Ask the Memphian: Why are there so many Steelers fans in Memphis?
Kym Leach, right, watches the Steelers games along with other fans gathered together at Whiskey Jill’s to watch Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. Pittsburgh won the season opener, 34-32. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)
AutoZone Liberty Bowl executive director Steve Ehrhart remembers when Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium was overrun with Pittsburgh Steelers’ Terrible Towels 28 years ago.
The Tennessee Oilers — expected to play in Memphis for two years before relocating their permanent address from Houston to Nashville — held their final home game of the 1997 NFL season against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It didn’t feel like much of a home game, though.
Most of the 50,677 fans in attendance were rooting for the other side, waving the Steelers’ Terrible Towels all over the place.
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Frank Bonner II
Frank Bonner is the Memphis Tigers football beat writer. He is originally from Indiana but arrived in Memphis after spending two years in Tulsa, covering Oklahoma State football and basketball. He covered high school sports in Columbus, Indiana for two years before getting his Master’s degree in Sports Journalism at IUPUI. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University.
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