Whoa, Nelly! A "pundit we love" calls it quits
Cold, Hard Football Facts for April 27, 2006

The New York Times reported today that Keith Jackson, the voice of college football and a "pundit we love," has decided to stop broadcasting college football games.

 

"I'm finished with play-by-play forever," Jackson said to the Times.

 

When the clock hits noon and the Cold, Hard Football Facts dip into their Thursday beer ration, we'll certainly drink six or seven in honor of one of the all-time greats.

 

Jackson was known for his southern twang, folksy aphorisms and signature exclamation "Whoa, Nelly!" – which typically punctuated a game-breaking score as a ballcarrier rumbled into the end zone.

 

Jackson was passionate about what he called the "grand old game" of college football and, as the Cold, Hard Football Facts said last year, "listening to Jackson call a college football game makes you happy to be American."

 

His career ended in style, as he called the epic 2006 Rose Bowl, a 41-38 Texas victory over USC that stands as one of the great football games in recent memory. Critics said that Jackson had lost his fastball in recent years and that his retirement was overdue.

 

Jackson was more than just the voice of college football. He also announced several World Series, covered the traumatic 1972 Munich Olympics in which Palestinian terrorists slaughtered Israeli athletes, and was the first host of ABC's Monday Night Football.

 

Keep in mind that Jackson has made several other efforts to retire, but each time has been lured back to call college football.