Johnstown Summer Camp

[VeroBeachPanther]

I was reading through the thread on when we became a PITT fan and I got to thinking that we have not been good, really good, since summer camp was moved from UPJ to UPMC practice facility. Maybe it provided some focus or bonding or beachhead into UPS territory, whatever.

It was really cool to sit on the grassy hill and watch TD and all the other great running backs working hard and trying to beat the summer heat. The media didn't want to make the trip to Richland to cover the camp.

Interesting to note, but Stillers still leave town for the mountains for a couple of weeks. I think it separates the camp from other training activities, helps the team to bond and breaks up the routine of preparing for the upcoming season.

 

[wbrpanther]

I was reading through the thread on when we became a PITT fan and I got to thinking that we have not been good, really good, since summer camp was moved from UPJ to UPMC practice facility. Maybe it provided some focus or bonding or beachhead into UPS territory, whatever.

It was really cool to sit on the grassy hill and watch TD and all the other great running backs working hard and trying to beat the summer heat. The media didn't want to make the trip to Richland to cover the camp.

Interesting to note, but Stillers still leave town for the mountains for a couple of weeks. I think it separates the camp from other training activities, helps the team to bond and breaks up the routine of preparing for the upcoming season.

Amen brother! Summer camp at UPJ was a yearly event for me and some other fellow lairmen. I lived 5 miles from that campus and was a daily visitor. But you also must remember some of our worst teams ever were formed at UPJ. I was there on that hillside the day freshman Tony Dorsett took a pitchout on his fist scrimmage carry and busted down the right sideline for a touchdown. The excitement at that moment among the hundred or so fans watching was something I will always remember.

I doubt they ever return to Johnstown for summer camp but the memories remain.

 

[gbgpanther]

Amen brother! Summer camp at UPJ was a yearly event for me and some other fellow lairmen. I lived 5 miles from that campus and was a daily visitor. But you also must remember some of our worst teams ever were formed at UPJ. I was there on that hillside the day freshman Tony Dorsett took a pitchout on his fist scrimmage carry and busted down the right sideline for a touchdown. The excitement at that moment among the hundred or so fans watching was something I will always remember.

I doubt they ever return to Johnstown for summer camp but the memories remain.

What I remember was when it rained it was a swamp. LOL

 

[upj87]

I was reading through the thread on when we became a PITT fan and I got to thinking that we have not been good, really good, since summer camp was moved from UPJ to UPMC practice facility. Maybe it provided some focus or bonding or beachhead into UPS territory, whatever.

It was really cool to sit on the grassy hill and watch TD and all the other great running backs working hard and trying to beat the summer heat. The media didn't want to make the trip to Richland to cover the camp.

Interesting to note, but Stillers still leave town for the mountains for a couple of weeks. I think it separates the camp from other training activities, helps the team to bond and breaks up the routine of preparing for the upcoming season.

people forget that high schools also used to travel to camp (ala Remember the Titans)

 

[Las Panteras]

I remember going to Johnstown to watch Paul Hackett's panthers prepare for the season.

I drove home on the turnpike thinking we will be lucky to win 4 games

Eff Johnstown ....eff Paul Hackett

 

[wbrpanther]

I remember going to Johnstown to watch Paul Hackett's panthers prepare for the season.

I drove home on the turnpike thinking we will be lucky to win 4 games

Eff Johnstown ....eff Paul Hackett

Well the '76 National Champs also practiced at Johnstown so there's that. agree on eff Hackett though.

 

[wbrpanther]

people forget that high schools also used to travel to camp (ala Remember the Titans)

Our Windber Ramblers have their own camp about 4 miles outside of Windber. Camp Hamilton and if you recognize that name it's because Pitt owned it practiced there until the '36 flood wiped it out. Windber eventually purchased it and has held their summer camp there for nigh on 75 years.

 

[VeroBeachPanther]

TD used my shoulder as a support to get down some concrete stairs, that dude was cut lean. But nothing compared to watching 300lb Sean Gilbert challenging any and all to after practice sprint championship. He was an athlete.

 

[Pittx9]

Their facilities are too nice to go anywhere now. It's one of their selling points. I do think having camp at a branch campus is pretty cool though. I just can't see them ever going back to that.

 

[Black_Man_Panther]

Towards the end they really seemed to have it together... they opened the dorms up so you could stay over night right on campus rather than going out to a hotel. And they had a buffet in a tent on top of the hill where you could eat and chat w/ players/coaches whoever.

I will never forget in '96 running into Steve Pederson in one of the buildings. He had just left his family and was walking alone towards me and my friend. He had this look on his face - 2 brothers coming towards him and no one around - he probably thought he was gonna get rolled. I held out my hand to shake and said "thank you for saving Pitt football". He smiled, shook my hand and stood there and talked to us for like 20 minutes. Nice as can be. Great guy.

 

[upj87]

I was reading through the thread on when we became a PITT fan and I got to thinking that we have not been good, really good, since summer camp was moved from UPJ to UPMC practice facility. Maybe it provided some focus or bonding or beachhead into UPS territory, whatever.

It was really cool to sit on the grassy hill and watch TD and all the other great running backs working hard and trying to beat the summer heat. The media didn't want to make the trip to Richland to cover the camp.

Interesting to note, but Stillers still leave town for the mountains for a couple of weeks. I think it separates the camp from other training activities, helps the team to bond and breaks up the routine of preparing for the upcoming season.

beachhead into UPS territory???...uh, back in the day Johnstown and the surrounding areas had a greater percentage of Pitt fans per capita than Pittsburgh....

 

[P1TTFAN]

Well the '76 National Champs also practiced at Johnstown so there's that. agree on eff Hackett though.

The mid to late 70's teams went to camp at Edinboro. The thought the switch to one of branch campuses was much later.

 

[wbrpanther]

The mid to late 70's teams went to camp at Edinboro. The thought the switch to one of branch campuses was much later.

Pitt practiced at UPJ from 1972 thru 1976. They had to move from UPJ in '77 because of the aftermath of the '77 flood. They finally came back to UPJ in '85 with the hiring of Gottfried and practiced there thru the 90s before moving into the new digs on the south side.

 

[upj87]

Pitt practiced at UPJ from 1972 thru 1976. They had to move from UPJ in '77 because of the aftermath of the '77 flood. They finally came back to UPJ in '85 with the hiring of Gottfried and practiced there thru the 90s before moving into the new digs on the south side.

not that you needed the help but...

https://books.google.com/books?id=2...onepage&q=upj football traineing camp&f=false

 

[wbrpanther]

not that you needed the help but...

https://books.google.com/books?id=2HY9Fer-FE0C&pg=PA23&lpg=PA23&dq=upj+football+traineing+camp&source=bl&ots=dWWCfqAXLl&sig=9CWABs9MT28wQSYZY_PDy0dwz9U&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiitujwt4jTAhWT2YMKHcijBPUQ6AEITDAI#v=onepage&q=upj football traineing camp&f=false

I have that book. Just re-read it last week. a lot of great stories in it.

 

[21Guns.]

I remember going to Pitt/Paul Hackett football camp at UPJ in the early 90's. I could not believe they actually practiced there because the fields were terrible.

They have improved the fields but they are still not at a D1 caliber. The last thing you want is to lose a player preseason due to field conditions. They probably also have to either build a field turf field or use Richlands field next door.