That’s what Darren Dunlap was….in fact, she was a ROCK STAR at Steelers training camp!!


From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:

For the past nine months, life has been anything but normal for six-year old Darran Dunlap.

During a time when little girls should be going to school, playing and having fun with their friends, she has been bravely battling leukemia. She has stared down chemotherapy, and decided she is stronger than its vicious side effects. She has dealt with hospital stays in an adventurous manner, always with a smile on her face.

Cancer, leukemia, chemotherapy, shots, hospital stays, none of them have broken the spirit of this little champion, who has stolen the heart of many who have been following her brave journey through the stories and photos shared by her father, Colin Dunlap, a sports talk show host on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh.

On November 7, 2016, Dunlap and his wife Raina, got the news no parent ever wants to get. Their daughter, who has a twin brother Declan, has leukemia.

She began chemotherapy the next day, spending nine days in the hospital and too many more to count since then.

“Every day since then we have been beholden to a thermometer, a reading, or a test to see if not just could she go outside, but does she need to go to the hospital,” said Colin Dunlap. “This is our new normal. There were days I was thinking about my daughter’s mortality, let alone my daughter going outside, or running, or next step being around a crowd. I have seen her lay in a hospital bed get a one inch needle put into her chest and her become accustomed to it. It means a lot to see the growth.”

There is good news. She is now in the maintenance phase of her treatment, meaning that after month after month of not being permitted to be around crowds, she is finally able to go out and do the things kids love to do. She can go to parks, to the grocery store with mom, and out to dinner. She will still be monitored, going to the hospital monthly and not being cleared until March, 2019, but some normalcy has returned to […]

you ever wondered what happened to fan Kevin J. Cousino’s beautiful tribute to Ben & his foundation, we have an update –

“Last year, the Central PA Humane Society in Altoona, PA was fortunate enough to get 2 Steeler tickets donated for the Browns game on New Year’s Day plus a Big Ben figurine from Kevin J. Cousino. The raffle tickets were $10 each with 1st prize being the game and of course 2nd – the figurine.

Over $11,000 came from the raffle to help our homeless animals. We do not euthanize healthy and happy animals, no matter what length of time it takes to find their Furever Home. Thus the reason the outcome was so helpful and needed!

The winner, Sandy Shover, was ecstatic and planned to give it to a family member who LOVED the Steeler’s & Big Ben. Our fur babies sent out many tail wags in thanks to all who participated!” — Becky S. Felton, Central PA Humane Society.

Big SHOUT-OUT to Kevin J. Cousino (KJC Custom Sports Figures) for not only making this amazing tribute to The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation, but donating it for a very worthy cause!


You can see a larger, more detailed version of his work here.


Want to bite on their next raffle?

This year a $10 donation will get you a raffle ticket to the Steeler vs. Raven’s game on Dec 10th at the 50 yard line, plus a night’s stay at the Doubletree by Hilton! For more information on the raffle, please email Ms. Felton at Bfelton@centralpahumane!


And of course, donations to Ben’s foundation are ALWAYS welcome! You can make your donation online right here!

From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:

For the last few years Alejandro Villanueva has said confidence has been an issue for him in different aspects of his game. Not something you would expect from the big, burly offensive tackle who seems to exude confidence in everything he does.


“I think he questions himself because he doesn’t have the experience other guys do,” said Ben Roethlisberger. “The linemen, myself, everyone keeps telling him trust yourself, you are really good, you know your stuff. You are physically gifted. Don’t worry about second guessing yourself.”

But he is human, and there are still times that confidence is an issue. But this time, things are a little bit different.

“I haven’t played yet this season,” said Villanueva, who missed the Giants game because of concussion evaluation. “I don’t know where I am at. I wish I did play in that game. I need to find out where I am in the process. I can’t tell you.

“Right now I have a lot of work to do. There is a lot more to do. I am not confident about where I am at. I am confident about the process it takes to be good at your job.”

His first two seasons in the NFL Villanueva truly didn’t know what all it took to do his job. Everything was new, and he was learning on the fly.

“He just wants to get better,” said Marcus Gilbert. “He knows his ceiling is high. He knows what kind of player he can become. He is one of those guys who is very committed to being the best player he can be and not letting his teammates down.”

This year, while he is still learning, he truly does understand the process and knows it’s okay to, well, still be learning.

“I feel very confident in, if I make a mistake always being able to go to Mike Munchak and have him show me the right way,” said Villanueva. “Back in the day I didn’t know if one mistake was going to cost me the entire season, if I wouldn’t play, wouldn’t start. That is different now.

“I might sound more confident. I might look more confident. Practice and games are separate. I need to find out where I am and […]

From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:

The countdown is on until the Steelers wrap things up at Saint Vincent College for another training camp, with the team’s last full practice on Friday afternoon.

It’s a camp which saw growth, development and a whole lot more in many areas, including the offense.

“I saw progress, absolutely,” said Ben Roethlisberger. “We are getting some young guys a lot of work, getting Martavis (Bryant) back, starting to get him working. And getting some of the guys that have been here back in cohesion.”

The return of Bryant, who was cleared by the NFL last week to participate in all preseason activity, including practices and games, is definitely a boost for the offense.

And Roethlisberger likes what he has seen so far.

“A guy that has worked hard in the offseason,” said Roethlisberger. “A guy that looks ready to go. A guy that still understands the offense and picks it up. A guy that is coming along quickly.

“He seems like a guy that cares about taking care of himself and cares about other people. He isn’t about what other people think; it’s about taking care of himself and being a good teammate.”


You can read more here.