Monday, Fun Day…
Fan Day!
Remember this little guy from the weekend? He was hoping to meet Big Ben. Well…
“Sean is a seven-year-old boy, born and raised outside of Baltimore, MD. He’s being raised right, however – he’s a big Steeler’s fan! Sean was born with a condition called Dandy-Walker Malformation and Hydrocephalus. He’s had a bit of a rough year, with three neurosurgeries and seven hospitalizations.
Despite all this, he’s just a typical kid who likes to play with his friends and loves football, especially Big Ben.
When we told him we were going to training camp this year, he said all he wanted was to meet Big Ben. Through the kindness of some fans and the Steelers organization, this was able to happen! From the fan who bought Sean a helmet, to the one who asked the Steelers staff to help Sean get autographs, Steelers Nation was at its best!
And the Steelers themselves – well, words cannot express how grateful we are for the experience they gave him. Sean was taken down to the field to meet Big Ben after practice. He was in awe. He told Ben, “I’m your biggest fan!” Ben asked him how old he was, and when he said “Seven”, Ben told him that was a great number! He took time out for photos and autographs, and just some really special time with Sean. Sean met a lot of Steelers yesterday and had a once in a lifetime experience. He says meeting Big Ben was his favorite part. Thank you to the Steelers organization, Steelers’ fans, and especially Big Ben for making this happen!” — Jaclyn Madden
Two great pictures shared by photographer Gary Wilkinson:
“Been a Steelers fan since I was…”
“My dad and I have always shared a love for Steelers football. Monday, we had the opportunity to meet Ben after training camp. As a leader for the Steelers on […]
Ben’s 1st weekend of training camp
…was FANtastic!!
“Big Ben made my girls’ day yesterday! He gave them his cleats he wore to practice and signed them! They are completely thrilled and can’t stop talking about it. Thanks Ben for giving them a memory that will last a lifetime!” — Christy Hopkins
Big Ben showing the love for #SteelersNation before practice.
“I’ll tell you this much about him. He honored his teammate for most of the practice by wearing 83. Then he went out of his way to sign my football when he saw me waiting at the end of the fence away from all the crowd because I couldn’t make it up over the steep hill they were all standing at because I wear a prosthetic leg. Ben has a big heart and I can’t wait for the season to begin!!! He made me feel special even if it was a small gesture it meant the world to me! The first photo was him telling his driver to stop when he saw me. Awesome and stand up guy!!!!” — EV Goughnour
Day 1. Training Camp. #Steelers
This is Richard Jones, MM2 petty officer second class. He played catch with Ben Roethlisberger and kept the ball.
Basketball meets football. @AlexTheGreat22 @_BigBen7 @UKCoachCalipari @DevinBook #Steelers
And Monday is shaping up to be just as awesome!!
Jackie Madden @JackieMadden15
Day 1 – Training Camp Notes & Quotes
….and Tweets:
Heeath. No it's @_BigBen7 #Steelers pic.twitter.com/nvlnxGbjAF
— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) July 29, 2016
Excerpts from Ben’s Q&A at Steelers.com:
Q: You’ve said you’ll play until the Good Lord or Mr. Rooney tell you that you no longer can. Can you envision a scenario in which another factor forces you to decide when it’s time to retire?
A: “I hope not. I love being out here. I love playing the game with the guys. I feel great, and as long as I can stay healthy and feel that I’m playing at a high level; I don’t want to force myself to play if I’m not playing at a high level and playing the way I feel I’m capable of playing. Hopefully I have a bunch of years left.”
Q: Is there a particular physical trait that you’ll use as a barometer as to what level of play you are or are not capable of attaining?
A: “I feel like that would be the Good Lord telling me I couldn’t do something. Honestly, I’m sure there will be something when the time comes. But I feel like I can throw the ball as far or farther than I could before. I feel like I have enough zip on balls. I feel like I can still move. Obviously, I’m not going to be able to run like I did when I was a rookie but I feel like I can still move enough to get out of trouble and make things happen.
