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Training Camp with the Walshes
It had been 18 years since my last visit to St. Vincent’s College. Before Steelers Nation Unite, there was the Steelers Fan Club. For joining a certain promotion you would be given access to field level passes at a training camp practice of your choice. Unfortunately this club disbanded shortly thereafter. Over the years I decided not to go since how can any experience compare to field level access.
In 2014 the Steelers held a joint practice with the Buffalo Bills at training camp in St. Vincent. In 2015, the Steelers were to return the favor. The Bills training camp is held at St. John Fisher College, located in the Rochester suburb of Pittsford, NY. It has been the summer home of the Bills since 2000 and is regarded as one of the top training camp sites in the NFL. Christina and I have friends in Rochester and we had been looking for a reason to visit…and this was it. I waited for the 2015 Steelers training camp schedule to come out. However, to my dismay, the Steelers wound up getting an extra preseason game. With the Hall of Fame game added to their schedule the Steelers scrapped their travel plans to Pittsford…and so did we.
In 2016 it was announced that the Steelers would host the Lions in a joint practice at St. Vincent. This time I would not miss it. One thing that would alter the plans was the weather, so I kept a watchful eye as far out as I could. I had not been to Steelers training camp in years, so I posted on Steel Balls if anyone had any suggestions on how to attend. That is when I got a message from Ben. He knew someone who worked at St. Vincent College. He put me in contact with them, and low and behold, I would be on the field level once again. Luckily weather would not be an issue.
We arrived on campus around noon that Tuesday. We were graciously invited to lunch at the college’s cafeteria. Our host led us over and as we entered the building two younger gentleman passed us. Christina was impressed that students would adorn their Steelers garb in support of training camp. That is when I informed her that they were ACTUALLY Steelers. Sean Davis, sporting his #28 Steelers sweatshirt helped me identify him. Next to him was Artie Burns. He was easily recognizable from having his first round face plastered on most Steelers sites.
