Ben Roethlisberger makes friendly bowl wager with Steelers legend ‘Mean’ Joe Greene

Two Pittsburgh Steelers legends will be dialed into Thursday’s bowl game between North Texans and Miami (Ohio). Joe Greene, widely regarded as the greatest player in Steelers history, starred at North Texas before embarking on a Hall of Fame career in Pittsburgh. Ben Roethlisberger led the Redhawks to a Mid-American Conference title in 2003 before winning two Super Bowls as Pittsburgh’s quarterback. 

Roethlisberger has placed a friendly wager with Greene ahead of the first-ever Frisco Football Classic. Here are the terms of Roethlisberger’s wager: 

• If Miami wins: Roethlisberger will receive a “Mean” Joe Greene autographed jersey 
• If North Texans wins: Roethlisberger will donate to the Agnes Lucille Craft Greene Memorial Scholarship Fund, which was started by Greene in honor of his late wife whom he met when the two were students at North Texas. 

“This is my chance to finally sack Mean Joe Greene,” Roethlisberger said in a video that was posted on his Twitter page on Monday night. “Go Redhawks.” 

After a 1-6 start, the Mean Green have won five consecutive games that include their 45-23 win over then-15th-ranked and previously undefeated University of Texas at San Antonio. The Mean Green’s late-season surge was spearheaded by 5-foot-7, 195-pound running back Deandre Torrey (1,214 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns), linebacker KD Davis (106 tackles and 4.5 sacks) and brothers Grayson and Gabriel Murphy, who have combined to tally 13.5 sacks, 23 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles, 

Miami also overcame a slow start to reach the postseason. After a 2-4 start, the Redhawks went 4-1 down the stretch before losing a 48-47 overtime game against Kent State in their regular-season finale. Miami’s top players entering Thursday’s game include receiver Jack Sorenson (69 receptions for 1,290 yards and 10 touchdowns), linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (113 tackles, four sacks, one interception), defensive lineman Kameron Butler (eight sacks, 14 tackles for loss, one interception), and Lonnie Phelps (7.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss).