View source for Keith Jackson

{{short description|American sports announcer (1928–2018)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox person
|name          = Keith Jackson
|image         = KeithJackson.jpg
|caption       = Jackson at [[Falcon Stadium]] in 1986
|birth_name    = Keith Max Jackson
|birth_date    = {{Birth date|1928|10|18}}
|birth_place   = [[Roopville, Georgia]], US
|death_date    = {{Death date and age|2018|1|12|1928|10|18}}
|death_place   = [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]], US
|resting_place =
|alma_mater    = [[Washington State University]] 
|occupation    = Sports commentator, journalist, author, radio personality
|years_active  = 1952–2006
|spouse        = Turi Ann Jackson (m. 1954-2018; his death)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/keith-jackson-89-announcer-with-whoa-nelly-call-dies-011318|title=Keith Jackson, 89, announcer with 'Whoa, Nelly!' call, dies|work=FOXSports.com|access-date=March 18, 2018}}</ref>
|children      = 3
| module       = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
|allegiance    = {{USA}}
|branch        = [[File:USMC logo.svg|15px]] &nbsp;[[United States Marine Corps]]
|rank          = 
|unit          = [[United States Marine Corps Aviation]]
|serviceyears  = 1946–1950<ref name=rtgbrcrt03>{{cite web|url=http://a.espncdn.com/mlb/s/2003/0629/1574355.html |publisher=ESPN |title=Jackson returning to his broadcast roots |last=Simon |first=Mark |date=July 2, 2003 |access-date=October 12, 2015 }}</ref>
|battles       = [[Cold War]]
}}
}}
'''Keith Max Jackson''' (October 18, 1928 – January 12, 2018)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2018/01/13/keith-jackson-dies-89-legendary-sports-broadcaster/1031264001/|title=Legendary sports broadcaster Keith Jackson dies at 89|website=[[USA Today]] }}</ref> was an American sports commentator, journalist, author, and radio personality, known for his career with [[ABC Sports]] (1966&ndash;2006). While he covered a variety of sports over his career, he is best known for his coverage of [[college football]] from 1952 until 2006, and his distinctive voice,<ref name=lat13wn>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2013-sep-10-la-sp-erskine-20130911-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |title=Whoa, Nellie! Keith Jackson talks Cosell, college football and cotton |last=Erskine |first=Chris |date=September 10, 2013 |access-date=October 12, 2015}}</ref> "a throwback voice, deep and operatic. A voice that was to college football what [[Edward R. Murrow]]'s was to war. It was the voice of ultimate authority in his profession."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/stevekelley/2002958116_kell28.html |title=The Seattle Times: Steve Kelley: His voice is now ghost of Saturdays past |access-date=June 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315135505/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/stevekelley/2002958116_kell28.html |archive-date=March 15, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{TOClimit|3}}

==Biography==

===Early life===
A farmer's son,<ref name="THR"/> Jackson was born in [[Roopville, Georgia]] and grew up on a farm outside [[Carrollton, Georgia|Carrollton]], near the [[Alabama]] state line.<ref name=TSN082195>{{cite news
 |first=Jerry 
 |last=Crowe 
 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n34_v219/ai_17187431 
 |title=Big man on campus – sportscaster Keith Jackson 
 |work=The Sporting News 
 |date=August 21, 1995 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616041917/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n34_v219/ai_17187431/ 
 |archive-date=June 16, 2011 
}}</ref> He was the only surviving child in a poor family and grew up listening to sports on the radio.<ref name=TSN082195/> After enlisting and serving as a mechanic<ref name="THR"/> in the [[United States Marine Corps]], he attended [[Washington State University]] in [[Pullman, Washington|Pullman]] under the [[G.I. Bill]].<ref name=ASO>{{cite news
|url=http://www.americansportscastersonline.com/jackson.html |access-date=August 20, 2007 |title=1994 Hall of Fame Inductee: Keith Jackson |publisher=American Sportscasters Association}}</ref> Jackson began as a [[political science]] major, but he became interested in broadcasting.<ref name=AP010599>{{cite news |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/1998/bowls/fiesta/news/1999/01/04/jackson_washington/
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010627025104/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/1998/bowls/fiesta/news/1999/01/04/jackson_washington/
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=June 27, 2001
|title=God bless and good night |agency=Associated Press |work=CNN Sports Illustrated|date=January 5, 1999
| access-date=May 7, 2010}}</ref> He graduated in 1954 with a degree in speech communications.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Craig |last=Murphy |url=http://wsm.wsu.edu/stories/2004/May/busek.html |title=Antique Dealer Can't Ignore a Bargain
|journal=Washington State Magazine |date=May 2004}}</ref>

===Broadcast career===
Though best known for his college football broadcasts, Jackson announced numerous other sports for ABC throughout his career, including [[Major League Baseball on ABC|Major League Baseball]], [[NBA on ABC|NBA basketball]], [[boxing]], [[auto racing]], [[PGA Tour on ABC|PGA Tour golf]], the [[United States Football League on ABC|USFL]], and the [[Olympics on ABC|Olympic Games]]. He briefly worked [[College Basketball on ABC|college basketball]] with [[Dick Vitale]].<ref name=ST042806>Steve Kelley, [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/stevekelley/2002958116_kell28.html His voice is now ghost of Saturdays past], ''The Seattle Times'', April 28, 2006.</ref> Jackson also served as the pregame, halftime, and postgame anchor for ABC's coverage of [[Super Bowl XXII]] in 1988. During his on-air tenure, he is credited with nicknaming the [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]] as "The Grandaddy of Them All" and [[Michigan Stadium]] as "The Big House".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/genrel/030410aaa.html|title='Big Ten Icons' to Count Down Conference's All-Time Top 50 Student-Athletes: Iconic broadcaster Keith Jackson to host the series launching this fall|access-date=March 27, 2010|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|date=March 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029190235/http://www.bigten.org/genrel/030410aaa.html|archive-date=October 29, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

====Early assignments====
Jackson began his career as a broadcaster in 1952, when he called a game between [[Stanford Cardinal football|Stanford]] and [[Washington State Cougars football|Washington State]] on the Tidewater Associated Oil Co. radio network. He then worked for [[KNWN (AM)|KOMO radio]] in [[Seattle]], and later for [[KOMO-TV]] from 1954 to 1964 as co-anchor for their first news team (first co-anchor news team on the West Coast) covering [[Seafair]] [[H1 Unlimited|hydroplane races]], [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] [[Seattle Rainiers]] baseball games, and [[Washington Huskies football|University of Washington]] [[College football|football]] games. In 1958, Jackson became the first American sports announcer to broadcast an event from the [[Soviet Union]], a [[Rowing (sport)|crew]] race between the [[Washington Huskies#Rowing|Washington Huskies]] and a Soviet team.<ref name=TDC110897>Andrew Krebs, [http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1997/11/11-08-97cm/11-08-97m03-016.asp Wide world of Jackson] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226130408/http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1997/11/11-08-97cm/11-08-97m03-016.asp |date=December 26, 2007 }}, ''The Daily Collegian'', November 8, 1997.</ref> Despite heavy suspicion and numerous hurdles by the Soviet authorities, Jackson and his cohorts were able to cover the race: the first ever American sports victory on Russian soil.<ref name=KOMO>[http://www.komotv.com/news/local/4529451.html Howard Ramaley, 1922-2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927020541/http://www.komotv.com/news/local/4529451.html |date=September 27, 2007 }}, KOMO-TV, October 31, 2007.</ref>

Jackson became a radio news correspondent for [[ABC News Radio]] and sports director of ABC Radio West in 1964 before joining ABC Sports in 1966.<ref name="TSN082195" /> He helped [[Walter Cronkite]] cover the [[1964 Republican National Convention]] in [[San Francisco]].<ref name="TDC110897"/>

====Professional football====
In the early 1960s, Jackson covered [[American Football League on ABC|American Football League]] games.<ref name=TSN082195/> In [[1970 NFL season|1970]], he was chosen to be the first play-by-play announcer on ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' covering the [[National Football League|NFL]], but he remained in that capacity only for the program's first season.<ref name="TSN082195"/> [[Frank Gifford]] was ABC's initial target, but could not get out of his [[NFL on CBS|CBS]] contract until after the 1970 season. In [[1971 NFL season|1971]], however, Gifford landed the job. Jackson found out that he had been taken off the ''Monday Night'' package from 38 messages, not from [[Roone Arledge]] himself. This incident led to some contention between Jackson and the brass at ABC.<ref name="vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com">{{cite news|url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065699/2/index.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102053744/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065699/2/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 2, 2013 |work=CNN |title=Video |date=February 9, 1987 |access-date=May 7, 2010 }}</ref> With Gifford's death in August 2015, Jackson became the last surviving member of the broadcast teams that called ''MNF'' games from the early 1970s.

Jackson was the lead play-by-play announcer for the [[United States Football League]] broadcasts on [[United States Football League on television|ABC]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://classicsportsmedia.blogspot.com/2013/03/opening-day-of-usfl-on-abc-in-1983.html |title=Opening day of the USFL on ABC in 1983 |date=March 6, 2013 |work=Classic Sports TV and Media |access-date=March 7, 2013}}</ref> from [[1983 USFL season|1983]] to [[1985 USFL season|1985]]. He was paired with [[Lynn Swann]] and [[Tim Brant]]. He called all three championship games in the league's short history.

As previously mentioned, for ABC's broadcast of [[Super Bowl XXII]] at the end of the [[1987 NFL season|1987 season]], Jackson served as the host for the pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage.

====Olympic Games====
Jackson was involved in the [[ABC Olympic broadcasts|ABC coverage]] of the [[1972 Summer Olympics]] and continued to contribute even when [[Munich Massacre|an attack by Palestinian terrorists]] transformed the coverage from that of a typical sporting event to a greater international and historical news event.<ref name=NSSAHOF>[http://www.nssahalloffame.com/34/index.aspx NSSA Hall Of Fame: 1986-1995 Inductees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811082326/http://www.nssahalloffame.com/34/index.aspx |date=August 11, 2007 }}, National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, Accessed August 20, 2007.</ref> In all, he covered a total of 10 [[Summer Olympic Games|Summer]] and [[Winter Olympic]] Games.<ref name="TDC110897"/> Jackson covered [[swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics]] and [[Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics|track and field]] at the [[1976 Summer Olympics]]. He covered [[Speed skating at the 1980 Winter Olympics|speed-skating]] during the [[1980 Winter Olympics]] featuring [[Eric Heiden]]. He was offered the position of play-by-play for [[Ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics|hockey]], but turned it down (the position ultimately went to [[Al Michaels]]). Jackson called speed skating and ski jumping at the [[1984 Winter Olympics]]. He covered [[Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics|basketball]] in [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984]]. He was the weekend afternoon host for ABC's final Olympics in [[1988 Winter Olympics|1988]] from [[Calgary]].<ref name="vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com"/>

====NBA====
He was [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]'s lead basketball play-by-play announcer (succeeding [[Chris Schenkel]] in the role) with legendary NBA player [[Bill Russell]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=The Bill Russell Show|date=January 9, 1973|first=Charles|last=Maher|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=D1}}</ref> for two years<ref name="vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com"/> ([[1971–72 NBA season|1971]]-[[1972–73 NBA season|1973]]) until ABC lost the NBA broadcasting rights to [[NBA on CBS|CBS]] following the conclusion of the [[1973 NBA Finals|1973 Finals]].

====''Wide World of Sports''====
Jackson was a regular part of ABC's popular ''[[Wide World of Sports (US TV series)|Wide World of Sports]]'' (''WWOS''), covering both popular sports and obscure events like wrist wrestling.<ref name=AP010599/> For ''WWOS'' he covered [[Evel Knievel]]'s successful jump at [[Exhibition Stadium]], in [[Toronto|Toronto, Ontario]], Canada, on August 20, 1974;<ref name=TVEvel>[http://www.tv.com/classic-wide-world-of-sports/show/35305/summary.html Classic Wide World of Sports Episode 25], TV.com, Accessed August 20, 2007.</ref> He also handled ''WWOS''' first coverage of boxer [[Sugar Ray Leonard]] at the North American Continental Boxing Championships on July 26, 1975, who Jackson called a young boxer to watch.<ref name=ABC70s>[https://archive.today/20130103141443/http://espn.go.com/abcsports/wwos/milestones/1970s.html Wide World of Sports Highlights -- 1970s], ABC Sports Online, Accessed August 20, 2007.</ref>  He teamed with [[Jackie Stewart]] and [[Chris Economaki]] in (''WWOS'') coverage of auto racing; among the notable events covered by Jackson was the 1974 [[Firecracker 400]] at [[Daytona International Speedway]]<ref>{{cite web|title=1974 Firecracker 400 28 min|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXKvqgxWCXs| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/nXKvqgxWCXs| archive-date=2021-11-07 | url-status=live|website=Youtube| date=June 6, 2011 |access-date=January 14, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and the [[1975 Indianapolis 500]].<ref name="Star05-21-1975">{{cite news|title=Keith Jackson In In Training fort ABC-TV's '500' Coverage|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16555991/1975_indy_500_tv_keith_jackson/|first=Julia|last=Inman|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|page=17|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=May 21, 1975|access-date=January 15, 2018}}{{Open access}}</ref> In the mid-1970s, Jackson also broadcast the [[United States Grand Prix]] motocross races from [[Carlsbad, California]].

