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LAS CRUCES - It was downright bitter cold Wednesday, but Hope Ibarra, a 17-year-old Mayfield High School student seemed impervious to record low temperatures.
She said it reminded her of the kind of weather one would expect to find this time of year in Pittsburgh.
It was in the low teens but there was Ibarra, wearing a mesh, throwback replica Pittsburgh Steelers jersey with number 43, in gold, on the front and back. That's the number of Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu, one of the team's many stars.
"He's my idol, my hero," Ibarra said. "I'd go wherever I could to watch him play, and maybe the chance to meet him."
She is getting that chance, a once-in-a-lifetime chance that a lot of people would die for. Ibarra is at the Super Bowl for today's 4:30 p.m. MST game between her beloved Steelers and the Green Bay Packers. Ibarra is among at least a dozen Las Crucens who have braved the cold, the long drive or moderately expensive plane trip to and from the Metroplex, and out-of-pocket costs to make the trip.
But none of that fazed the Steelers fans. They didn't even care that they don't actually have tickets to get into today's game.
"At about $2,500 a pop that's too steep for me," said longtime Steelers fan David Rivera. "If I can find a scalper who is willing to sell me a ticket at less than that, then I might consider buying it. Even if it's only for the second half of the game, I'd consider buying a ticket from a scalper."
Of the dozen, nine traveled in Miguel
"Yeah, I understand the roads could be bad and the trip could be rough, but we'll make it," Salcedo said. "We've not made it before. Even if it does get bad on the road, I expect we'll get there in plenty of time to party on Saturday and tailgate (today) with all the other Steelers fans."
Ready to party
Salcedo said this weekend's trip was jam-packed. Friday night was set aside for partying with other Steelers fans at a recreational vehicle park where they're staying this weekend.
"We checked it out, and the owners told us that the RV park is about 70 percent to 30 percent Steelers fans over Packers fans," Ibarra said. "That should make it a blast."
Saturday was spent hanging out with other Steelers fans outside of Cowboys Stadium, where the game will be played. Without a flinch, Salcedo said a parking pass that put them in relatively close distance to the stadium cost between $350 to $400.
"Someone else we know got a pass for $100 but they're still five miles from the stadium," Jose Ibarra said. "We wanted to be as close as we could get."
That should put the Las Crucens close enough to enjoy a taste of the Super Bowl. Saturday was set aside to attend the NFL Experience, at the Dallas Convention Center, where they got to participate in a number of activities including autograph signing parties with several NFL players.
"Mostly, though, we just want to hang out with Steelers fans and share in all of the excitement with them," Salcedo said. "Steelers fans are so warm, so genuine, so gracious. Once when we went to a game in Pittsburgh, and they found out where we were from, they took very good care of us and showed us some tremendous hospitality. That's just the kind of people that they are."
Close to the action
Today will be spent tailgating for several hours before the game near the stadium. Then, provided they aren't able to find last-minute affordable tickets from scalpers, the plan for the 12 Las Crucens is to go to Twin Peaks, a popular and well-known restaurant in Dallas where they'll be able to watch the game with an all-you-can eat buffet and drinks.
Hope Ibarra said it's karma that the Steelers are in the Super Bowl, in Arlington, where it's still close enough for her to get to, to see her favorite team and player.
"Every single time we've made it to the Super Bowl it's because nobody had faith in us," said Ibarra, with the "we" referring to the Steelers. "That's one of the reasons I love this team so much, because they kept the faith and did what they had to do to get into this (championship) game. We're here for a reason, and because of that reason that's why I'm here."
Ibarra will soon graduate from Mayfield High School, and she already knows what she wants as a graduation present.
"I want to go to another Steelers game," she said firmly. Turning to her father, she added, "Dad, you know what I want. I want to be around my team, my heroes."
Jose Ibarra said, "I guess we know what we're going to do after she graduates."
Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452
