STATE COLLEGE, Pa., June 6, 2000 -- One legend is succeeding another in the Penn State football radio broadcast booth.

Athletic Director Tim Curley said today that Jack Ham, former All-America linebacker elected to both the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame, will replace George Paterno as analyst on Penn State Sports Network broadcasts for the 2000 season. Paterno has indicated his desire to retire, Curley said, after an association of 25 years with Penn State sports programming on radio and television

Ham has won much acclaim as a national color commentator on college and pro football for the Westwood One (formerly Mutual) Sports Network. He also handles the analysis on telecasts of Pittsburgh Steelers preseason games. Ham agreed to a two-year contract for the 2000-2001 seasons, Curley reported.

"We are, of course, saddened to lose George's special perspective on Penn State football," Curley said. "In his 25 years as a participant in first television and later radio coverage of Penn State football, he has provided a wonderful insight that has won him many fans. George has been a marvelous supporter of the program and his contribution will be greatly missed.

"It is our good fortune that a broadcast professional of Jack Ham's reputation will be replacing George in the booth. In his national coverage of college and professional football on the Westwood One Network, Jack has demonstrated his knowledge of the game and his ability to dissect the action for radio listeners. As a former distinguished Penn State player, Jack brings a unique viewpoint to his new responsibilities."

The appointment of Ham completes the Nittany Lion's football broadcast team for the 2000 season. Previously, Steve Jones, sports director of WZWW Radio and the voice of Penn State basketball since 1982, was appointed to succeed Fran Fisher, who also announced his retirement following the 1999 season.

A native of Johnstown, Ham lettered for teams that won 29 of 32 games from 1968-70, including Orange Bowl victories over Kansas in 1969 and Missouri in 1970. He was the Lions' co-captain as a senior in 1970. He still ranks No. 10 in career tackles with 251 (143 solo).

A second round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1971, Ham developed into one of the most outstanding linebackers in the National Football League. He started for all four of the Steelers' Super Bowl championship teams and was an All-Pro choice nine consecutive seasons. Ham had a total of 32 regular season interceptions, still among the all-time top totals for a pro linebacker.

The NFL "Defensive Player-of-the-Year" in 1975, Ham was the only unanimous choice on the pro "Team of the Decade" for the 1970's. He retired following the 1982 season after a dozen years with the Steelers. Ham was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 and to the College Hall of Fame in 1990. He also received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Penn State Board of Trustees in 1990.

Paterno was an assistant coach at Michigan State. He also served as head football coach and athletic director at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at King's Point. George was named color commentator on the delayed television broadcast of Nittany Lion games in 1976, first working with Ray Scott and later Stan Savran. He became the analyst on the radio broadcasts in 1988, collaborating with John Sanders, Bill Zimpfer and Fisher over a dozen seasons.

Paterno also contributed to the Penn State Football Story TV show and the Nittany Lion Hotline Radio call-in program.