====Major League Baseball====
In [[Major League Baseball on ABC|baseball]], he alongside former Mets, Phillies, Yankees, and Cardinals broadcaster [[Tim McCarver]] called the famous 16-inning sixth game of the [[1986 National League Championship Series]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Simon|first=Mark|date=July 2, 2003|title=MLB - Living Legends: Keith Jackson|url=http://a.espncdn.com/mlb/s/2003/0629/1574355.html|work=ESPN.com|location= |access-date=}}</ref> between the [[1986 New York Mets season|New York Mets]] and [[1986 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]]. That turned out to be the final Major League Baseball game that Jackson would broadcast. Jackson had previously broadcast ABC's coverage of the [[1977 World Series|1977]], [[1979 World Series|1979]] and [[1981 World Series]] (Jackson split play-by-play duties with [[Al Michaels]] for the latter two with Jackson calling the games at the [[American League]] site), the [[1978 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1978]], [[1980 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1980]], and [[1982 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1982 All-Star Game]] (again, sharing play-by-play duties with Al Michaels for the latter two), the [[1980 National League Championship Series]], the [[1976 American League Championship Series|1976]], [[1978 American League Championship Series|1978]] and [[1982 American League Championship Series]], the [[1981 American League Division Series]] between the [[1981 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] and [[1981 Milwaukee Brewers season|Milwaukee Brewers]], and the [[1978 American League East tie-breaker game]] between the [[1978 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] and [[1978 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] alongside [[Don Drysdale]]. He also called various ''[[Monday Night Baseball]]'' and other regular-season games for ABC throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s.<ref name="mlb.com" />

Jackson's lead role on ABC's [[College Football on ABC|college football]] coverage occasionally interfered with his postseason baseball commitments.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://classicsportsmedia.blogspot.com/2012/10/keith-jackson-and-abc-conflicts-with.html |title=Keith Jackson and ABC conflicts with college FB and MLB playoffs (1976-1986) |date=October 10, 2012 |work=Classic Sports TV & Media |access-date=October 11, 2012}}</ref> For instance, he was unavailable to call Game 1 of the 1976 ALCS because he had just finished calling an [[Red River Showdown|Oklahoma vs. Texas]] [[college football]] game for ABC. Thus, [[Bob Uecker]] filled in for Jackson for Game 1. In 1978, Jackson called another Oklahoma-Texas football game for ABC on the afternoon of October 7, then flew to New York, arriving just in time to call Game 4 of the [[1978 American League Championship Series]] that same night. On October 11, 1980, Jackson once again called an Oklahoma-Texas football game for ABC in the afternoon, then flew to Houston to call Game 4 of the [[1980 National League Championship Series]]. In the meantime, Drysdale filled in for him on play-by-play for the early innings. On October 10, 1981, he called another Oklahoma v. Texas [[college football]] game for [[College Football on ABC|ABC]] and missed Game 4 of the Milwaukee-New York series. Again, Don Drysdale filled-in for him on play-by-play in his absence alongside color commentator [[Howard Cosell]].<ref name=":0" />

====College basketball====
Starting in [[1986–87 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1987]], he was ABC's lead [[List of ESPN College Basketball on ABC personalities|play-by-play announcer]] for [[ESPN College Basketball on ABC|college basketball]], teaming with analyst [[Dick Vitale]]. This partnership lasted until [[1991–92 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1992]].<ref name="vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com"/>

====College football====
For all his success, he received the most acclaim for his coverage of [[College Football on ABC|college football]]. He genuinely enjoyed the sport and the purity of it.<ref name="vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com"/> Jackson began announcing college football when television play-by-play announcers did not always have regular analysts.<ref name="wsu20130927">For example, he covers a 1958 game by himself. {{Cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou44_2L7NhE |title=Stanford vs. Washington State College w/audio, 1958 |date=September 27, 2013 |last=Washington State University Libraries' Films |publisher=YouTube |access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref> He would only once miss working a college season in his over 50 years (when he served as play-by-play announcer during the inaugural season of ''Monday Night Football''), beginning in 1952.<ref name="TSN082195"/>  Jackson was joined in the booth by [[Joe Paterno]] for the [[Michigan–Ohio State rivalry#"The Ten-Year War" and Earle Bruce era (1969&ndash;1987)|1974 Michigan-Ohio State game]] in [[Ohio Stadium|Columbus]], while [[Woody Hayes]] accompanied him for the [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football rivalries#USC|1974 Notre Dame-USC game]].<ref>Broadcast clip, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCwClCMAkkY</ref>
In his many years covering college football, Jackson was paired with a wide variety of color commentators, including [[Jackie Jensen]] (1966&ndash;1968), [[Lee Grosscup]] (1972&ndash;1973), [[Bud Wilkinson]] (1969&ndash;1975), [[Ara Parseghian]] (1975&ndash;1980), [[Frank Broyles]] (1978&ndash;1985), [[Lynn Swann]] (1984&ndash;1985), [[Tim Brant]] (1986, 2000&ndash;2002), [[Bob Griese]] (1987&ndash;1999), and [[Dan Fouts]] (2002&ndash;2005). Jackson called 16 [[Sugar Bowl]]s and 15 [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]]s during his time at ABC.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Stephenson|first1=Creg|title=Legendary college football announcer Keith Jackson dead at 89|url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/01/legendary_sportscaster_keith_j.html|website=AL.com|date=January 13, 2018 |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref>

For many years, he was assigned by ABC to the primary national game of the week. His quirky expressions such as ''"Whoa, Nellie!"'', ''"Fum-BLE!"'' and ''"Hold the phonnnnne!"'' (following a penalty flag) are often the subject of comedic imitation. Though he greatly popularized it, Jackson notes that he learned the term ''"Whoa, Nellie"'' from earlier television announcer [[Dick Lane (TV announcer)|Dick Lane]].<ref name="TDC110897"/>  He has often referred to offensive and defensive line players as the ''Big Uglies'', or to an individual by saying ''"That guy...is a hoss"'' (horse). Jackson is also credited with coining the nickname for [[Michigan Stadium]], ''The Big House.''<ref name=TMD110998>Sharat Raju, [http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily/1998/nov/11-09-98/sports/sports8.html One year later, Taylor still contributing to Wolverines] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824162929/http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily/1998/nov/11-09-98/sports/sports8.html |date=August 24, 2007 }}, ''The Michigan Daily'', November 9, 1998.</ref> In the season before his first retirement, during what was thought to be his final game at The Big House, the [[Michigan Marching Band]]'s halftime show concluded by spelling out "Thanks Keith" across the field. The 111,019 fans turned toward the press box, stood up and cheered for the commentator. As a part of the halftime event former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler presented Jackson with a jersey with "The Big House" across the front and a Michigan football helmet.<ref name="TMD110998"/>

