Colts OC Arians Wants Home Fans To Stop Cheesehead Invasion

Aug 30, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) throws his wrist bands to the fans after the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeated Cincinnati 20-16. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

With Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano away for the team for the next several weeks as he battles leukemia, Colts offensive coordinator and interim head coach Bruce Arians has laid down the gauntlet to the team’s fans to make this Sunday’s home game against the Green Bay Packers a special one by calling upon them to fill the stands of Lucas Oil Stadium and prevent Packers fans from dominating their home field.

It is well known in NFL circles that Packers fans are some of the most well travelled in the league and at practically every road game they come out en masse to support their team. Considering the circumstances, Arians wants to see that change this Sunday:

"“No way can they come into Lucas Oil this week and take over our stadium. I’m challenging our fans, especially this week because it’s kind of a unique, special thing. That cannot happen. (The fans) need to be at an all-time high for Chuck (Pagano) and for the team.“We cannot allow the Cheeseheads to come in here and take over.”"

Arians impassioned plea to the fans is a very nice gesture but the reality is that with tickets to Green Bay home games so hard to come by there are always going to be a multitude of Packer fans trying to attend road games. While his sentiments are commendable, it will be a challenge to stop the domination of Packer fans in Indianapolis this week – especially when you consider it’s not that far to travel from Green Bay.