Um, so yeah, four years later
by BigBlueShoe on Mar 11, 2010 8:00 AM EST
in Site News
140 comments
Four years ago, this blog started with this simple post:
This site is for fans of the Indianapolis Colts. We offer opinions and insight on not just the Colts, but the NFL in general. I'd like to give a shout out to all Colts fans, and any fans of other teams that take the time to read and post here. Yes, that includes you New England fans out there.
We posted that on February 21, 2006. The post generated a grand total of three comments. Two of the comments were from Windy City Gridiron writer WCG, and the third was from me. The irony is that season our Colts would beat his Bears in the Super Bowl. Back then, when we posted our first article, SB Nation had a total of five football blogs. Only three of those five original writers remain. After a month of blogging, I might have had maybe 150 total page views a day.
Today, when traffic hits its normal regular season stride, he hover near 40,000 page views a day. Each year, we have doubled the size of our audience. I used to average, maybe, five stories a week. We do five to six stories a day now. We've attended NFL Drafts. We've live-blogged from Super Bowls. We've interviewed players, coaches, TV personalities, etc.
So, yeah. We've done a lot in four years.
I forgot to do an anniversary write-up because, in all honesty, I always get the date of when we started confused. I think that it was March 21, 2006 when we started, but that simply is not true. We began all the way back in February of 2006. That was two MVPs and two Super Bowls ago. It was pre-Joseph Addai. A lifetime ago.
One element of our first post is something we continue to believe in and trumpet to this day:
With football transforming into a year long event (with the Indianapolis combine, the draft, free agent signings, rookie signings, mini-camps, and preseason) we plan on posting a lot of content leading up to Kickoff Weekend 2006.
We encourage you to create an account with us, post comments on our diaries, and create diaries of your own. Blogs only work when the you speak up and participate.
That last line is the core of our blog. I admit I'm a loud-mouthed jackass who enjoys stirring up "trouble." I enjoy getting into the middle of things and speaking my mind. I relish opportunities where I can walk into a room say something that starts a conversation. I was taught that the truth often has consequences, but those consequences are necessary because people often work very hard to suppress the truth. So, when you speak it or write it, positive things can happen. Dialogue begins. People debate, discuss, and connect.
That's what we do here. We start conversations. We do not tailor to any "one voice" mentality. Debate is essential. Discussion is our life blood. We are, in essence, community builders first and writers second.
When I write an article and I see it has generated something like 150 comments, and then I see the comments are all adding to the article's substance, it is a very gratifying feeling. And after four years of doing this, I think we've done a good job generating some great dialogues. This site has gotten bigger than I ever thought it would. I guess the appropriate thing is to say "Here's to four more years!" My goodness. Four years?
Seems like it was yesterday.
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If it weren't for this blog
I’d actually get some work done at work
"You're what they call a practice girl"
+1
replace “work” with “school and finding a job”
"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."
Yeah, that's me too...
"We’re only going to score 17 points? haha...OK" - Tom Brady
Stewie: "Did you hear that Meg? Guys can marry other guys now. So...this is awkward, but I mean, if they can do that, that is pretty much it for you, isn't it? I mean you as well pack it in. Game over. "
Last piece of Colts merch added to my collection: McFarlane's 12'' Peyton Manning White Variant.
by BlueMark1821 on Mar 11, 2010 9:34 AM EST up reply actions
Ditto!
Happy Birthday, SB!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this site is a lifesaver for displaced Colts junkies! And perhaps even a marriage saver. lol
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Mar 11, 2010 12:11 PM EST up reply actions
hm - I find myself spending more and more time on SB
and less and less with my husband… I’m not sure about marriage “saver” per se… LOL
How can you not love a team that does this?
A marriage saver from the perspective
of now I don’t talk and talk and talk about the Colts to my husband…he was getting a little tired of that. lol
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Mar 11, 2010 1:28 PM EST up reply actions
BY FAR
The best place for up to date Colts/ NFL news, rumors, and opinion. imo.
Cheers!
smart-ass comments!
Don’t forget smart-ass comments. This is a great place to find those too! ;)
Careful what you wish for... a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take everything you have.
Amazing cake...
Hope I can get one like that this year…
"We’re only going to score 17 points? haha...OK" - Tom Brady
Stewie: "Did you hear that Meg? Guys can marry other guys now. So...this is awkward, but I mean, if they can do that, that is pretty much it for you, isn't it? I mean you as well pack it in. Game over. "
Last piece of Colts merch added to my collection: McFarlane's 12'' Peyton Manning White Variant.
