Pocos equipos logran tener un nivel de convocatoria mayor al de los Steelers fuera del Heinz Field. A cualquier ciudad que visitan los siguen miles de aficionados, y esta semana la casa de los Cardinals, el State Farm Stadium, fue como un segundo hogar. Al menos así lució durante la victoria de Pittsburgh 23-17 en donde hubieron miles de aficionados, pero más de 3,000 de ellos estaban ondeando sus toallas terribles, gritando "Here we go Steelers, here we go" metiendo presión sobre el quarterback novato Kyler Murray en terceras oportunidades.
Y se veía venir desde el inicio del fin de semana, ya que un día antes, en el evento de Steelers Unite Nation, en donde más de tres mil quinientos aficionados se reunieron antes del juego contra los Cardinals para mostrar el apoyo a los colores negro y amarillo... y como siempre, los aficionados de México también se hicieron presentes.
Este evento contó con leyendas del equipo como Mel Blount, uno de los mejores CB en la historia de la NFL y que recientemente fue seleccionado al equipo de 100 aniversario de la NFL, pero también a Merril Hoge y a Santonio Holmes, quien con una espectacular recepción en este mismo lugar hace 11 años le dio a los Steelers su sexto trofeo Vince Lombardi.
Esta fiesta fue sólo un previo, ya que el domingo antes del partido muchos aficionados de Pittsburgh que viajaron de varias ciudades de México se reunieron en diferente puntos. "Siempre tratamos de asistir a un juego de visitante de los Steelers cada temporada y lo mejor es cuando alguien te reconoce por la bandera (de México) y se acerca a saludarte, cada juego somos muchos aficionados de los Acereros", fueron las palabras de varios seguidores del equipo con los que tuve oportunidad de platicar.
Los Steelers jugaron "de local" este domingo y si tienen alguna duda sólo vean la reacción del estadio durante el regreso de despeje de Diontae Johnson o en cada una de las intercepciones que consiguió la defensiva en este encuentro. El ruido en el estadio llego a compararse por algunos segundos al ambiente del Heinz Field a pesar de una distancia de 3,200 kilómetros.
Esto demuestra que los Steelers tienen una de las mayores ventajas cuando juegan de visitante ya que saben que sus aficionados estarán ahí para apoyarlos. Y más cuando los Playoffs están al alcance de su mano, si el equipo logra meterse a la postemporada estoy seguro de que en cualquier estadio que visiten podrán ver muchos aficionados agitando sus toallas en ambientes hostiles.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
Steelers Nation Unite hosted a Road Warrior block party for fans at Harold's Cave Creek Corral in Cave Creek, AZ, which featured appearances by Steelers Legends Mel Blount, Merril Hoge and Santonio Holmes.
