Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin made a surprise appearance at a Slippery Rock University football team meeting on Friday via video conference. Tomlin, known for his longstanding support of the Slippery Rock program, connected with head coach Shawn Lutz to arrange the meeting.
Slippery Rock University football team
Lutz expressed his gratitude, saying, “He certainly didn’t need to take time out of his schedule to join us today, but we’re so appreciative that he thought highly enough of our program to want to say a few words to our team.”
Tomlin addressed the team for approximately 20 minutes, delivering a positive message centered on overcoming adversity and eliminating self-doubt. As Slippery Rock prepares to host Kutztown University in the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals, Tomlin assured the team, “You are prepared, and you are with the right group. I love [SRU’s team theme] relentless. I message with coach Lutz about it all the time. I am unrelenting. You are in the right place at the right moment. It’s an honor to be with you guys today. I am with you one thousand percent.”
Despite being a prominent figure in professional sports, Tomlin took the time to call out several SRU players by name, sharing memories of watching them play in high school in the Pittsburgh area. He also acknowledged SRU all-region safety Eddie Faulkner IV, the son of Steelers offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner, highlighting the strong support from the Steelers organization.
Lutz expressed his gratitude for Coach Faulkner’s support, saying, “We’re grateful to have such a strong organization like the Steelers in our backyard.”
Slippery Rock is set to compete for a second regional title in the last four seasons and a chance to return to the national semifinals against Kutztown on Saturday at noon. Fans can find ticket, parking, tailgating, live coverage information, and complete game notes on the Slippery Rock University website.
