Just want to say thanks to Hoge, Starks and Ward for another great golf tourney. The Caring Place is a great place and this event really helps, thanks guys! — Ben



Golfing for a good cause today –

Ben talks with Chris Hoke at the tournament. Photo: Bill Phillips, WPXI

Since 1994, the Hoge Starks Ward Celebrity Golf Classic for Children has raised $2 million including matching funds from Highmark Blue Shield for the Highmark Caring Foundation.

Merril Hoge, Hines Ward, and Max Starks invited Steelers coaches and players and other celebrities from the area and across the country to play a round of golf at the Southpointe Golf Club to raise awareness of and funds for The Caring Place.

The Caring Place champions the cause of grieving children by creating awareness of their needs, providing programs for them and their families, and empowering the community to effectively support them.

Ben took a few moments before heading out onto the golf course to answer questions from the media about the tournament, the Caring Place, OTA’s, wide receiver Mike Wallace, and how he feels about receiving his recent college degree, “I feel so smart right now,” he said with a laugh.

As to learning the offensive system, “It’s just something new. It’s change, it’s different – doesn’t mean it’s good or bad. We’re just learning something new,” Ben said. “I’m not saying I don’t like the playbook or anything like that. Some of the stuff, the concepts, are awesome. It’s just getting an understanding of something new.”


You can watch his video-interview here.

You can read about the event, and more from Ben’s interview here.