“Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.” – Willam Shakespear, Twelfth Night
Greatness is a tricky concept. What makes someone great? Is it accomplishments throughout life? Willingness to help others in need? Or does it come from somewhere else? Personally, a lot of greatness, I believe, is attributed to those we have created the fondest memories around. And, the late Keith Jackson would fall into this category.
When news broke this morning that Keith Jackson had passed on, there was a definite sadness that I could not move on from. Did I shed a tear? No. But, the sadness crept in because someone who is associated with so many of my adolescent memories no longer lives.
In the short time since his passing, Jackson has been labeled, “the greatest College Football broadcaster,” “the voice of Saturday afternoons,” and “the soundtrack to all our Saturdays.” And those monikers fit. For me, personally, he was the voice I listened to as I grew up watching college football. His patented “WHOA Nelly,” call and other folksy sayings, made you feel like you were watching the game with your beloved grandfather; listening to a game broadcasted by him was comfortable, homely, and safe.
Jackson was the first to label the Rose Bowl as “The Granddaddy of them all,” and is also credited for first nicknaming Michigan Stadium as “the Big House.” For some of my earliest, and greatest, sports memories he was the voice behind them.
But Jackson’s career was so much more than College Football. He was the first play-by-play man for Monday Night Football, eventually was replaced by Frank Gifford. He called baseball games for ABC, PGA TOUR Golf, the Olympics, and a plethora of other events.
Listen as Keith Jackson talks about Michigan Football:
One of the most iconic football games in recent memory, the 2005 Rose Bowl, was Jackson’s last broadcast. It was Vince Young’s heroics on a 4-and-5, that won the Rose Bowl for the University of Texas and eventually became Jackson’s last call.
'4th and 5' — Keith Jackson's final call
(via trivinity/YouTube) pic.twitter.com/7bgGJrdkao
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 13, 2018
Jackson retired in 2006, riding off into the sunset of greatness. He will forever be remembered and appreciated by all who had the pleasure of listening to him. As the voice that pervaded our living rooms each and every Saturday morning from 1966 to 2006, it is his cadence that is the soundtrack of our memories.
Rest in peace Mr. Jackson, you’ve earned it.