A throwback to Ben Roethlisberger and his time spent before the Pittsburgh Steelers

This Thursday it is fitting to pay homage to one Ben Roethlisberger and his time spent at Miami University (OH) prior to the 2004 NFL Draft. Everyone remembers this draft class for the big-name quarterbacks at the top of the draft. Eli Manning, out of Ole Miss, Philip Rivers, out of N.C. State, and Roethlisberger out of Miami of Ohio.

Manning and Rivers claimed the headlines with the trade between the New York Giants and San Diego Chargers, but it was Roethlisberger, selected 11th overall, who ultimately stole the show with tremendous statistics, and two Super Bowl championships to boot.

It is crazy to think about Roethlisberger leading up to the draft, but I distinctly remember being a college student and watching some MAC football game on television in the middle of the week.

I saw this No. 7 slinging the ball around the field and said to a friend, who is also a Steelers fan, “Man, the Steelers sure could use a quarterback like this kid!”

A few short months later the Steelers didn’t even have to trade up to draft Roethlisberger. Instead, while the Cleveland Browns selected Kellen Winslow, the Steelers watched a franchise quarterback fall directly into their laps.

While we know all about what Roethlisberger has done in his lengthy NFL career, it is time to look back at Roethlisberger’s college career to see just how far he has come. Check out the video below, from the Miami Redhawks Football Recruiting verified account, and enjoy the look back at where Roethlisberger got his start.