Earlier this week, head football coach John Davis and the Misericordia University Athletic Department left many speechless when they announced recently-retired Pittsburgh Steeler Ben Roethlisberger will be coming to campus during preseason.

This is massive news for a young staff in the football offices as it will have the pro football expertise and experience of an 18-year NFL starter. The future Hall of Famer has been in touch with Coach Davis.

“Ben wants to come in here and show our guys how to work on their deep balls,” Davis said. “We’re excited to see him come and put on a display for our guys.”

As an 18-year pro, Roethlisberger has quite the resume, having elapsed 64,088 career passing yards to go along with 418 passing touchdowns. “Big Ben” won two Super Bowls in 2005 and 2008.

With all his career accolades, some wonder why Roethlisberger is choosing to visit the Misericordia campus. That answer is simple. Ben decided he wants to give back to the communities around him in Pennsylvania, including Misericordia.

Coach Davis is understandably excited for the opportunity.

“I just want him to be able to really impart some knowledge,” Davis said. “He’s one of the best to ever play the game of football and having him come to Dallas, Pennsylvania is an amazing honor and our guys should be really excited about that.”

Coach Davis knows Roethlisberger is a celebrity. When asked what he could gain from Ben, Davis said, “I just want to be able to stand beside him, take a picture, and say,’ Hey, I got to meet a Hall of Famer and he was at Misericordia.’ That would be a career defining moment as a coach.”

In his second season with the team, Coach Davis is already showing strides by landing a career-defining moment so early in his Misericordia tenure. This can be seen as a huge win for Misericordia and its football program.

The knowledge Roethlisberger brings to the football field should be something the Misericordia football team will take into its season next year and for many to come. His experience alone is something that can sit with these football players for life.

Tying that in with Roethlisberger’s skillset, the Misericordia football team is guaranteed to learn a lot from his presence and, as Coach Davis said, his “Big Ben Swagger.”