MONESSEN - Colin Fagan may only be 5, but he knows football.
In fact, he knows what makes Hines Ward such a great wide receiver.
"He can run!" Colin shouted as he jumped up and down while waving his Terrible Towel.
His buddy, Keith Cushenberry, 5, also knows a little about his favorite Pittsburgh Steeler.
"Yeah, and he can catch, too," Keith said, wearing his Ward jersey.
The boys were among about 40 youngsters between the ages of 1 and 5 at the SPHS Child Care Center in Monessen who participated in a Steelers pep rally and pizza party on Friday.
Led by "head cheerleader" and teacher Teenie Maddox, the children sang songs, danced and waved their homemade Steeler wands and Terrible Towels.
And, like many offices and businesses around the Valley, the kids enjoyed a Steelers pizza party for lunch.
Maddox, a teacher at the daycare for the past 36 years, said workers have been transforming the facility and classrooms into a black-and-gold fan zone since the team made the playoffs.
Homemade black-and-gold streamers, posters, and drawings by the children adorn every nook and cranny of the center. The kids also made headbands to wear.
As the children continued to yell and chant, "Here we go Steelers, here we go," some decided to get their photos taken in the child-sized cardboard Steelers cutouts.
Classrooms and offices were renamed the coach's office, defensive coordinator's office, and special teams meeting room.
The staff even implemented this week's lessons to coincide with the Steelers quest for a record sixth Super Bowl championship.
"We've been teaching them teamwork and counting," said teacher assistant Gina Thorpe. "The kids have really been enjoying this."
Teacher Mary Anna Pitner said they also used the wave of Steeler fever to teach the children about ethnic diversity, as football players come from many races and backgrounds.
"They liked learning about all of them and seeing how different they all are," Pitner said.
While some youngsters may need assistance writing their names or learning how to read, they know all about their favorite team.
"They know their Steelers, that's for sure," said Maddox, who has watched generations of youngsters come through the doors of the daycare center. While the game jerseys and favorite players change for the kids over the years, she said their love for the team doesn't.
"These kids are born Steelers fans," Maddox said.
As Maddox led loud cheers and songs, the kids sang right along. They got especially excited when the "Polamalu" song came on, a popular parody of Troy Polamalu's last name.
The kids, of course, had no trouble sounding out the star safety's famous last name the proper way.
"Number 43, Polamalu, he's my favorite," said Jesus Davenport, 5.
Not to be outdone by the boys, the girls wore their favorite cheerleader outfits, black-and-gold pony tale holders and game shirts.
Alexie Dalrymple, 5, wore her number 7 Ben Roethlisberger jersey to the party, but admits he is not her favorite.
"Hines Ward is my favorite," Alexie said. "He catches the ball the best."
