2008 Steelers Schedule

By Jim Russell

From the perspective of Steelers Nation, the 2008 schedule is all about the away games. You can bank on a strong showing of Terrible Towels every year at Cincinnati, Cleveland and Baltimore. The myth is that fans from Pittsburgh are making the journey to the divisional games and filling the stadium of the opposition. While some Pittsburghers do travel, the strong showing on the road is mostly the result of the ubiquitous Burgh Diaspora.

How the City of Pittsburgh revolves around the football season is well known. Less understood is the effect of all the Steelers fans who left Pittsburgh as a result of the economic calamity of the 1970s and 1980s. I was in Dallas during QB Ben Roethlisberger's rookie season. The game against the Cowboys might as well been in Pittsburgh. The presence of Steelers Nation in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area is so remarkable as to command academic study. The only other displace fan base that comes even close to the Steelers following is that of the Green Bay Packers (sorry Cleveland).

Glancing at the five non-divisional away games, one stands out: At Jacksonville. The Burgh Diaspora is strong in all of Florida, but the connections between the Jaguars and the Steelers make this stop something special. Pittsburgh and Jacksonville used to belong to the same division. A steady stream of Steelers players and even coaches made their way to Jacksonville. Even a former Steelers beat reporter, Vic Ketchman (Pittsburgh), now covers the Jaguars in Jacksonville.

Jacksonville's Little Pittsburgh can be found wherever the J.A.X.B.A.G. club is watching the weekly game:

Club President Dee Enos and her husband Ron were going to Barnes and Noble one evening and went in to talk to the owner at Turn-4-Wings. We told them about the club and our needs. The owner informed us that there were plenty of waitresses, TV’s, and we would be able to watch all of the Steelers games while having good food. He also told us his wife was originally from McKeesport. It all seemed like a good fit and they said they would be glad to have us. Our first year at Turn-4-Wings began a building of the club once more. Steelers fans had to find us and find us they did. The bar had to knock out a wall to add more space and more TV’s for the club. We lasted three seasons at Turn-4-Wings until the owner decided to move his location to Route 210. His new place was smaller so Dee went looking for yet another home, finally coming to an agreement with Calico Jack's (CJs). CJs soon changed ownership and the bulk of the club was not happy with new owners. Thus we were on the move again and temporarily moved to Steel City Bar and Grill which could not stay open and we now call Chicago Pizza and Sports Grille home.

Steelers bars serve as the community hub for the Diaspora, but nothing compares to the tailgate party when the Steelers come to town. Given the bitter losses to the Jaguars last season, Steelers fans will come from Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa, and Ft. Lauderdale to see if the Black and Gold can exact some revenge. I might have to make the pilgrimage myself.

The other game I have my eye on is the one against the Redskins. Washington, DC is home to the largest population of the Burgh Diaspora. There are a number of Steelers bars in the Baltimore/DC area and I would bet that a number of fans are already feeling out their ticket options. If the Pittsburgh 250 celebration is looking for an opportunity to celebrate its expatriates beyond the pale, the Monday night game on November 3rd would be the time and place to do it.

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