Pittsburgh Steelers fans, it's that time of the year again. That's right, the team is back in Latrobe for training camp. It's the first time since 2019, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Steelers to do training camp at Heinz Field, now Acrisure Stadium, over the past few years.
Jul 29, 2016; Latrobe, PA, USA; A Pittsburgh Steelers helmet sits on the field during training camp at Saint Vincent College. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Saint Vincent College, located in Latrobe, has been the location of Steelers training camps since 1966. It provides an experience unlike any other, especially in the NFL. During the next few weeks, players and coaches stay in dorm-style rooms. That's part of the reason for why the team wasn't in Latrobe during the pandemic, as it was simply impossible to socially distance at Saint Vincent.
On Tuesday, the players showed up for the first time in three years, and for some of them, their first time of their professional careers. TJ Watt has evolved into one of the game's best players, but he still understands the importance of the week in Latrobe. The five-year veteran discussed this, via Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
"I mean, just spending time with each other. There's no escape here," Watt said via Adamski. "We're all going to be around each other, whether we're on the field or in the training room. Everything's just so compact here, where it's easier to kind of take a younger guy under your wing, kind of show him how things go. A lot of stories, past stories, a lot of building camaraderies that's necessary to make a run in the playoffs."
Latrobe is special for many reasons, especially the rich history and nostalgia. All six Super Bowl-winning Steelers teams have began their seasons right in Latrobe for training camp. This includes the Steel Curtain days, meaning legends like "Mean" Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Jack Lambert, and everyone else from that era used to do camp at Saint Vincent College.
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense sprints to start their drills during an NFL football training camp practice in Latrobe, Pa., Sunday, July 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Watt mentioned how crucial the week is for building camaraderie with the young guys, which the Steelers possess plenty of. The offense specifically, has been rebuilt over the NFL Draft in the past few seasons. Let's hope this week in Latrobe is the beginning of a special season in Pittsburgh.
Watch Watt's full clip from Tuesday here:
TJ Watt talks camp pic.twitter.com/sW5H46KxQU
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) July 26, 2022
What are your guys' favorite Steelers memories from Latrobe? How crucial is this week for the young guys on the team? Will it go a long way in building the chemistry of a lot of the new pieces? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!
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