In our inaugural trip to Heinz Field, we had a thrilling time. The stadium is even more beautiful in person than it is on TV. It is situated right on the shore with outstanding views of all three rivers, Point Park, the Incline and downtown Pittsburgh. The views alone and the architectural beauty of the stadium itself are enough of a reason to go. I may take a side trip to Pittsburgh this summer to take in a Pirates game and wander around the field again. It was that beautiful. Once we were inside, the experience intensified tenfold. We took in all the sites and smells Heinz Field had to offer. We ate burgers and brats, wandered around the concourse, checked out our seats and even watched a few players begin their pre game warm ups. We drank hot chocolate to keep warm and toasty. Now, it was not too cold comparatively, but being spoiled by warm California weather will cause you to lose your cold weather conditioning. We wandered the Great Hall, looking at all the memorabilia of Steelers great. We trundled through the Walk of Fame, where they have lockers of all the Steelers past hall of famers and greats. I knew Pittsburgh had quite a few hall of fame members, but it was stunning to see them all together honored by their former team. It was a great trip down memory lane. Most importantly, I saw in person all five Super Bowl trophies. I took pictures of each and every one. Stood in front of each of them and marveled at the work, dedication and sacrifice that was put forth by so many men to bring these trophies to Pittsburgh. I got my picture taken with two of them, the first one that started it all, and was won the season I was born, and the last one, that I saw happen before my very eyes.

We watched the stadium fill over the two hour time period before kickoff. The gates were stormed by the Black and Gold faithful, ready to cheer their team to greatness once again. The stands filled as game time approached, each person ripe with excitement. The walkways and standing room only areas teemed with fans giddy with anticipation for a little pay back. The stands rocked as the captains moved to mid field for the coin toss, and exploded once Pittsburgh won the toss and elected to receive. The masses vibrated with anticipation as the teams took the field, readying themselves for the battle ahead. A sea of Black and Gold consumed each person, merging them into a single being, roaring at the opponents and cheering the home team in the same instant. The wind swirled as the seconds ticked down to kickoff, aided by thousands upon thousands of towels waving in the air their terrible power to smite the intruders. The whole scene reached its fevered pitch, the moment was here, and with one last window shattering howl, the faithful poured out all their joy, hopes, dreams, happiness and frustrations into the air in one cacophonous roar as the ball sailed into the air, marking the beginning of the contest. I watched the whole scene unfold, at the same time both in awe of the proceedings around me and as much a part of the pandemonium as everyone else in attendance. The moment produced goose bumps that were not caused by the chill in the air. My hair stood on end and chills of excitement ran up and down my spine. The moment was electric and it was one of the few times in your life you feel the excitement of being a part of something larger than yourself. It was one of the times where if you looked upon something rationally, you would think of those participating as foolish or childish. But if you let yourself go, fall into the moment and let yourself roll with the tide, it is one of the most exciting and exhilarating moments you can have. I only wish the moment was not so fleeting, and that there were more during the course of the game. Alas, that was not to be. There was one other moment in the game that matched the kickoff, and that was during the sequence when Pittsburgh intercepted the ball and then marched down the short field for their only score right before halftime. I felt that excitement then as well, when the faithful, feeling as though things were slipping away and beginning to mourn the lost season, saw one small spark of hope, and rallied around it. They paused momentarily the thoughts of next year, and allowed themselves, even if briefly, to rush back to the moment with the force of a tidal wave, enveloping everything within the confines of the stadium in a roar of joy and approval. They allowed hope back in and focused the power of it back to the field, pushing it out to wash over the combatants they call their team. The roar of the faithful reverberated off of the stadium and rolled out, consuming the rivers and the city. For one last moment, they still had hope, still had the dream of being champions again, still had hope of being on top. As anyone who watched the second half of the game knows, that moment did not last. But it was exhilarating, and I am sure there will be times when the feeling will last. Personally, I cannot wait to do it again.