During the mid-'80s, he began falling out of favor with ABC executives due to the rise of stars such as [[Al Michaels]] and [[Jim Lampley]]. Jackson's contract expired after the [[1986 Sugar Bowl]]. He had a 3-month "retirement" until new ABC Sports President Dennis Swanson personally offered him a 3-year contract, which he accepted.<ref name="vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com"/>

In the 1990s, Jackson recorded videos for the centennial of the [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama Crimson Tide]]. In [[2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2006]], Jackson introduced the [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska Cornhuskers]]' "Tunnel Walk" video on the stadium "HuskerVision" screens. This video played before every home game at Memorial Stadium in the 2006 season. It was also used for one home game in 2007, against Texas A&M. On September 26, 2009, for the 300th consecutive sellout of Memorial Stadium, Jackson again provided a video tribute to the fans of Nebraska.<ref name="owh" />

Jackson's connections to the University of Nebraska remain strong. It was Jackson himself that the university contacted when designing its new press box facility—Jackson's advice included a recommendation that it include a separate restroom inside the broadcast booth, as few if any broadcast booths had any suitable restroom facilities. When Jackson broadcast the Nebraska-California game the following season (the debut of the Cornhuskers' new pressbox), he found a restroom in the booth with a sign reading "The Keith Jackson Memorial Bippy." The sign was a joke from Jackson's longtime friend, Nebraska sports information director Don Bryant. The name stuck, and a permanent plaque was put up next to the restroom door that reads "The Keith Jackson Toilet Facility – Dedicated Sept 11, 1999".<ref name="owh">{{cite news|title=Legendary announcer Keith Jackson held Nebraska football fans in high regard|url=http://www.omaha.com/huskers/football/legendary-announcer-keith-jackson-held-nebraska-football-fans-in-high/article_320b864c-f8a9-11e7-a976-e79881df5933.html|access-date=January 14, 2018|work=Omaha World-Herald|date=January 13, 2018}}</ref>

Jackson would call the [[1972 USC Trojans football team]] the greatest team he ever saw.<ref name=Cook080107>Beano Cook, [http://static.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/cook_beano/1413028.html All-time top 25: '47 Irish were greatest], ESPN.com, August 1, 2007.</ref> Jackson, who was in his first year in ABC football broadcasting narrating the taped highlights of the [[1967 USC vs. UCLA football game]], declared it many years later to be the greatest game he has ever seen.<ref>[http://www.coachoftheyear.com/award-tv.aspx Coach of the Year (2007) – hosted by Keith Jackson] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130202939/http://www.coachoftheyear.com/award-tv.aspx |date=November 30, 2006 }} "Keith Jackson has been broadcasting college football since 1952 and has reported games like the "Game of the Century" between UCLA and Southern Cal in 1967."</ref>

Jackson's career was not free of incidents. During the [[1978 Gator Bowl]], Jackson missed [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]] Head Coach Woody Hayes' infamous punch of [[Clemson Tigers football|Clemson]] defensive lineman Charlie Bauman. Bauman had intercepted a pass and was pushed out of bounds on the Ohio State sidelines, and a frustrated Hayes threw a forearm at Bauman's throat. Jackson (and color commentator [[Ara Parseghian]]) failed to see or comment on Hayes' actions, which had been captured from a different vantage point on camera. No replay of the actual incident was available in the booth during the telecast, as the television crew was working with limited replay capability.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1095432/index.htm|title=No Armageddon Bowls For Him, Sports Illustrated, 1979|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718080427/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1095432/index.htm|archive-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> In addition to this, no sideline reporter was available to provide information on the cause of the unsportsmanlike penalties that occurred as a result.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-dec-29-sp-woody29-story.html|title=Simple Fist of Fate|first=Chris|last=Dufresne|date=December 29, 2003|via=LA Times}}</ref> This led to accusations that Jackson was protecting Hayes, who was later fired for the incident.<ref name="TSN082195"/>

====Retirement====
Approaching his 70th birthday, Jackson announced his first retirement from college football at the end of the [[1998 NCAA Division I-A football season|1998 season]] and his intention to live full-time at his home in California. Choosing the first [[BCS National Championship Game]] as his last broadcast, Jackson called the 1999 National Championship at the [[1999 Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta Bowl]] between [[1998 Tennessee Volunteers football team|Tennessee]] and [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]]. He concluded the program by stating "Tennessee 23, Florida State 16. And so it is done. I say goodbye to all of you. God bless and good night."<ref name=AP010599/>

Jackson rescinded his decision the following fall and began to do a more limited schedule of games,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.classictvsports.com/2015/12/history-of-1-play-by-play-announcer.html|title=History of #1 play-by-play announcer demotions|last=Haggar|first=Jeff|date=December 22, 2015|website=Classic TV Sports}}</ref> teamed with [[Dan Fouts]], Tim Brant, and later Fouts again, almost exclusively sticking to venues on the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]], closer to his home in [[California]]. Two notable exceptions were the [[2003 NCAA Division I-A football season|2003]] [[Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry|Michigan–Ohio State]] and the 2005 [[Red River Rivalry|Oklahoma vs. Texas football game]]. Each was the 100th meeting between the two archrivals. He strongly hinted that he was interested in retiring for good after the [[2005 NCAA Division I-A football season|2005 season]], telling ''[[The New York Times]]'' that he was feeling his age after 53 seasons and had become upset at the increased number of mistakes in his play calling in the last few years.<ref name=NYT>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/21/sports/ncaafootball/21keith.html?ex=1187755200&en=69003fd13dd9b765&ei=5070 Keith Jackson Mulls Retirement From ABC Sports], ''The New York Times'', March 21, 2006.</ref>  ABC tried convincing Jackson to stay, but his decision was firm.<ref name=TSN042606>[http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?p=651192 Broadcaster Keith Jackson set to retire] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001095320/http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?p=651192 |date=October 1, 2007 }}, ''The Sporting News'', April 27, 2006.</ref> He officially announced his retirement on April 27, 2006, noting he did not want to "die in a stadium parking lot."<ref name="ST042806"/> His last game call was the [[2006 Rose Bowl]] featuring [[2005 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]] vs. [[2005 USC Trojans football team|Southern California]] in the [[BCS National Championship Game]]. The game was the last college football game shown on ABC under the "ABC Sports" brand, as ABC Sports was integrated with ESPN the following summer and is now known as [[ESPN on ABC]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sandomir|first1=Richard|title=ABC Sports Is Dead at 45; Stand by for ESPN|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/11/sports/othersports/11sandomir.html|access-date=January 14, 2018|work=The New York Times|date=August 11, 2006}}</ref>

