Ben Roetlisberger: Steeler Nation Is Still Behind You
As I sit here drinking a beer on my porch and enjoying some nice spring weather in Oxford, OH (home of Miami University), I decided that it's time to provide a unique perspective on the Roethlisberger's current predicament with yet another sexual assault charge.
I've read many articles and opinions on the situation and I find that few of them provide context for why Ben decided to go to the bar that fateful night.
Most of you are probably unfamiliar with Miami University or Oxford. In fact, most of the time people confuse us with University of Miami down in Florida.
The schools couldn't be more different.
Oxford is a relatively small city. There's approximately 8,000 residents of the town and around 16,000 college students who attend Miami.
That's right, students outnumber residents by two to one.
It provides for an interesting climate.
For instance, because Miami is on spring break, the vast majority of businesses in the town have shut down. In fact, aside from the occasional jogger or bicyclist, the town nearly resembles a ghost town.
To return to my point, there is not a whole lot to do here.
The last time I checked, the town had eight pizza places, 10 restaurants, a four-screen movie theater, a bowling alley, a few small places to shop and 28 bars.
That's right, there are more bars here than anything else COMBINED.
A large part of the culture here revolves around drinking and going out to any number of the college bars in town. We recently celebrated Green Beer Day which is where the majority of students skip class and go to the bars all day (starting at 5:30 a.m.).
You can check out the Wikipedia article on Green Beer Day to get a better idea.
As someone who was here just before Roethlisberger left, I ran into him a few times in and around town and he didn't really stand out more than anyone else—aside from how big he is, hence the name "Big Ben."
So given his college experience, what did he decide to do to wind down after a long season?
Go out with some of his friends to a local college bar, get a few drinks, and watch some basketball on TV.
As far as I know that's not a crime. In fact, that sounds like a pretty fun night to me.
Given his celebrity status, I'm sure he had many people coming up to him for autographs, pictures, hugs, and probably with a few more drinks, kisses.
What guy in his 20's would reject this kind of attention? I know I wouldn't.
So yes, he made a poor decision to go into a bathroom with the accuser.
What happened in there is still being investigated.
However, if a woman pulls you into a bathroom with her at a bar, there's a certain assumption that something private is about to happen.
Should he have gone in there? Probably not.
Should he have waited until everyone was sober? Probably.
However, do I believe he forced someone to do something they didn't want to do?
My answer is an easy "No."
In fact, I doubt this whole thing would've happened if it weren't for the accusations last year (which were proved to be completely and utterly false).
So, while everyone says Ben needs to grow up, they need to realize he was just unwinding the way he did when he was in college. And without the accusations of sexual assault, no one would've said a thing about whether or not he should have been there.
In conclusion, I still support Big Ben.
I want him to continue to be the Steeler's quarterback and I wouldn't trade him for anyone in the league.
I even support his decision to go out with friends to the bars during the offseason.
A word to the wise Ben, if you read this: develop better taste in women.
The Steel City and Steeler fans across the world need you.
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