Ben Roethlisberger makes surprise appearance at youth football camp
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The youth football camp that used to be run by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger received a surprise visit Wednesday from ... Ben Roethlisberger.
Roethlisberger had run the camp at Mars Area High School, north of Pittsburgh, the last two years. But he stepped aside after legal problems during the off-season.
He was accused of rape at a Georgia nightclub in March but was not prosecuted. He did receive a six-game suspension from the NFL.
Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin has been running the camp this year, bringing along his 8- and 9-year-old sons.
Other Steelers players have dropped by throughout the week, but the biggest name -- and most controversial -- stopped by on the last day of camp.
‘I love coming out here and participating with these guys and having fun, seeing the smile on their face,’ Roethlisberger told KDKA’s John Shumway.
He added: ‘To see the smile on some of the kids’ faces when they catch touchdowns and they’re high-fiving -- it just it brings joy to your life.’
No word on how the parents felt, but apparently the kids were thrilled to see the two-time Super Bowl champion at camp.
‘I was really excited, ‘cause I wanted to see him,’ Bethany Carcaise said.
‘It was fun playing with Ben and it was pretty cool that I got to meet Ben this year,’ Noah Willard of Darlington, Pa., said.
-- Chuck Schilken
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
