Colts converting out-of-state students into die-hard fans

Somewhere in IU graduate Max Semenick's Bloomington house there is a monkey locked in a trunk. He will remain there so long as the Indianapolis Colts remain in the playoffs.\n"I live with 10 other guys and they're all Colts fans," Semenick said. "You can't even call over here during the game. We're all pretty nuts. We had a (stuffed toy) touchdown monkey, but the Colts lost, so now he's locked in some guy's trunk."\nBut there is one thing that separates Semenick from his fellow fanatical roommates -- their Colts cravings are all inherited, his are learned. As the Colts prepare for another playoff game 4:30 p.m., Sunday in New England, Semenick is one of a growing contingent of Colts fans whose love for the team began when they came to IU.\nFor Semenick, that meant leaving behind his hometown Cincinnati Bengals. With more losses than any team in the 1990s, waving goodbye wasn't such a difficult task. \n"My freshman year, I couldn't watch the Bengals anymore when I came to IU," he said. "But they were just as bad then, so it didn't matter. Indianapolis has this clean-cut, all-American feel. It's easier to root for them. And they win, so that helps."\nSemenick is not alone. Sophomore Aaron Allen came to Bloomington from California and began beaming with state pride as soon as he learned IU accepted him. That included becoming a die-hard Colts follower.\n"A lot of people think I'm a bandwagoner because when I came they started doing well," he said. "I can see why they'd say that, but I'd cheer for the Colts even if they were the worst in the NFL."\nAllen has attended a few Colts games and never misses them when they're on television. He said he finds it especially hard to concentrate this week, with the Colts preparing for a game against rival New England and classes demanding his attention.\n"I'm always tense. You never know how they're going to come out," Allen said. "This Sunday in particular, that's all I can think about because I really hate New England. I really do believe the Colts are going to win the Super Bowl."\nJunior Jessica Mullholand grew up in Minnesota rooting for the Vikings, but changed this year. Mullholand and a friend born in Indiana went to the Colts-Vikings game hoping their rival allegiances would land them on the JumboTron. Instead, after seeing all the Colts fanatics and the team beat the Vikings 31-28, Mullholand switched sides.\nBut with a little luck, Mullholand could face a rematch between her old and new team in the Super Bowl as the Vikings play Philadelphia at 1 p.m. Sunday.\n"Oh, that'd be tough," she said. "I think I'd definitely root for the Colts on the outside, but maybe I'd be a little bit happy if the Vikings won."\nRecent IU graduate Elizabeth Finn used to cheer on her hometown Kansas City Chiefs, but dated a Colts fan at IU and quickly became enamored with Indianapolis. \n"I fell in love with Peyton Manning," she said. "I'm a big fan. I yell and scream at the TV. "\nFinn graduated in May and moved to Denver, but didn't switch allegiances again.\nShe always wears a blue Colts jumpsuit on game days. Sometimes, if the Colts play on Monday night, that means challenging her office dress code and turning some heads.\n"It's business-casual attire, so everybody is like 'What in the heck is she wearing?" said Finn, who ordered NFL Sunday Ticket, a premium TV package, just to watch the Colts games. "I think people believe me when I say I'm a Colts fan now."\nEach of the Colts converts said they are confident the team will advance to the AFC Title Game. That's something Semenick said he and his Indiana native roommates can all agree on. \n"We're not too crazy nuts," said Semenick, who predicted a 35-21 win, "but it's the most depressed household you'll see if (the Colts) lose." \n-- Contact Staff Writer Gavin \nLesnick at glesnick@indiana.edu.