Camp is all about routine, which is why monotony starts to seep in for the players as the days at St. Vincent turn into weeks. The good part for fans is most of the afternoon practices are open and they run from roughly 3:00 to 5:30 pm, so it’s easy to schedule a trip to St. Vincent, which is right off Route 30 in Latrobe.
Fans should prepare for a day at camp and that doesn’t just mean showing up with working pens and Sharpies and items to be autographed by the Steelers. Hydrate before arriving at St. Vincent and take water as well as sunscreen with you.
The hotter and more humid the better, as far as Mike Tomlin is concerned, and Mother Nature usually accommodates the Steelers’ coach in that department. That makes for a long day for fans, especially younger ones. The best way to maximize the day is to prepare for the worst, from a heat and humidity standpoint, and hope for a cooler summer day. There is a fair amount of walking involved so wear comfortable shoes.
EXTRA POINTS
Jedi Mind Tricks and the Afterlife
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin often wears long-sleeved black shirts during afternoon practices to make a mind-over-matter point to his players in regard to the heat and humidity. Father Paul Taylor wears a black robe with a white collar to practices for a different reason. “I lose a couple of pounds and it’s also a good witness,” Taylor said. “People see me in long, black robes and the line I use is, ‘Do you know why I wear them?’ There’s one place hotter and I don’t want to go there.’ So it’s an opportunity for evangelization. People think about the afterlife and it’s kind of a funny way to do it.”