It's so nice to meet a celebrity and feel you've met a friend.

There are certainly plenty of sports figures with egos larger than a football field.

But not Gary Brackett.

...he's as down-to-earth as a (please pause patiently as I search frantically for a football metaphor) ... uh, cleat.

Gary was warm and chatty as he signed autographs and talked with fans this morning.

He even found time to pose for photos with a few hard-working painters.

And we snapped a shot of a local girl who is now a Colts cheerleader.

That's Abbey on the right; she's from Ferdinand.

...and that's Lauren on the left; she's from New Palestine.

But the best photo of the day is this one:

That's Gary with the children of the families from all over Indiana here for a two- day visit as part of Gary Brackett's IMPACT Foundation's "Field of Dreams" program.

And tomorrow ... Gary rides The Voyage with eBay charity auction winner Brandon Phillips from Bowling Green, Kentucky. Neither of the two claims to be a coaster enthusiast, so we'll be sure to get a copy of the on-ride photo.