Lucas Oil Stadium

Beginning with this upcoming season, the Big Ten Conference will stage their own championship game in Indianapolis. It will be their first and it is a result of the added 12th team with Nebraska. During the recent Big Ten Video Meetings, the coordinators were allowed to take a tour of Indy's newest facility that also hosts the NFL's Colts.

 

 There are many unknowns for the conference as they get into the championship game business. Indianapolis has been a great host for the Big Ten as the city has hosted the conference's basketball tournaments for both the men and women. And not only has Indianapolis been the host for its conference tournaments, but it has also had the opportunity to host the NCAA basketball championships.

While the conference is still working on many of the details, one of the teams will use the host Colts locker room. It is among the nicest in the NFL, and is only used for the season home games by the team. The other locker room is just as nice, but not as flashy giving teams more than ample space to dress and meet. The Colts locker room has a separate team meeting room adjacent to its locker room, an addition not found in many current stadiums. (And no, we did not find out which locker belonged to Peyton, Dallas or Angerer).

Space is not an issue in Lucas Oil Stadium. This is the home team's training room, and is the size of many day to day training facilities. The advantage of utilizing the Colts game day facility is the proximity to the playing field. Built in mind with a 12 minute half time, it was important to give the Colts as much time as possible during the break.

Set up for the NFL combine, this convention area located underneath the end zone bleachers is used as a staging area for concerts as well as meeting space adjacent to the Indy Convention Center. When Lucas Oil is transformed into an arena for concerts, this area houses the artist's tour bus providing quick access to the stage.

This is one of two booths where the Hawkeye Radio Network will broadcast the game from. This is the visiting radio booth, which sits adjacent to the visiting coaches booth and video platform. There is no level higher in Lucas Oil and it is on this level that also is the home to the print media.

Although there are no night games in the Big Ten after October 31st, the championship game may appear on the Fox Network in prime time. Also slated for Fox on Championship Saturday are the Conference USA and Pac 12 title games.

Fox Sports in Iowa City

The 2010 Orange Bowl will be played on FOX, the last BCS game on the network before handing the contract over to ESPN. In preparation for the game against Georgia Tech Fox Sports sent a crew to Iowa City to record spots to be used during the game. From set up to tear down, the assembled crew from throughout the USA spent an entire day, recording hours of footage in which only minutes will be used.

Pat Angerer was one of many spotlighted.
Dace took his turn in front of the cameras. One question he was asked dealt with the Iowa fanbase and their large support.

From Fox Sports, Jennifer (near) is on her third year recording BCS teams. In 2007 she visited Lawrence, Kansas and a year ago travelled to Salt Lake City to spend time with the Utah Utes. Both Kansas and Utah won their game. Jennifer ensured us her two teams went on to win their bowl game.

Pat Angerer was asked about his favorite MMA moves, but declined to demonstrate any of them on camera. However he did speak of his hobby, bowling. Look for a line during the game in which he talks about playing it in his "spare" time.

Iowa Quarterback Ricky Stanzi fielded questions as well as repeating staged lines. The process was tedious and time consuming. All athletes were asked to speak their parts multiple times from different, marked out places within the room. Look for Ricky's line about the Happy Hawkeye Polka Song. Sports Information Director Phil Haddy and I thought they were referring to the Hokey Pokey.

The final interview of the day belonged to Head Coach, Kirk Ferentz. His part was more Q&A rather than staged material.

Ferentz spoke of the entire season, but among his highlights from the year were the blocked kicks against Northern Iowa.

As I said earlier, the Fox crew recorded many segments, but only a few will make the cutting room floor. A similar crew headed to Atlanta to do the same with the Yellow Jackets. This crew, except for Jennifer will travel to Boise, Idaho and shoot the Broncos for their Fiesta Bowl match-up.

Panthers at Lightning

One of the team activities is taking in a Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Match. Tonight the Lightning took on the Florida Panthers in the "Blue Cross and Blue Shield Florida Blue Cup." Blue Cross and Blue Shield sponsored a Steven Stamkos (Lightning player) figurine to all who attended the night's game. Stamkos scored the first goal en route to a 6 - 4 Lightning win.

Pre Game entertainment outside the St. Pete Times Forum


Not sure we were supposed to be on the loge level, but we made it there and had dinner on comfortable couches.

Having cheerleaders at Hockey matches is a bad idea. If interested, let me know and I'll blog on that at a later time.

Iowa linebacker Pat Angerer being interviewed at the first intermission by Jared Ahrens of KGAN Channel 2 in Cedar Rapids.