Keith Jackson, the folksy voice of college football who for decades wove backwoods wit throughout his Saturday afternoon broadcasts on ABC, died Jan. 12. Despite his protests, however, Mr. Jackson enthusiastically proclaimed, “Whoa, Nellie!” in a beer commercial late in his career. He was so entrenched in college football that ABC would not let him retire the first time he tried. If Mr. Jackson was highly regarded by viewers and listeners, he was equally respected by many coaches. Besides his college football work, he called college and pro basketball games, Major League Baseball, auto racing and the Summer and Winter Olympics.

Source: Washington Post January 13, 2018 20:29 UTC