November 22, 2005
Keith Jackson sees the light at the end of the tunnel
Is Keith Jackson ready to call it quits - but this time for good?
It seems like he may be leaning that way, as he was waxing poetic with reporters about his future this week.
"I can see the end of the road," Jackson said. "This might be my last year. It's nice to hear people tell me they want me to keep doing this. It's better than hearing, 'Hey, you old goat! Why don't you retire?'"
Of course, Jackson "retired" just a few years ago only to return to ABC to cover mostly west coast region games. But the day is getting closer that a college football broadcasting legend will call it a day and head for the sunset.
Comments:
Wink Dinkerson said:
posted on November 22, 2005 6:45 PM — 216.19.222.114 — link — abuse?
Who cares. Announcers get too much attention for too little value. Just call the game or STFU. At least pro announcerrs are way worse, not that it's a ringing endorsement of KJ. (Yes, I am talking to you, ESPN Sunday Night Football - you guys suck the life out of the game)
John said:
posted on November 22, 2005 7:32 PM — 152.216.3.5 — link — abuse?
Is Keith Jackson still around? oh, wait, I wouldn't know, because I tuned him out years ago.
This is because he sold his soul to the NCAA and TV for a paycheck.
He will always be remembered as the announcer at the Ohio State game when Woody Hayes punched out an opposing player, and Keith Jackson sat there and said... nothing. Then right after, they showed the replay of Hayes time after time, and Jackson sat there and said... nothing. He was so afraid to upset the NCAA and TV exectutives, he didn't have the ***** to say a word.
So nothing he has said since then has been worth listening to, since he never says anything of substance. He merely fills up the air with words.Steve Duncan said:
posted on November 23, 2005 7:12 AM — 199.208.22.20 — link — abuse?
I won't miss him either. Not living on the West coast, I thought he had already disappeared.
Like any act, over the course of time, it grew wearisome. It's the same thing over and over. I even flinch at the GatorAde commercial.
In his own mind, Keith became 'the story' a long time ago. That is never true (take note Mr. Madden).
His voice energized an entire college football fandom for several decades. If he is not there already, he has a spot in the college football Hall Of Fame.
But....he's not the voice of today.
Jason Falardeau said:
posted on November 23, 2005 9:42 AM — 162.108.2.221 — link — abuse?
Hey Gene Larew, stick it up your gluteous maximus ... Keith Jackson is the best there ever was, is, or ever will be .. just because he doesn't cheer for what ever your home team is doesn't mean he should be "eating" the crap you dished out!! Good job Keith, don't listen Gene "the terd" Larew
Tom Moore said:
posted on November 23, 2005 10:44 AM — 160.94.12.19 — link — abuse?
WHOA, NELLY... people taking pot shots at Keith Jackson?!?!? I'm sure that the internet surfers who criticized the man in earlier posts have been working at the top of THEIR professions, doing a great job, with class and integrity, for many decades now.
Keith Jackson is an excellent announcer - he obviously enjoys the game and enjoys the theater ("pageantry") of major college football for its own sake, and it comes across in his work. He will be missed.
Barry Gummo said:
posted on November 23, 2005 11:22 AM — 128.118.25.163 — link — abuse?
I think Keith should retire but not because he was a bad commentator. He was a class act and a voice that any football fan of the last 4 decades can recognize in any language, anywhere in the world. I say (in my generations words) peace out and keept it real Keith, Thanks for the memories
Bryan Howell said:
posted on November 23, 2005 12:09 PM — 65.114.165.146 — link — abuse?
Anyone who would comment as to Keith Jackson "He doesn't have it anymore, if he really ever did. His icon status mostly comes from being the ONLY announcer of college football in the 70's. Good Riddance Jackson, don't come back this time" is simply displaying their ignorance. Anyone who is, and has been, an actual fan of college football, as opposed to being a fan of a particular team, knows and appreciates that the truly golden era of football announcing was the Keith Jackson/Frank Broyles duets. Gee, announcers who assume that the viewer actually KNOWS something about the game. Who actually WATCHED the game and didn't have to wait until after a commercial break and being prompted to opine "Tech got away with a BIG CLIP on that runback" or such.
Well said, Jared. Larew is probably a USC fan, anyway.
Regan said:
posted on November 23, 2005 4:39 PM — 205.188.116.199 — link — abuse?
Keith Jackson is the best, and has been so for decades. He might be biased, but if so it's in the same way all College Football commentators are.
Of all the people in the College Football world, why this guy would get booed is beyond me...
Carl G. said:
posted on December 19, 2005 1:00 PM — 71.112.218.108 — link — abuse?
Mr. Jackson,
Allow me to apologize for the uninformed posters at this blog who saw fit to comment on a subject they know nothing about.
For nearly my entire life I have listened to you call college football games. You are the best. Frank and Dan have been admirable partners, but we have always known who the draw really is.
Thank you for nearly forty years of some of the best dang play by play in the sports world. Baseball has Vin Scully, the NFL has Dick Enberg, the NBA had Chick Hearn and college football will always have you.
Carl G.
Seattle, WA
Go Trojans!Mario Estrada said:
posted on December 20, 2005 5:41 PM — 207.233.67.17 — link — abuse?
I'm glad to hear the Keith Jackson is thinking of hanging it up. I have listened in haste to his voice during PAC-10 games. His Southern accent and distaste towards west coast universities (except for usc, which he refers to as Southern California every two seconds of each game they play) is obvious. During the days of Chick Hearn I would turn down the television and listen to the radio broadcast so that I could enjoy the game. The same goes for football, of which I settle for silence rather than the voice of tired ol' Keith Jackson.
Frank said:
posted on December 29, 2005 11:25 PM — 24.20.173.110 — link — abuse?
Keith Jackson should pull his biased head out from the gutches behind!! I've never seen an announcer this biased in a college football game. Jackson needs to retire before he turns into an AFLAC DUCK for having his head inside too long. Jackson really needs to come to reality and give the SOONERS credit for ROASTING the NEWS YEARS DUCK EARLY!!
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Gene Larew said:
posted on November 22, 2005 5:40 PM — 24.253.211.201 — link — abuse?I wish he would.
I became weary of the biased old fart about 15 years ago.
He doesn't have it anymore, if he really ever did. His icon status mostly comes from being the ONLY announcer of college football in the 70's.
Good Riddance Jackson, don't come back this time.