Penn State beat Washington on the road Saturday, and it was a big win for a slew of reasons.
Penn State Survives Washington for Biggest win of Matt Campbell Era
It got Penn State back over .500 at 5-4, marked the first Big Ten road win of the Matt Campbell era, and was the first time Penn State had won two straight conference games under the 1st-year coach.
But the biggest win took place away from the field.
The biggest win was Penn State legend and radio analyst, Jack Ham, being in stable condition. Although we don’t know too many specifics, Ham experienced a medical emergency before the game and had to be transported to the University of Washington Medical Center, where he was treated. Campbell confirmed after the game that Ham was in stable condition, and credited Steve Jones, Penn State’s play-by-play announcer and Ham’s broadcast partner of 27 seasons, for his “heroic effort.”
“If it’s not for Steve, you know, what he did, I don’t know if we would have as good of news as we do right now,” Campbell said. “And then I want to also thank the University of Washington, their athletic director, their emergency team. They were incredible. They were outstanding. I think, hopefully, as all of you know, Jack is in stable condition right now. And then, obviously, the emotion of that. What I was really proud of our football team. We talked about a little bit before we went out for the game. The courage of our kids to play with what Jack Ham means to Penn State football. How that guy played the game. How that guy still, to this day, serves our football program. It was awesome to be able to go win the football game for him and his family.”
After the game, Nittany Sports Now was there for a pair of Penn State players’ comments on Ham.
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Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now
”Jack Ham is a pivotal piece of our, a great impact person,” Penn State defensive end Yvan Kemajou said. “We just took it as a chance to play for him, and get a win for him.”
‘SUPER BLESSED’
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now
Ham was one of the first players who made Penn State “Linebacker University.”
Today, Tony Rojas carries the “LBU” flame.
Rojas has been at Penn State since 2023, making him one of the team’s longest-tenured players, and he’s widely considered to be the team’s best overall player.
After the game, Rojas talked about what it meant for Ham to be in stable condition.
“It means the world,” he said. “He’s one of our key figures in our program, and to me. Just being able to have a legend like him in our building and being able to talk to him every day. I’m just super blessed that he’s in a stable position.”
