Stampede Blue: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
Around SBN: Spencer Hall's Sports Meme Power Rankings

How to Work the Combine

Recently, my friends and I attended the NFL combine. I searched forever online and only found a few tips. I even emailed Kravitz, Phil B, and some other local/national sports writers. All to no avail, so we decided to go down there with our camera and wing it. Here's what we learned.

  • Everyone uses the Skywalks. I never understood how the combine could survive in Indy with this weather. I thought coaches would hate it, but these Skywalks have probably been the main factor for the combine staying. You can see everyone you would want to in these hallways.
  • All the Skywalks connect hotels to the convention center. It's real easy to just drift around and look for people of interest. In the Skywalks, we met John Clayton (who just stood around talking ALL DAY, it's no wonder he has so much insider info).
  • Upstairs at the convention center is where most of the formal meetings happen. You can't go into the conference rooms, but you can catch coaches to and from. That's how we got a picture with Jim Caldwell.
  • Downstairs is usually more quiet than upstairs, so if there are going to be any formal interviews, it's going to be down here. That's how we got a picture with Brad Childress. Also, some players use these long hallways to warm up and practice before they are tested. We were able to see University of South Caroline TE, Jared Cook. He was practicing the 40 yard dash. According to Rotoworld, he ended up leading all TE's in the 40 time, vertical leap, and broad jump.
  • Around lunchtime, if you are able to afford Shula's or other similar restaurants then I would advise eating there. Unfortunately for my friends and I, we are college students so we settled for the dining court. We caught John Fox enjoying some Jody Maroni's Sausage Kingdom there.
  • Early in the morning I think there might be some overall conference that everyone attends in the Luke, so we waited outside and caught John Harbaugh.
  • Hotel Lobbies are also a hot spot. We caught Jim Schwartz there and barely missed Andy Reid.
  • Look to avoid professional autographer seekers. They usually only focus on players, but I don't think NFL execs appreciate them.
  • We generally avoided bother players though as a rule of thumb because we figured that they would need to concentrate on their chance to get their names out.

Overall, it was great. The Combine was really fan friendly and all the coaches were happy to take pictures (I secretly think Jim Schwartz was even happy to be recognized). From what I could tell we were the only people there looking to see coaches so you don't have to worry about competing with other fans. I would suggest this to anyone who wants to meet NFL coaches and others.

 

All the Pictures

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.

9 recs  |  Comment 16 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Great pics

Especially of Caldwell – woot!

by LovinBlue on Feb 21, 2009 7:03 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Shit, I’m going to have to do the same thing next season.

This line will remain in my signature until the Colts draft Rashad Jennings in 2009.

by KingRichard on Feb 21, 2009 7:13 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Great Pictures man!

and they didn’t mind taking pics with you guys at all? man those are some nice coaches.

by metal_militia on Feb 21, 2009 9:17 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Eh

The pictures are kind of dull really. None of those coaches have won a Super Bowl and some shouldn’t even be coaches in the league (i.e. Brad Childress)! I think it seems like kind of a wasted day not to get pictures with the players, some of which will be hall of famers eventually! While the thought of going down to the combine is cool, I think you missed a great opportunity by explicitly not getting pictures taken with the players. Good try and maybe next year!

Colts Rule. Pats suck.

by sobercoltfan06 on Feb 21, 2009 9:39 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

and we can expect your super exciting SB coaches and players pictures when?

I ain't tryin' do you, I'm just tryin' do me
Last album did two, I'm just tryin' do three.
-Young Jeezy "I Luv It

by shake n bake on Feb 21, 2009 9:53 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

You must not be a fan of the NFL. There are 31 other teams besides the Colts you know.

This line will remain in my signature until the Colts draft Rashad Jennings in 2009.

by KingRichard on Feb 22, 2009 12:03 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

They just got a picture with John Clayton

A hall of fame journalist. One of the most respected guys in NFL reporting. No biggie.

by Aerostar193 on Feb 22, 2009 1:42 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

great pictures

by Lrccolt4 on Feb 21, 2009 9:47 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Pretty cool

Awesome meeting guys like that

Visit FanIQ.com for sports news, bloggings, polls, and more!

by MrNFL on Feb 21, 2009 10:31 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

homo

i think you like boys, you just wanted to see the players in their under armour compression shorts.

by nicjohns on Feb 22, 2009 3:42 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

I know,

that you are just saying that out of love because you’re my cousin

by farris6659 on Feb 22, 2009 5:05 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

+1

That is exactly what I was thinking

by MarkFive05 on Feb 22, 2009 10:25 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Folks, Rec this

Let’s rec this wonderful FanPost to the top of the list, plz.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Feb 22, 2009 8:34 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Awesome pics.

Harbaugh is a real cutie! :)

Caldwell looks like a happy guy, realizing a dream.

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Feb 23, 2009 10:35 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Cool pics

Harbaugh is kinda hot… for an old guy, lol.

by KMR24 on Feb 23, 2009 1:47 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about the Indianapolis Colts, 2006 NFL Champions!
Start posting about the Colts »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Bob_sanders4_small
Jerraud Powers: Old Man
Bilde_small
Sebastian Vollmer had help on Freeney 36 out of 44 passing attempts
Bruce-treetops1_small
Ask Baltimore Beatdown: Questions for the Ravens Blogger
Nnamdi_small
Why The Colts Really Won and the State of the Rivalry
Small
Manning to Wayne Touchdown, Tecmo Super Bowl Style

Recent FanPosts

Small
Help I can't play videos from colts.com
Belicheat_small
College Football- Open Thread
Small
College Open Thread #2
Img_1672_small
Matt Stover!
Peyton-manning_small
More bad journalism (read at your own risk)
N17901640_32485246_6102070_small
Gonzo update
Small
Gary Brackett
Peyton_framed1_painting_small
Cool Video on Sunday's Game
Small
Question: What is Deion Sanders issue with Peyton & the Colts?

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Latest NFL Headlines from SB Nation


Head Writer, Editor-In-Chief

Stampedeblue_small BigBlueShoe

Site Editor

Bob-sanders-081107_small shake n bake

Contributing Writers

Masonair_small JakeTheSnake

Mgrex03_avatar_small mgrex03

Seyton_manning_feature_small KingRichard

Change_small Colts Homer