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If you’ve been keeping up with the Hustle Hall of Fame over the last few weeks, you are aware of what’s happening. Fan voting has decided the first of two entrants for each MAC member to craft an inaugural Class of 2017 for the Hustle Hall of Fame. First up to be inducted to the Hustle Hall of Fame is former member of the Miami RedHawks, Ben Roethlisberger!
There are few that have the honor or the burden of carrying their collegiate conference’s banner throughout their career, but when people mention Mid-American Conference football, one name consistently comes soon after: Ben Roethlisberger. The former Miami RedHawk, current QB for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and sure-fire NFL Hall of Famer is the example by which most MAC QBs are measured.
His career at Miami was nothing short of stellar. A three-year player before early entry to the NFL, Big Ben was able to lead the RedHawks to an undefeated MAC season, #10 ranking, and a bowl win over Louisville in his junior year. Throwing for nearly 11,000 yards and 80 touchdowns, along with owning basically every passing record in Miami history, Roethlisberger isn’t in the conversation for best MAC QB, he is the conversation.
That success continued with the Steelers, appearing in three Super Bowls and winning two. He’s thrown for nearly 47,000 yards and has 301 TDs. He’s also one of the rarities in sports who hasn’t tested free agency and in all likelihood will retire as a legend on the team that drafted him.
Roethlisberger’s career has spanned decades and been championship-caliber for all of it. It is a career that is worthy of celebration and most certainly the kind of career that the Hustle Hall of Fame exists to recognize.
Congrats to Ben Roethlisberger, your newest entrant to the Hustle Hall of Fame!