Legendary Penn State football player and longtime radio broadcaster Jack Ham, 77, was rushed to the University of Washington Medical Center on Saturday evening, Nov. 7, after suffering a medical emergency right here in Seattle before the Nittany Lions’ game at Husky Stadium. University officials confirmed Ham was in stable condition after the scare, which happened an hour or so before kickoff.
A Gut-Wrenching Moment At Husky
You can just imagine the scene. A legend like Jack Ham, 77 years young, and then a medical emergency right as everyone’s getting ready for some football. Penn State head coach Matt Campbell was clearly shaken, starting his post-game press conference by addressing the situation directly. “Everybody knows that man, this was a gut-wrenching day for Penn State football with Jack Ham,” Campbell said. He specifically called out Ham’s longtime radio partner, Steve Jones, for a “heroic effort” by Ham’s side. If it wasn’t for Steve, who knows if we’d have such good news now? It really shows you the bond these guys have.
But wait, there’s more to this story from our own backyard. Campbell made sure to thank the University of Washington’s athletic director and their emergency team, saying they were “incredible” and “outstanding” in their response. That’s our Seattle showing up when it counts! They ensured a Penn State icon received immediate, top-tier care in the Emerald City. Our medical teams and staff at UW truly made a difference in a terrifying moment.
Playing With Courage for a Legend
Despite the heavy atmosphere, Penn State still had a game to play against the Huskies. And wow, did they play for Ham! The Nittany Lions, sitting at 5-4 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten, went out and delivered their best first half of the season, leading Washington 28-6 at halftime. Talk about playing with heart! They had to desperately hang on, though, as Washington mounted a second-half surge, but Penn State ultimately held on for a 28-25 victory. Campbell was incredibly proud, noting the team talked about it before the game. “Just the courage of our kids to play with what Jack Ham means to Penn State football,” he said. “It was awesome to be able to go win the football game for him and his family.”
Our thoughts and prayers from Seattle On Tap and the entire 12s community are with Jack Ham for a full recovery. It’s moments like these, when rivalries fade and humanity shines, that remind you what sports are truly about.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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