Fans welcome Packers, Steelers to Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas – The big rodeo – the Super Bowl – is in town. If Monday is an indication, this could be a wild week in Big D.

Video cameras and cowboy hats were in order for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers when they arrived six days before their NFL championship game.

With dozens of fans chanting “Go Pack Go,” the Packers witnessed Super Bowl frenzy for the first time in 13 years. Many of the players carried video cameras or clicked away with cell phones.

A few wore cowboy hats, but none went as far as Steelers veteran receiver Hines Ward. He was “True Grit,” decked out in black cowboy hat, black shirt, Texas-sized belt buckle and jeans.

“I’m in Dallas, Texas,” Ward said, smiling as if he’d just won the Super Bowl MVP trophy, something he did in the 2006 game. “I wanted to put on my whole cowboy outfit and enjoy it. No nerves.”

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger held his mobile phone high, taking photos of a six-deep pack of reporters.

“Just taking it in stride, enjoying this opportunity regardless of what comes or how it comes,” Roethlisberger said.

There were plenty of fans in black and gold outside the Steelers’ hotel, some carrying Terrible Towels. But they were far outnumbered at the Packers’ hotel in Irving a few hours later when the NFC champions pulled in.