Yes!
I love curly fries!!
/Fat Hump
Our heads may be bloody, but they are unbowed. We will be back next year better than ever!
I've never been to Arby's
I want to go!
Movie Quote of the Week: "Why is a raven like a writing desk?!?"
It's Very good
Co-Leader of yearly 7 round live mock draft at MtD
by TheAngelsColts on Mar 12, 2010 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
I honestly can't remember
When I first started reading and posting, but it has been a couple of years. Has been a great site all that time.
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...
I think I remember someone saying in the open thread
you commented during the ’07 Super Bowl win.
Movie Quote of the Week: "Why is a raven like a writing desk?!?"
I joined
In the 06 season, leading up to the Super Bowl run. Can’t remember the date, since the site reset the memberships when the new format rolled out.
I also wish I had time and motivation to blog at Speed Blue Nation
You can still find out
Co-Leader of yearly 7 round live mock draft at MtD
by TheAngelsColts on Mar 12, 2010 2:03 AM EST up reply actions
I started visiting the blog right around the new year in 09...
I joined in May 09 and check in repeatedly throughout the day for updates!
I love it!
Bob Sanders is starting to make me rethink my SBNation ID!
by SupermanWearsBobSander'sPJs on Mar 11, 2010 10:56 AM EST reply actions
I began reading Stampede Blue
when the Colts were 3-4 in 2008, and everyone was talking about the window had officially close. I found solace here and haven’t left!
Y’all just do not fit the picture, turn your widescreen on
If you thinkin’ I’ma quit before I die, dream on
~Drake "Over"
Talk about the warm fuzzies
New England fans mentioned in a sentence without expletives. Sigh. Truly, a special day for all. : )
Keep the faith!
I forgot, today was my turn for Massholes bashing
F*ck those d*mn Patriot scumbags. We’ll kick your *ss all year. We own you *itches. There. ;)
First significant post I remember reading ...
was the Nostradamus-like prediction of our run up to Super Bowl XLI. Must’ve been BBS that posted it. Given the ‘collapse’ of our run defense at the time, I believe there were predictions of holding Larry Johnson to minimal yardage (no way!) as well as a few other spot-on calls.
I’m guessing BBS has that post framed on his wall. I know I would.
Ah, going back down memory lane
I started reading sometime in September of ‘06, after I saw a link at http://www.RakesofMallow.com, and looked around to see if there was a Colts counterpart, which there was. I’m guessing half the NFL was not represented at that point.
When going to a new site, I’ve always had the “Read More, Post Less” mentality, so I didn’t actually sign-up for a username until Christmas Eve, 2006, and didn’t make a comment until May:
6 of his Top 7 have direct links to Boston as well
Obviously the two with Peyton.
Joe Thornton was traded from the Bruins at the beginning of that season. No reason to believe he is undeserving right?
His argument about Julius Erving was that Bird should have won.
Mo Vaughn played for the Red Sox.
And #1 is obvious as well.
He probably also think Clemens is undeserving of everything post 1996.
The Boston hate finally got me to participate. I posted sporadically throughout the season that year, and actually only had 14 comments total when BBS brought me on as a writer. It slowly picked up from there.
I’m glad there is still a handful of people still around from those humble beginnings (whatever happened to InBradyWeTrust?) like Bullard, bluegirl, the King, and Marked Hoosier. Want to see how much this place has changed? Here’s the Open Thread for the 2007 AFC Title game. 92 comments for possibly the greatest game in Colts history. Now we’ll get that many comments on a single drive of a Week 4 blowout of the Seahawks. Hell, there were only 57 comments for the Super Bowl.
Creator and developer of the Winning Stats.
damn i have been here a long time
I didn’t think it had been that long I had been posting here. Wow.. time flies when you are having fun.
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...
Wow
I almost responded to this comment that we wouldn’t know how many a Super Bowl today would get. I’ve already erased the Super Bowl from my memory. That was quick.
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."
-Mark Twain
by Colts Homer on Mar 11, 2010 10:36 PM EST up reply actions
For years ago?
For years ago, this blog started with this simple post:
How many years ago? For? fore? four?
by Reds_Colts1975 on Mar 11, 2010 11:26 AM EST reply actions
Seriously this is great
Stampedeblue is my favorite website because it’s my lifeline for everything Colts. I can’t believe it’s only been online 4 years. It’s so comprehensive and the writers/bloggers are really well informed. It’s one of the highlights of my day every day.
by Reds_Colts1975 on Mar 11, 2010 11:28 AM EST up reply actions
I was about to point this out--the very first word of the article is mis-spelledd
D’oh! Oy! (your expletive here)
That’s about as bad as getting the words to “Happy Birthday” wrong.
