The Pittsburgh Steelers met the Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend and thanks to Ben Roethlisberger and Jerome Bettis, they came away with a big victory for the black and gold. Roethlisberger and Bettis did not score any touchdowns or gain a single yard. It was not a replay on the NFL Network from a 2004 meeting. It was a match play golf event for the Constellation Furyk & Friends celebrity challenge for charity.
Jerome Bettis celebrates with teammate Ben Roethlisberger after sinking a long putt during the charity match which had Bettis and Roethlisberger teamed up against Tony Boselli and Josh Scobee as part of the Constellation Furyk & Friends golf tournament at the Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville, FL Friday, October 7, 2022. BOB SELF/FLORIDA TIMES-UNION
The event was held at the Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville on Friday. The former Steelers legends squared off against Hall of Fame tackle, Tony Boselli and former Jaguars kicker, Josh Scobee, in a two-player scramble format for skins. The purse for the event was $60,000 dollars for the two team’s chosen local charity. The Steelers duo earned $36,000 for the Beaches Habitat for Humanity.
“Hey man, we did it again,” Bettis exclaimed after the match. “Champs again. We find a way to get it done right. We said we were going to ham and egg it and that’s what we did. 1-0 against the Jacksonville guys, we always beat the Jaguars.”
All @JeromeBettis36 and @_BigBen7 do is win 🔥@Steelers take down @Jaguars in celebrity event @FurykandFriends. pic.twitter.com/Vri14WPCkj
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) October 7, 2022
The Steelers in fact, trail the Jaguars in the all-time series between the two teams. The Jaguars have won 14 of the 27 meetings. Surprisingly, the Jaguars lead can be attributed to a 2-0 record versus the black and gold in the postseason. David Garrard and Blake Bortles beat the Steelers in the postseason in two of the most shocking losses in Mike Tomlin’s tenure as coach.
Jerome Bettis, Josh Scobee, Tony Boselli and Ben Roethlisberger pose for a group photo as they prepare to tee off in the charity match as part of the Constellation Furyk & Friends golf tournament at the Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville, FL Friday, October 7, 2022. BOB SELF/FLORIDA TIMES-UNION
Roethlisberger is a gifted golfer and in July, he participated in the Icon Series golf tournament that pitted Team USA vs Team Rest of the World. He was teamed with Michael Phelps at the event and they clinched the victory for Team USA when the duo won their match play event. Roethlisberger credited his partner this weekend, Bettis for helping to deliver the win against Boselli and Scobee.
“I’ll ride the bus any time,” Roethlisberger said. “On the football field and the golf course. I got on the green and you made every single putt you looked at, so I appreciate it.”
Bettis made 5 birdie putts that put the match away for the Pittsburgh legends. Scobee is a talented golfer in his own right, he pulled off an albatross during a celebrity golf event at TPC Sawgrass last October in a tournament benefiting the Ronald McDonald House. The fifth hole at the stadium course is a 520-yard par 5 and after a 275-yard drive, he cranked a 5-wood from 245 yards away and the ball hopped into the hole.
NFL Hall of Fame members Jerome Bettis and Tony Boselli talk as they walk down the fairway during the charity match which had Bettis and Ben Roethlisberger teamed up against Tony Boselli and Josh Scobee as part of the Constellation Furyk & Friends golf tournament at the Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville, FL Friday, October 7, 2022. BOB SELF/FLORIDA TIMES-UNION
Boselli drained a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win a $20,000 skin and bring the Jaguars duo to $24,000 for their charity Blessings in a Backpack. Boselli was elected to the Hall of Fame this year and is due to be honored before this weekend’s game against the Houston Texans.
“I told Jerome and Ben the only thing that matters is a birdie at 18,” Boselli boasted after the match. “That is all anyone will remember. That was fun, it was great to give back to charity.”
Florida Times Union
The event in Jacksonville was once again a neutral site affair. Jacksonville features a large Pittsburgh Steelers fan club with over 20,000 members in north Florida. The golf outing drew an evenly divided crowd of Steelers and Jaguars fans on Friday. The scramble format tournament was kicked off in the morning with an opening tee shot from golf legend Jack Nicklaus, who is the all-time leader in PGA history with 18 major tournament victories. He banged a tee shot down the first fairway as the ceremonial starter and Boselli talked about the highlight of the day for the foursome after the match.
“I’m a huge golf fan,” Boselli said. But to be able to hang out with Jack Nicklaus this morning was better than any birdie putt or anything. So that was a lot of fun.”
Bettis and Roethlisberger made the trip to Jacksonville this weekend, accompanied by friends and family. The Steelers duo rode the putter of Bettis to a victory, but Roethlisberger put the victory in perspective after the weekend event in the River City.
“We’ve been so blessed to come here,” Roethlisberger concluded. “Come here, do this and give back. It’s worth it and some charities made some good money today.”
The Steelers face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at 1pm ET and no matter the outcome, the organization and fans are a winner this weekend. They were represented with pride and class by “The Bus” and “Big Ben” one more time on a weekend where they needed a victory. On Sunday in Orchard Park, maybe Najee Harris and Kenny Pickett will take up the mantle and do the same.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are you happy to see Bettis and Roethlisberger in action again? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
