Steelers youth camp offers more than football
SLIPPERY ROCK — The Pittsburgh Steelers Youth Football Camps focus on more than catching the ball, making cuts and throwing accurate passes.
They also include words of encouragement and inspiration.
Nearly 200 campers ages 6-14 learned both the physical and mental keys to the game Monday at Slippery Rock University's soccer fields. The camp concludes today.
The Steelers do not take lightly their choice of players to participate in the camp.
“We choose guys who want to work with kids, but who also have good stories,” said Mike Marchinsky, Youth Football and Marketing Manager for the Steelers. “One of the things we want the kids to learn here are life lessons.
“Anything is possible as long as you work hard.”
Halfway through Monday's camp, youths gathered to listen to several former and current Steeler players explain how they landed in the NFL.
One of the stories was that of B.J. Finney, a second-year offensive lineman from Kansas State.
“I began watching football sitting in my dad's lap when I was three years old,” Finney said. “I'm from Wichita, Kansas, but grew up a huge Steelers fan. My dad fell in love with the Steelers dynasty in the 1970s, all of those great players. When I came along, it was my turn to root for them.
“I had a Jerome Bettis jersey, he was my guy.”
Finney's father died when B.J. was 12 years old.
“I didn't know if I wanted to play football again because it was our game and he was gone. But my mom and grandma urged me to keep playing in his honor, so I did.”
Finney walked on at Kansas State and became an All-American at center. On May 2, 2015, he took the phone call he had dreamed of receiving.
“The Steelers contacted me. They wanted me to be part of their team,” he said. “I could feel my old man sitting there next to me.”
The Steelers signed Finney as a free agent.
“If you want something, go get it,” he said.
Other current Steelers present Monday were fullback Roosevelt Nix, running back Fitzgerald Toussaint and defensive back Shamarko Thomas. Former Steelers Charlie Batch and Mike Schneck were also on hand. Current linebacker Arthur Moats and former lineman Craig Wolfley were scheduled for today.
The camp at SRU is part of a trio of youth camps the Steelers are holding this summer. One was held at California (Pa.) University earlier this month and the third will take place at West Allegheny High School July 21-22.“We've been doing this since 2009,” said Marchinsky. “This is the fourth year we've held a camp at Slippery Rock.”Slippery Rock resident Josh Tomasovic is taking part for the second straight year.“I play football for the Slippery Rock Rockets (youth football team),” said Tomasovic, 10. “I'm a cornerback, safety and tight end. My favorite drill was the one where we were catching passes.”While the camp provided a lot of instruction, there were still some light-hearted moments.“I was talking with Shamarko Thomas, just joking around,” said Tomasovic, who will be a 5th-grader at Moraine Elementary in the fall. “He was getting his swag on.”Nix came to last year's event and knew what to expect coming in this time.“I enjoy helping the youth out and do whatever I can,” he said. “The really young kids may not know everything that is going on here, but at least it gives them a chance to get out, run around and be active.“If some of the kids weren't playing football before this, maybe the camp will make them want to play.”The temperature climbed into the mid-80s on Monday — a pretty accurate forecast of what Nix and his teammates will run into when they arrive in Latrobe for training camp next month.Nix has already been through one for the Steelers. He's not anticipating the second one being any easier.“Training camp is training camp,” he said. “If anything, it will be even harder. Between the physical and mental aspect of it, Coach T (head coach Mike Tomlin) always throws some adversity our way.”
