Fans gather for Bowl watching and banter

STAFF report

YOUNGSTOWN — Whether they watched at home, in a sports bar or in person, Super Bowl XLIII didn’t disappoint area fans, especially the many area Pittsburgh fans, whose team won 27-23.

At the Buffalo Wild Wings on Central Square in Youngstown, about 15 members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at Youngstown State University were watching the game together, along with smaller groups elsewhere in the bar.

The fraternity brothers and some other friends sat just a few feet away from two big-screen television sets. During the third quarter, while the Steelers had a 20-7 lead, the group’s demeanor remained fairly subdued and confident.

Many of them had watched earlier playoff games together at the bar and were enjoying the game and some friendly banter.

The group said they are probably split 50/50 in being Browns and Steelers fans.

While Joe Deniakis of Boardman said he’s a Browns fan rooting for the Cardinals, Amanda Hribar from Cortland at the next table, said she’s been a longtime Steelers fan because of her Pennsylvania roots.

“I’m definitely the biggest Steelers fan,” she said. “We’re all friends here, so it’s friendly.”

As for commercials, Deniakis said he thought this year’s crop was pretty good. “All in all, I’ve enjoyed them,” he said. The 1-second Miller commercial was his favorite, he said.

At the Downtown Draught House on West Federal Street, meanwhile, most of the fans were rooting for the Black and Gold. Most were sporting Steelers jerseys.

Over the years, the bar has gone from a Minnesota Vikings bar to being mostly a Steelers bar, then evenly split among Steelers and Browns.

There are helmets and logos on the wall from a variety of teams, including the Browns, Steeelers and Buckeyes.

The tide seems to have switched back to Steelers, said bartender Keith Hallen, who rang a large bell each time the Steelers scored.

Mixed in were a couple of Browns fans.

Valley fans in Tampa

For Steelers fan Jill Fonner of Boardman, attending the Super Bowl for the first time, the game was a “once-in a lifetime thing.”

“It was incredible. It was really intense,” she said. “It was a great game, and down here is really crazy,” she said of the crowds leaving the game and driving through the city.

Fonner said she found it surprising that probably 80 percent of the fans at the game and throughout the city before the game were Steelers fans.

Matt Tranovich of Canfield, also at the game, called the win “fantastic.” He said he met numerous Steelers fans while in Tampa. Brent Brocker and John Smith, both of Canfield, made the trip with Tranovich.