Hounds invade Lucas Oil Stadium

The Greyhound football team practiced at Lucas Oil Stadium Tuesday in an event hosted by the UIndy Alumni Association. Indy the Greyhound was there and provides this brief diary of the day's happenings:

3:04 p.m.- Coaches begin arriving at the Stadium in preparation for the practice session. The entire stadium belongs to the University of Indianapolis at this point, with the logos on the Stadium's scoreboard and ribbon board that hangs on the facade of the first deck.

3:30 p.m.- Team buses arrive with the players being ushered right into the stadium and down onto the field. While the temptation exists to gawk and take a peek around, the team is focused on the task at hand, prepping for Saturday's game against Ferris State.

3:54 p.m.- Fans and alums pile into the building to get a glimpse of the team practicing and walk around the facility. The Alumni Association has blocked off the Quarterback Club Suite behind the endzone, where it will entertain folks with great food, fellowship and visits from the Greyhound Athletics staff, cheerleaders and, of course, the mascot.

4:00 p.m.- Practice is underway. On the JumbroTron is the television broadcast replay of the Homecoming game with Northwood. It's currently 23-6 Northwood. Boo. I've got a hunch things will turn around, however.

4:24 p.m.- Great eats in the Suite as they watch the team run through drills.

4:31 p.m.- Craig Jenkins just dragged the entire Northwood defense with him en route to the endzone (sorry, watching the big screen again).

4:35 p.m.- President Dr. Pitts and her husband, Bill, are on hand to watch the festivities.

4:54 p.m.- Lance Lasker hits Matt Michuda with a 1-yd. pass and the crowd erupts!... ok, so it's business as usual but it was still a fun moment to see again.

5:34 p.m.- Indy the Greyhound heads to the field for a little chicanery and fun down on the sidelines.

5:38 p.m.- Indy misses a 20-yard field goal from the right hash. Doh. Good thing we have Jace Morrison.

6:00 p.m.- Practice ends as the team huddles near midfield.

6:02 p.m.- The team gets to see more of the stadium. Coaches, like Chris Keevers, take photos with their phones to show their kids.

6:15 p.m.- Coach Polizzi heads up to the Quarterback Club to thank everyone for their support. He shows great restraint by not smacking the mascot for asking for an autograph...

6:45 p.m.- Time to head back to campus... All-in-all, a fun time and a great opportunity to watch the Greyhounds practice in the new Lucas Oil Stadium. Greyhounds vs. Ferris State this Saturday at Key Stadium. Rock on.