Steelers win, Oakland parties

By Liz Navratil

‘ ‘ ‘ It took less than five minutes for people to crowd the streets of Oakland after the… ‘ ‘ ‘ It took less than five minutes for people to crowd the streets of Oakland after the Steelers’ 27-23 Super Bowl win over the Arizona Cardinals last night. ‘ ‘ ‘ This was the sixth Steelers Super Bowl victory, more than any other football franchise. ‘ ‘ ‘ Students, many wearing the Steelers black-and-gold and waving Terrible Towels, rushed first to the corner of Forbes Avenue and South Bouquet Street and then to the corner of Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard, the party stretching as time passed. ‘ ‘ ‘ People guzzled back bottles of Merlot, knocked over handicapped parking signs, and tore down the bus shelter on the corner of Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard. ‘ ‘ ‘ Nearly two hours after the game’s ending, police on horseback and motorcycles pushed the crowd down Forbes Avenue, where a pile of debris on fire blocked the street. The crowd moved down Forbes and continued its celebrating well into the night. ‘ ‘ ‘ Scott Lipps, who was in the area visiting a friend, stood outside the Cathedral of Learning watching as students climbed the light poles, some ripping down the ‘Welcome to Pitt’ banners that hung from them. Flare guns and fireworks exploded overhead. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘My pulse was going pretty fast,’ he said, commenting on his reaction to the Pittsburgh victory. ‘I can’t even explain it.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ For more coverage of the Super Bowl scene in Oakland, check pittnews.com. Read The Pitt News tomorrow for more on the rioting.