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
fixed it
Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.
by shake n bake on Mar 11, 2010 12:22 PM EST up reply actions
I was here for the 2006 Championship..
I remember the prediction post that BBS did, that was scary accurate. Congrats for the success BBS!
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Mar 11, 2010 11:35 AM EST reply actions
lol...
I don’t remember. :)
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Mar 11, 2010 12:37 PM EST up reply actions
The earliest comment the site has from me is me disagreeing with KR, lol
http://www.stampedeblue.com/2007/10/1/115833/616#5158167
Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.
wait, no, I found two earlier ones talking shit about Bill Simmons
Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.
by shake n bake on Mar 11, 2010 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
and I found fanposts by me from the summer of 07
hmm, I really don’t remember when I first got to the site.
Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.
by shake n bake on Mar 11, 2010 12:22 PM EST up reply actions
clearly you are getting old and your memory is fading
soon, too soon, really, it’s high black socks with sandals, and loud Bermuda shorts while you mow the lawn and chase the neighborhood kids off.
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
sure, cause it was like 6 months ago.
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Mar 11, 2010 12:53 PM EST up reply actions
It was less than 6 months then???
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Mar 11, 2010 12:57 PM EST up reply actions
heh...
I guess it is fitting that you joined here on April Fools’ Day.
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Mar 11, 2010 1:06 PM EST up reply actions
Wow I thought you joined closer to when I did
However it was almost 9 months before me. Wow!
It seems like I have been here much longer than I have but it was only the end of sept. when I joined so has been only 6 months.
Co-Leader of yearly 7 round live mock draft at MtD
by TheAngelsColts on Mar 12, 2010 2:12 AM EST up reply actions
well it wasn't small he was 9 months off
Co-Leader of yearly 7 round live mock draft at MtD
by TheAngelsColts on Mar 12, 2010 2:13 AM EST up reply actions
No I wasn't...
He joined April 1st of last year… that is less than a year ago. 12 months. I JOKED that it was six months, thus I was off by 6 months.
Plus it is funny cause people here more than 3 years ago can’t remember when they joined, but he with less than a year has no problem remembering. :)
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Mar 12, 2010 8:01 AM EST up reply actions
Found this site from a yahoo link
And got hooked on mgrex’s winning factors
No clue when I started following SB
but it seems like longer than four years
How can you not love a team that does this?
Started visiting
in 07 sometime. I just came here to read rather than comment for about a year before signing up………..much like I do now…………not much in the comment department from me these days.
How far we've come
Super Bowl XLI open thread got 57 comments.
http://www.stampedeblue.com/2007/2/4/125110/9582
The thread about Sorgi signing with NYG has 103 right now.
Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.
Yes, it's actually pretty frustrating
I type quickly (but run on too long) and sometimes 10-20 new comments will flash on my screen in the course of pounding out one comment. Shit, who can keep up when the keys are flying fast and furious?
So I wait til you are all asleep and read around midnight west coast time, when it’s too late to actually participate. Kind of like a creepy stalker, really….
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
You mean like Cassieper lol
Co-Leader of yearly 7 round live mock draft at MtD
by TheAngelsColts on Mar 12, 2010 2:16 AM EST up reply actions
haha that happens with all game threads and draft threads lol. just have to read them later or not at all basically
Co-Leader of yearly 7 round live mock draft at MtD
by TheAngelsColts on Mar 12, 2010 2:15 AM EST up reply actions
Was it you or Cass who put up the "My family went to Hawaii Without Me" thread
That topped 1,000 comments inside a day and “broke” the Internet. (I know I had to reboot….)
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
Cass posted that one
and they’ve gotten an open thread to nearly 3,000 before
Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.
by shake n bake on Mar 11, 2010 12:26 PM EST up reply actions
That was the one that went to 2,982.
I think it’s only fitting that I posted the record-breaking one.
So over/under
out of 2.982 comments 1,000 from Cass!
Movie Quote of the Week: "Why is a raven like a writing desk?!?"
could find out but im not that bored
Co-Leader of yearly 7 round live mock draft at MtD
by TheAngelsColts on Mar 12, 2010 11:16 AM EST up reply actions
can tell you it is way under 1,000 though
Co-Leader of yearly 7 round live mock draft at MtD
by TheAngelsColts on Mar 12, 2010 11:20 AM EST up reply actions
I knew that too - it was a joke! =)
Movie Quote of the Week: "Why is a raven like a writing desk?!?"
yea I know but it was actually closer than I thought
// yes I was that bored that I took 2 min. and counted them all.
