A Steeler in Colts country he was, but it wasn’t something that Franco Harris minded.
The former All-Pro running back for Pittsburgh felt right at home surrounded by a number of blue and white jerseys.
Many of them had an 18 on the sleves and on the back, symbolic of the host of the charity event Tuesday at the Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis.
Hence why this famous Steeler hardly felt out of place in a Colts-dominated town.
“Wherever you may go, there are great football fans,” said Harris. “They just love the game of football.”
They also love the game of basketball along with amatuer sports, and each had its place at Peyton Manning’s Peyback Charity Bowl, as the event featured a cultured mix of stars from various platforms of sport.
Of course there was Manning himself, along with fellow Colts players Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney, Dallas Clark and others.
But even the quarterback himself hoped for a variety of athletes and non-athletes to fill out the charity event’s roster.
“It ought to be a great turnout, and it will be a lot of fun,” said Manning of all the different athletes who show up.
It includes former NFL players Harris, Jerome Bettis, and Kurt Warner, local NBA products Mike Conley, Greg Oden, Gordon Hayward and Josh McRoberts. Purdue coach Matt Painter, Indiana coach Tom Crean and Butler coach Brad Stevens were also in attendance from the basketball side.
Former Pacers star Reggie Miller also made a stop in town for the event, putting on a good show during his interview with the media.
“Peyton was so gracious with his time to come out and hang with us and bowl, so I love coming back and being a participant,” said Miller of coming to Indiana.
Swimmer Dana Torres was also at the event along with various other dignitaries from sports and from Indianapolis. Beyond the numbers of people at the event for Manning, however, is the amount of money raised for his Peyback Foundation.
As in the past, Tuesday’s event is expected to bring in at least 300,000 dollars.
“Especially during these times, its a great response from our community, businesses and sponsors really step up and we appreciate that,” said Manning. “We try to bring them a good turnout, bring in some new people.”
This year, he accomplished that.
according to fox59.com
