SLIPPERY ROCK — The picket lines were evident Wednesday at Slippery Rock University.

So were the athletes on the field.

Despite the first day of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) faculty strike, SRU's men's and women's soccer games went on as scheduled, as will The Rock's homecoming football game Saturday with Edinboro.

“We are full steam ahead,” SRU athletic director Paul Lueken said. “Our student-athletes are practicing and competing.”

While 14 of the 18 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference member coaches are members of the faculty union, they have a separate bargaining unit in terms of their contracts.

“The coaches have authorized to strike, but have not set a strike date,” SRU Director of Athletic Communication Jon Holtz said.

Lueken does not anticipate a coaches strike, saying that “negotiations are going well there and things could be settled by this weekend.”

Lueken is a member of the faculty and decided to cross the picket line Wednesday and report for work.

“First off, our coaches and student-athletes are here practicing and competing and that's who I'm here to serve,” Lueken said. “Secondly, I don't really know what the (APSCUF) issue is right now.

“I thought the offer made (Tuesday night) satisfied the problem areas.”

The athletic trainers are part of the current faculty strike. Rock football coach Shawn Lutz said he figured to have one graduate assistant trainer at practice Wednesday afternoon.

All of the SRU assistant football coaches are continuing to work.

“If we have to fill up the water bottles, we're fine with that,” Lutz said. “You can make up classroom time and academics. You can't make up a football game. Once it's canceled, it's done.

“I have a responsibility to the guys on this team. For our seniors, this is it for them.”

Lutz added that he told his football players to report to class as scheduled.

Lueken said there will be five graduate assistant trainers, three certified physical therapy students and two individuals certified from outside the university working Saturday's football and soccer games.

“Our athletes will be taken care of,” he said.

Lutz admitted that the strike is “a distraction,” but added it's “business as usual for us.”

All 14 athletic contests scheduled throughout the PSAC Wednesday — six men's soccer and seven women's soccer, one volleyball match — were set to take place as scheduled.

There are no scheduled PSAC athletic events today.