From Chad Mills, Channel 10-WISTV.com in Lexington, South Carolina:

Dozens if not hundreds of people arrived at Lexington Town Hall on Monday night sharing smiles and tears as they remembered 9-year-old Richard Culliver.

There, every person had a story to tell or a memory to share about Richard.

“Richard has a fan base like no other,” Jada Collins said. “Bigger than Justin Bieber’s.”

Culliver was considered the “class jokester” of Michelle Webster’s second grade class at Lexington Elementary. Although he was known for making his classmates laugh, Webster will remember Culliver for more than that.

“Being a teacher is about teaching the whole child in their academics but also helping them grow socially,” Webster said, “and he just taught me patience and just to make every day special.”

Culliver touched the lives of many including Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who recorded a video for Culliver before he passed away.

“I just wanted you to know that I was thinking about you,” Roethlisberger said in the video, “and a lot of my teammates wanted me to pass along a note to say they’re thinking about you as well.”

Earlier this month, Culliver’s mother said doctors found another tumor. On Sunday morning, his mother shared the sad news of her son’s passing on Facebook.


You can read more here.



Richard had quite a following of fans right here! He was featured several times, and even received a game ball from one of his favorite players (photo above). He was also our special Warrior for a Warrior Wednesday post last year.

“Mommy, I’m gonna cry. I’m famous! Do I need a Twitter account now?”– Richard Culliver to his mom Stephanie, after seeing his first Shout Out on the website in October, 2012.

He was always a big hit with his Steeler Nation family and received many prayers! Richard, we will miss you!! Rest in Peace.

“For me, it’s about getting some good work in this week. I don’t think I’m going to play (Thursday night against the Panthers). I haven’t played in the last few ‘last’ preseason games, so I don’t plan on playing. I’ll get some work in this week at practice just working on some things we haven’t had a chance to touch on yet this preseason.” — Ben

From Mike Prisutta, Steelers.com today:

Even though the preseason finale is Thursday, Ben Roethlisberger has turned his attention to Cleveland

Ben Roethlisberger has an agenda this week that has little to do with Carolina and the Steelers’ upcoming preseason finale.

“Start watching Browns stuff,” Roethlisberger revealed regarding one of the top items on his current to-do list.

The Browns will be at Heinz Field to open the regular season on Sept. 7.

There’s still some preseason business with which to attend before then, but none that figures to get in the way of Roethlisberger’s ratcheted-up levels of regular-season anticipation and regular-season preparation.

Such an approach has become somewhat standard for Roethlisberger and quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner in recent preseasons. It reminds Roethlisberger that the regular season is right around the corner.

“Usually, Randy and I will start looking at the first (regular-season) opponent during this (preseason) week,” Roethlisberger said. “I was still up there in the meetings for the Carolina stuff. I do the Browns stuff during down time, during breaks and things like that. Or, once he lets the other quarterbacks come get ready for walk-through I kind of stay up there for an extra 15, 20 minutes and watch.

“It gets exciting.”


You can read more from Ben’s interview here and watch the video here.

And it looks like Steeler Nation dads are the ones making a strong family statement with the start of the season just around the corner!


And we’re going to start off with Super Steelers Dad Matt August, a police motor sergeant from Irvine, California:


My name is Matt August and I am a police sergeant in California. I was born a Pittsburgh Steelers fan in 1972 and have carried that love for the team through highs and lows. I am now raising my own family and they have also embraced my love for Steelers football. I am a huge Ben Roethlisberger fan and have several of his jersey’s, and am hoping I will be able to get one of his new Nike jerseys this year so that I can hang up my old Reebok jerseys. As you can see from our photo, we are a large family so making sure my entire family had jerseys has always been a priority for me rather than updating my own.

One of the things I admire and respect the most is his leadership of the team and his devotion to his family. I am also very appreciative of the many grants he provides to police departments to help fund police K9’s. These dogs are a tremendous resource and asset but can be cost prohibitive for so many agencies so his awareness and commitment to helping agencies is truly awesome. — Matt

Photo, left to right: Matt’s wife Traci, Kynnleigh (age 3), Makhenna (age 9), Hayden (age 7), Matthew (age 17), Jaelynn (age 6), Aubreigh (age 1) and Matt.




Domenic Costello and his son Hayden, age 3, proudly displaying their favorite player’s jersey while vacationing in Ocean City, MD aka Raven Country.




Proud new Steelers papa Bob Tschappat, Jr. named his son Benjamin Phillip Tschappat, and yes, that first name is for papa’s favorite player! Congratulations to Bob and Missy!





And from our Twitter dads:

Justin Pellegrino ‏@justgrino
U know his first jersey had to be a @_BigBen7 So he can match his daddy. We are def ready. #Steelers

Brian Cooper @CoopsGolf
Ashton has steelers blood running through […]

(that would be Pizza & Wings!)


“Wheaton: ‘Every week is huge'”

From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger likes what he is seeing from Wheaton who right now is the team’s starter opposite Pro Bowl receiver Antonio Brown.

