Roethlisberger returns to Miami to have jersey retired
OXFORD, Ohio -- It was a childhood goal. A warm welcome home. And one heck of a show.
Ben Roethlisberger had one of the best seats in the house Saturday as the Miami great returned to Yager Stadium to have his No. 7 jersey retired.
It was a dream fulfilled for the Pittsburgh quarterback.
"I don't know how I got that crazy idea in my head," Roethlisberger said of his desire to have his number retired. "It's an honor."
It also was just one of the highlights of an emotional day.
The RedHawks also honored former coach Terry Hoeppner with a plaque to hang in the Cradle of Coaches Plaza. And Roethlisberger watched from the sidelines as Miami barely broke a sweat in a 47-14 win over Bowling Green.
"It was really a perfect day," said Miami coach Shane Montgomery. "We were able to honor two of the greats in Miami history. It was just a special day."
And it was fitting Roethlisberger and Hoeppner shared the focus. The two are forever linked through both the success they produced at Miami and the close relationship they forged.
"He was a father. He was a role model. He was a leader," Roethlisberger said. "He brought out the best in me every week."
It wasn't just Roethlisberger. Hoeppner tended to bring out the best in all his players, especially in his six years as Miami's head coach. He led the RedHawks to a pair of MAC East Division titles and back-to back bowl games.
Hoeppner and Roethlisberger guided Miami to a 13-1 record in 2003 -- the same year they upended Louisville 49-28 in the GMAC Bowl.
That ranks as one of Roethlisberger's finest -- and favorite -- Miami moments. So does clinching the MAC title against Bowling Green that same year. And his Hail Mary pass in the closing seconds against Akron in 2001.
"It'd be hard to name one," he said.
Soon after Roethlisberger left Miami, so did Hoeppner. Roethlisberger went to the NFL and Hoeppner to the Big Ten.
Hoeppner became Indiana's head coach on Dec. 17, 2004. He died June 19 from complications of brain cancer.
"None of this would be possible without him," Roethlisberger said. "It's great to have Mrs. Hoeppner here and my family and friends."
Roethlisberger's Miami accomplishments are vast.
He owns several career passing records, was the 2003 MAC Player of the Year and became Miami's highest draft pick when Pittsburgh selected him 11th overall in 2004.
It led to Saturday's pregame ceremony -- only the third time Miami has retired a number and the first in 34 years.
The other two are John Pont's No. 42 and Bob Hitchens' No. 40.
Roethlisberger's No. 7 also has been retired by his high school in Findlay, Ohio.
That's two out of three, and Roethlisberger is in the midst of a stellar career with Pittsburgh. He already has one Super Bowl ring, and the Steelers are off to a 4-1 start this season. And a smattering of black and gold colors peaked through Yager's sea of red and white.
"There's nothing like college Saturday," Roethlisberger said. "It's just an awesome feeling.
"It's great to come back, to see the changes that have been made. The sky's the limit for this school and this program."