====''Big Ten Icons''====
In March 2010, the [[Big Ten Conference]] announced that Jackson would host a 20-episode series called ''[[Big Ten Icons]]'' for the [[Big Ten Network]] which would highlight what the Big Ten Conference considers the league's top 50 student-athletes.  The series was presented countdown style, and the top Big Ten student athlete was revealed during a program broadcast during the 2011 [[Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten Basketball tournament]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/inside_big_ten_icons/4152630|title=This article is unavailable|website=www.yardbarker.com}} {{Dead link|date=August 2019}}</ref>

===Awards and honors===
In 1999, the [[National Football Foundation]] awarded Jackson the Gold Medal Award, its highest honor.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120730193030/http://www.footballfoundation.com/goldformer.php Past Gold Medal Winners], National Football Foundation, Accessed August 20, 2007.</ref> The same year he was inducted into the [[Tournament of Roses|Rose Bowl]] Hall of Fame for his many years of contribution to "The Granddaddy of Them All".<ref>[http://www.tournamentofroses.com/history/halloffame.asp Rose Bowl Hall of Fame] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100816231941/http://www.tournamentofroses.com/history/halloffame.asp |date=August 16, 2010 }}, Tournament of Roses, Accessed August 20, 2007.</ref>  The Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University awarded their alumnus with the Murrow Award for top leaders in the communication industry in 1999;<ref>[http://murrow.wsu.edu/symposium.html Murrow Symposium] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611000216/http://murrow.wsu.edu/symposium.html |date=June 11, 2007 }}, Washington State University, Accessed August 20, 2007.</ref> Jackson was a charter member of the WSU Foundation, founded in 1979, provided scholarship money to the Murrow School and chaired the fund-raising drive for the school's alumni center.<ref name="AP010599"/> In 1994, Jackson was inducted into the [[American Sportscasters Association]] Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americansportscastersonline.com/jackson.html|title=Jackson, Keith - 1994 Hall of Fame Inductee}}</ref> On April 24, 1995, he was inducted into the [[National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association]] Hall of Fame, having won its National Sportscaster of the Year five successive times.<ref name="NSSAHOF"/>  The [[American Football Coaches Association]] awarded him its [[Amos Alonzo Stagg Award]] in 1993 as an individual "whose services have been outstanding in the advancement of the best interests of football."<ref>[http://www.afca.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=69271&SPID=7854&DB_OEM_ID=9300&ATCLID=289544 Amos Alonzo Stagg Award – Past Winners] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524072032/http://www.afca.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=69271&SPID=7854&DB_OEM_ID=9300&ATCLID=289544 |date=May 24, 2011 }}, American Football Coaches Association, Accessed August 20, 2007.</ref> He was the first sports announcer to receive the Stagg award.<ref name="TDC110897"/>

Longtime [[Penn State University|Penn State]] Head Coach [[Joe Paterno]] said of Jackson: "I don't think you could say that there is any one person who is not a coach, athletic director or administrator who has done more for college football than Keith Jackson".<ref name="TDC110897"/> [[Michigan Wolverines|Michigan]] Head Coach [[Lloyd Carr]] described Jackson as "a symbol of all the good things in college football".<ref name="TDC110897"/>

The [[Rose Bowl stadium]]'s radio and TV booths were renamed "The Keith Jackson Broadcast Center" in December 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rosebowlstadium.com/legacy/keith-jackson-broadcast-center|title=Keith Jackson Broadcast Center|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113133651/http://www.rosebowlstadium.com/legacy/keith-jackson-broadcast-center|archive-date=November 13, 2015}}, Rosebowlstadium.com, November 5, 2015</ref>

In 2010, Jackson was awarded the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) from [[Whittier College]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whittier.edu/alumni/poetnation/honorary|title=Honorary Degrees {{!}} Whittier College|website=www.whittier.edu|access-date=2019-12-06}}</ref>

In 2019, he was posthumously inducted into the [[Georgia Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.georgiasportshalloffame.com/legends-class-of-2019 | title=Legends 2019 }}</ref>

===Film and television appearances===
Jackson had a minor career as an actor, often either playing himself, as on an episode of ''[[Coach (TV series)|Coach]]''; or a sportscaster like himself, as in ''[[The Fortune Cookie]]'' (1966), appearing in the first speaking role of the film "Football Announcer" as a CBS play-by-play man, a network for whom he never worked. He has also appeared in and narrated several sports [[Documentary film|documentaries]]. His play-by-play of the [[1977 World Series]] is used in the background of the [[Spike Lee]] film, ''[[Summer of Sam]]'' (1999). In 2007, he appeared in clips and voice on the [[ESPN]] original series, ''[[The Bronx Is Burning]]'', featuring clips from ABC's ''[[Monday Night Baseball]]'', and ABC Sports' coverage of the [[1977 World Series]].{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

Jackson has appeared in numerous commercials, especially in the latter stages of his career. He once parodied his broadcast persona for a [[Miller Lite]] beer commercial, in which he played the officiating minister at a wedding, finishing with his famous line, "Whoa, Nellie!"<ref>{{cite web|title=Keith Jackson Miller Lite commercial 1995|url=https://scout.com/outdoors/bass-fishing/Video/Keith-Jackson-Miller-Lite-commercial-1995-8041591?View=Full|website=Scout.com|access-date=January 14, 2018}}{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He also appeared in commercials for [[Shoney's]], a chain of family-style restaurants well known in the Southeast, especially in his native Georgia. Jackson appeared in "The Legend of [[Gatorade]]" ads, which he humorously alluded to during his live coverage of the [[2006 Rose Bowl]]. In 2006, he also was shown in a commercial for [[Ice Breakers]]' Ice Cubes with [[Hilary Duff]], [[Haylie Duff]] and [[Joey Lawrence]], again contributing his famous "Whoa, Nellie!"<ref>{{cite web|title=Ice Breakers - Ice Cubes - Whoa!|url=http://www.splendad.com/ads/show/889-Ice-Breakers-Ice-Cubes-Whoa.html|website=splendad.com|access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref>

Jackson was portrayed by actor [[Shuler Hensley]] in the 2002 made-for-cable film ''[[Monday Night Mayhem]]'', which aired on [[Turner Network Television|TNT]]. This film told the story of the initial seasons of ''Monday Night Football''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Monday Night Mayhem|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/monday_night_mayhem/|website=rottentomatoes.com|access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref>

