2006 Super Bowl champs visit Randolph

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine
  • Air Force News Agency
SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) --  Champions know about the importance of quality teamwork and the Super Bowl XLI champion Indianapolis Colts are no exception.

To help improve their teamwork relationship with the Air Force, members of the Colts championship team visited Randolph Air Force Base June 1 to gain a better understanding and a first-hand look at the Air Force team they have supported for many years.

"What is best about both the Colts as a championship team and the United States military, particularly the Air Force, is that we are about excellence and we are about teamwork and accomplishing great things," said Brig. Gen. Suzanne M. Vautrinot, Air Force Recruiting Service commander.

Over the past several years, the 2006 Super Bowl champions have worked closely with the Air Force, specifically Air Force Recruiting Service. The organization has supported AFRS by making personal appearances and by providing organizational support as well as autographed memorabilia.

This past year, the team started the "Colts in Motion Tour," an interactive campaign where Colts' players and cheerleaders hit the road with Air Force recruiters to promote community awareness.

This most recent Air Force support program helped earn the team the American Spirit Award May 1. The award is the recruiting service's highest form of recognition. Started in 1980, it recognizes civilian organizations that have consistently displayed outstanding support of Air Force recruiting efforts as well as exhibition of patriotism and service to the country. 

The Colts jumped at a chance to get a more personal look at the Air Force when they were invited to visit Randolph. Having worked with the Air Force for so many years, the opportunity would let them visit AFRS and Randolph, and give the players a chance to see Airmen in action onboard the flight down to San Antonio.

The team members and staff flew to Randolph on a 434th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker from Grissom Air Reserve base about 60 miles north of Indianapolis.

"It's just an honor to be affiliated with such a great organization like the Indianapolis Colts but also with the Air Force and what they do for our country," said Colts long snapper Justin Snow.

While at Randolph, the players, head coach and team staff had a chance to visit AFRS and some fans at Randolph Elementary School.

"I'm very excited," said fifth-grader Chase Dixon who was anxiously waiting to have a football signed. Chase is the son of Master Sgt. Kevin and Tech. Sgt. Teresa Dixon at the Air Force Personnel Center. "I'm a big football fan. I want (the players) to sign my ball."

The visitors also took this valuable opportunity to meet and speak with Airmen. Head Coach Tony Dungy addressed a group of Airmen at the base theater.

After visiting the elementary school and base theater, the team members visited the flightline to get an up-close look at the Air Force's championship equipment. While on the flightline, the Colt players were able to ask questions about the aircraft and even sit in the cockpit.

"I am honored to be here today," said Mr. Snow, who has a brother-in law in the military. "It is a great thing for our men on this team to come and experience this. Not everyone gets to do this every day. I'm just honored and I want to thank everybody for what they do for our country."

The tour became more personal when the players moved inside to see the 560th Flying Training Squadron facility.  They visited the prisoner of war memorial room and walked the halls examining the rows of portraits of pilots shot down in action. Then they moved to the final leg of their tour to see the Tuskegee Airmen heritage wall.

This visit was even more special for coach Dungy. His father, Wilbur Dungy, was a Tuskegee Airman.

"My dad was actually in the service. He graduated from high school in 1944 and went into the Air Force and was part of the Tuskegee Airmen, something that is very special to me," said Coach Dungy. "Just to see where the Air Force has developed from here, it has kind of completed the circle for me. I know this would have been a very, very proud day for my dad to be here and see what (the Air Force) has evolved into."

As the team's visit concluded, their mission to improve the teamwork between the Indianapolis Colts and the Air Force was called a "success" by the Super Bowl champions. But before their flight home, the Super Bowl champs had to say something to today's Airmen.

"Thank you so much," Coach Dungy said. "We can't tell you how much we appreciate what you do to allow us to do what we do."

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