Sept. 16, 2010
CHICAGO: - The Big Ten Network has named Penn State's Jack Ham and Minnesota's Bronko Nagurski as Big Ten Icons numbers 22 and 21, respectively.Big Ten Icons, presented by Discover, is the network's most ambitious multi-platform initiative to date. The program is counting down the top 50 student-athletes in Big Ten history on www.BigTenIcons.com based solely on their collegiate playing careers.
A product of Johnstown, Pa., Ham quickly developed into one of the greatest linebackers in college football history and helped Penn State earn the moniker, "Linebacker U." He earned a starting role as a sophomore in 1968, his first year of eligibility, and helped the Nittany Lions to a 31-game unbeaten streak. During Ham's sophomore and junior seasons, Penn State posted back-to-back 11-0 seasons capped by Orange Bowl wins, but finished second in the polls both years. A senior co-captain in 1970, he led the team with 91 tackles, had four interceptions and set a school record with three blocked punts and earned first-team All-America honors.
A second round draft choice of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers in 1971, Ham was a nine-time All-Pro linebacker, helping the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles. He was selected NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1975 and played his entire 12-year NFL career in Pittsburgh.
Ham is the only Penn Stater inducted into both the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame (1990) and the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1988).
Ham is in his 11th season working alongside Steve Jones on Penn State football radio broadcasts on the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com.
In an essay for www.BigTenIcons.com, former Chicago Tribune sports editor Dan McGrath wrote, "As much as any of the 13 first-team All-Americans who have played the position, Ham is responsible for Penn State's estimable reputation as `Linebacker U.'" To read the full essay and to watch a video feature on Ham, visit his Big Ten Icons locker at www.BigTenIcons.com.
Ham is the fourth Penn State student-athlete revealed as a Big Ten Icon thus far, joining running back Curt Warner, linebacker LaVar Arrington and women's volleyball's Megan Hodge.
Icons 50 through 21 are profiled at www.BigTenIcons.com. The website also features essays, video and other key facts about each student-athletes' career. Viewers can also participate in the "Talk of the Locker Room" contest with a chance to win the $10,000 grand prize. Weekly winners will take home a 55-inch Philips HD television.
The television show, hosted by legendary college sports broadcaster Keith Jackson, debuts at 4 PM ET on Saturday with Big Ten Icon No. 20. The countdown continues at 9 p.m. ET every Tuesday night through the end of football season and into the spring. The No. 1 Big Ten Icon will be revealed around the 2011 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament.
BIG TEN ICONS COUNTDOWN:
No. 50 Tom Brands, Iowa wrestling (1989-92)
No. 49 Megan Hodge, Penn State volleyball (2006-09)
No. 48 Drew Brees, Purdue football (1997-2000)
No. 47 Chris Spielman, Ohio State football (1984-87)
No. 46 LaVar Arrington, Penn State football (1997-99)
No. 45 Rod Woodson, Purdue football (1983-86)
No. 44 George Halas, Illinois football (1916-18)
No. 43 Chuck Long, Iowa football (1981-85)
No. 42 Curt Warner, Penn State football (1979-82)
No. 41 Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern football (1993-96)
No. 40 Bobby Bell, Minnesota football (1960-62)
No. 39 Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, Ohio State football (1953-55)
No. 38 Calbert Cheaney, Indiana basketball (1989-93)
No. 37 Leroy Keyes, Purdue football (1966-68)
No. 36 Jim Abbott, Michigan baseball (1985-88)
No. 35 Glenn Robinson, Purdue basketball (1992-94)
No. 34 Desmond Howard, Michigan football (1989-91)
No. 33 Alex Karras, Iowa football (1955-57)
No. 32 Scott May, Indiana basketball (1974-76)
No. 31 Neal Broten, Minnesota hockey (1979-81)
No. 30 Alan Ameche, Wisconsin football (1951-54)
No. 29 Cazzie Russell, Michigan basketball (1964-66)
No. 28 Quinn Buckner, Indiana basketball (1972-76)
No. 27 Glen Rice, Michigan basketball (1986-89)
No. 26 Bubba Smith, Michigan State football (1964-66)
No. 25 Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch, Michigan and Wisconsin football (1942-46)
No. 24 Anthony Carter, Michigan football (1979-82)
No. 23 Bob Griese, Purdue football (1964-66)
No. 22 Jack Ham, Penn State football (1968-70)
No. 21 Bronko Nagurski, Minnesota football (1927-29)
No. 20 Announced later today; television season premiere of Big Ten Icons is Saturday at 4 p.m
About the Big Ten Network: A joint venture between the Big Ten Conference and Fox Networks, the Big Ten Network is the first internationally distributed network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. With approximately 350 live sporting events, and nearly all of them in HD, the network is the ultimate destination for Big Ten fans and alumni across the country, allowing them to see their favorite teams, regardless of where they live. The network operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, showcasing a wide array of classic-to-current sports and televising more Olympic sporting events and women's sports than has ever been aired on any other network. Original programming highlights activities and accomplishments of some of the nation's finest universities. Each year, the network offers between 35 and 40 football games, 105 regular season men's basketball games; 55 women's basketball games; dozens of Big Ten Championship events; studio shows; coaches' shows; and classic games.
The network is available to more than 75 million homes across the United States and Canada, and currently has agreements with more than 300 affiliates, including DirecTV, DISH Network, AT&T U-Verse, Verizon FiOS, Atlantic Broadband, Bright House, Cablevision, CATV Service, Inc., Charter, Comcast, Cox (Cleveland, Omaha, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Las Vegas), Insight, Mediacom, Midcontinent, Nittany Media, RCN, Rogers Cable, Canada), Service Electric, Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct (Canada), Shen-Heights TV, Time Warner Cable, Western Broadband, Windstream and WOW.