It didn’t take long for Brett to respond when he saw the jersey his friend was wearing:

“Now a husband and father of two children, Roethlisberger is 32 and entering his 11th season. This is the fourth quarter of a career that could place him in elite company.” — Rob Rossi, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

More from Mr. Rossi’s column this weekend as the Steelers enter training camp:

Roethlisberger arrived at camp in the best shape of his career. He’s not the first to do so, but Roethlisberger looks like he has overhauled everything, especially eating and workout habits.

When was the last time Roethlisberger didn’t accept the burden of typically insane expectations for the Steelers? When was the last time he tossed a teammate or assistant coach under the bus? When was the last time somebody said something bad about his actions on or off the field?

When was the last time he wasn’t what Pittsburghers expect of a Steeler?

Unless we’ve been watching an amazingly scripted stage play the past three years, Roethlisberger has grown into a humble, hard-working leader of this proud franchise.

Roethlisberger is going to retire as a Steeler. He may retire as the Steeler of his generation or a Steeler for any generation.

The quarterback with 29 winning drives in the fourth quarter has the ball. We’re watching a career-defining comeback.


You can read the rest here.



And Alan Robinson, also from the Tribune-Review, has the “Tweets of the Day”:

Alan Robinson ‏@arobinson_Trib
One reason @_BigBen7 prefers to remain #Steelers player rest of his career is he wants to raise kids in Pittsburgh.


Alan Robinson ‏@arobinson_Trib
@_BigBen7 absolutely convinced he’ll win another Super Bowl or Super Bowls. Can tell he won’t be satisfied unless he does. #Steelers

“Thanks Ben for making my son’s training camp visit so memorable! Ben threw his wristband to him today and he has not taken it off yet. My son Keiran is a quarterback and of course wears #7. He can’t wait to take the wristband to practice to show his teammates. Thanks again Ben!” – Jennifer Lippman

The Steelers 2014 training camp begins this Friday, July 25th when the players report, and Steelers.com has all the info you need when you report!

What’s the camp schedule look like?

What’s the weather report for Latrobe?

How do you get there?

Where can you stay if you plan on spending more than the day?

What kind of fan activities are scheduled for Steeler Nation?

What’s the layout of the St. Vincent College and how do you get to the field?

What about parking? Food? and where do you go for medical assistance if needed?


You can find all of that out right here!

“We went to St. Vincent three days – Friday for the night practice, where Kathleen got lots of autographs; On Monday I got Ben’s autograph on my son’s jersey. I told him it was my son’s favorite jersey and that he had passed away December 30th and had been featured on his site. He looked at me and said, ‘I am sorry. (Pause) I am really very sorry!’. It was very nice for him to acknowledge it all in the pandemonium that was surrounding him at the time.

My son, Connor had always wanted Ben’s autograph but never got it. I teared up after and felt like I accomplished something for him. That jersey will be framed with a plaque honoring my son in our basement, which is heavily laden with Steeler memorabilia. Thank you, Mr. Roethlisberger for your sympathy. Thank you also for all the time you spent, in spite of being banged up, signing autographs. You made one little girl’s, and a couple of her buddies’ day.” – Patrick Williams, photo above with Kathleen.

And:

Where do you send your favorite photos and fan stories from training camp?

Right here of course!

Just email them to us at bigben7website@gmail.com and we’ll be happy to share them with the rest of Steeler Nation!

Have fun and be safe!

“Wanted to thank Big […]

After checking out all the Steeler Nation on Vacation photos, Ben wanted to join in on the vacation photo action as well!

Ben took his lovely wife on a tropical vacation for a little sun and fun before the start of Steelers training camp!


Ben and Ashley are all smiles after arriving in the Bahamas..and no wonder! Ben snapped the second photo of this beautiful spot on the beach that they’d be enjoying before the sun went down!


Hope everyone is having a safe and happy summer, no matter where you’re spending it!


You can see all the photos in Ben’s family album here, and from his personal album here.

The July Fan Photos are here…and this summer it’s all about vacationing in style –


Steeler Nation Style!

As fan and longtime follower of the site Bob Tschappat, Jr. said, “It’s always football season, even on vacation!”


That’s Al Stiehler showing his true colors at Stonehenge on the top; Pete Perdaems keeping his Terrible Towel upright at the Leaning Tower of Pisa; and Frank Semple going camo style at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.




Ohio Steelers fan Steve Hakin above, in his #7 jersey, poses against the backdrop of Machu Picchu in Peru; and Tom Obenrader showing off his Terrible Towel at the Great Wall of China. Tom and his wife were in China to adopt a daughter, who already had a Steelers jersey waiting for her!




If it’s possible, P.J. “Pete” Perdaems makes Monte Carlo a little more colorful with his Black & Gold; Steelers UK fan Peter Minghella stops to pose “in my colours in Crete” with his son Ethan; and Mike Thoma and his son Chris posing at the Trevi Fountain in Rome.




Jasmine Burt, a Terrible Towel and a rainbow at Niagara Falls in Canada; Closer to home – Bob & Missy Tschappat in Key West where Bob says if they go away, Ben’s “Away Jersey” goes too; and that’s Rob Thaler taking in a summer baseball game in Kansas City (Rays vs Royals) but still reppin’ the Black & Gold in the stands!


You can see more photos of our summer vacationers here (3 pages)!

We also have photos of some adorable Lil’ Fans to share too!


As always, thank you to everyone who shared their photos with us! These were great!

The Allegheny County Law Enforcement Officers Memorial (LEOM) is an organization that honors police officers who were killed in the line of duty in Allegheny County.

The Memorial to these brave men and women stands on the North Shore of Pittsburgh, just outside of Heinz Field.

But the LEOM realized that there was one important law enforcement member that was not honored – something that came to light after the line-of-duty death of K-9 Officer “Rocco” in January.

In fact, there have been four Police K-9’s in Allegheny County who have been killed in the line of duty:

K-9 Officer “Jup” in 1991; K-9 Officer “Joker” in 1997; K-9 Officer “Ulf” in 2008; and K-9 Officer “Rocco” in 2014.

“When the original Memorial was designed we did not include a K-9 partner for our officer. That was short-sighted of us. Our K-9 partners are part of our Law Enforcement Family. They live and work with their partners, and serve as members of our Police Departments.

“I truly believe that the K-9 Officers work for the praise and love of their human partners. They are fearless in their actions and protective of their partners to a fault.” — Cmdr. Donna Best, President of the Law Enforcement Officer Memorial.

The LEOM is working with the City of Pittsburgh Department of Art and the Sports and Exhibition Authority to have the addition of a K-9 partner added to the existing memorial on the North Shore.

They are working with local artist Susan Wagner to design a K-9 statue to add to the Memorial. Susan designed the original statue of the officer named, “Ever Watchful” (photo above).


Their hope is to have it completed by early next August for the 100th Anniversary of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) National Conference which will be held in Pittsburgh.

But they need your help in bringing to fruition the addition of a K-9 Officer to the existing Memorial!

You can make your check or money order payable to LEOM K-9 Memorial and send your tax deductible donation to:

Greater Pittsburgh Police FCU
1338 Chartiers Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15220

Please join with Ben in helping them honor our brave K-9’s […]