College Football Ping.
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Posted on 04/27/2006 8:18:20 AM PDT by MikefromOhio
NEW YORK -- Keith Jackson thinks this is the right time for him to retire.
Jackson, widely regarded as the voice of college football, has decided to stop broadcasting games.
"I'm finished with play-by-play forever," he told The New York Times.
Jackson spent some 40 years calling the action in a folksy, down-to-earth manner that made him one of the most popular play-by-play personalities in the business.
"Keith Jackson is a man of great character and a legendary broadcaster," ESPN and ABC Sports president George Bodenheimer said. "For decades, his unmistakable style defined college football for millions of fans. While we hate to say goodbye, we understand his decision and wish him the very best."
He also announced he would retire after the 1998 season, but ended up continuing with ABC Sports. He said this time is different.
"This is the perfect time," Jackson told the newspaper. "I don't want to get back into the pressure cooker of play-by-play and worry about travel. I don't want to die in a stadium parking lot."
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
That said, he's held on too long. He has been rambling for years now.
Mercy!
FUUUUUMMMMBLE PING
Gonna miss him, but Ron Franklin and Mike Gottfried passed him years ago as college football announcers...
Whoa Nelly!
Didn't he retire a few years ago but came back?
Whoa Nellie!
Yep, he did retire, only to unretire. My guess, he'll be calling the Rose Bowl next January.
I'm just wondering how many Whoa Nellie's I am going to get on this thread LOL
I always wondered if he borrowed that from Dick "Roller Derby" Lane...
Yeah he sorta semi-retired.
He didn't want to travel anymore, but ABC couldn't think of another tandem to do their West Coast games, so now he very rarely travels out of the Pacific Time Zone.
One notable exception was the 2002 Fiesta Bowl between Ohio State and Miami.
I'm sure there's another one (probably some Arizona or Arizona St games) but mainly he does USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon games anymore.
So maybe Ohio State will begin to get the respect they deserve from Jackson's replacement.........
It would be nice...
Now if they could only get rid of Dan Fouts....
Keith Jackson has been and always will be the voice of College Football for me. I'm 40 years old, and cannot remember a Fall Saturday without Keith Jackson. I'm gonna miss him.
One of the all-time greats. Thanks for the extra 7 or so years, Mr. Jackson. Your last game was a great one!
Now if they could only get rid of Dan Fouts....
He's next!
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