PITTSBURGH – Decked out in black and gold and waving Terrible Towels, thousands of Steeler fans clogged city streets last night, celebrating Pittsburgh’s unprecedented sixth Super Bowl title.
More than an hour after the Steelers’ 27-23 victory over the Cardinals in Tampa, Pittsburgh police reported no major problems. Police in riot gear patrolled city streets on bikes and in cars, letting the loud and rowdy – but orderly – celebration continue.
In the city’s Oakland section, there was a report of one couch set on fire outdoors and one car was overturned in the revelry.
There were several small fires set in trash cans and couches, and there are reports of some broken windows and stolen street signs. Large numbers of police in riot gear and on horseback were out in force, surrounding one fire and keeping the crowd back in an effort to let it burn out.
Revelers streamed out of area bars, some breaking out in song, bellowing Queen’s “We are the Champions.”
Big crowds also gathered in the city’s Oakland neighborhood, near the University of Pittsburgh.
Police had blocked off streets so that people could celebrate and not worry about cars. Some people tried to carry a couch onto Forbes Avenue in Oakland, but police took it away.
When the Steelers last won the Super Bowl in 2006, thousands of drunken fans celebrated in the streets and several small fires were set.
Brittany Barcoay, 21, drove seven hours from Liberty University in Virginia just to be in her hometown for the Super Bowl and celebrated outside the Town Tavern, which sported a “Steeler Tavern” banner.
“I have never had so much pride in my city, ever,” said Barcoay, decked out in a Jerome Bettis jersey.
One man carried a life-size cutout of President Barack Obama, with a Terrible Towel draped around the neck.
Pittsburgh schools delayed openings two hours today to allow for the celebration, but other schools were following suit after the victory. TV news stations were scrolling school delays for today as if it were a snow day.
