An impassioned Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin urged commitment, daring and hard work during a pep talk at Heinz Field yesterday.

This time, however, his words weren't meant for Big Ben, Hines or the other guys in black and gold. They were meant for Mark Byers, Darlyn Reaves and about 2,100 other freshmen in city high schools.

For the second year, the Pittsburgh Public Schools bused its ninth-graders to the heart of Steelers Nation to be encouraged, coaxed, tempted and challenged by a fellow who knows a little something about team-building.

"We are committed to helping you bring out your best. Are you?" Mr. Tomlin said. Voice rising, he asked again, "Are you?"

Interviewed at their seats in the stands, Mark and Darlyn, students at Pittsburgh Perry High School on the North Side, said they are.

An Overbrook resident and aspiring music teacher, Mark said high school is off to a smooth start, noting, "everybody's real nice to me." A North Side resident, Darlyn already has a list of colleges she's interested in attending.

The noon event included giveaways of autographed footballs, Steelers tickets and iPods. Mr. Tomlin arrived late because of his weekly news conference at the Steelers' offices on the South Side, and students began applauding as soon as they caught sight of him approaching from the opposite sideline.

"I'm here as a fan, a fan of you guys and your team," he said.

Other speakers included Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, school Superintendent Mark Roosevelt, Steelers President Art Rooney II and offensive lineman Max Starks.

The district calls its freshmen the "Ninth-Grade Nation," hoping to inculcate in them the same excitement and belonging that unites Steelers fans. In this case, though, a district with a 35 percent dropout rate wants students to get fired up about studying, graduating, going to college and bettering the city.

"You are the class of 2012, and we expect to see all of you at commencement," Mr. Roosevelt said, adding that this class's test scores are better than many others and that students who cross the finish line in four years will find "an envelope with your name on it."

He was referring to the Pittsburgh Promise, which offered its first round of college scholarships to 2008 graduates and plans to offer up to $20,000 in aid to each eligible graduate through 2011. Graduates in 2012 would be the first to qualify for up to $40,000 each in scholarships.

Saying "it's easy to get up for the big game," Mr. Tomlin encouraged students to persevere in daily struggles to lay the groundwork for success down the road. He said he hoped at least one student will approach him some day to tell him the pep rally was a turning point.

"Be the one," he said.

"I love you guys. I'm rooting for you. Hopefully, you're rooting for us. We have dreams, too. We want to hoist the Lombardi."