“I’m sure there might be something like that but I feel like it’s far enough away that I can’t think of anything.”
Q: So you’re anticipating playing another four or five years, playing on for multiple seasons?
A: “I know it’s going to end at some point. But you know that light at the end of the tunnel? I know I can see it but it’s not real close in my mind.
“In this game, you’re one play away so who knows what can happen? I don’t want to look for the end because then I’m cheating the here and now and this season. So I’m going to focus on this season. I know my goal is to keep playing but if this is my last season then I’m going to give it everything I have.”
Q: What […]
It’s a new football season…
and a new season of The Ben Roethlisberger Show on 93.7 The Fan!
93.7 The Fan announced today that Big Ben will once again make regular weekly appearances on The Fan for the upcoming NFL season.
The Ben Roethlisberger Show will take place Tuesdays at 11 a.m. with The Fan’s Cook & Poni Show and will begin on September 6.
Now in it’s 4th year The Ben Roethlisberger Show has become the place where Steeler Nation can get insight first hand from the two time Super Bowl winning quarterback.
You can listen to 93.7 The Fan on air, online by clicking here or via the Radio.com – click here to download.
And speaking of a new football season….
“That is what it’s all about, expectations. We set the bar high for ourselves. We know what the fans expect, but we set the bar high for ourselves. It’s always fun to come back here, even though it’s hard to leave the family. The drive on the turnpike over to here signifies it’s time to be back.” — Ben, as he arrived in Latrobe this afternoon.
Steelers training camp started today! You can catch all the updates & action from Teresa Varley at Steelers.com!
It’s a Throwback Thursday
….Steelers Training Camp style!
You can see all of Ben’s past training camps in photos here, and see training camp photos & stories shared by members of Steeler Nation here!
Have training camp photos or stories to share with us? Just email them to bigben7website@gmail.com!
Police & Fire agencies: Submit your applications!
The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund is accepting applications for the 2016 grant cycle until August 15th.
While we’ve already received grant requests from many police & fire agencies in the cities & surrounding communities of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Cincinnati – the cities and surrounding communities of Washington, DC (the suburbs in MD & VA are included), Miami, Baltimore, Indianapolis & Buffalo that are in need of grants to help in the purchase of K9 dogs, dog safety vests, training, as well as other K9-oriented needs have yet to apply…and time is running out!
This marks the 10th grant cycle for the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation.
The Foundation will be distributing grants in the cities and surrounding communities of each regular season away game for the Steelers during the 2016 NFL season. Ben is inviting police and fire departments in these eight cities & surrounding communities to submit proposals detailing their needs. In addition, the Foundation will continue to make grants to several police and fire department K-9 units in the Pittsburgh area following Super Bowl LI.
The mission of the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation is to support K-9 units of police and fire departments throughout the United States with a particular emphasis on support for service dogs in Pittsburgh, PA. Ben and his foundation also strive to support Make-A-Wish. His foundation distributed more than $170,000 in grants to K-9 units around the country during the 2015 NFL season, including $93,250.00 just in the Pittsburgh community alone.
The Foundation has distributed in excess of $1.5 million since 2007.
“We’re very fortunate to be in the position that we are able to help these K-9 units. The work that is performed by the dogs and their handlers as well as the bond that is formed is incredible. We’re just thrilled to do our small part.” — Ben.
For the first time in 10 years, Ben’s foundation is utilizing a paperless application process and all applications must be submitted online via http://thegivingbackfund.org/ben-roethlisberger-foundation-application-2016/.
Note: Hard copies of the application received by mail, fax or email will not be accepted. Again, all applications much be submitted electronically by the Monday August 15th deadline.
You can support future K-9 grants by purchasing candy on Sarris Candies’ website, (www.SarrisCandiesFundraising.com), […]