Roethlisberger graduates from Miami

5/6/2012
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger waits in line to receive his bachelor's degree in education during a commencement ceremony at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger waits in line to receive his bachelor's degree in education during a commencement ceremony at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

OXFORD, Ohio — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger graduated from Miami University in southwest Ohio, about nine years after leaving for the NFL.

The university says the 30-year-old Roethlisberger, a native of Findlay, received his bachelor's degree in education and joined nearly 600 students during today's commencement at the campus in Oxford. His wife, parents, and grandmother attended.

Roethlisberger, who's led the Steelers to two Super Bowl titles, played football for Miami from 2001 to 2003 and set several school passing records. An associate dean says the quarterback was four courses short of graduation when he jumped to the NFL. He completed those courses over several years and finished this spring.

Roethlisberger says he felt it was important to finish his classes to illustrate the value of getting an education.