Steve & Michelle Bishop traveled from upstate New York earlier this week so that their eight-year old son, Bryce, could attend Ben’s football camp in Harmony, PA.

Steve asked that we share his thoughts on yet another “unforgettable moment” in his son’s life, shared with his favorite football player:


It’s amazing to me how these memories of Ben just keep being made for Bryce to be put in his memory box.

This all started with the game that Bryce and I went to (a home against the Ravens) and our desire to have a simple game photo signed in Chantilly, VA a little over a year ago. But Ben did more than that…he interacted with Bryce on a kids’ level at that show, while making him a bigger fan in the process.

Next up….winning that game used cleat for his birthday. That was the talk for months! With all of this, I became a bigger fan myself, eagerly anticipating another opportunity to see Ben in person and have inscriptions added to his cleat and hopefully, a photo along with it. So we were thrilled when his King of Prussia event was announced. So that wish came true…..and thinking there was nowhere to go from there, we won the lottery: LUNCH WITH BIG BEN ROETHLISBERGER.

I kept this part a surprise from Bryce until the end of camp. I waited for the announcement to be made from ProCamps to tell him. When Bryce heard his name called, he turned around with the most puzzled, yet excited look on his face, as if hoping not to be let down by what he thought he just heard. When I told him he heard right, he got quiet, and in a very emotional way said the most heartfelt “Thanks Dad”. I know it meant so much to him to be hanging out with Ben at lunch, like he was just another guy……he is, but he isn’t.

Ben interacted the entire time with the kids. He answered a question from each one after lunch. Bryce asked if he was happy not to be facing Ray Lewis anymore, lol, which made Ben laugh. Then it was time for our picture to be taken. Ben signed […]

From Akasha Brandt & Larissa Dudkiewicz, Editor, Robinson-Moon Patch:

The two-day camp, organized by ProCamps Worldwide and sponsored by Giant Eagle and Fifth Third Bank, was the sixth annual Ben Roethlisberger football camp and the third hosted at Seneca Valley High School.

The whistles of 50 local football coaches blared above the noise of the excited children, whose ages ranged from 7-14. The Raiders’ Stadium was chaotic as the campers, outfitted in their matching white t-shirts, ran between stations to learn different football skills.

Roethlisberger roamed from group to group coaching them one-on-one, hopping on his blue Schwinn bicycle to ride between the two fields.

The players, at one point, sat mesmerized as Steelers head Coach Mike Tomlin gave them a “life lessons” pep talk.

But it wasn’t all work and no play — some campers danced to a DJ’s music, rolled around on the turf or made goofy faces for the news cameras.

Roethlisberger did stop to have some fun of his own.

He pranked campers by spraying them with a water bottle and hiding behind a group of coaches. When the campers caught sight of the quarterback they shouted, “Ben!” and dissolved into giggles.


You can read more here.



And a few more reflections on the camp from parents & grandparents:

“I would like to express my thanks to Ben for hosting his camp the last 2 days! He made a dream come true for my son (and myself). I would also like to extend a very special thanks to Brenda (Ben’s mom). My son, who’s only 7, was very nervous and too scared to go on the field. Brenda was walking by and noticed us and stopped. She talked to him and then noticed her shoes were the same color as his and they compared shoes. This helped very much to eased his nerves. After that, he had the courage to go out on the field and had a wonderful time both days! Again – thank you Brenda!” — John Fasick


“We brought our grandchildren to Ben’s youth camp for their second year. They had a great time this year,too. Our granddaughter age 13 and our grandson age 8 really enjoy interacting with the other campers and Ben. What […]

“My boys had a great time today at camp! My youngest getting to ask Ben a question and my oldest son Andrew catching a 50 yard bomb over the outside shoulder made for lifelong memories. I wish I was there to see it in person, but through the wonders of YouTube, I was able to watch it from Afghanistan. I hope Paul Chryst and Todd Haley were watching!

Thank you to Ben, Ben’s family, and all those who work so hard to put on the camp. You made two, no 500+, kid’s day! My wife and I are touched, almost to tears, by the gesture. Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go…and Go Big Ben!” — CDR Mark Ziegler, SC,USN; to the website’s Facebook page this afternoon.

From CBS Pittsburgh this evening:

Passes come fast and furious, and so do catches, at Ben Roethlisberger’s Football Camp. Among the campers are Andrew Ziegler and his brother, Steven, courtesy of their father, Navy Commander Mark Ziegler.

“My husband is currently stationed in Afghanistan,” says his wife, Dena. “And he gave the kids the gift of Ben’s camp for something to look forward to while he was away. And today is Steven’s 12th birthday.”


Dena Ziegler shared her sons’ stories on the Steeler quarterback’s website.

“So I ended up reading that,” Roethlisberger says. “So I called them out today, and today happens to be his brother’s birthday as well. So we sent them both deep, and I had his mom come down so she good get good footage and send it to their dad in Afghanistan. So it all worked out really great.”

