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Fans construct memorial to late Steelers coach Darryl Drake at Saint Vincent | TribLIVE.com
Steelers/NFL

Fans construct memorial to late Steelers coach Darryl Drake at Saint Vincent

Kevin Gorman
Kevin Gorman
1528621_web1_gtr-SteelMemorial-081219
Submitted
Fans set up a makeshift memorial near the entrance of the fan parking site at Saint Vincent to honor late Steelers receivers coach Darryl Drake.

Eileen Smalley had been parked second in line near Saint Vincent for three-plus hours Sunday morning when a Pittsburgh Steelers training camp staffer informed her practice was canceled.

“None of us believed the guy because it’s a beautiful day,” said Smalley of Stahlstown, who arrives to park on Brouwers Road at 7 a.m. every day during training camp for prime parking. “People waited an hour before leaving. We were all stunned. I knew it had to be something serious, something bad.”

It was both.

The Steelers soon announced wide receivers coach Darryl Drake died Sunday. He was 62.

Hours later, Smalley and other Steelers fans returned to make a roadside memorial for Drake near the entrance to the general fan parking.

Smalley bought a black Steelers flag and black-and-gold balloons. Phil Reott of Greensburg and his 17-year-old son bought a gold hard hat and flowers. Tim Logar and Sarah McCaver made a sign that read: “Rest In Peace to our Coach,” with a photo of Drake. Smalley made a sign that read: “We’ll All Miss You Coach Drake.”

“It’s unbelievable,” Smalley said. “This is the road the players drive by, so hopefully the memorial will help them.”

Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Kevin by email at [email protected] or via Twitter .

Categories: Sports | Steelers
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