Followers of both our Twitter and Facebook pages know this is a regular, weekly feature. But this week’s Throwback Thursday will be shared here as well!


September 26, 2004 – Big Ben’s first NFL start.

“We played in a hurricane. I remember it being fast. I don’t think I read any defense all day. I just reacted to everything. It was pretty much a blur to me.” — Ben.

Ben sloshes across the wet field in a driving rainstorm produced by an outer band of Hurricane Jeanne during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Steelers won 13-3.



From a post-game article on SI.com:

Unfazed by torrential rain, the Pittsburgh Steelers played smashmouth defense befitting their muddy, sodden uniforms.

Pittsburgh forced four turnovers, made a key fourth-down stop and beat the hapless Miami Dolphins 13-3 Sunday night.

“The weather in the first half was not conducive to doing anything,” coach Bill Cowher said. “We couldn’t even hold the ball. Both teams couldn’t throw it. But that’s the kind of football I love.”

Steelers rookie Ben Roethlisberger, making his first NFL start, had his first pass intercepted but otherwise avoided costly mistakes despite the slippery ball and footing. He finished 12-of-22 for 163 yards and one score.

“It wasn’t pretty at times, but we got the win,” Roethlisberger said.

Hines Ward made a diving catch of a pass from Roethlisberger for a 7-yard touchdown. Jeff Reed hit field goals of 40 and 51 yards, the latter coming after the Steelers stopped A.J. Feeley on a fourth-down quarterback sneak at midfield.

Announced attendance was 72,225, but with Florida just beginning to recover from its latest hurricane, the actual crowd was about 30,000. Officials decided Saturday to push the starting time back 7 1/2 hours to avoid Hurricane Jeanne, and heavy rain fell at times.

The showers left standing water in the baseball infield, which made footing especially treacherous on that part of the field. The start of the second half was delayed so the grounds crew could apply additional bags of dirt.

“That was the worst weather I ever played in,” Ward said.

The Steelers allowed just 169 yards and bruised more than just the Dolphins’ pride. A jarring tackle by Chris Hope sent running back Lamar Gordon from the game with an injured left […]

“Every one is a must win for us, but we’d like to get a win before we go into the bye week. Might as well try and leave the country and try something.” — Ben, when asked if this weekend’s game is a “must win”.

Some of the highlights:


Re: The Vikings defense:

They are really good. A lot like last week’s team, they are opportunistic and ball-searching. If the defensive line isn’t getting pressure, they’re getting their hands up in the air, they’re batting them down. Similar to last week, as rushers go by, they’re trying to strip at balls. So, very similar to last week. A good test for us.


Are you excited to get Le’Veon Bell back this week?

Yeah, any time we can get weapons back on our offense we’re excited for it. We are just excited to see what he can do because no one really knows. No one has seen him in game action. Obviously, we’ve seen some great things at training camp, practice and preseason, but that’s different. Even in the preseason, he didn’t get a lot of snaps. I’m really excited to see what he’s going to bring.


How do you keep this like a regular road game? Could it be a distraction at all?

I talked to Minnesota’s media and they asked me if I would have rather gone over on Monday when Minnesota went or Thursday when we’re going, and I don’t know. I’ve been over there a couple times. I know the jet lag does get you. It’s a wasted day when you get over there because you’re so exhausted. But I know Coach wants to treat this as a business trip, so that’s why we’re going over and trying to take care of business.


What are the fans like over there? Is it like soccer-crazy almost?

I’ve heard that during games they are a little soccer crazy – the horns, the thunder sticks, just kind of making noise all the time. Not necessarily situational noise, just noise. But when I went over there I did some fan forums with some of the Steelers’ fans. There is Steelers Nation UK over there, so I got to meet them. They’re passionate. They know their stuff. I wouldn’t say they’re as knowledgeable as everyone over here […]

If you missed Ben’s weekly radio appearance during the Vinnie & Cook Show this morning on Sportsradio 93.7 The Fan….


Even though the Steelers are 0-3 and he took a “beating” on Sunday evening he told Vinnie & Cook, “I’m still alive and the sun came up today,” Roethlisberger said. “We’ve lost our first three games. There’s still 13 games left. If you’re gonna lose three games, you’d better lose them early. There is no panic. We just keep moving on.”

