Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Right tackle Max Starks was among the players who showed up in Detroit yesterday sporting a Notre Dame No. 6 jersey -- a replica of the jersey Jerome Bettis wore in college. Click photo for larger image.

DETROIT -- The Steelers arrived here yesterday morning, many wearing the green of the Irish, not so much for luck but to honor teammate Jerome Bettis.

More than 20 teammates wore the old No. 6 Notre Dame jersey from Bettis' college playing days.

Linebacker Joey Porter bought the jerseys.

"Today is Jerome Bettis Day," wide receiver Hines Ward proclaimed. "That is all Jerome asked for, the opportunity to get to the Super Bowl, and what better way to represent him than to wear this Notre Dame jersey and give him that one day?"

Porter and others have honored some of their coaches by wearing their old NFL jerseys during the season, including coach Bill Cowher's Cleveland Browns jersey, coordinator Dick LeBeau's Detroit Lions jersey and linebackers coach Keith Butler's Seattle Seahawks jersey.

This is the first time they've worn a throwback jersey of a teammate.

"I guess they thought it was only fitting that, on the road back to Detroit, for everyone to wear Jerome's Notre Dame jersey," Bettis said.

Guard Alan Faneca showed up without a green No. 6.

"It's back at the hotel," he said. "I didn't realize this was a formal occasion."

Humble Longhorn

Nose tackle Casey Hampton won't hold his breath until the day his teammates wear his old Texas jersey in his honor.

"I'm not a Jerome," Hampton quipped. "He's at a different level. He's a future Hall of Famer."

Team 'pretty healthy'

The Steelers held a light workout at the Pontiac Silverdome early yesterday afternoon.

"We worked Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and had three good days of work," Cowher said.

"I gave the team Sunday off as a transition day to take care of their families."

After their hour-long interview session at Ford Field in the traditional Media Day, the Steelers will have the rest of today off.

They will practice tomorrow through Friday.

Cowher said outside linebacker James Harrison, who missed the past two games because of a high ankle sprain, should be ready to go.

"We are pretty healthy. Come Wednesday, we should have everybody working, outside of Travis Kirschke, who will probably be working Thursday."

Kirschke, who backs up defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen, has a groin injury.

Temporary turf

Because this will be the first Super Bowl played on FieldTurf, the same artificial surface was installed on the Steelers' practice field at the Pontiac Silverdome, just for the team's use this week.

The Seahawks will practice at the Detroit Lions' facility, which already had FieldTurf.

"It took a week to lay down," said John Kissick, the Silverdome's director of operations.

It is the same artificial turf the Steelers have at their indoor facility in Pittsburgh. The Seahawks also play on FieldTurf at Qwest Field in Seattle and practice on it at their facility.

FieldTurf will donate the Silverdome field to Wisner Stadium, home of Pontiac Central High School, when the Steelers are done this week.

Heavy issue

Bettis was told yesterday the Seahawks don't believe he weighs his listed 255 pounds.

"They don't believe we are a good football team, either," he said. "They can weigh me on Sunday."

Bus unhinged?

The Steelers got a slight scare on their bus trip from the airport to their hotel. One of the luggage compartment latches came undone. The buses pulled over, the driver closed the door and off they went.

The Steelers expect more from their own Bus on Sunday.

Mass microphones

The crush around the six Steelers who were brought to their first interviews yesterday was immense.

"You finally realize that you are in the Super Bowl, being here, having all the media," Ward said. "This is what it's all about. It's a great feeling."

It's not just the media swamping Ward for requests. It's also family members with requests for tickets.

"McNabb's mom said it best," Ward said, referring to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. "When the Super Bowl comes around, you lose a lot of family members. That's been the case in my house."

Come again?

Sunday, it will be the Steelers' famed zone blitz against Mike Holmgren's classic West Coast offense. And, in one of many questionable questions players are sure to face this week, Steelers cornerback Deshea Townsend was asked if the zone blitz could counter the West Coast.

"I don't know," he replied. "I hope it was designed to stop the West Coast offense."

If not, they could quickly install some other kind of defense.