Andrew sprinted down the sideline, as Mom shoots the video. Other campers cheer as he makes the catch.

“It’s the best feeling in the world,” the boy says afterward. “He’s my hero. I didn’t dream of it happening.”

Then it’s his younger brother’s turn. A big stretch, and Steven comes down with the ball.

“He threw a perfect pass, and it was my job as a receiver to catch a perfect pass,” Steven says. Speaking of his dad, he adds, “I’m really excited for him to see it, because he’s my dad and he’s serving in Afghanistan , and I just want him to see the moments we’ve had.”

Dena Ziegler sums it up: “It’s just […]

From Nick Veronica, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Ken Roethlisberger felt a new kind of pride this weekend when he played host to his son for dinner: it was Ben’s first Father’s Day as a dad, and Ken’s first as a grandparent.

“It’s nice to see [Ben] in that role,” Ken Roethlisberger said Monday while taking in Ben’s Football ProCamp at Seneca Valley High School. “It’s fun to watch him and Benjamin — he’s so small in his arms. He’s doing a good job so far. He gets down on the ground and plays with him — it’s great.”

Former quarterback and current broadcaster Rich Gannon once said that becoming a father made him a better quarterback in that he became “more disciplined.” Since Benjamin Jr. was born in November, Roethlisberger has started to understand the connection.

“I feel like having a child, especially a son, makes you very patient,” Ben said. “It was enjoyable to have my first Father’s Day and be around family — that’s what’s important to me.”

“It was nice having the whole family together,” Ken added. “We went to church in the morning all together. They came to our house and his wife, Ashley, cooked dinner — a cheese pasta with chicken in it. Delicious.”

While players across the league, from Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson to now free-agent linebacker Bart Scott have expressed concerns about letting their sons play football, Roethlisberger –who has absorbed injuries to nearly every part of his body while playing for the Steelers — said as long as Benjamin Jr. wants to play, it’s fine by him.

Ashley and Benjamin Jr. paced the sidelines of the football field Monday while Ben and a slew of coaches mentored about 500 boys and girls at Roethlisberger’s annual two-day camp.

The kids, ages 7 to 14, went through various drills designed to teach proper catching and throwing techniques before scrimmages. A few lucky campers got to catch a pass from Roethlisberger, right knee remained wrapped two weeks removed from arthroscopic surgery.

Unlike past camps, Roethlisberger rode a bike around the complex in order to see more groups.

“It helps me get around faster than walking, and its probably better for my knee doing a little rehabbing while I’m helping the kids,” he said.


You can read more here.


Photo credit: Larry Roberts/Post-Gazette

“My biggest thing is I always say I emphasize three things – teamwork, sportsmanship and having fun. So, to me, that’s what it’s about and as I ride by the kids are all waving and stuff and I try to get them to keep focused on football, but really they are out here having fun.” — Ben

From CBS Pittsburgh this evening:

Hundreds of kids spent the day passing and catching and learning the ropes of football.

Their coach, Ben Roethlisberger, is one of the best in the business.

Ben’s annual football Procamp kicked off Monday morning.

“It’s a lot of fun. This is my fifth year coming. I’ve been here every year and it’s always been really exciting,” one camper said.

More than 500 kids were having a blast while learning about football. From passing and catching to different drills the young athletes worked hard.

“We try and keep it to offense obviously, but I just saw some kids doing a toss sweep, learning how to run the ball, some wide receiver drills and obviously quarterback drills,” Roethlisberger said.

The kids were divided into teams and local high school coaches worked one-on-one with the first through eighth graders.

Ben makes the rounds and stops by each group to offer advice and teaching techniques. By the end of camp, each kid will have the opportunity to catch a pass from the quarterback.

Though, Ben is riding around on a bicycle, instead of walking because his right knee is still recovering after surgery.

“Doing good. I’m just getting around a lot better on a bike so I can get around faster, so I can get to more kids,” Roethlisberger said.


You can read more here.



The first day of Big Ben’s Football Camp is over, and we’ve already received many photos and comments from parents and other family members who were in attendance watching their excited youngsters on the field with #7:

Jackson Ritter is at camp with his grandpa and called his mom back home in VA with his Day 1 report –

“I just talked to Jackson and he had a blast!! He said it was ‘Awesome’ and that Big Ben gave him a high five – on Jackson’s right hand (he reminded me that is HIS throwing arm) haha. My dad […]

From the article, “Steelers players share thoughts on their dads” by Teresa Varley, at Steelers.com this Father’s Day morning!




“My dad is my hero. I want to be half the father he was to me. He means everything to me. I am very lucky to grow up with the father I have.” — Ben.



You can read more & see photos of Ben’s teammates with their fathers here!



*Thank you to Ms. Varley!