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A blast from the past!634 viewsMy brother Trent and Big Ben during picture day at Miami (OH) - 2003 -- Tanner Montgomery via Twitter (@Tanner_M)

Tanner and Trent's father, Shane, was the offensive coordinator at Miami University from 2001 to 2005 before becoming the RedHawks 32nd head football coach, succeeding Terry Hoeppner, from 2005 to 2008. He is now the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Youngstown State University.

Pre-Season Game - August 24, 2013: Chiefs vs Steelers473 viewsYoung Tyler Hallsey is battling cancer. Recently, he had the opportunity to attend a Steelers pre-season game with his family, courtesy of former Steeler and current ESPN analyst Merril Hoge. It was a great night for Tyler, who also had the opportunity to meet and pose with Brett Keisel and Troy Polamalu, the man whose jersey he is wearing!

Tylerâ€™s father, Chris, sent this email to share with other fans on his sonâ€™s experience:

When Tyler found out about his diagnosis he was scared and confused. We all were. My wife left the room to call her parents and give them the news. While she was out, Tyler and I talked about the road ahead and that it would be hard. We both made promises to each other, then I asked him what he thought we should do. He looked me in the eyes and said, â€œWhatever it takesâ€. I think Chuck Noll would be proud.

Since that day in February we have been team Whatever It Takes.

I think Tylerâ€™s approach to fighting his brain tumor and Benâ€™s approach on the field are the same. You do whatever it takes. You do what others may not want to do or arenâ€™t willing to do, in order to get the results you want. Sometimes that path is hard or perilous, but you do what has to be done. Itâ€™s inspiring to witness, especially when it comes from your son.

It would be impossible for me to properly express the amount of gratitude I have in my heart for Ben, and his willingness to take the time to meet Tyler. He loved every minute of it. Tyler is known for his constant smile, but this smile was even big for him! He was beyond happy.

A little while after we met Ben, we were in the tunnel waiting to see Troy Polamalu, when the team came out for final warm ups and Ben saw Tyler and said, â€œHey! Itâ€™s my man Tyler!â€ He remembered his name and that made the day even more special. Tyler was in heaven. I know it was a brief moment for Ben, but those brief moments will bring a lifetime of joy to Tyler and my entire family.

I hope Ben knows how much that means to me as a father. This has been a terribly trying mountain to climbâ€¦itâ€™s tough, but moments like these keep you going. They give you a much-needed second wind. As a father, I try to do everything in my power to ease Tylerâ€™s burden, I would take it all if I could. As much as I try, moments like these are far beyond anything I could ever do. This was Ben pausing to help a little boy he didnâ€™t even know, just for the sake of lifting him. No cameras, no press, just Ben and Tyler. While my gratitude is expressed with these two simple words, thank you, please know there is much more emotion and gratitude behind them. It was a black & gold dream come true!

Others will look at this picture and see a two time Super Bowl Champion and a 14-year-old boy bound to a wheelchair with an uncooperative body, but when I look at it, I see two giant men not afraid of a fight, and absolutely willing to do, â€œWhatever It Takes.â€

We are so proud to be a part of Steeler Natio. We always have been, but that conviction has grown even stronger. To Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Brett Keisel, Bruce Gradkoswki, Chris Hoke, Coach Mitchell, and of course, Merril Hoge who made this all happen, we thank you and we love you! Like we are part of Steeler Nation, you are now part of team â€œWhatever It Takesâ€! â€“ Chris Hallsey

Steeler Nation is praying for you, Tyler!!

January 19, 2018 - Fan Friday619 viewsBert Haughin @BertHaughin
From way up high on the London Eye: Big Ben is under wraps, but you canâ€™t stop Steeler Fans or @_BigBen7 !! Go Steelers!!

Ben in Switzerland, 20061572 viewsHi Erin,

I'm Remo from Switzerland and I'm a big Football fan.

Well American Football is not that popular in Switzerland like Soccer or Ice hockey. But anyway for me it's a great sport and I like to watch them every Sunday. Like you know Big Ben has his roots in Switzerland . During his visit after winning the Super Bowl in 2006, I was lucky to met Ben at 'Lauperswil' and was able to talk to him and his father. He is a really nice guy and who knows, maybe one day he will come back to Switzerland or I will visit a game in Pittsburgh. Sorry my English isnâ€™t that good but I hope you can use some of the pictures for your great website.

Greetings from Switzerland,

Remo

Ben in Switzerland, 20061432 viewsBen waits to be introduced during a visit to Lauperswil.

Photo taken by Remo.

Ben in Switzerland, 20061581 viewsBen speaks to the media during a visit to Lauperswil.

Photo taken by Remo.

Now THIS is a patio for cooking out on game day!611 viewsRaymond Carpenter of Rialto, CA painted a huge Steelers logo on his patio in his spare time that took him almost two years to complete!

Training Camp - August 4, 20101425 viewsBillie Jo said the little girl in the photo above was supposed to hand Ben her little football, but she suddenly threw him a pass instead, which he caught...and then laughed.

Her email is below:

Erin,

I have been sitting here trying to put into words how awesome Steelers Training Camp was for me, just sitting there watching these guys practice was such an amazing feeling, especially Big Ben...I have been a Roethlisberger fan since he was drafted into the NFL and I knew that he was going to be the young man that would take us to another Super Bowl - and look! he gave us two so far, so to be there and only be 10 steps from him was incredible. Watching him on the field laughing and joking with his teammates was awesome, and seeing first-hand how the fans reacted was even better. There was so many people wearing Roethlisberger Jerseys, as he would take a snap the crowd just cheered, it really made feel so proud to be a fan, especially after Ben's fear of being booed.

However, all these moments of watching Ben on the field were pretty special, but I think the most memorable moment was when this little boy, about 5-years old came running up the hill, holding his football in both hands, spinning in circles, screaming over and over again, "Big Ben signed my football!". This was something I will never forget, just seeing the joy on that little boy's face was priceless and to know that our QB made that happen was even better.

There is one last thing I want to share... I attend the late night practice at Latrobe High School Football Stadium tonight and I just wanted everyone to know that so many people where cheering for Ben and at one point, while several us where yelling his name he looked up with this smile and gives us a wave, that is a memory that I will always cherish.

Always and forever a Roethlisberger Fan...

Billie Jo

*Please do not use/copy any of Billie Jo's photos without her permission.

Training Camp - August 4, 20101385 viewsPhoto: Billie Jo

Training Camp - August 4, 20101591 viewsPhoto: Billie Jo

*Please do not use/copy any of Billie Jo's photos without her permission.

Training Camp - August 4, 20101396 viewsPhoto: Billie Jo

*click on photos for larger versions.

Training Camp - August 16, 20101709 viewsErin,
When training camp began, we had only planned to attend one day of training camp and the night practice, but last week my husband and I decided to attend one more time... and I was so glad we did.

This time there were more people so we had to sit on the hillside (rather than the bleachers), but lucky me -- it was the hillside where Ben always signs autographs. After practice we stood right at the fence line. Of course you get tons of people trying to shove their way in but lucky me again, I am married to a Marine, lol...

As Ben approached my heart was beating a mile a minute, I couldn't believe I was actually this close to him and as he walked up to me and signed my football, I asked, "Would you please take a picture with me?" and he said, "Sure, if you have someone to take it!". I wanted to say something to him but that's about all that would come out, lol. I was speechless.

After everything that has happened, I can honestly say he such a sweet guy, all smiles - and Ben was so great with the kids...

Today was a great day. They say the third time's a charm, well I can definitely agree with that because this was our third trip to training camp this year and I got to meet Ben... wouldn't trade it for anything.

Billie Jo

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