Keith Jackson dies: The voice of college football and Monday Night Football’s first play-by-play man was 89

The New York Times

Jackson called Major League Baseball and NBA games and worked 10 of ABC’s Summer and Winter Olympics broadcasts. He helped kick off Monday Night Football in 1970 as its first play-by-play man during its inaugural season. But Jackson will be remembered as the signature voice of college football with his famous “Whoa, Nellie!” line. “For generations of fans, Keith was college football,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger. “When you heard his voice, you knew it was a big game. Keith was a true gentleman and a memorable presence.” Jackson retired after calling one of college football's most memorable games, the 2006 Rose Bowl between Texas and USC. He also called Desmond Howard’s “Goodbye … hello, Heisman" moment in 1991. “Having a hard time finding the right words to express what the icon Keith Jackson meant to me personally, Michigan football and CFB, in general,” tweeted Howard, now of ESPN's College Gameday. ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, fresh off calling this week’s college football championship game, added: “Just heard the news that everyone’s favorite CFB broadcaster Keith Jackson passed away last night. Can close my eyes and think of so many of his special calls.” In 1975, Jackson said of his work: “If you sit down and watch a football game with me and you have absolutely no recollection of my having been at the football game, and you turn off your television set entertained, informed and satisfied with what you’ve seen, then I think that I’ve done a pretty good job because I didn’t get in your way.”