Steelers Notebook: On the road with white jerseys
Wednesday, January 25, 2006By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Figuring if it ain't broke, don't fix it, the Steelers chose to wear their white road jerseys in the Super Bowl even though they are the "home" team.
Keith Srakocic, Associated Press
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, right, wearing the team's black home game uniform, passes against the Baltimore Ravens in their October game at Heinz Field.
Michael Conroy, Associated Press
Roethlisberger, wearing the Steelers' away uniform colors, fires a pass during the Jan. 15, 2006, NFL divisional playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis.
They had first choice and they picked white because they wore white the past three playoff games, all on the road.
Coach Bill Cowher said they chose their road uniforms because, "we're on the road. We're not playing at Heinz Field."
The Steelers became only the second team in history to reach the Super Bowl by winning three road playoff games, and they obviously want to stick to that theme. If they beat Seattle, they would be the first to win three on the road and go on to claim a Super Bowl title.
Also, as the home team Cowher chose to have his team conduct all the morning interviews at the Super Bowl, which will allow them to pursue a more normal day with practice in the afternoon.
The Steelers players have off until tomorrow. They will practice three days, have off Sunday and fly to Detroit Monday.
The Steelers wear their black uniforms at home and at some games on the road when the home team wears its white jerseys. Although Cowher said it was his decision to pick white, he did have input from others in the organization.
"I didn't think too much about it. I don't think it's that big of a deal what jersey color you're wearing. Maybe that's just me. They wanted to know whether we were going to wear away jerseys or home jerseys. We're not playing at Heinz Field, so if we're not playing at Heinz Field, to me, that's an away game. I think anyone can understand that rationale. That's what I was thinking. If it's a sensitive issue to people, I'm sorry."
Cowher said he's not superstitious but that: "We've been playing well the last three weeks on the road. This is the fourth game on the road. I don't know if it's superstitious, but that's what I'm thinking."
The Steelers wore black in Super Bowl XXX, where they lost to Dallas, 27-17.
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