Keith Jackson Tribute

One of our favorite football announcers Keith Jackson retired from full time after the 1998 season. Jackson announced select games until his official retirement after the 2006 Rose Bowl.  Mr. Jackson now 86 years young, covered college football from 1952-2006 for ABC. It's that time of year and we wax nostalgic as we miss hearing Jackson call the games. Following are some of his more famous quotes with my interpretations on those that might be cryptic to others.

"Whoa Nellie."  Jackson's Explanation of Whoa Nellie

"Katie Bar the Door." - (trouble is in store)

"And the Wheels Have Come off The Wagon." - (a team falling apart and getting blown out)

"There's a whole lotta head knockin goin on out there."

"Al - La -BaMa."

"FUM-BULLLL!!!"

"Rumblin...Bumblin...Stumblin."

"Its a BARNBURNER."

"Hollly cooww what a 6 iron." - (punt going straight up and nowhere)

"He looks for nothing...and he finds nothing."

"He's as nervous as long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs."

"The granddaddy of them all." - (a really big game)

"On the banks of the Olentangy."

"This evening we have a possum moon."

"This is Michigan, and you'd better tend to your knitting."

"Football is a game of real estate and attrition."

"And the big bowl is hummin'....'cause the home team is winnin' "

"The Big Uglies and big hog mollies."

"In the mud and the blood where the big boys play."

"Without the Big Uglies, that fancy tailback goes nowhere."

"TOUCHDOOOOOOWWWN KEITH JACKSON!"  - (former Oklahoma tightend namesake)

"He's got it! And he's gone!"

"And if that doesn't whet your whistle, you're watching the wrooooooong channel."

"This has to go down as an all-time all-timer."

"The man who blocked it is the man who scored it" - (player blocks kick and recovers for a touchdown)

"The very best place to take a nap is in the back of a cotton wagon."

"Chicken eatin' boy...loves his mama."

"And he's ONLY a soph-o-moooore..."

"Clarence Williams grandmother could have scored that one,"

"Any man who watches this much football on one day should be a dead man.  Call the coroner!"

The Conclusion in Part 2.

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