Westlake family has a steadfast love for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Photo courtesy of ANDY BYER LIFELONG FANS—Zac, left, and Max Byer have spent their entire adolesent lives rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers. On Sunday, the brothers hope to see the Black and Gold take down the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. Pittsburgh enters the game as four-point favorites. It’s six days before the kickoff of Super Bowl XL and Max Byer’s bedroom resembles a shrine to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The 14-year-old Westlake resident and Lindero Canyon Middle School student owns Steeler jerseys, helmets, flags, clothing and footballs. He’s got a Pittsburgh watch, a Terrible Towel, a team calendar, a night light, a trash can, the Steeler screen saver and news clippings on his walls.

Even Byer’s braces are Steeler black and gold.

“My grandparents and parents kind of raised me as a Steeler fan,” Byer said. “My grandpa always took me to the sports bar and we’d always watch the games together.”

If Byer isn’t the biggest Pittsburgh fan in Westlake, his older brother, Zac, might be.

Zac Byer, 17, a student at Agoura High School, takes pride in prolonging his family’s innate love of the NFL franchise. He also shoulders much of the responsibility for his brother turning out to be the superfan he’s become.

“It was kind of inherent,” Zac said. “(Max) just kind of saw me growing up and how much support I gave a team 2,500 miles away. So he kind of grew up and fell in line, thank God.”

The boy’s grandparents, Ed and Rochelle Lewinter, were born in Pittsburgh, as was their mother, Debra.

Debra and her family moved to California when she was 4 years old. When the relatives took their belongings and headed west, their love for the Steelers came along for the ride.

“My father was rooting for (Pittsburgh) all the time,” Debra said. “It was just kind of what I grew up with. When the boys were little and forming their allegiances, I guess grandpa’s team was as good as any.”

“But I think they’re even more diehard Steeler fans than my dad,” Debra said.

To this day, Zac and Max still spend many Sundays at sports bars in Woodland Hills watching Steeler games with Ed. Sometimes grandpa even make the drive to Westlake for the games.

Like any true fans, the Byer boys have made the pilgrimage to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh to watch their beloved team play. They witnessed a 34-34 tie against Atlanta in 2003, and returned the following year with their grandpa to see the Steelers defeat Arizona.

“It’s something they’ve been able to do with their grandfather which is an incredible memory,” Debra said. “I think they’ll always have the memory of traveling to Pittsburgh and sitting with grandpa and rooting for the Steelers. Not every kid has that opportunity to share it with their grandparent.”

Max said the fans in the Steel City were the best he’s ever encountered. His brother concurred.

“We’re coming out of our hotel the first year and there’s this guy with his face painted in a Steelers helmet, like full-on face paint,” Zac said. “I asked him if he was going to the game—like he’d paint his face on any normal Sunday. And of course he was going to the game, he told me.”

In preparation for Super Sunday, Max and Zac have transformed from loyal fans to Steeler fanatics.

Max said he’ll spend the entire week convincing his friends to root for Pittsburgh. On Friday he plans to wear his Hines Ward No. 86 jersey to school.

“I’ll be thinking good thoughts every night,” Max said, “picturing the outcome in my head.”

Zac’s been sporting his Pittsburgh gear all week. He feels good about his team’s chances to win the championship, but also admits that as game time approaches, his nerves will be wearing thin.

“I’ve never gotten a chance to see them on this big of a stage before,” Zac said. “But I’m looking forward to wearing black and gold for the rest of the week.”

In true Byer family fashion, Andy, the boy’s father and longtime New York Jet fan, has rearranged his Sunday travel plans so that he can sit back and enjoy a little slice of history with his family. “I’m taking the redeye out a11:20 Sunday night,” Andy Byesaid. “I get into Pensacola, Florida at 7:30 in the morning and have to make a speech at 8:30.

“If I’m delayed, blame it on the Steelers,” Andy said. “They better win.”