Alyssa Cwanger, Post-Gazette Kristen Thompson, of Columbus, Ohio, holds Jaysen Wilson, 9 months, while Jaden Wilson, 5, center, and Justin Wilson, 3, back to camera, play with a football after having their picture taken in the Steelers locker room at Heinz Field yesterday. Click photo for larger image.

Yesterday was their first opportunity to bond since the heady days following the Feb. 5 Super Bowl win and the ensuing parade.

More than 1,000 Steelers fans lined up outside Heinz Field for the chance to watch the NFL Draft -- a respite from the long wait until the Steelers' first pre-season home game, Aug. 19.

It was the fourth year that Jessica Kuchera, 23, of Altoona, and Dana Hammond, 24, of Waynesburg attended the 2006 Steelers Fan Blitz. This year, Mrs. Kuchera brought her newlywed husband and two of his brothers.

The wedding, she and Ms. Hammond explained, had a black-and-gold theme.

"But it wasn't tacky, it was classy," Mrs. Kuchera said.

"It was," Ms. Hammond agreed. "It was classy looking."

The bridesmaids wore dresses with gold bodices and black skirts. The groomsmen were in black tuxedos with gold vests and bow ties. Ms. Hammond had brought Mrs. Kuchera an album of the bachelorette party and the wedding that they looked at while tailgating yesterday.

The tailgate party was complete with Steelers Jersey beer cozies, pasta salad, a grill with hamburgers and hot dogs. After the draft day activities, and more than two cases of beer, they were heading to the Pirates game. Mrs. Kuchera's husband, Matt Kuchera, 21, is a bigger Pirates fan than a Steelers fan.

Several other Steelers fans were inside the stadium, most standing in a variety of lines. One of the youngest among the 134 people waiting to be photographed in front of the Vince Lombardi Trophy was 7-month-old Kaylyn Sawicky, of Charleroi. The Steelers logo on Kaylyn's blanket sleeper was hidden by her bib.

Dan Cahn, 47, of Greensburg, got in line at noon with his two sons, his daughter and his granddaughter for the autographs of Trai Essex and Randy Grossman. They got to the edge of the table where the players were sitting, an hour and 20 minutes later. Other fans lined up to have their faces painted and to try to kick a football through the goal posts.

There was also the opportunity to shop. Jostens, the company making the Steelers Super Bowl rings, was selling their Super Bowl rings for fans. Steelers merchandise was at all the concessions and people were lining up for the same hot dogs and sandwiches they could buy during game days.

The big event of the day, the NFL Draft, was shown on the Jumbotron and the televisions scattered throughout the plaza under the stands.

Fans came from all over for the 2006 Steelers Fan Blitz.

Joe Grabowski, 38, of suburban Atlanta, flew in with his wife, Michelle, 39, and their two daughters, Chrissy, 9, and Mandy, 5.

Mr. Grabowski, who grew up in Sheraden, said the team is in his blood. The draft day event gave him a chance to be with fellow Steelers fans.

"All my friends hate me," Mr. Grabowski said. "All my friends are Falcons fans. They say 'I can't believe you won the Super Bowl'."