The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of a few NFL teams that still go away for training camp, holding it at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. It’s a long-standing tradition embraced by players and fans, and former Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley explained why it works so well for the Steelers.
“As a coach, training camp is a unique, special time when it is away from where you normally work. You’re away from all the distractions, family, it forces teams to build that unmeasurable [sic] thing called chemistry. The Steelers are a team that still goes to Latrobe. I’ll never ever forget, Mr. Rooney getting up in front of the team and saying, these aren’t the greatest digs. I get that. But it’s worked. It’s worked for a long period of time, so just deal with it and, and make the most of it,” Haley said on The End Zone on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Instead of hosting training camp at Acrisure Stadium or the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, the Steelers travel, forcing them to stay in dorms. By its nature, it fosters bonding experiences and helps the team build chemistry. Instead of going to their separate homes and spending time with their families and friends away from the team, the players and coaches have only each other in Latrobe.
It can lead to some funny stories when two players with different preferences share a room, and it can lead to friendly competition. Players battle in card games, video games and other forms of competition in their free time, and the time everyone spends together helps the Steelers become a more cohesive unit.
It’s clearly something that’s welcomed by coaching staffs past and present, and it doesn’t seem to be a tradition going away anytime soon. While it might not be ideal for players to stay in college dorms for almost a month, the camaraderie that comes with it can make it worth it for the team and it’s something that players always reference as a way they can build relationships with their teammates.
Having players in one area also limits potential off-field trouble and can help build a winning environment. It’ll be interesting to see how Pittsburgh’s first training camp in Latrobe under Mike McCarthy looks, but one thing that should remain a constant is the bonding that happens when everyone gets together.