===Personal life and death===
Jackson and his wife, Turi Ann, resided in [[California]] and also spent time in [[British Columbia]], where they owned a vacation property. They had three children, Melanie Ann, Lindsey and Christopher.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://deadline.com/2018/01/keith-jackson-dies-college-football-voice-known-for-whoa-nellie-was-89-1202242495/|title=Keith Jackson Dies: College Football Voice Known For "Whoa, Nellie" Was 89|author=Haring, Bruce|magazine=Deadline|date=January 13, 2018}}</ref> At the time of his death, he resided in the [[Sherman Oaks]] area of Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/2018/01/13/legendary-broadcaster-keith-jackson-dies-89/109421350/|title=Legendary broadcaster Keith Jackson dies at 89|date=January 14, 2018|newspaper=Detroit News}}</ref> On the subject of writing a book, Jackson admitted that he'd considered it, but joked that he would only sit down and work on one if he were to ever lose his golf swing.<ref>''[[USA Weekend]]'': November 23, 2008</ref>

Jackson died on January 12, 2018, at the age of 89.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-me-keith-jackson-20180113-story.html|title=Keith Jackson, folksy voice of college football, dies at 89|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 13, 2018|author1=Kipper, Mike |author2=DiGiovanna, Mike }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/legendary-broadcaster-keith-jackson-dies-age-89/story?id=52326736|title=Legendary broadcaster Keith Jackson dies at age 89|publisher=ABC News|date=January 13, 2018}}</ref><ref name="THR">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/keith-jackson-dead-abc-college-814919|title=Keith Jackson, Legendary Voice of College Football, Dies at 89|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 13, 2018|author=Barnes, Mike}}</ref>

==Notable broadcasts==
===1950s===
*September 20, 1958: Earliest surviving film of a Keith Jackson broadcast (college football game between Washington State and Stanford University).{{r|wsu20130927}}

===1970s===

*September 21, 1970: First ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' game. [[1970 Cleveland Browns season|Browns]] beat the [[1970 New York Jets season|Jets]]<ref name="ESPNobit">{{cite web|title=Legendary broadcaster Keith Jackson dies at age 89|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/22076254/legendary-broadcaster-keith-jackson-dies-age-89|website=ESPN|date=January 13, 2018 |access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref><ref name="al.com" />
*[[1971 Daytona 500]]: [[Richard Petty]] won his 3rd Daytona 500.<ref name="altdriver">{{cite web|title=Award winning and legendary broadcaster with NASCAR ties has sadly passed away|url=http://altdriver.com/racing/keith-jackson-broadcaster-abc-sports-nascar/|website=alt_driver|date=January 13, 2018 |access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref>
*September 25, 1971: [[Carlos Monzón]] of Argentina stops [[Emile Griffith]] of the Virgin Islands in the 14th round to retain the Middleweight Championship of the World<ref>{{cite web|title=Carlos Monzon Stops Griffith This Day in Boxing September 25, 1971|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii02XNBYYss| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925025119/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii02XNBYYss&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2015-09-25 | url-status=dead|website=youtube|access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref>
*[[1972 NBA Finals]]: [[Los Angeles Lakers]] won the title.<ref>{{cite web|title=Long-time sportscaster Keith Jackson dies at 89|url=https://www.nba.com/news/sportscaster-keith-jackson-dies-89|website=nba.com|access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref>
*[[1972 Summer Olympics]]: U.S. swimmer [[Mark Spitz]] wins seven gold medals<ref name="ESPNobit" />
*May 25, 1974: [[Rodrigo Valdez]] of Colombia knocks out [[Bennie Briscoe]] of Philadelphia in the 7th round to become the new Middleweight Champion of the World<ref>{{cite web|title=Rodrigo Valdez v.s Bennie Briscoe 2|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sHasEDQdaU| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307070233/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sHasEDQdaU&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2020-03-07 | url-status=dead|website=youtube|access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref>
*November 30, 1974: No. 6 [[USC Trojans football|USC]] vs. No. 5 [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]] – The "Earthquake Game"<ref>{{cite web|last1=Klein|first1=Gary|title=Mosi Tatupu's role in USC's victory over Notre Dame in 1974|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/afterword/2010/02/mosi-tatupus-role-in-uscs-victory-over-notre-dame-in-1974.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=February 25, 2010 |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref>
*[[1975 Indianapolis 500]]: [[Bobby Unser]] won the race that was shortened by rain.<ref name="altdriver" />
*[[1976 Summer Olympics]]<ref>{{cite web|title=GAMES OF THE XXI OLYMPIAD, THE {1976 MONTREAL OLYMPICS} {1976/07/17}, PART 3: OPENING CEREMONY (TV)|url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=olympics&advanced=1&p=5&item=B:01289|website=The Paley Center for Media|access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref>
*[[1976 American League Championship Series]]: [[1976 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] vs. [[1976 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]] (including [[Chris Chambliss]]' series-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 5 off [[Mark Littell]])<ref name="al.com" />
*January 1, 1977: [[1977 Sugar Bowl]] - college football national championship
*[[1977 World Series]]: [[1977 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] vs. [[1977 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] (including [[Reggie Jackson]]'s 3 homers on 3 pitches).<ref name="mlb.com">{{cite web|last1=Macklin|first1=Oliver|title=Legendary broadcaster Jackson, 89, dies|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/legendary-broadcaster-keith-jackson-dies-at-89/c-264672660|website=MLB.com|access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref>
*October 22, 1977: No. 5 [[1977 USC Trojans football team|USC]] vs. No. 11 [[1977 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]] – The "Green Jersey Game"<ref name="al.com">{{cite web|last1=Stephenson|first1=Creg|title=Here are 10 of Keith Jackson's greatest calls|url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/01/here_are_10_of_keith_jacksons.html|website=Al.com|date=January 13, 2018 |access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref>
*October 2, 1978: [[1978 American League East tie-breaker game|American League East Playoff]] – [[1978 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] vs. [[1978 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] ([[Bucky Dent]]'s HR).<ref name="ESPNobit" />
*December 29, 1978: [[1978 Gator Bowl|Gator Bowl]] – [[1978 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]] vs. [[Clemson Tigers football|Clemson]] ([[Woody Hayes]]' infamous last game)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bennett|first1=Brian|title=Woody Hayes' last game coaching|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/bowls13/story/_/id/10215217/the-punch-ended-woody-hayes-career|website=ESPN|date=December 30, 2013 |access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref>
*January 1, 1979: [[1979 Sugar Bowl|Sugar Bowl]] – No. 2 [[1978 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]] vs. No. 1 [[1978 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]] for the national championship<ref name="al.com" />
*[[1979 World Series]]: [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] came back from a 3–1 deficit to beat the [[Baltimore Orioles]] in 7 games.

