This weekend, we went to Steelers Training Camp with my parents. Before the season begins each year, the Steelers, Pittsburgh's professional football team, hold open practices the public can watch. 

It was such a perfect day to be outside---not too hot, with a nice breeze blowing. We arrived early to find a good spot to put our lawn chairs. 

The practices are held at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, about an hour an a half outside Pittsburgh. 

Everyone wore their black and gold, the Steelers colors. Dave, who is actually a Patriots fan, wore black and gold, too---he was just holding on to the hat for my dad. 

Some people lined the fence to try their hand at getting autographs as the players arrived for practice. 

Big Ben, number 7, participating in a practice drill. 

There was lots of action going on in the field. Defensive players wore gold jerseys and practiced on one field while offensive players wore white jerseys and practiced on the other field. 

These neat machines sent the balls up into the air as if they had been kicked to allow players to practice punt returns. When seen in real life, it is amazing how high in the air a ball can go from a single kick! 

Offense and defense joined up for some exercise drills. 

Everywhere you looked was a sea of black and gold. 

Offensive lineman ran through their blocking assignments.

Saint Vincent College has a beautiful setting in the Laurel Highlands, the same region where we are getting married later this Fall. 

About an hour before practice ended, Dave and I snagged a spot along the fence to try for autographs from the players on their way off the field. We couldn't have asked for better people to stand next to; hello Melissa and Carmen! It was great meeting you both. Hope you have a safe trip home. We're so glad you got your William Gay signature! 

Here, the Steelers mascot stopped to give these little fans a signature and a smile. 

Willie Parker, former player and a current coach for the Steelers, stopped to sign our Terrible Towel! 

Number 51, Sean Spence. 

Everyone was screaming for Ike Taylor; we were lucky and got an autograph from him, too! 

In the end, we got 14 signatures on my Dad's Steelers hat and one signature on the Terrible Towel. It was so kind of the players to stop for autographs; after a long practice, they were hot and sweaty, and I'm sure a shower was all that was on their minds. It was very kind of them to take the time for their fans.