Saturday, August 28, 2010

The Best Day Ever!... Steelers Training Camp


"It was awesome," Janet Toth said about her August 1st trip to St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. to take in the first day of the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. Her grand daughter Jessica Toth of Alexandria, Pa. Who was along on the trip calls it "The best day EVER!

Who knew, the two lottery tickets given to Janet by her son David as part of a Christmas gift would turn into such a windfall for the Nanty Glo native and current Vice President of the Nant-Y-Glo Tri Area Museum and Historical Society. "We didn't win the lottery, but on the back of the tickets was a chance to win a Steeler training camp lottery, so David chipped in with another ticket, I entered and basically forgot about it," said Janet.

In February, Janet got the phone call that informed her she had won the Steeler lottery and was allowed to take along a guest. Jessica, who is a Steeler fan as well, was visiting in Janet's Ebensburg home and was invited along.

On the big day, the two Toth family football fans made the trip to Latrobe where they were treated to a film of Steelers' game highlights and then allowed on the sidelines of Chuck Noll Field field to watch the Steelers go through their practice session. "We were allowed to take all the photos we wanted," said Jessica. Later in the afternoon, they attended an autograph session with team members; Dennis Dixon, who aspires to be a Steeler quarterback and Aaron Smith. After the autograph session they, along with scores of other fans, were treated to a luncheon of hot dogs, burgers and veggies. "The food was very good," said Janet.

The girls came home with an autographed baseball cap, refrigerator magnets, a booklet of discount coupons, and enough memories to last them a lifetime. Janet says," I have been a football fan since birth, and a Steeler fan since birth as well. After all, they were formed as a team in 1933, the year I was born." Jessica's boyfriend, Jeff, who was present during our interview, is a Dallas Cowboys fan and he says of Steeler mania. "I think Steeler fans are nuts!"



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