CI 5472: Fan Ethnography

Steelers Fan Ethnography:

This past weekend I observed several die-hard Steelers fans as they cheered on their team. The group I observed has very specific rituals that they perform every weekend when the Steelers play. Here are a few:

- Get out “Terrible Towels” and have them close at hand
- Put on Steelers Jersey’s
- Take Rouse’s jersey off its hanger and put it on him—Rouse is a dog
- Turn the TV to the appropriate channel
- Order Pizza
- Get out the beer
- Sit on the edge of the seat
- Chew fingernails—not really a ritual, but it happens nonetheless

Once these things have been done and the pizza arrives, it is game time. The group sits, literally, on the edge of their seats and watches the Steelers with great concentration. Kelly, clenches his hands and watches with wide eyes—biting his nails when the stress becomes too much. He wrenches his body from side to side every now and then as if he can influence the movements of the players. There is no talking during the game—unless it is a question about a call or a comment/criticism about the players and/or coaches. The only other sounds during the game are the loud and abrupt curse words that fly from Kelly’s mouth as he watches the game. While Kelly is a true fan, he will be the first person to provide negative beliefs about the future outcome of a game or to criticize the team after a loss or win.

Kelly’s wife, Eva, also gets into the spirit of things and her quiet attention contrasts the loud and physical reactions of her husband. Every now and then she will make a comment or pose a question about a call made by the coaches, players, or referees discussing bad plays and calls with her husband. She watches the game with her hands folded across her lap as she sits on the edge of her seat.

The third member of the group is visiting for the weekend and he is also decked out in his Pittsburgh gear. He makes jokes every now and then that Kelly responds to with only half of his attention—he is focused on the game. Nevertheless, Ryan is just as eager as Kelly to point out mistakes and bad calls on both sides of the field.

The eating and drinking, while going on during the game, is more of a habit than an actual relished meal. It is interesting to note the level of focus and interaction that is felt by the members of this small group. With every moment of the game, it is as if the people sitting in the room believe they have some say in the outcomeProxy-Connection: keep-alive
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f the game. The way in which they talk to each other and the people physically involved in the game is remarkable. It is as if they think their words will make it to the ears of the coaches and players—even the refs.

For Kelly, his love of the Steelers never diminishes throughout the year; even when he is on vacation in Hawaii, he will watch the NFL draft to keep up to date with the new members of his favorite team—forgoing time he could be spending out in the sun, on the beach. He references the Steelers all year long and is known to ask people trivia questions about his favorite Steelers. I have heard him see a number and tell anyone who will listen whose number it is and why it is so great. And any other Steelers fan he meets is an instant friend. Just wearing the combination of black and gold will inspire him to comment on how nice the colors work together and ask the wearer if they are Steelers fans. This translates over to his wife who is equally addicted to the Steelers—although not in such an intense way, as far as I can tell.

The group gets together whenever possible and Kelly and Eva always watch the games either together or apart—which means they are on the phone together either during or right after the game. The purpose of the group is to actively participate and watch as “their” team battles its way to victory. They are similar people and their similarities are drawn into perspective during their intense watching of Pittsburgh football. Kelly is from North Dakota, Eva is from Sweden, and Ryan is from Wisconsin, so none of them are able to claim Pittsburgh as a place of origin, and yet, they still have a deep passion for cheering on their beloved Steelers. Kelly says that his love for the Steelers comes from his childhood in the 1970's when the Steelers dominated football--the "Steel Curtain" era. Eva's love comes from her relationship with Kelly as does Ryan's --he is a huge Packers fan as well. Whatever the reason may be, they will follow their team to the ends of the earth.