Out-of-state football fans find community in Columbia fan groups

O’Hara’s Public House in downtown Lexington, at a glance, is just a regular pub.

But look a little closer, and you’ll notice Pittsburgh Steelers memorabilia decorating the restaurant and tributes to Pittsburgh delicacies on the menu. 

The subtle nods to the city and its football team are no accident, owner and Pittsburgh native Matt O’Hara said. 

“When I was getting ready to open the pub, I very conscientiously sought out fellow Steelers fans so that we could get together on Sundays and wave our Terrible Towels and all sing the Steelers Polka together,” owner Matt O’Hara said.

O’Hara’s vision takes shape on autumn Sunday afternoons, when the pub is overtaken by an army of customers dressed in black and yellow, waving gold towels in the air. 

The bar is the only one in the Midlands recognized by the Steelers organization as a “Steelers bar” where fans can gather to watch the team play.

O’Hara also created the “Soda City Steelers Fans” Facebook group, which has attracted Columbia-area fans to the restaurant and provided them with a communication platform separate from the pub’s other customers. 

“My goal was to create a communication avenue that we could use for those of us who are crazy Steeler fans without subjecting all of my restaurant guests to that level of craziness,” O’Hara said.

Pittsburgh isn’t the only object of Columbia fans’ affection. Gayle Miller created the “Eagles fans attending UofSC” Facebook group when her son Seth first arrived at the University of South Carolina. 

“Growing up, going to games and being an Eagles fan is really a big part of who we are,” said Seth Miller, who’s now a senior. “I wanted to see where else I could watch with other fans so it wasn’t just me sitting in my living room, but me watching with others and enjoying and being happy, being sad, just being a fan with other people.” 

Though most people interacting with the group are parents, the page has brought students together as they gather to watch the Eagles’ Sunday games at Columbia’s Thirsty Fellow restaurant. For some, meeting up with strangers initially brought apprehension. But Seth Miller said it’s a necessary step out of students’ comfort zones. 

“When I pitched them the idea of, ‘Hey, let’s all meet up at Thirsty Fellow to watch it with other Eagles fans,’ a lot of people are hesitant because they don’t know who’s actually there,” he said. “… Obviously, with all things in life, you have to do it more than just once to be able to know someone there. … But once you go there, you’ll know at least one other person, whether it’s me or someone else in the group, that you can be familiar with when you go again.” 

After that, students find the fan group often keeps them coming back and creates a space for students to take a break and cheer on the Eagles. 

“This is a very diverse group of people,” he said. For those who are from Philadelphia, that “only adds another layer of, ‘Alright, this is a great spot to just step away and be with people that you’re close to.’” 

Gayle Miller also said the bonds created through the fan group have helped out-of-state students.

“It alleviates some of the homesickness, because at least you’ve got people that you can relate to and it feels like home,” she said. 

O’Hara said cheering for the Steelers also unites fans.

“When I go in there on Sundays with my Steelers fan friends, these people are Democrats and Republicans,” O’Hara said. “They’re Black and white. They are Protestants and Catholics. They’re Irish and English. But on Sundays, we wear our black and gold and we cheer for the Steelers.”