Turmoil unites Big Ben, former coach
Terry Hoeppner knew Ben Roethlisberger would be back. You can't keep a good quarterback down. Not a quarterback with so much confidence and talent.
Roethlisberger shared that feeling of satisfaction with Hoeppner, his former college coach, after the Steelers' 45-7 trouncing of Kansas City on Sunday at Heinz Field.
Roethlisberger put his stamp on the Steelers for the first time in 2006 with a breakout performance. He completed 16-of-19 passes and tossed two touchdowns, and again established himself as the on-field face of the franchise.
Even Roethlisberger's biggest critics and the Steelers' most persistent skeptics would have to admit something special happened in a game the Steelers needed to win.
It was a win over a mediocre-at-best Kansas City team, but for the first time in a long time, the Roethlisberger-led Steelers were in perfect offensive harmony.
Not to say I told you so, but Hoeppner, the Indiana University coach who helped Roethlisberger become a first-round NFL draft pick at Miami (Ohio), has seen Roethlisberger come through so many times there was every reason to believe he'd do it again.
"I never doubted for a second that he wouldn't come back and have a great year," Hoeppner said yesterday. "He's confident in his abilities. The arm's great. He's back."
Roethlisberger plays for the Steelers. He takes his directions from coach Bill Cowher and offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. But he knew Hoeppner before he was a Steeler, and Hoeppner repesents a special time in Roethlisberger's life.
When Roethlisberger needs someone to talk to during the season, he often turns to Hoeppner for guidance. When Roethlisberger failed to record a touchdown pass in his first three starts, coinciding with the Steelers' three-game losing skid, Hoeppner reminded him that quarterbacks and head coaches receive too much credit, and too much blame.
"We talk at least once a week" Hoeppner said of Roethlisberger, who passed for 10,829 yards and 84 touchdowns at Miami. "We talk football. We talk situations. I told him you can't worry about what other people think about you. It's how you think about you. They're Super Bowl champs, but they're human. He contains it well, but he's got a real fire inside. He's very motivated."
Roethlisberger sent a text-mail to Hoeppner and called him before the Steelers faced the Chiefs. Hoeppner called Roethlisberger after the game. They planned to speak again yesterday.
'They've built an extremely unique and tight bond which far transcends football," said agent Leigh Steinberg, who represents Roethlisberger. "In the 32 years I've represented athletes, it's as close of a relationship between coach and player as I've ever seen."
Hoeppner was there with Roethlisberger on draft day in 2004 when he went from possibly being the first quarterback selected to the third QB taken.
Hoeppner was also sitting in the Pittsburgh hospital room with Roethlisbger's family soon after Ben's harrowing motorcycle accident in June.
"Terry was sitting in that room on draft day. Terry was there in the hospital room. Terry has been present for so many key moments in Ben's life," Steinberg said.
Likewise, Roethlisberger has been there for Hoeppner, who underwent two surgeries to treat a brain aneurysm. The second surgery in September caused Hoeppner to miss some of the season.
Roethlisberger attended the Indiana-Wisconsin game during the Steelers' bye week. Last Saturday, Roethlisberger called Hoeppner on the field immediately after Indiana upset Iowa.
"I had a wake-up call, and he had a wake-up call, and we're both better off for it," Hoeppner said. "I get thrown the second surgery curveball, and he gets thrown the appendectomy surgery curveball. I've been there for him, and he's been there for me."
Roethlisberger has all the intangibles of a winner. Hoeppner understands what makes him tick as well as anyone.
**Thank you to Jackie for sending this article my way!