Yeah NBC pays him well. I don't see the logic of him moving to radio either but if he wants to I'm sure we'd all be happy. Well not all of us...someone would complain
Has anyone heard this will Jack Ham's last season?
- Thread starter Thus Spake Mainer
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I do remember Stan Savran, he was also the sports guy on a Pittsburgh station right? I WTAE or KDKA, IIRC WTAE was the Pitt flagship station with Bill Hillgrove. I also recognize the name Bill Zimpher but that might have been when I was living in TX after graduation. And I definitely remember George. He was pretty good and didnt pull any punches when we were not doing well.
+1. He would be my age and yea travel does get harder as you age. Its why I have much respect for Steve and Jack.
Exactly. Todd Blackledge is 65 years young. Penn State should be thinking much younger to fill the positions.
If some of the reports are true and they have to find both a play by play guy and a color guy it will be interesting.
Maybe the Iowa State broadcast team will enter the portal.
They need a younger guy who is exciting and not such an admin Cronie that he will speak his mind when it's called for. Not being out of line but merely calling out politely and respectfully the deficiencies on the field. It's a fine line to walk but can be done. Ham wasn't afraid to speak up and maybe that's why Jones didn't.
I cannot think of a better replacement than Jay Paterno for The color job.
Not true, another internet rumor. Same as Jack being involved in a car accident, Steve dying, etc. They did the same thing to Paul Keels at OSU.
Byers for PxP, right? Not color.
If Jack and Steve are in fact leaving....
Goon... I know he is well-liked, but sometimes a little of him goes a long way for me. Of course, you never know what you might get from him in the late 3rd quarter of a 52-3 game vs. UMass. That sound bite might be worth the price of admission.
Noble would be great - knows the game, knows and loves PSU, and has the balls to be brutally honest. He's another one where the blowout late in the 3rd vs. Havenot U. would get entertaining.
But I think he wants to stay in coaching. He is the DCoord at DIII Delaware Valley Univ now (and his son is the LB Coach), but would move up with the right opportunity, I believe. The radio money would have to be better than the coaching oppty, I think, which it may be in the short run. It would certainly be worth a conversation with him, imo.
All that said, my first thought is MRob. He has the experience. He's a PSU guy. Another conversation worth having.
Yes I meant play by play. I’d be okay with any of the aforementioned former players as commentators.
Without checking, Todd and Steve are close in age.I wonder if Todd Blackledge would consider it?
Jack Ham will be missed listen to Penn State football on Saturdays, They will give the sideline guy (Brian Tripp) a shot to replace Ham see how it goes with him for a year or so- I bet. Still miss listing to Fran and George they were a good combo.
We shall see. Tgar goes to just about every game so he seldom hears these guys. For those that do listen he hopes the eventual replacements are on par and as capable as Steve and Jack.
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All I can say is I am tan, rested, and ready.Jack is 77 and is so deserving of retiring on his terms.
That said, PSU Football Inc needs to hire a new radio color commentator with the following attributes:
1) a good voice; someone easy on the ears
2) someone who doesn’t talk too much (e.g. John Smoltz and Ron Darling bloviate during MLB broadcasts) but interjects with insightful commentary in small doses.
3) someone who is knowledgeable about football, preferably PSU football
4) someone who can be periodically and objectively critical of PSU Football when necessary (e.g. George Paterno, Jack Ham)
Jack will be a hard person to follow.
Please God they have needed a play by play man for years. Dont give us someone who thinks they invented the game and brought it to State College.
I think you may be on to something. He coached here and was on the depth chart. He knows the game and he speaks well. I can hear the whining already, but honestly the guy would be a good color announcer.
As for play by play the Phillies have a couple guys who would be outstanding. One of them already does NFL. Tom McCarthy is solid, but Scott Franzke is very personable and a real professional. Franzke gets along great with the Phillies color announcers and he calls a nice game.
I’d be shocked if Brian Tripp isn’t on the short list to replace Jones. He’s very good at hockey for PSU, and also does well reporting from the football sidelines.
It’s going to be difficult to impossible to fill Jack Ham’s shoes, but Blackledge or Robinson are two names to strongly consider. JMHO.
It’s going to be difficult to impossible to fill Jack Ham’s shoes, but Blackledge or Robinson are two names to strongly consider. JMHO.
In your later years, do you really want to travel to iowa, ohio, michigan, wisconsin, etc.? It’s bad enough when you’re young.
Are there some guys locally who could step into this? Any lettermen that are doing some local broadcasting in State College?
I can't think of many lettermen that are in the national media now...MRob, Blackledge, Arrington...who else?
I can't think of many lettermen that are in the national media now...MRob, Blackledge, Arrington...who else?
MRob and Matt McGloin both would be good picks as men who played for the program and have had broadcasting experience. The broadcasting experience is an important factor IMO.
I would like to hear from the Board with their favorites to do play by play. I am on record as wanting anyone other than the guy we have now.
On another retirement note, today is the official retirement day for both Bobby White and Brad "Spider" Caldwell.
Great guys. They will be missed.
Here's to much happiness for them both for many years to come!
Great guys. They will be missed.
Here's to much happiness for them both for many years to come!
I didn't know Spider was still with the team. He's an institution.
He worked with Bobby in customer relations for the suites and other ticket holder "things".
- 4× Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
- 6× First-team All-Pro (1974–1979)
- 2× Second-team All-Pro (1973, 1980)
- 8× Pro Bowl (1973–1980)
- NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
- NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
- Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team
- Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor
- Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Consensus All-American (1970)
- 2× First-team All-East (1969, 1970)
Thanks Jack… if it is your last year…I thoroughly enjoyed listening to you.
I also think he had the record, until recently, for most int’s by a LBR.
In any case incredibly impressive and he’s a pretty good guy.
What I loved about his game was that he always seemed to be around the ball- just a really smart player.
You claim to be a Penn Stater and don't know who does the play-by-play?
Are you a Pitt Troll?
Huh?You claim to be a Penn Stater and don't know who does the play-by-play?
Are you a Pitt Troll?
He just likes accusing people of not being Penn State fans but I'm guessing he replied to the wrong post there lol