Annual ‘Friday Night Lights’ practice comes to Latrobe

Aside from his family, there is not much Mike Tomlin enjoys more than training camp. And there, perhaps, is no greater highlight of training camp than the annual “Friday Night Lights” Pittsburgh Steelers practice.

For the 16th time under Tomlin, the Steelers will spend their traditional second Friday of camp not on the familiar fields of Saint Vincent College in Unity but at Latrobe Memorial Stadium on Irving Avenue in town.

“I’m excited about Friday Night Lights,” Tomlin said after Thursday’s practice at Saint Vincent. “Always excited to get over there and enjoy the venue, which is a tradition here, obviously.”

Friday’s practice is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10, and the process for obtaining them has switched to Ticketmaster. Age 5 and under are free, and seating is general admission. Proceeds benefit Greater Latrobe School District programs and community organizations.

Friday Night Lights pic.twitter.com/6CVJalawSf

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 4, 2023

Typically, the practice involves full pads, and often a high-profile, fan-friendly drill such as “goal-line” is staged. Most players sign autographs before practice after arriving via bus from Saint Vincent.

A free event, Latrobe Fest, will, among other activities, feature Steelers alumni autographs, prize wheel giveaways, interactive football games and a performance by the Steeline drumline. It runs noon to 5 p.m. Friday.

Practices are mandated by league rules to last two hours. Tomlin often finds little nuggets to make the annual Friday Night Lights practice entertaining. Last year, for example, the Steelers debuted a package in which former starting center Kendrick Green lined up as a fullback and even caught a pass.