Co-Leader of yearly 7 round live mock draft at MtD
by TheAngelsColts on Mar 12, 2010 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
I now how to search so it took almost no time at all
Co-Leader of yearly 7 round live mock draft at MtD
by TheAngelsColts on Mar 12, 2010 12:07 PM EST up reply actions
there were 712
Co-Leader of yearly 7 round live mock draft at MtD
by TheAngelsColts on Mar 12, 2010 12:07 PM EST up reply actions
it was to me
hit up, or see how it isn’t indented from Marvinindy’s comment
Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.
by shake n bake on Mar 11, 2010 12:44 PM EST up reply actions
Is neat
Seeing the old posts and what we were thinking at the time.. This community has certainly grown from the few regular posters we saw in those days.
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...
it is pretty cool
when I actually read comments nowadays, I dont recognize most of the names, so many new people are visiting and contributing
oh yes, I see that now
I’m caught just skimming the comments. Oh No.
Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.
by shake n bake on Mar 11, 2010 12:43 PM EST up reply actions
Not when your brother
is a student there. He could be at your door within 10 minutes.
Creator and developer of the Winning Stats.
They don't have an online directory?
I find that hard to believe.
Creator and developer of the Winning Stats.
it took google like .03 seconds to find..
http://www.itap.purdue.edu/directory/
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Mar 11, 2010 4:45 PM EST up reply actions
I must be rubbing-off on you, Shake.
That’s not a good thing.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Mar 11, 2010 1:31 PM EST up reply actions
Ahem.
I am not a cougar, thankyouverymuch. Reference was to skimming posts. lol
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Mar 11, 2010 6:52 PM EST up reply actions
but you are a Fox.
Rawr. :)
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Mar 12, 2010 8:04 AM EST up reply actions
lol
You dog. :)
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Mar 12, 2010 11:40 AM EST up reply actions
yea, leave humor to the professionals.
M’kay?
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Mar 11, 2010 1:15 PM EST up reply actions
In the Jokers Local 403.
Wanna see the union card?
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Mar 11, 2010 1:22 PM EST up reply actions
meet me at Steak N Shake then.
or maybe the Half Moon Brewery.
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Mar 11, 2010 2:01 PM EST up reply actions
May 5th, 2007, earliest evidence of me on the site
http://www.stampedeblue.com/2007/5/1/184040/8435#5164119
Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.
what about Kendra?
if she’s still here we’re good.
Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.
by shake n bake on Mar 11, 2010 1:39 PM EST up reply actions
Yay!
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Mar 11, 2010 3:40 PM EST up reply actions
thanks for posting
makes this tweet so much more meaningful
How can you not love a team that does this?
I remember googling the 2006 Championship DVD
and finding this http://www.stampedeblue.com/2007/3/7/104022/2259
i ordered on ebay afterwards
by torontocoltsfan on Mar 11, 2010 3:55 PM EST reply actions
Wow, tons of people found this blog just this past season
I started reading SB Nation in November 2007.
Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever.
Napoleon Bonaparte
Stampede Blue's Resident Steelers Fan
"[T]he Steelers have been evil pieces of crap for a long time who play dirty and seek to injure their opponents, and one day there will be a reckoning."
FriarBob
Can't you just feel the love?
by LV Steelers Fan on Mar 11, 2010 4:20 PM EST reply actions
Wow even you were here long before many off us. In 07 I wasn't blogging at all.
I started blogging in the beginning of 09 but didn’t fine SBN until the Sept. of 09
Co-Leader of yearly 7 round live mock draft at MtD
by TheAngelsColts on Mar 12, 2010 2:23 AM EST up reply actions
And many happy returns.
I had something really quite witty to say, but I’m still hung over from last night and, after having read through the other comments, completely forgot what I was going to write.
Anonymity breeds inhumanity. In simpler terms, don't be a troll.
Congratulations Shoe, Shake, mgrex and all the great people at Stampede Blue
Two years ago go I had never heard of you, and now my day isn’t complete unless I check out your site.
Thanks a bunch from one Colts fan to another.
by HoosierHorseman on Mar 11, 2010 6:10 PM EST reply actions
Happy Birthday to SB!
Started reading in July/August of ‘09, didn’t join till December and now I’m here. Congrats to BBS, Shake, mgrex, CH, and the all the contributers! You people are teh awesome!
Movie Quote of the Week: "Why is a raven like a writing desk?!?"
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