Steeler fan @ Colts training camp given Andrew Luck jersey to put over Steeler jersey

[RuthlessBurgher]

Pagano gives Steelers fan Luck jersey
Posted by Mike Florio on July 30, 2012, 9:17 PM EDT

Steelers fans travel really well. They travel so well that one of them showed up Monday at Colts practice wearing a Steelers jersey.

And while that may not be an issue if the Steelers fan had invaded Lucas Oil Stadium, Colts safety Tom Zbikowski and coach Chuck Pagano decided to take action.

According to the Associated Press, Pagano gave the Steelers fan and Andrew Luck jersey and a choice: Get it on, or get out.

“[Zbikowski] saw it and said, ‘Look Coach we got to do something about that,’” Pagano said. ”I went over there. He’s a huge [former Steelers and current Colts offensive coordinator Bruce] Arians fan, obviously, and [former Steelers and current Colts running back] Mewelde Moore. So with a little bit of coaching and a brand new Andrew Luck jersey, I said, ‘Look, you’ve got to put this jersey on. If you do it, you get to stay, if not we’ve got to escort you out of here.’”

The fan, Zach Simmons, says he wasn’t trying to cause trouble. ”I’m trying to get Bruce Arians and Mewelde Moore’s attention,” Simmons said. ”I am still kind of in shock, but it was pretty cool for my buddies I came with.”

For Zbikowski and Pagano, the sight of a Steelers jersey was more likely to trigger a negative reaction. Both men came from the Baltimore Ravens, bitter rivals of the Steelers in the AFC North.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/30/pagano-gives-steelers-fan-luck-jersey/

[flippy]

I woulda taken the jersey, gave it to some kid, and left.

[Ghost]

This story is ridiculous - there's no such thing as a big Arians fan....

[flippy]

This story is ridiculous - there's no such thing as a big Arians fan....

Unless it was Ben ;)

[Djfan]

I think "Big Arians" is his nick name, due to his arrogance or gut or something.

And, I would have left the jersey on the ground and left, too. Steelers or death.

[pfelix73]

I would've refused the jersey. Let them take the next step....

[Gus]

Calling steeler nation! Please show up to the next colt's practice wearing your favorite steeler jersey!

[RuthlessBurgher]

He should have told Pagano that he would only accept the Luck jersey if Andrew himself signed it (after all, the rookie QB was right there). Then he could sell the signed Luck Colts jersey for big bucks, and bought more Steeler jerseys with the profits.

:tt2

[NorCal-Steeler]

wow thats like stepping on the towel, i hope Luck doesnt get broken by the karma.

[flippy]

wow thats like stepping on the towel, i hope Luck doesnt get broken by the karma.

It doesn't matter. He'll get broken by Arians anyways.

[steelblood]

It doesn't matter. He'll get broken by Arians anyways.

So, it is a public practice. The guy isn't causing any trouble. And, they want to kick him out because he is wearing a jersey of another team? IF they would have kicked him out, I think the NFL would have had some negative press to deal with.

Also, attention Colts fans in Indianapolis! Borrow your neighbor's Steeler jersey (we all know there is at least one in your neighborhood), and then head on down to Colts training camp for your free Andrew Luck jersey!

[Djfan]

Indy Steelers is a HUGE fan club, and they are already on this.

[squidkid]

i would have made them drag me out of that practice while my buddies recorded it with their cell phones.
at a later date(after the settlement hearing) i would buy all my buddies new steelers jerseys to wear and colts jerseys to wipe our arses.

[Decleater]

Also, attention Colts fans in Indianapolis! Borrow your neighbor's Steeler jersey (we all know there is at least one in your neighborhood), and then head on down to Colts training camp for your free Andrew Luck jersey!

Now that's how to turn this thing around!

[fezziwig]

This is so messed up. How paranoid the coaches must be if this is what they need to focus their attention on. I would have left and came back with a Terrible Towel. As they were removing me from their site I'm sure they would have caused me a back injury and I would let them know I, wll be needing medical attention...... Let that work on them for a while.

