Aug 13, 2006 By Josh Krysak 5 min read

LATROBE – Only six months ago, the “Steelers Nation” packed up the Iron City and the perogies and began a pilgrimage to Detroit that would ultimately result in that long-awaited “one for the thumb” Super Bowl championship for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, a new trek is under way as thousands of Steelers fanatics make another pilgrimage, albeit a shorter one, to spend a few hours a day during the first few weeks of August watching their five-time Super Bowl champion Steelers gear up for another season.

Uniontown Area School Board Director Harry “Dutch” Kaufman said he and his son make a trip to training camp every year.

Kaufman of Uniontown said there is something unique about the way camp is set up and conducted at St. Vincent College that makes it special.

“It is great to go up and see all the guys and be able to just watch practice in an informal setting,” Kaufman said. “We go up every year. And this year is no exception.”

Kaufman is just one of thousands of area fans who take advantage of the free opportunity to watch their gridiron heroes practice each year during training camp in Latrobe.

Around 3 p.m. on Monday, thousands of fans sprawled on the lawn and marched St. Vincent’s paths as a brief, but steady rain fell.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger lifted his head to the sky and stretched his arms, accepting the cooling shower.

“Let’s hear it for the rain,” he shouted to the crowd. The black and gold fans cheered and shouted to “Big Ben” who, in turn, waved back.

That type of interaction is what draws large crowds to the open practices and further builds what most Steelers fans consider one of the strongest player-fan bonds in the NFL.

Dave Swisher and his daughter, Libby, made the three-hour trip from Danville, Pa., to the practice fields for the first time Monday to get a firsthand dose of that bond.

“This is my first camp in 40 years,” Swisher said. “I was on vacation this week and we knew this was going on, so I said, ‘Why not?’ We are loving this.”

“They are the … Super Bowl champs,” Swisher said, shaking his head, his thick glasses sliding down his sweating face. “I still can’t believe it.”

“Yeah, you cried, Dad,” Libby Swisher said.

“You bet I was crying. I mean we are the champs. Of course, I cried,” Swisher said.

Swisher said he was able to get wide receiver Hines Ward’s autograph prior to practice, something Libby still was struggling to comprehend.

But for Swisher, it was the tonic he has sought for decades.

“This sickness I have for the Steelers, it didn’t begin last year. It began 40 years ago. I live with it,” he said.

Crowds flocked to the corner of the practice fields to watch the two-minute drills, the final segment of the afternoon practice where full contact is expected and the starting offense battles the starting defense.

With temperatures climbing into the mid-90s, dedicated fans hid from the burning sun beneath umbrellas patiently waiting for practice to end.

And when star players such as linebacker Joey Porter or tight end Heath Miller walked off the field, those of fans crushed in toward the security fencing, crying out their names in hope of an autograph.

And most of the players do stop to sign and talk with their fans.

Linebacker Clark Haggans smiled at one fan that asked if the Steelers would repeat as Super Bowl champs this season.

“I hope so,” Haggans said as he handed back a signed Terrible Towel.

Everyone from wide receiver Quincy Morgan to defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau stopped for at least a few minutes for the black and gold faithful.

Long after everyone from head coach Bill Cowher to the water boys left the practice field, Roethlisberger still was making his way along the fence line, joking with fans and signing hundreds of autographs.

And the media-dubbed black and gold “rock star” often goes beyond expectations, as was the case early in training camp when he reached under the ropes and tapped 9-year-old Triston Crayton on the shoulder.

Crayton, who lives in Virginia but was visiting his grandparents in Uniontown, was attending his first training camp and was just hopeful to get “Big Ben’s” autograph.

But when Ben quieted the crowd and pulled Triston at random from the throng, he got a little more.

According to Crayton, Roethlisberger took him onto the field and introduced him to about a dozen players and then had Crayton hold his helmet as he signed autographs.

After signing for dozens of fans, Roethlisberger thanked Crayton for his help, pulled one of his Nike shoes from his foot and signed it for Crayton.

“He pulled off his shoe and signed it,” Crayton said smiling. “Hines Ward is my favorite Steeler, but now Ben is close behind.”

Judy Williams of Jeannette brought her two grandsons and a homemade Steelers sign to St. Vincent’s Monday for their second trip to training camp, hoping for an experience like Crayton’s.

“It is wonderful for them to get a chance to meet the players and get autographs,” Williams said, as she shielded sunshine from her eyes. “They really enjoy it.”

Her grandsons, Zack and Brandon, both decked in black and gold garb, leaned impatiently against the Steelers emblazoned fencing hoping they picked a good spot for signatures.

“We don’t really know where would be best,” Williams said. “We are just hoping they come over here.”