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Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Big Ben: Could’ve been Buckeyes best?
Why didn’t Ben Roethlisberger go to Ohio State? Perhaps because the recruiters called at the wrong times and couldn’t pronounce his name:
“We had a lot of bad experiences with Ohio State,” Roethlisberger’s father, Ken, told The Times’ Sam Farmer. “If we got any phone calls at night, after 10, the latest one would be from Ohio State. He’s got school the next day, the phone is ringing after 10, and we’re saying, ‘There’s Ohio State calling.’ ”
According to Roethlisberger’s mother, Brenda, the Ohio State recruiters also had trouble pronouncing the family’s last name.
Now, the question is this: Would it have made a difference? Some are wondering this week following Roethlisberger’s second Super Bowl victory with the Pittsburgh Steelers what he could have done if he had played for Ohio State. In a Buckeyes uniform, some say, he might’ve elbowed his way to mention among the best to play for the Buckeyes. Or, of course, he might’ve slumped into obscurity without a chance to play.
Roethlisberger knew that chance would come at Miami, which is reportedly another reason he chose the RedHawks. Last week, Jane Hoeppner, widow of former Miami coach Terry Hoeppner, called unsolicited into the Rush Limbaugh radio show to discuss Roethlisberger and praise him for his friendliness and work ethic.
Among her thoughts:
And when he came for his recruiting weekend, he wanted to make sure that I knew how to pronounce his name and spell his name, because (garbled). You know, even as an 18-year-old, he had such promise, and not only talent on the field which obviously we all can appreciate that, but he had that special something that has brought him to where he is, you know, as a player.
It’s all guess work, but what if Roethlisberger had indeed headed to Columbus? It’s a question to debate as long as his success runs in the NFL.
