New film about Miami University’s legendary football coaches features interviews with NFL head coaches John Harbaugh and Sean McVay, retired Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and Bengals President Mike Brown, all Miami graduates.

From John Kiesewetter, at 91.7 WVXU:

Most of us living in Southwestern Ohio know about Miami University’s “Cradle of Coaches,” the famous football coaching alums from Woody Hayes and Paul Brown to Super Bowl coaches Sean McVay and John Harbaugh.

Next year the rest of the country will learn about Miami’s legacy in Cradle of Coaches, a documentary from Cincinnati’s RESLV (“resolve”) video production company.

For nearly a year the filmmakers have been interviewing nearly 80 people for the film, including:

– NFL head coaches Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams) and John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens), both Miami alumni

– Former Miami and Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

– Bengals owner Mike Brown, son of football innovator Paul Brown, who played quarterback at Miami before coaching the Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals.

– College Football Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz, who was on Hayes’ staff in 1968 when Ohio State University went undefeated. Hayes coached at Miami in 1949-50 before going to OSU.

– Bengals coach Zac Taylor, who was hired by McVay for his Rams staff from the University of Cincinnati, where Taylor was offensive coordinator.

The film likely will premiere next spring in Cincinnati, says Alecia Lipton, Miami University media and public relations director. “Meetings with broadcast/streaming platforms will occur to find the right home for the film.”

“The Cradle of Coaches isn’t just a phrase — it’s a legacy that has shaped the game of football and the leaders within it,” said Scott Thompson, director and founder of RESLV. “At RESLV, we’re honored to bring this powerful story to life. There’s no greater privilege than capturing the passion, leadership, and enduring impact of these extraordinary coaches.”

Or as Roethlisberger says in the film: “I would tell guys I went to the real Miami, and they’d be like, ‘Oh yeah.’ And I’d say, ‘We were a school before Florida became a state. How do you argue that?”

Miami University opened in 1809, six years after Ohio became a state. Florida was granted statehood in 1845.

You can watch the Official Trailer here.

You can read the rest of Mr. Kiesewetter’s article here.

From Mr. Labriola’s “Asked & Answered” on Steelers.com today:

HANS KOLLER FROM FREDONIA, PA: I’m pretty sure you are part of the committee that selects the Hall of Honor classes. I’m curious why Ben Roethlisberger was selected now? I always figured that would wait until he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Was the decision more let’s spread out the things we do with Ben so things aren’t done all at once, and how much of it had to do with putting him and Maurkice Pouncey in at the same time?

MR. LABRIOLA: I don’t believe it’s proper for me to talk about the discussions that take place among the members of the Hall of Honor Selection Committee, but according to the rules for election, a player or contributor must be retired for 3 years before becoming eligible. Ben Roethlisberger has been retired for 3 years, and I dare you to give me a name of someone more deserving than him. Why wait? He is deserving, he is eligible, he gets elected. Simple. 🖐️⬇️🎤


You can read the rest of today’s “Asked & Answered” here.