Ben reveals the message he sent to his young offensive line as they try to improve.

“I need them to have a confidence and a cockiness about themselves,” he said. “Everyone is talking bad about them, but you know what? They’re here for a reason. They were the best ones on their college teams, they got drafted high. They need to go out there and play with a confidence and an attitude that (says), ‘You know what? I’m the baddest guy out here.”

Ben was also asked about the Steelers trip to London this weekend to play the Vikings at Wembley Stadium; those fumbles and how he holds the ball; Antonio Brown’s great game; why the veterans changed the rules of the locker room; and he explains why having an NFL franchise in London may not be a good idea, although he says the team is looking forward to the opportunity to play there.


You can listen to the podcast here (bottom of the page)!

…and her name is Zena!


Zena is a 1-year old Rottweiler and is in training to be a search dog with Ohio Disaster Search Dogs & the Bellbrook Fire Department, which is just northeast of Cincinnati.

The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation distributed a grant to the Bellbrook Fire Department earlier this month that will not only help train four K-9 teams, but will assist with updating the aging Vectren Bellbrook Fire Department Search and Rescue Canine Agility Site, managed by the organization, Ohio Disaster Search Dogs. In the past 10 years, the site has hosted K-9 teams from across the nation to provide integral training and practice.

“Grant funding will ensure out agility training site continues to be available to enhance training programs of these local and national assets,” said Captain Athena Haus of the Bellbrook Fire Department.

Zena wanted to don her new #7 jersey to show Ben just how much she and the other K9 teams appreciated the grant, which will allow them to train to become the best at what they do!


You can learn more about Ben’s foundation here!

You can see some great photos in Ben’s foundation album here!


*Thank you to Captain Haus and the Bellbrook Fire Department….and of course, Zena!



Speaking of Ben’s foundation:

If your trip for some Fall fun to Irons Mill Farmstead was rained out this past weekend, owner Stacy Milliron says, “No problem!”

They will extend the buy one admission ticket, get one free for next Saturday, September 28th to make up for the rain-out. The $1 coupon will still be good every other day they are open!

Just click on this link and print out the poster to take advantage of their money-saving coupons while helping benefit Ben’s Foundation:

http://www.givingback.org/documents/roethlisberger3.pdf

The Steelers fell to the Bears 40-23.

“We’re frustrated, we’re disappointed, but we’re not going to lose our confidence. We’re going to have to put it together, and put it together fast.” — Ben, post-game.

From Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Five turnovers, two of them returned for touchdowns, doomed the Steelers to a 40-23 loss to the Chicago Bears, who held off a second-half rally by the home team to improve to 3-0.

Despite those turnovers, they stormed back in the second half from three touchdowns behind to within four points early in the fourth quarter. But the Bears put them away quickly with a Jay Cutler touchdown pass to Earl Bennett and Julius Peppers’ 42-yard touchdown run with a Ben Roethlisberger fumble.

It was Roethlisberger’s third of four turnovers, including another that went for a score when safety Major Wright ran an interception back.

The loss ruined a big game by Antonio Brown, who caught nine passes for a career-high 196 yards and two touchdowns. He did not have to plead with any coach on the sideline Sunday night to get him the ball more often, but he was not satisfied, either.

Roethlisberger topped 400 yards passing for the fourth time in his career. He completed 26 of 41 for 406 yards, his two touchdowns to Brown and two interceptions.

That, too, was small consolation to him, as was how the offense stormed back in the second half.

“I don’t know if we can’t dig out of it. We’re going to give it everything we’ve got to get out of it, it’s a deep hole, it’s getting deeper, but we’re not going to quit.” — Ben, when asked if 0-3 is too deep a hole to dig themselves out of.

A lightning-strike, three-play drive that ended when Brown caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger with one hand helped put the Steelers back into the game late in the third quarter.

The Bears, who once led by three touchdowns, clung to a 27-20 lead as the drama entered the fourth quarter.

Then, Shaun Suisham’s 44-yard field goal with 10:38 to go brought the Steelers within four, and it looked as though they might avert the 0-3 start.

The game, then, ended much the way it had begun.


You can read more from Mr. Bouchette here.

You can watch & listen to […]