===1980s===
*January 1, 1980: [[1980 Sugar Bowl|Sugar Bowl]]:  No. 2 [[1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]] vs. No. 6 [[1979 Arkansas Razorbacks football team|Arkansas]] (with the win Alabama won the national championship)
*[[1980 Winter Olympics]]: U.S. speed skater [[Eric Heiden]] wins five gold medals.<ref name="ESPNobit" />
*[[1980 National League Championship Series]]: [[1980 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]] vs. [[1980 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]] (included extra-inning games in the final four games of best-of-five series).
*January 1, 1981: [[1981 Sugar Bowl|Sugar Bowl]]: No. 1 [[1980 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]] vs. No. 7 [[1980 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]].<ref>{{cite web|title=No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 7 Notre Dame - 1981 Sugar Bowl|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W7r8SSQX18|website=youtube.com| date=December 27, 2012 |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> (with the win Georgia won the national championship)
*[[1981 World Series]]: [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] over [[New York Yankees]] in 6 games to capture their 5th world championship.
*November 28, 1981: [[Iron Bowl]] - [[1981 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]] 28 vs. [[1981 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]] 17 – [[Bear Bryant|Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant]] wins his 315th collegiate game as a head coach, surpassing Amos Alonzo Stagg as college football's winningest coach.<ref name="TSN hof">{{cite web|last1=Hoffarth|first1=Tom|title='Whoa, Nellie!' Relive Keith Jackson's greatest college football calls|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/news/keith-jackson-college-football-moments-rose-bowl-sugar-bowl-vince-young-bear-bryant-desmond-howard/14uwg0n95xmqn17etxbyem6lai|website=The Sporting News|date=January 13, 2018 |access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref>
*November 27, 1982: [[Iron Bowl]] - [[1982 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]] 23 vs [[1982 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]] 22 – [[Bear Bryant]]'s final [[Iron Bowl]], "Bo Over The Top"<ref name="al.com" />
*January 1, 1983: [[1983 Sugar Bowl|Sugar Bowl]] – No. 1 [[1982 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]] vs. No. 2 [[1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mule|first1=Marty|title=Voices of the Game – Frank Broyles and Keith Jackson|url=https://allstatesugarbowl.org/classic/voices-game-frank-broyles-keith-jackson/|website=allstatesugarbowl.org|publisher=The New Orleans Times-Picayune|access-date=January 14, 2018|archive-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114075346/https://allstatesugarbowl.org/classic/voices-game-frank-broyles-keith-jackson/|url-status=dead}}</ref> for the national championship
* [[Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Summer Olympics]]: The [[1984 United States men's Olympic basketball team|USA basketball team]], led by [[Michael Jordan]] and [[Patrick Ewing]], wins gold.<ref name="vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com"/>
*November 30, 1985: [[Iron Bowl]] [[1985 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]] 25 vs [[1985 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]] 23 – "The Kick"<ref name="al.com" />
*[[1986 National League Championship Series]]: [[1986 New York Mets season|New York Mets]] vs. [[1986 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]] (included the 16-inning Game 6).<ref name="mlb.com" />
*May 17, 1987: [[NASCAR]] [[Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race|The Winston]] won by [[Dale Earnhardt]] ("The Pass in the Grass")<ref name="altdriver" />
*July 4, 1987 NASCAR [[Pepsi Firecracker 400]].
*February 19, 1989: NCAA Basketball, [[1988–89 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|Indiana Hoosiers]] vs. [[1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan Wolverines]]. [[Jay Edwards (basketball)|Jay Edwards]]'s last-second shot to beat Michigan (with Dick Vitale).<ref>{{cite web|title=Jay Edwards buzzer beater|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaJTuXlBXlk| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/kaJTuXlBXlk| archive-date=2021-11-07 | url-status=live|website=Youtube.com| date=January 31, 2009 |access-date=January 14, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
*March 5, 1989: NCAA Basketball, [[1988–89 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|Indiana Hoosiers]] vs. [[1988–89 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Illinois Fighting Illini]]. [[Jay Edwards (basketball)|Jay Edwards]]'s shot with two seconds left to tie, then [[Nick Anderson (basketball)|Nick Anderson]]'s three-point shot to win at eventual Big Ten champion Indiana (also with Dick Vitale).<ref>{{cite web|title=Nick Anderson buzzer beater|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSRuVA6xU-Q| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/TSRuVA6xU-Q| archive-date=2021-11-07 | url-status=live|website=Youtube.com| date=January 23, 2007 |access-date=May 7, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===1990s===
*May 27, 1990: [[Monaco Grand Prix]] won by [[Ayrton Senna]] (Last auto race broadcast with [[Jackie Stewart]])<ref name="altdriver" />
*November 16, 1991: No. 2 [[1991 Miami Hurricanes football team|Miami]] vs. No. 1 [[1991 Florida State Seminoles football team|Florida State]] (a.k.a. "[[Wide Right I]]").<ref name="ESPNobit" />
*November 23, 1991: No. 4 [[1991 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]] vs. No. 18 [[1991 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]]<ref name="ESPNobit" /><ref name="al.com" /> ("[[Desmond Howard|Hello Heisman]]")
*January 1, 1992: [[1992 Rose Bowl|Rose Bowl]] – No. 2 [[1991 Washington Huskies football team|Washington]] vs. No. 3 [[1991 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]] (Washington won a split national championship)
*October 3, 1992: No. 3 [[1992 Florida State Seminoles football team|Florida State]] vs. No. 2 [[1992 Miami Hurricanes football team|Miami]] (a.k.a. "[[Wide Right II]]")
*January 1, 1993: [[1993 Sugar Bowl|Sugar Bowl]] – No. 2 [[1992 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]] vs. No. 1 [[1992 Miami Hurricanes football team|Miami]] for the national championship<ref name="TSN hof" />
*September 24, 1994: No. 7 [[1994 Colorado Buffaloes football team|Colorado]] at No. 4 [[1994 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]], [[The Miracle at Michigan]]<ref name="ESPNobit" />
*January 2, 1997: [[1997 Sugar Bowl|Sugar Bowl]] – No. 1 [[1996 Florida State Seminoles football team|Florida State]] vs. No. 3 [[1996 Florida Gators football team|Florida]] for the national championship
*January 1, 1998: [[1998 Rose Bowl|Rose Bowl]] – No. 1 [[1997 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]] 21, No. 8 [[1997 Washington State Cougars football team|Washington State]] 16 (Michigan won a split national championship)
*January 4, 1999: [[1999 Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta Bowl]] – No. 1 [[1998 Tennessee Volunteers football team|Tennessee]] 23, No. 2 [[1998 Florida State Seminoles football team|Florida State]] 16 in the first [[BCS National Championship Game]]<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Barnes |first=Mike |title=Keith Jackson, Legendary Voice of College Football, Dies at 89 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/keith-jackson-dead-abc-college-814919 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=January 13, 2018 |issn=0018-3660}}</ref>

