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I love a good sport tradition
Starting with their 2005 trip to the Superbowl, Steelers players have made a tradition of equipping the jerseys of past and present teammates to media events surrounding their Superbowl and 2007 Hall of Fame game appearances.
On their way to Superbowl XL the Steelers players, prompted by linebacker Joey Porter, wore the college jersey of Jerome Bettis, in honor of what was to be “the Bus“‘s final game in his hometown of Detroit. No doubt wearing the Irish green of Notre Dame was hard for some especially USC alumni Troy Polamalu.
For their trip to the Pro-Football Hall of Fame in Canton, for the 2007 HOF Game, the Steelers defense wore the Detroit Lions #44 jersey of defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. Signally the team’s assertion that Coach LaBeau should be inducted into the HOF for his 14-year career at the Lions1.
At Superbowl XLIII in Tampa, the Steelers O-Line wore the Black & Gold’s own #63, to once again campaign for HOF induction, in honour of the 7x Pro-Bowl Steelers center Dermontti Dawson2.
“Who’s laughing now O-Line?”
For this year’s Superbowl XLV in Dallas, the Steelers O-Line chose to honour first-year Steeler and Dallas Cowboys veteran Flozell Adams by sporting “The Hotel“‘s Michigan State jersey. A great display of respect to Adams who joined the team in only July 2010, after being cut from the Cowboys after 12-years in Dallas.
See also Pittsburgh’s greatest sport tradition the Terrible Towel.
1 - LeBeau was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010
2 - Dawson is a finalist for induction for the 3rd time in 2011, Good luck
