By Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Legendary Penn State broadcaster Steve Jones has seen a lot of top level play and teams in his days announcing Penn State sports, and now he will have a top level facility named in his honor.

Penn State announced on Thursday the opening of the Steve Jones Student Sports Broadcasting Complex in Rec Hall.  This facility is one of a kind in the world of college athletics, and will be envied and emulated for years to come.

"The complex is ready to deliver HD, broadcast quality programing directly to the Big Ten Network live," said Penn State acting Athletic Director Dave Joyner.  "Currently this is the only facility of its kind not only in the Big Ten, but in all of higher education."

The facility in Rec Hall, which has features similar to a broadcasting truck that a company like BTN or ESPN may bring to an event, will be able to work with events at Rec Hall, Beaver Stadium, the Bryce Jordan Center, and (when completed) the Pegula Ice Arena. 

The project came together through years of collaboration between Penn State and the Big Ten Network, also the first of its kind. 

From the Network's perspective this is only a positive going forward. 

"You can't get a job in television without practical experience," said the Big Ten Network's Vice President, Production and Executive Producer Mark Hulsey.  "This room, this facility, gives students that practical experience." 

The facilities and training will not only be a huge help and benefit to production groups working events at Penn State, it will also benefit the future students on campus. 

Using the room for everything from classes to guest speakers and more practical experiences will all be benefits that students at other universities just won't have. 

"When I first learned about the complex I thought about how it would revolutionize the future for Penn State broadcast students like myself," said Penn State senior (and former student of Steve Jones) Alexis Morgan.

Morgan went on to add how one of the biggest things she remembered from having Jones as a professor was how he always emphasized practice, and how important it was to being successful in the field of broadcasting.

With a facility named in his honor, Jones will have the perfect place to help give students that practice, a place right on our own campus. 

For Jones, as great an honor this recognition is, for him it isn't about him, but about those students like Morgan. 

"This day is not about me at all, this day is about Rick and Sue Berry (who donated the money for the facility) and the Penn State students," Jones said. 

With the facility that is now named in his honor, Jones will be able to continue to spread his knowledge and experience to not only students like Morgan, but students for many years to come. 

This facility, like Jones, is one of a kind, and it takes a special place like Penn State to bring them both together.