“He’s learning and growing fast. And we need him to,” said Roethlisberger. “That’s what is great, he doesn’t make the same mistake twice. He is busting his butt every day in practice.

“I grabbed him upstairs and talked to him about something that he did a little wrong in the game. He had nothing to do with the play but he was heartbroken that he screwed something up that he probably shouldn’t have. He puts in that work. He’s watched Antonio and knows what it takes to be a pro.”

Last year wasn’t what Wheaton had hoped from his rookie season, hampered by finger injuries that required surgery. While he played in 12 games, he finished with just six receptions for 64 yards and no touchdowns. But the potential was there, and after a strong offseason was slated as a starter during training camp.

“As of now I am in the position, so it’s my spot to lose,” said Wheaton. “I want to improve on everything so I want to make sure I am capable of holding down the position, that they have full confidence in me when we get out on the field. I still have a week or so to do that.

“I think I have a long ways to go, especially after watching the film I think I have a long ways to go. I made a good play in the game; Ben made it easy for me. I feel like I need to improve on everything. I want to be a good all-around player. I want to improve on everything out there.”


You can read more here.



“Big Ben challenges rookie wideout”

From Scott Brown, ESPN.com:

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger turned a question about Martavis Bryant into a challenge for the rookie wide receiver.

“He needs to get in his mind that he can help us and that he’s going to push it hard on every single play like the guys ahead of him are doing,” Roethlisberger said. “If you watch Antonio Brown, he scores on that second play [against the Buffalo Bills last Saturday] because […]

Fans emailed and tweeted their photos from the Bills vs Steelers game at Heinz Field to share with us:


Left to Right:

Mardee DeSantis @MardeeDeSantis
@_BigBen7 @steelers My boy is so excited to be at the game with his daddy! #gosteelers #goben #cpcantstophim

Jennifer Schropp @JaiLynnPhoto
@_BigBen7 with the North Allegheny & Bethel Park kids at last nights game! Such an honor to photograph the night.

“My grandson Christian made it to his first Steeler game vs. Bills.” — Tom Melnik, Bulter, PA


You can see the full-size images here.



Dr. Ronald Cypher shared his collection of pre-game shots as well:


That last one could sure use a caption! Any takers?


You can see all of his great photos here!



A special SHOUT OUT to a BIG Ben & Steelers fan…

Long-time followers of Ben’s site are familiar with Richard Culliver! He has graced our pages more than a few times over the last couple of years, and has received so many well wishes and prayers from you!

Well, he and his family could certainly use as many prayers as you can send, Steeler Nation!

“Life is so hard and so unfair. My sweet boy is soon to be completely healed. He as a new tumor lower in his brainstem and it’s taking him very quickly. My sweet wonderful beautiful boy is soon to be an angel watching over Rheagan Devin and I.” — Richard’s mother, Stephanie.

Please take a moment and visit him on Facebook at Richard’s Journey.

From Will Graves, Associated Press:

Ben Roethlisberger needed all of two series to reach the end zone twice on Saturday night.

At the rate EJ Manuel and the Buffalo Bills are going it might take a month to reach that total.

Maybe longer if they don’t have dynamic rookie receiver Sammy Watkins.

The latest rebuilding process remains a work in progress in Buffalo. The Pittsburgh Steelers offered a glimpse that theirs might already be done.

Roethlisberger hit Antonio Brown for a 76-yard score on Pittsburgh’s second play from scrimmage and found Markus Wheaton for a 16-yard score as the Steelers edged the Bills 19-16 for their first preseason win in nearly two years.

“I think we came out and started fast,” Brown said. “We got some things going in a positive direction.”

Working almost exclusively out of the no-huddle, Roethlisberger finished 8 of 11 for 128 yards and the two scores. Shaun Suisham’s 20-yard field goal as time expired ended Pittsburgh’s five-game losing streak in exhibitions.

“The communication was what I wanted to work on and we didn’t have any mental errors of what I saw so far,” Roethlisberger said.

Bob Labriola @BobLabriola
Ben’s stats: 8-for-11, 128 yards; 2 TDs, 0 INTs, Rating of 150.8

Roethlisberger, working with an offense he insists can be one of the more potent in the league, hit Brown in stride on Pittsburgh’s second play from scrimmage and the Pro Bowl receiver ran away from a pair of defenders on his way to the end zone.

“It was a great read by Ben,” Brown said. “The defensive back got caught up with another guy. Ben hit me in the spot and I was able to get up to speed and turn the corner.”

The Steelers got the ball back moments later when Shazier — who missed the preseason opener with a right knee injury coach Mike Tomlin called a “boo boo” — showcased why Pittsburgh took him with the 15th pick in the first round.

Shazier stepped in front of Manuel’s pass intended for Scott Chandler and returned it 27 yards to the Buffalo 37.

The play highlighted a frantic half of play for Shazier, who finished with 11 total tackles in addition to his pick.


You can read more from from Mr. Graves here.

You can see a few more photos here.



Just in case you missed […]