managed to work out their differences and put together respective seasons. The NFL only loss the Hall of Fame Game, while the NBA constructed a 66-game season after almost two full months of the 2011-12 season cancelled. Not bad at all, considering that some had doubts of both leagues either starting the season on time or not playing at all.

As 2012 dawns, more memories will be made as to why everyone is a fan and must become witness. But may 2012 bring the best for everyone and good health to all.