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Sarah Wegener and her son Cayden arrived at the Marsh Supermarket parking lot at 4:20 p.m. Wednesday and were the first ones in line for a chance to meet Indianapolis Colts players David Thornton and Troy Walters.
The two players helped kick off the first of a 20-city tour from the Colts called, "Make It Personal" that took place from 5 to 7 p.m.
Tom Zupancic, the Colts' Senior Vice President of Business Development, said the goal of the campaign is to "make the 2005 season personal from the ticket office to player outreach."
And Warsaw played a gracious first host.
"We're very happy with the turnout," said Chris Owens from Colts team radio and the event's master of ceremonies. "We're happy with the weather and the atmosphere. We couldn't ask for anything more."
Thornton and Walters signed everything from hats to t-shirts to patio bricks.
"It's awesome," said Walters of the stop in Warsaw. "It's a way we can show our appreciation for the fans and ask for their continued support because that's what we need from them."
There were the requisite line-cutters, crying babies and grown men in face paint and hard hats at the event and more than 300 fans waited in line for a chance to meet Thornton and Walters.
The event backed up traffic on S. Buffalo St and put the traffic in and around the Marsh parking lot at a virtual stand still.
As disposable and cell phone cameras took pictures of the affable Thornton and Walters, Owens was impressed not only by the turnout but also by the level of Colt fandom in Warsaw.
"20 years ago, we wouldn't have had this type of crowd here because this was mainly (Chicago) Bears country. Now it's exciting to see a fan base being built in the northern part of the state," said Owens.
The event also had a tour bus set up with various memorabilia and games for kids. Calendars and Colts yearbooks were given away (after completion of a credit card application) and a pair of Colts season tickets for the 2005-2006 campaign was raffled away.
And what do Thornton and Walters think about the upcoming season?
"I think this is going to be the year," said the wide receiver Walters. "We've improved on defense and as long as we keep doing what we did offensively we'll be good."
Thornton, a linebacker who may emerge as a rising star on a young Colts defense, feels his side of the ball will be improved from last year.
"We made some pretty good moves in the draft and some of the younger guys on defense will have another year of experience so we feel confident we can do some good things on defense this year," said Thornton.