[fordfixer]

For a free Andrew Luck jersey, wear Steelers gear to a Colts practice
By MJD | Shutdown Corner – 14 hours ago
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/free-andrew-luck-jersey-wear-steelers-gear-colts-150439113--nfl.html;_ylt=ArdfJZpeCpnkHSI4..QCQhlDubYF;_ylu=X3 oDMTRuNHZwZzlsBG1pdANGRUFUVVJFRCBNZWdhdHJvbiBORkwg QnVja2V0IHRlc3QgQ29yZSBwb3dlcmVkBHBrZwNiZGNkZTYwNi 02ZmJiLTM0MTEtYTI1ZS1lNDg2ZGU4MjY3MjYEcG9zAzQEc2Vj A21lZ2F0cm9uBHZlcgMzZDZkN2QzMC1kYjM5LTExZTEtYmI3ZS 1hNjFiOGY1Y2NmOWQ-;_ylg=X3oDMTI5aG5qMGJiBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRw c3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANuZmwEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnMEdGVzdANORk wyNFVtZWdhdHJvbkNPUkU-;_ylv=3

http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusnflexperts/Chuckles-Pagano.jpg

Getty ImagesChuck Pagano,

the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, used to be a Baltimore Raven. The same is true of Colts safety Tom Zbikowski. As ex-Ravens, they've both been through their share of wars with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Neither is ready to let go.

Their Steeler hatred still burns so intensely, in fact, that they won't tolerate the sight of a Steelers jersey at a Colts practice. A 24-year-old Steelers fan found this out on Monday when Pagano approached him personally and made him take off his Steelers jersey. From the AP:

''He (Zbikowski) saw it and said, `Look Coach we got to do something about that,''' Pagano said. ''I went over there. He's a huge (Bruce) Arians fan, obviously, and Mewelde Moore [ed. note: Arians and Moore are former Steelers]. So with a little bit of coaching and a brand new Andrew Luck jersey, I said, `Look, you've got to put this jersey on. If you do it, you get to stay, if not we've got to escort you out of here.'''

The Steelers and Colts have had their battles through the years, but they aren't traditional rivals. The Steelers figure again to be one of the dominant forces in the AFC, though, so if the Colts want to get to the Super Bowl, they'll have to — actually, I guess we can just go ahead and stop that sentence right there.

I think the real takeaway here is just how much the Steelers are inside the heads of the Ravens. Even when they leave Baltimore, a Raven can't shake the Steelers out of his system. It seems like some therapy might be necessary.

The fan said he wore the jersey to get the attention of Arians and Moore. It worked. He got to meet both of them after practice, and walked away with the Andrew Luck jersey. I guess no one can fault the Colts for not taking care of Steelers fans at their practices. Meanwhile, there's someone in that crowd thinking, "Hey, I bought a Jeff George Jersey in 1990. What do I get?"

[Djfan]

I keep hoping that I hear about lots of the Steelers players sending jerseys to this guy to say thanks.

[fordfixer]

I keep hoping that I hear about lots of the Steelers players sending jerseys to this guy to say thanks.
Thanks for what? he caved and took the Luck jersey,when he should have been drug out by security.:D

[steelz09]

He should of taken a dump and wiped his 'you know what' with the Luck jersey and then thrown it back to the coach. Ok, that might be over the top but it would of been well worth getting kicked out of Colts training camp just to tell that story.

[fezziwig]

Thanks for what? he caved and took the Luck jersey,when he should have been drug out by security.:D

Believe it or not, I would have turned down the jersey and had them escort me off the site. He sold out in my opinion. I would have had so much fun with being escorted out, the memory would have lasted longer than that jersey and Lucks career. If I lived their I would get a Steeler jersey and have them print on the back of it, " NO LUCK " Wonder how long until security would take to get me of their property ?

[fordfixer]

Believe it or not, I would have turned down the jersey and had them escort me off the site. He sold out in my opinion. I would have had so much fun with being escorted out, the memory would have lasted longer than that jersey and Lucks career. If I lived their I would get a Steeler jersey and have them print on the back of it, " NO LUCK " Wonder how long until security would take to get me of their property ?
I agee:tt1
And I would wave my terrible towel all the way out

[steelz09]

Believe it or not, I would have turned down the jersey and had them escort me off the site. He sold out in my opinion. I would have had so much fun with being escorted out, the memory would have lasted longer than that jersey and Lucks career. If I lived their I would get a Steeler jersey and have them print on the back of it, " NO LUCK " Wonder how long until security would take to get me of their property ?

haha "No Luck" ... that would have been sweet. Seriously, I would have taken pride in getting escorted out of there for simply wearing a Steelers jersey. That is actually quite pathetic that the Colts would go to that extreme because of 1 fan wearing al Steelers jersey.