My business took me away for the weekend. (Blogging for the Steelers doesn’t pay what you would hope.) I was in the “city” of Saratoga for a conference. After attending to my business early and with my awesome team supporting me I set out to find the Steelers game. After one false start I found a local establishment called “The Stadium”. I have been to Saratoga before so I was somewhat familiar with it. It’s a sports pub with solid bar food and plenty of what makes Beer We Go famous!
I stood online to get in and as they have the Sunday Ticket so were other team’s fans. Even a Bucs fans, which I thought were extinct given the attendance this week. As I got to the hostess she asked if I was going to sit with my friends or did I need a table. My local friends were all working while I was taking my afternoon respite. It became clear who she meant. At the corner of the bar sat the local Black and Gold! They were people of all different walks of life. Benny is the local cook at the pub but he took the day off to watch the Steelers. Matt worked as a “line-man” for the phone company. Mike’s wife was at the conference I was attending and he was looking for a place like me. There were several other members of Steelers nation as well. It was a great experience and while I was homesick for my couch and TV or my adopted home in the ‘Burgh I knew I was with my brothers. They made me feel welcome and cleared a spot for me. The beer flowed almost as good as the Steelers game plan!
The game was OUSTANDING and a very well rounded effort. First off not sure you can say enough about Charlie Batch. No matter how this shakes out the rest of the year Batch deserves serious kudos. He is a class act and a capable backup. Considering that he was on the verge of getting cut and last played a meaningful game when Chuck Noll was a teenager, his performance was terrific. When he easily could have complained that he didn’t get enough reps in practice, he kept his head down and in true Beer We Go fashion got it done! He also displayed a great deal of luck which let’s face it we were entitled to after the offseason and all the other nonsense we have had to endure. My aforementioned brethren and I groaned a few times he chucked it but for the most part he had solid results.
One of the best parts of Sunday was watching the Steelers run the football. Rashard Mendenhall and Ike Redman played great games and truly grinded it out in true Steeler fashion forcing the Bucs to break! Mendenhall continues to impress and the O-Lines push kept Batch relatively unscathed.
The defense played a professional solid game. It would be impossible to top last week and while they didn’t, I thought the performance was excellent. Stats didn’t tell the story because it was obvious the Steelers let up after they took a commanding lead. Brett Keisel was outstanding and watching him run back his pick was the stuff of legend. Everyone loves when the “fat kids” get the ball. I also thought Willie Gay deserves hats off. After being used as a doormat last year he really impressed with a bounce back season at Nickel! Of course while they were relatively quiet the presence of Troy, Harrison and Woodley could be felt on every series.
This was our kind of win! 3-0 sends a message to everyone about what kind of character we have as fans and as a team!
THE FACTS
My “GAME BEER” goes to: Charlie Batch! Mendenhall rushed for 100 and Keisel made a huge play but I have to go with Batch. He is classy and played great!
Where I watched the game: “The Stadium” in Saratoga! Great food and awesome crowd! Really was exciting to be with my brothers in Beer We Go!
My thoughts on Next Week: It is hard to not feel like we are playing with house money considering that we will be at worst 3-1 during Big Ben’s suspension. But 4-0 is just so much better and it shows that we are not just one player! It is going to be a slugfest and I can’t wait for this one! Ray Lewis wisely said, “When you step between the lines the talking is over, no more Yap Yap” Ray for once we agree, because it is ON NOW!!! BEER WE GO STEELERS!! BEER WE GO!