===2000s===
*January 4, 2002: [[2002 Rose Bowl|Rose Bowl]] – [[2001 Miami Hurricanes football team|Miami (FL)]] vs. [[2001 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]] in [[2002 BCS National Championship Game]]
*January 3, 2003: [[2003 Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta Bowl]] – [[2002 Miami Hurricanes football team|Miami (FL)]] vs. [[2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]] in [[2003 BCS National Championship Game]]<ref name="ESPNobit" />
*November 22, 2003: [[2003 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]] at [[2003 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]] ([[Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry|100th meeting]])
*January 1, 2004: [[2004 Rose Bowl]] – [[2003 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]] vs. [[2003 USC Trojans football team|USC]] (USC won a split national championship)
*October 8, 2005: [[2005 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]] vs. [[2005 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]] ([[Red River Showdown|100th meeting]])<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Rushin|first1=Steve|title=Still on His Hoss|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2005/09/12/8272869/still-on-his-hoss|access-date=January 14, 2018|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=September 12, 2005}}</ref>
*January 4, 2006: [[2006 Rose Bowl|Rose Bowl]] – [[2005 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]] vs. [[2005 USC Trojans football team|USC]] in [[2006 BCS National Championship Game]]<ref name="ESPNobit" />

{{Portal|Biography|United States}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/good-night-keith-jackson-and-thanks/2018/01/13/79aff714-f898-11e7-b34a-b85626af34ef_story.html |title=Good night, Keith Jackson. And thanks. |first=Chuck |last=Culpepper |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=January 13, 2018}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.seccountry.com/sec/watch-this-collection-amazing-sec-calls-keith-jackson-will-give-chills |title=WATCH: This collection of amazing SEC calls from Keith Jackson will give you chills |first=Talal |last=Elmasry |website=SECcountry.com |date=January 13, 2018}}

==External links==
* [http://static.espn.go.com/abcsports/bcs/columns/jackson_keith/bio.html ABC profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174534/http://static.espn.go.com/abcsports/bcs/columns/jackson_keith/bio.html |date=March 3, 2016 }}
* {{IMDb name|413732}}

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-media}}}}
{{succession box |before=None|title=[[Monday Night Football|''Monday Night Football'' play-by-play announcer]] |years=[[1970 NFL season|1970]]|after=[[Frank Gifford]]}}
{{succession box |before=[[Chris Schenkel]]|title=Lead play-by-play announcer, ''[[ESPN College Football on ABC|ABC College Football]]''|years=1974–1998|after=[[Brent Musburger]]}}
{{succession box |before=[[Brent Musburger]]|title=Lead play-by-play announcer, ''[[ESPN College Football on ABC|ABC College Football]]''|years=2002|after=[[Brent Musburger]]}}
{{succession box |before=[[Brad Nessler]]|title=Lead play-by-play announcer, ''[[ESPN College Football on ABC|ABC College Football]]''|years=2005|after=[[Brad Nessler]]}}
{{succession box |before=[[Jim McKay]]|title=Television voice of the<br />[[List of Indianapolis 500 broadcasters|Indianapolis 500]]|
years=[[1975 Indianapolis 500|1975]] |after=[[Jim McKay]]}}
{{succession box|before=[[Joe Garagiola Sr.|Joe Garagiola]]|title=[[World Series]] network television<br />play-by-play announcer (with [[Al Michaels]] in [[1979 World Series|1979]] and [[1981 World Series|1981]]; concurrent with [[Joe Garagiola Sr.|Joe Garagiola]] in odd numbered years) |years=[[1977 World Series|1977]]–[[1981 World Series|1981]] |after=[[Joe Garagiola Sr.|Joe Garagiola]] and [[Dick Enberg]]}}
{{succession box |before=[[Chris Schenkel]]|title=Play-by-play announcer, [[NBA Finals]]|years=[[1972 NBA Finals|1972]]–[[1973 NBA Finals|1973]] |after=[[Pat Summerall]]}}
{{succession box |before=None|title=Play-by-play announcer,<br />[[BCS National Championship Game]]|years=1999|after=[[Brent Musburger]]}}
{{succession box |before=[[Brad Nessler]]|title=Play-by-play announcer,<br />[[BCS National Championship Game]]|years=2002–2003|after=[[Brent Musburger]]}}
{{succession box |before=[[Brad Nessler]]|title=Play-by-play announcer,<br />[[BCS National Championship Game]]|years=2006|after=[[Thom Brennaman]]}}
{{succession box |before=[[Dick Enberg]]|title=Play-by-play announcer, [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]]|years=[[1989 Rose Bowl|1989]]–[[2006 Rose Bowl|2006]] (except [[1993 Rose Bowl|1993]], [[1997 Rose Bowl|1997]], [[2003 Rose Bowl|2003]])|after=[[Brent Musburger]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Bob Prince]] | title = Lead play-by-play announcer,<br />''[[Major League Baseball on ABC]]''| years = [[1977 Major League Baseball season|1977]]–[[1982 Major League Baseball season|1982]]| after=[[Al Michaels]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Don Drysdale]] | title = #2 play-by-play announcer,<br />''[[Major League Baseball on ABC]]''| years = [[1986 Major League Baseball season|1986]]| after=[[Gary Bender]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Amos Alonzo Stagg Award}}{{National Football Foundation Gold Medal Winners}}
{{College Football on ABC}}
{{Major League Baseball on ABC}}
{{NBA on ABC}}
{{Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Play-by-Play}}
{{Sports Lifetime Achievement Award}}
{{IndyCar Series on ABC}}
{{NASCAR on ESPN}}
{{Boxing on ABC}}
{{Monday Night Football}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Keith}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:American color commentators]]
[[Category:American Football League announcers]]
[[Category:American television sports announcers]]
[[Category:Bowling broadcasters]]
[[Category:American boxing commentators]]
[[Category:College basketball announcers in the United States]]
[[Category:College football announcers]]
[[Category:American golf commentators]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball broadcasters]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Motorsport announcers]]
[[Category:NBA broadcasters]]
[[Category:National Football League announcers]]
[[Category:Olympic Games broadcasters]]
[[Category:People from Carroll County, Georgia]]
[[Category:Sports Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Swimming commentators]]
[[Category:Track and field broadcasters]]
[[Category:United States Football League announcers]]
[[Category:United States Marines]]
[[Category:Washington Huskies football announcers]]
[[Category:Washington State University alumni]]