The Ben Roethlisberger Football Camp – Day 2.

“Let me just say that Ben’s camp was an absolute delight!! It’s a very well run and organized camp with never a dull moment. Ben is great with the kids! Once again he threw the football to every camper so they could have chance to ‘catch a pass from Big Ben’! Both of my grandson’s caught their passes! YEAH!! Thanks so much to Ben for a wonderful experience for my grandsons!!” — Anita Doddroe, to the website.

From Stephen J. Nesbitt, at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today:

A mighty challenge awaited Ben Roethlisberger when he stepped onto the Seneca Valley High School football field Monday for his fourth annual camp.

There were 500 youths in front of him all expecting the same thing: To catch a pass from the Steelers quarterback.

Roethlisberger laughed when he heard the plan, but he obliged.

“I did it last year just because I thought it would be fun,” Roethlisberger explained. “I got told when I got here that the kids were looking forward to it, so I’ve got to do it again.

When the two-day camp wraps up today, Roethlisberger will head to the airport to embark on a 10-day golfing trip to Ireland and Scotland. The trip was a gift from his wife, Ashley, for his 30th birthday.

The first item on the itinerary is breakfast at the home of Steelers owner Dan Rooney, the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, in Dublin.


You can read more and see video from the camp here.

“My son had the most amazing time at camp….Ben was amazing to all of the campers, and was present on the field the whole time, playing, encouraging, and inspiring these young kids! Thanks Ben!” — Tina Marie Cicero, to the website.

Also Today:

Ben was a surprise call-in guest to the DVE Morning Show! He talks about the camp, the kids, impending fatherhood, mini-camp, and his trip to Ireland.

“Our sellout is 450, and this year we let in like 23 extra kids…we’ve got 470-some kids. I threw a pass to every single kid, my arm is a little sore today. We have fun, the kids have […]

“Today was absolutely amazing. Ben was SO involved with the kids and he didn’t rush anyone through anything. The main “MC/Coach” running it was awesome. He did such an amazing job. Can’t wait until tomorrow. My son Tommy, was so excited to catch Ben’s pass to him!!!! I could go on and on…..it’s just put together that well!!! Thanks to all involved!!” — Michele Rodi, to the website this evening.

From KDKA – Channel 2 today:

School is out for the summer, but some local kids spent the day learning all about football from one of the best in the business.

There was a lot of energy out on the field as 500 kids took part in the Ben Roethlisberger Football Camp.

Big Ben made the rounds to help divide the young athletes into teams.

“I’ve always had a spot in my heart for the kids and to see the joy on their face when they’re throwing a pass to get a completion and get a high five. It’s just awesome to me,” Roethlisberger said.


You can read more here.

“Had a blast at Bens football camp! These kids are hilarious. One kid caught a long ball from Ben and all the parents had to do jumping jacks!” – Brett Keisel, Camp Assistant via Twitter.

You can check out the Day 1 photos sent in by parents and grandparents here. And a few more of Da Beard here.

That’s Jonathan Porter above, Ben’s Camp Contest winner, honing in on his running back skills!

If you’d like to share your camp photos, email at BigBen7website@gmail.com!

We’re having a contest today starting at 12 Noon E.T!

It’s easy to enter…

All you have to do is be our 100th emailer and you will win an autographed 8×10 action photo of Ben!

Send your email to: bigben7website@gmail.com


*Please, just one email per email address only (subsequent emails from the same address will be discounted).


We will notify the winner via email and post an update to the site later this afternoon with the winner’s name!

WIN it for DAD!

*UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations to Brian Campbell, from Indiana, whose daughter Callie won the autographed photo for him (or maybe it’s the other way around! Callie is a big fan herself). Thank you to everyone who entered the contest!

You can see more Lil’ Fans here. The Lil’ Teammates album is here.



And speaking of Father’s Day…

“Ex-QBs assure Big Ben that fatherhood is a life-changer”

From J. Brady McCollough at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this morning:

For Brad Johnson, the anticipation reminded him of game day. But when it was over, and he and his wife were driving home from the hospital with little Max Johnson in tow, there really wasn’t an apt comparison.

