The Pittsburgh Steelers announced their dates for the upcoming 2023 training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and are set to hit the practice fields at Saint Vincent College on July 26th. This is the time of year fans can watch and interact with some of their favorite Steelers players, along with getting a chance to see last April's draft picks get their feet wet in the high intensity environment of an NFL practice.
Steelers Head Coach, Mike Tomlin roams the grounds and talks with his players at St. Vincent College during 2022 training camp in Latrobe, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Fans near and far come to Latrobe each and every summer to get a glimpse of what the team is going to look like for the upcoming season. As for the Steelers and Saint Vincent College, the history runs deep between the two and they have a connection that started back in 1966. But exactly how did the relationship start?
Between the years 1933 and 1966, the Steelers bounced around to multiple locations to prepare for the upcoming season. One of the destinations even included leaving the state of Pennsylvania all together when they claimed stake at the University of Rhode Island to hold training camp from the years 1964 through 1966.
Over the course of those years however, the Steelers would hold a handful of practices at Saint Vincent throughout the years. The issue with Saint Vincent at that time was there was no room to house players, so the Steelers players would have to stay in nearby towns and commute to practice.
That all changed in 1963 when the campus of Saint Vincent suffered a significant fire which destroyed a portion of the campus. During the rebuilding stages, the new facilities being built on campus were going to provide more housing and become more usable for the Steelers moving forward.
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Steelers training camp during the mid 1970's at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
In the 1960's, Arthur Rooney Jr. who is the current Vice President of the Steelers, was an alumni of Saint Vincent College and worked for the Steelers as a scout in the late 1960s. Rooney Jr. wanted the Steelers to come to Saint Vincent and was the middleman between both organizations to make an agreement for the Steelers to hold training camp at Saint Vincent.
The Steelers held practices at Saint Vincent in 1966 and then made that their permanent training camp location in 1967 and it has been the Steelers' summer home ever since.
What to Keep An Eye On During The Steelers' 2023 Training Camp
Unlike last year, it is clear who the starting quarterback will be heading into the Steelers' Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. All eyes will be on second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett as he takes the practice field after an impressive rookie season that resulted in multiple forth quarter game-winning drives.
One position in particular Steelers fans will want to watch in the wide receiver spot. Newcomer Allen Robinson will be making his trip to Latrobe for the first time with the Steelers and his veteran presence working with a young receiver like George Pickens will be something to keep an eye on early in camp.
Second-year wide receiver Calvin Austin III, who was the Steelers' fourth-round pick last year, will be in action after he suffered a foot injury that kept him on the sidelines for his entire rookie season in 2022. Austin is one player that may surprise people who are in attendance at training camp in 2023.
It is no question that fans will be keeping an eye on newly acquired and future Hall of Fame cornerback Patrick Peterson. He will work with rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. during the first few days of camp as well. Due to his family ties and freakish talent, Porter Jr. is one of the most talked about draft picks the Steelers have made over the past few seasons. With Porter Jr. having Peterson there to help him throughout his first training camp, it is something that could pay the Steelers dividends from the start.
Steelers Training Camp Is An Event For All Ages
Training camp in Latrobe has always been a summer activity families enjoy. Located 49 minutes east of downtown Pittsburgh in a small community tucked into the Alleghany Mountains, it is the perfect weekend getaway to get out of the city and enjoy some football action in the late summer months.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward signs autographs during a practice in 2018 at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
It is the ideal spot for young fans to get to meet some of their favorite players and get a chance to see their heroes in the black and gold up close and personal.
Going to Latrobe in late July is something that should be on every Steelers fans football bucket list. There have been many infamous coaches and players to walk the campus and surrounding area. Spending time in the small town of Latrobe will show you have big of an impact the Steelers make on the small towns surrounding Pittsburgh.
What are you looking forward to most during the 2023 training camp? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below!
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