ST. LOUIS (April 8, 2005) -- The St. Louis Rams are joining the growing number of NFL teams who will train at home rather than at a bucolic college campus.
The move ends the Rams' nine-year run at Western Illinois University in Macomb Illinois, a rambling three-hour drive from St. Louis, primarily on two-lane roads.
"If we were going to go away for camp, Macomb would be the only consideration," coach Mike Martz said. "They've treated us very well over the years, and I couldn't imagine a better environment away from our facility here.
After moving to St. Louis, the Rams staged their initial training camp in 1995 at Maryville University here, then held workouts at Macomb every year.
In the past few years, many teams have chosen to remain at home to train, citing convenience to players and fans and the ability to travel more easily to exhibition games on the road.
Last season 12 of the 32 teams trained at their own facility and several others at sites close to their home base.
