It’s that time of year again. College Football will be inescapable for the next 5 months. It will be everywhere. You’ll see games on your computer, your phones and yes, even your television. Games all day and all night. Heisman trophy candidates and upsets all in the same day. The pageantry of the sport is alluring, making it so popular and lucrative for the many networks out there.
The approaching season got me thinking, which can be a dangerous thing, just ask my fiancé. Who were the best announcers to ever call college football? Which guys, when you hear them, think, wow, this is probably a big college football game? I have limited the choices to television, network announcers only. The ranking process was not easy, because there are many that have been involved in calling NCAA football, that are deserving, but there are only 5 spots on the list.
Here we go! Let the debate begin.
As I wrote when I featured Nessler in my “Anatomy of a Broadcaster” series, Brad Nessler is smooth, authoritative and in control of his broadcasts. You can tell he does his homework and in the opens to his television games, there’s a bit of a swagger that is noticeable if you watch closely. It is the type of swagger that’s not saying “I’m the man, look at me.” Instead, it is one that I believe says, “watch this broadcast, I know what I’m talking about and you’ll enjoy it.”
Nessler’s command of a broadcast and voice combine to make each game he does feel big. There’s a reason CBS tabbed him to replace Verne Lundquist on those marquee SEC on CBS games. He can handle it and then some. Professional to the end without making the broadcast and game about him.
#4 Brent Musburger, ESPN/ABC, CBS
“You are looking live!” Musburger’s signature line used to get our Sunday’s off to a great start on the NFL Today on CBS. He transitioned to more of a play-by-play role when he left the network for ESPN/ABC. There, Musburger’s duties included calling seven BCS National Championship games (2000, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014). He recently wrapped up a four-year stint as the radio voice of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Musburger is unlike the announcer I have at #5 (Nessler), because he makes the game a little more about himself during a broadcast. Even so, fans seemed to love him, because you never knew what he might say next. He somehow was able to endear himself to the viewer. His style may be less traditional than your typical play-by-play announcer, but it worked for him. Yet, when it was time to get excited, he certainly did, when it was time to be critical, he criticized. No matter the case, there was always a sense that when Musburger was on the call, it was a ‘must watch’ game.
Musburger was one of the first to allude to the betting line in a game, look how far we’ve come in that respect.
Nelson’s voice was unique as was his attire, but he was one of the best to ever call games. He was known for his ‘loud’ plaid jackets. Legend has it, he started his collection that reached nearly 350 jackets, by asking a salesman for all the jackets he couldn’t sell. While the jackets may have made a statement, Nelson was quite understated in his broadcasts. Many called his style bland, and it was a deliberate act of his.
“Bob Neyland once told me at Tennessee that Howard Johnson’s has 28 flavors of ice cream, and the one that sells the most is vanilla,” Nelson explained. “He said, ‘Give me the football game—who’s carrying the ball, what yard line, and who tackled him. Not a lot of funny stories.’” Nelson told Rudy Martzke in 1986.
Nelson was a recognizable voice in college football for more than 30 years. His voice was not deep, but it was strong with a bit of a Southern accent. He did play-by-play for Notre Dame for 14 seasons. Nelson became known as “Mr. New Year’s Day”, calling 26 Cotton Bowl games, 5 Sugar Bowls and 4 Rose Bowls. He also provided the call for multiple Army/Navy games, including the 1963 game that was the first to utilize instant replay.
Nelson’s broadcasts may have been vanilla, but they were not dull. It was said of Nelson, that he learned to convey excitement without screaming. When he cracked his mic, you got the impression that he was excited to be wherever he was.
#2 Verne Lundquist, ABC, CBS, TNT
This fan favorite helped put the SEC on CBS on the map. Lundquist transitioned from calling the NFL, to a starring role in the college football programming on the network. The timing was perfect for both Lundquist and CBS, when he started that role in 2000. The SEC was establishing itself as one of THE conferences as the BCS helped the college football landscape become more nationally known.
Lundquist is ‘every man’, in the way he calls games. Watching Verne is like being told a story by one of your relatives. His broadcasts speak to people, in his excitement, phrases and storytelling ability. He’s not one of those egomaniacal broadcasters that has to make everything in a telecast about him. Lundquist has been praised as a great assist man, setting up his analysts to make a broadcast sing.
When the headline of your obituary says, “Keith Jackson, Voice of College Football, Dies at 89”, people know you made your mark. Jackson was the soundtrack to many Saturdays for fans of the game. If Keith was doing the game, it was a game that HAD to be seen. Big games, big moments and big calls were all a part of Jackson’s resume and reel.
That resume included some other high-profile roles. Jackson was the original voice of “Monday Night Football”. He called 10 Olympic Games for “ABC’s Wide World of Sports”. Jackson was also one of the network’s voices for Major League Baseball, NBA and auto racing.
While some announcers thought they were bigger than the game, Jackson was. Not that he made you think it, but the reverence shown for him by coaches, players and fans alike spoke louder than even his words. Jackson was a legend in the world of college football, much like Vin Scully was in baseball.
Jackson is credited with naming Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, “the Big House”, he also dubbed the Rose Bowl as, “the grandaddy of ‘em all”. He admired the big offensive and defensive linemen calling them, “the Big Uglies in the trenches.”
Whoa, Nellie! Keith Jackson was the best to ever call college football. To borrow from his southern good ole boy nature, “and it ain’t even close.”
Andy Masur is a columnist for BSM and works for WGN Radio as an anchor and play-by-play announcer. He also teaches broadcasting at the Illinois Media School. During his career he has called games for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox. He can be found on Twitter @Andy_Masur1 or you can reach him by email at Andy@Andy-Masur.com.
