John Beale, Post-Gazette Todd Kear of Bowie, MD, holds a sign welcoming the Steelers back to Pittsburgh after their arrival at Pittsburgh International Airport. Click photo for larger image. More Super Coverage: Ward's MVP performance in Super Bowl XL puts him in special class

Steeler-related celebrations, which began boisterously Sunday night, were followed yesterday by a warm afterglow and were ready to segue into the euphoria of a Downtown parade today that will reunite the team with its passionate fan base.

Across the region, followers shopped for "Super Bowl champions" T-shirts and hats near midnight Sunday after expending their emotions hours earlier at parties. Many arrived late for work yesterday, with schools encouraging the tardiness among their students with two-hour delays, and some took the day off altogether.

More people will be in absentia today, at least at mid-day as black-and-gold colors overwhelm the typical gray landscape of a February day in Pittsburgh.

Smiles every bit as bright as Hines Ward's were already a common sight in Western Pennsylvania yesterday and no one needed to ask why.

"It was like the old Pittsburgh I once knew, where everybody's happy and says hello on the sidewalk," observed Penny Folino, owner of Tom's Diner on the South Side.

That was just 12 hours after the 24-hour restaurant had to close temporarily, from concerns about Carson Street crowd control.

Police arrested 34 revelers citywide Sunday night, mostly on the South Side, for relatively minor violations such as criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and public intoxication. There were just three arrests in Oakland, but more property crime took place there than elsewhere, with four cars overturned and awnings or windows of several Forbes Avenue shops damaged, said University of Pittsburgh Police Chief Tim Delaney.

A few minor injuries from falls or fights took place, but police said such incidents were overshadowed by the thousands of Pittsburghers filling various neighborhoods' streets, simply to high-five friends, strangers and even officers.

Local residents "showed pride in themselves and pride in their team," said Pittsburgh Police Chief Dominic J. Costa, whose 300-plus officers were assisted by another 100 or so from the county, state, University of Pittsburgh and other agencies.

Even with her vinyl awning destroyed at the Subway sandwich shop in Oakland by someone who ripped it down and burned it in the middle of Forbes Avenue, owner Carol Crum marveled things weren't worse, considering how much alcohol was consumed starting Sunday morning.

"We've heard about Super Bowl celebrations in other cities with rioting and looting," Mr. Crum said. "When you look at the big picture, it's certainly not terrible, though I'm upset about it."

Some workplaces were a little emptier than usual, at least in the morning.

The Westinghouse Electric Co. parking lot in Monroeville took longer than normal to fill up. The 500 employees at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare in Moon received a free hour before they were expected to arrive for yesterday's work shift.

"The company recognizes how important the game was to everyone in Pittsburgh," said spokeswoman Lori Lukus.

Several local banks' representatives said they had more absences than normal, though not enough to affect branch operations. Mellon Financial Corp. told its workers they could attend today's rally as long as their departments are adequately staffed, and the Pittsburgh Technology Council is extending lunch hour for its employees.

At other Downtown workplaces declining to give formal approval, it may be easy to work the parade into the usual mid-day break. Many companies are also treating dress policies casually to let people wear Steelers apparel.

"People don't seem distracted, but I sure have seen a lot of really big smiles, way more than is usual for a snowy Monday," said Kennametal spokeswoman Joy Chandler.

Some fans are certain to be shopping for new merchandise on their way to the parade. Their fervor in the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl surpassed that of a decade ago, the last time the Steelers made the big game, and yesterday was even busier, said Tim Piett, manager of the Honus Wagner sporting goods store Downtown.

He said Super Bowl items will be hot the entire year, with purchases by customers such as Vanessa Clifton of Swissvale, who normally buys shirts only for her children. This time, the 42-year-old mother wanted one herself.

"I don't want to be left out," she said with a laugh.

Mike Feinberg Co. in the Strip District obtained about 300 shirts to sell by late morning. They were gone within a half-hour. The Super Bowl champ label will be stamped on everything from blankets and socks to trash cans and beer glasses and the store is awaiting word from the Steelers on anticipated production of a new Terrible Towel.

Chains from Kohl's to J.C. Penney to Dunham's Sports also stocked up on Super Bowl clothing, though shipments were arriving sporadically. At Kaufmann's, where customers lined up at stores that reopened Sunday night after the game, 88 orders were also placed by mid-day yesterday for $185 Waterford Crystal limited-edition footballs and helmets, a company official said.

"From what we have seen, Steelers fans are breaking all the rules with support of the team," said Jeff Hennion, spokesman for the Findlay-based Dick's Sporting Goods chain.

Susan Silinski of Banksville was among those trekking to the Dick's in South Hills Village immediately after the game, waiting in line for nearly an hour with her two teenagers so they could wear the gray, NFL-approved "Super Bowl Champion" shirts to school yesterday.

If one particular fan misses the rally, it's not because his spirit isn't in it. Terry O'Neill, 49, stricken by a heart attack watching the Steelers playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts at a South Side bar, is recuperating in his Arlington home with an implanted pacemaker. He watched the game there with relatives Sunday night and sounded a horn afterward, heard by all of his neighbors as they filled the street to exchange cheers like Pittsburghers throughout the region.

Mr. O'Neill said yesterday he kept his emotions in check this time, he said, by walking into another room during exciting moments. "I was just taking it easy, trying to do the right thing," he said. "I'm glad to have a second chance."

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Correction/Clarification: (Published Feb. 8, 2006) In this Feb. 7, 2006 story about Steeler fans, Carol Crum should have been referred to on second reference as Ms. Crum, not Mr. Crum. Also, in quoting Jeff Hennion, the story failed to make clear that he is a spokesman for Dick's Sporting Goods.