Ok… I must admit I was so surprised to see that this week’s Colts playoff game against San Diego is on Saturday night opposed to Sunday afternoon. I thought since San Diego played last Sunday night against Denver. I was confident the NFL would do the right thing: Give Indy a full week to prepare since they have to travel cross country for the game… and San Diego was the last game on Sunday. Instead, it’s another short week for the Colts, but this week is a little different, everything is on the line.

The Colts will arrive in San Diego on Friday afternoon… and ready to play football 24 hours later. I did hear from some folks from the Colts organization prior to Sunday’s game against the Titans that there was a good chance the Colts would play on Saturday… and that would be the case. I know it’s a primetime game and big for the NFL, but to have to travel cross country and you don’t even get a full week to prepare is pretty sad.

But you know Tony Dungy, and the team won’t make any excuses… hey… “it is what it is”… and GREAT teams work through adversity. No doubt going to California on a short week can be a pain…but based on this year’s schedule… it’s one I think they are use too.

If there are any doubts about Brad Stevens being a one-hit wonder with Todd Lickliter’s players from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, please think AGAIN! Stevens has taken a Butler team that many thought wouldn’t do much and has them 10-1 on the season, 2-0 in Horizon League play. Not to mention a huge win Tuesday night at Xavier!

The Dogs beat 14th ranked Xavier on their home court. Prior to the game, the X-Men had won 15-straight home games. Stevens has a great offense and his team plays outstanding defense. But the best part about his ball club is that they play great TEAM BALL!

Case in point: Four players scored in double figures and all but one player that played on Tuesday night scored at least a point. Butler fans should feel good, Stevens has this team playing some great basketball and there’s no doubt his players love playing for him!

RCA Dome….what great memories that building gave me over the years. When I was an high school student from Evansville. I would come up for Circle City Classic games….and now working for WISH-TV…Boy I have witness some great moments at the dome.

The one thing that I loved most about the Dome was the size of it. It had such an “Indiana” feel to it. Not too big and not to small….just right.

I could go down a list of some of my favorite moments at the RCA Dome…but I think ONE will do. It happened in 2006!

When the Colts made the biggest comeback in AFC Playoff history and beat New England to advance to the Superbowl! Thanks dome for all the great moments!

It has been such a pleasure watching Pacers forward Danny Granger grow over the years. He is NOW the face of the Pacers organization and he is delivering.

Granger is averaging over 24 points a game, which ranks him in the top 10 in scoring in the NBA. But he is a total team player on the court as well. He’s not afraid to give the ball up if a teammate is in position to score.

Wednesday night he scored 41 points and had 11 rebounds against Golden State. But the place where he maybe scoring the most points is off the court. Granger continues to give back to the community and has been a class act for the organization while getting the job done on the court.

Granger: Congrats, you’re making yourself and your boss, Larry Bird, look very good.

A win today against Detroit for Tony Dungy and the Colts will give Coach at least 10 wins or more every season here in Indy. I think if you asked any NFL coach they will tell you…that streak is VERY impressive. It’s one thing to win 12 games one season and come back 8-8 another….but 10 wins or more every year? Dungy has a lot of people to thank.

1. Mr. Irsay for bringing him to Indy to coach players like Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Dallas Clark, Bob Sanders, etc…(let’s just say the TALENT was there!)
2. Bill Polian for really going out and getting the players Dungy needed to be successful.
3. Himself:  Dungy’s ability to have theses players buy into what he preaches and carry it over onto the field speaks volumes on how these players feel about him.

I must admit, I thought his streak of six straight years of 10 plus wins here in Indy was in jeopardy in mid October, but what a difference a month can make….a.k.a. NOVEMBER.

Dungy, should get his 10th win of the season later today against the pitiful Lions…but one of the biggest streaks for Coach Dungy could be just down the road. When the Colts make the playoffs.  Dungy,  will become the first coach to guide a team to the postseason 10 straight years…passing Former Cowboys Coach Tom Landry.

Dungy 10 wins again? Yep.

It’s been the talk of the college football season for years and NOW it’s time for a playoff/tournament in Division I football. No, my colleague Chris Wildic didn’t encourage me to write this because his alma mater Texas was left out of the championship game this year. But it’s just time. I am so tired of not knowing who the best team REALLY is at the end of the season.

President-elect Barack Obama said it best: There’s nothing like the FINAL FOUR in basketball. Can you imagine the excitement if there were a playoff in college football?

When you look at this season, do you really think Florida can beat Texas? Do you really think Oklahoma can beat USC? A playoff would answer most of those questions.

Presidents at these universities need to do what’s right and get a playoff in college football. If you think people are talking about the BCS now, imagine what the talk would be when there is an eight-team playoff!

Colts fans are so used to seeing the Colts playing at home during the playoffs but the chances of that happening are VERY slim. If the Colts make the playoffs they will be either the 5th or 6th seed (most likely the 5th seed). If they are the 5th seed, the only way Indy could host a game is if they made it to the AFC Championship game and the 6th seed pulled off two big upsets to get there too — don’t put your money on that happening.

But don’t fret Colts fans. I really believe the Colts play better on the road during the playoffs. Who can forget in 2006 how the Colts got the wildcard and had to go on the road to Baltimore after winning their first round game against Kansas City at the RCA Dome?

I think not having the bye week is going to help this team too. This offense is based on timing and rhythm and having a week off has proven over the years during the playoffs not to be good for the Colts.

Remember 2005? A home lost to Pittsburgh. And then there was last year’s home loss to San Diego.

But Tony Dungy said it best the other day it’s not about what seed you get, it’s all about getting in the post season and taking it one game at a time. If the Colts continue this hot streak they will be in playoffs and their play on the field, away or home, will dictate if the Colts will be making another trip to the Super Bowl.

The Colts have never started the season 0-2 under Colts head Coach Tony Dungy. But if they don’t deliver on both sides of the ball on Sunday against the Vikings they will be winless on the season!

What a disappointing performance on Sunday against the Bears. But you would have to think that Peyton is going to do whatever it takes to make sure they leave Minnesota with a win. Rumor has it  that their was a team meeting on Monday and let’s just say the message was sent: “We better get serious about this season!”

Meeting or no meeting, one thing is for sure: Tom Brady’s injury and the Chargers and Titans losing key players has set up a great opportunity for the Colts to start to own the conference. The Colts can take their first step on Sunday.

Peyton Manning practicing today is exactly what the Colts and their fans have been dying to see. You know it had to drive Manning crazy not being able to practice at all in the preseason.  Now the next question is will he be ready for the Bears?

Coach Tony Dungy said today that he thinks Manning will be ready for week one. I must admit I was hearing a lot of things a couple of weeks ago about how Peyton may be out for the first two games, etc…you know all the “crazy” rumors, but there’s no stopping Mr. Manning. I really believe he will get back to mid-season form in time for the Bears and as far as his connection with Marvin, Reggie and Dallas: Colts fans don’t worry. Peyton will make sure they work overtime in practice to get it right. Peyton, welcome back…Colts fans and Dungy have been waiting to say that for almost two months.

I had the opportunity to visit the new Lucas Oil Stadium today and all I can say is “incredible”.

What a site it’s going to be for Colts games, major sporting events and especially the 2012 Super Bowl! This building leaves you speechless when you walk inside it from the dynamic big screen scoreboards to the retractable roof. Colts fans are going to have a ball watching these games.  The stage is set for Dungy, Peyton, and the Colts to bring home another Super Bowl title!