“It was careful driving,” Johnson said. “You talk about having your hands on 10 and 2 on the steering wheel. That’s God’s gift to my wife and I. You understood there’s no love that can get between you.”

Roethlisberger’s quarterback brethren will be rooting him forward. They’ve been through this, becoming fathers during their careers, and they send a clear message: It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.

“This is your legacy,” said former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski. “What you’re going to leave behind is going to be these kids.”


You can read more here.

Ben sat down for an interview with Sports Director Gregg Mace of ABC 27-WHTM (Harrisburg, PA).

You can watch/listen to his interview during their 5PM, 6PM and 11PM broadcasts or check it out right here.



Ben was a guest on ESPN’s SportsCenter this afternoon.

You can watch/listen his interview here.



And he was a call-in guest on ESPN’s Mike & Mike Show this morning.

You can listen to his interview here.

June 16th on NFL Network!


11:00 AM:

”The Top 100: Players of 2012” – #30-21 – A countdown of the best 100 players leading into the 2012 season voted on by the players themselves.


12 Noon:

“NFL Classic Games” – 2005 AFC Divisional: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts (1/15/06) – Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt missed a game-tying 46-yard field goal attempt with 17 seconds remaining, as the Steelers upset the Colts 21-18 in an AFC divisional playoff game at the RCA Dome.


2:30 PM:

2005 Pittsburgh Steelers – Under head coach Bill Cowher, the Steelers finished the regular season 11-5. Led to the playoffs by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and veteran running back Jerome Bettis, the Steelers defeated the Bengals (31-17), the Colts (21-18) and the Broncos (34-17) on their way to Super Bowl XL.


7:00 PM:

2012 Big 33 Football Classic – Live Broadcast of the 2012 Big 33 Football Classic, which will feature the best high school players from Pennsylvania and Ohio. Alums include Tony Dorsett, Joe Montana, Joe Namath, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Marvin Harrison, Curtis Martin and Ben Roethlisberger.

Ben is the game’s Honorary Chairman this year.


Their full schedule is here.

Ben spoke to the media this afternoon after the second day of Mini Camp:


On whether anyone has ever told him to “just go down or just take a hit or run out of bounds” –

“Yeah, all the time. My mom, my wife, my grandma…(laughs)”


On whether taking fewer chances would be part of changing his game –

“I’m not going to change my game. Coach can do what he wants to add protection and do things like that, but I’m going to play the game the way I know how. It’s worked okay for me so far.”


On whether there is anything he can do this year to stay healthier –

“I don’t think there’s this big revelation like I need to do this, or do that. It’s just don’t take hits, but I don’t know how not to do that.”


On the comments made by his teammates about his “transformation” –

“To hear that and hear that from those guys is an honor. I mean, everyday I try to be the best teammate, and now the best husband and soon-to-be father that I can be because that’s the way it should be.”


Ben also talked about his fans, the offense, Mike Wallace and more. You can watch/listen here.



Also Today:

“A lot of quarterbacks don’t have that ‘it’ factor. You’ll find a great quarterback who’s accurate, who can throw the ball, but you look for a guy who has ‘it’ and he has it! Basically, you can relate it to like [Michael] Jordan. In the last minute of the game, you want the ball in his hands. You want the ball in the ‘it’ guy’s hands.” — Browns WR Joshua Cribbs, on Ben’s play.

Ben was ranked as the 30th player in the NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2012 list which was revealed in tonight’s episode. NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal thinks Ben remains underrated:

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is a two-time Super Bowl champion. Practically every game he plays is on national television. And yet he’s still underrated.

Roethlisberger came in at No. 30 on the “Top 100: Players of 2012” rankings, which is up 11 spots from 2011. He’s the No. 4 ranked quarterback on the list, which is seemingly plenty of respect.

And yet he was behind running backs […]