Keith Jackson

Jackson offers opinions on the state of college football, broadcasting

By Joel Stuthman
Alumni News staff

Keith Jackson thinks of college football as one big celebration. “College football is a festival, a grand experience every weekend,” he said.

Jackson, a legend in college football broadcasting, met with journalism students Sept. 10, a day before he covered the Huskers’ 45-0 victory over the California Bears at Memorial Stadium.

Jackson came to the Sheldon Museum auditorium with his long-time broadcast partner Bob Griese and sideline reporter Todd Harris. Jackson answered questions about his career in broadcasting and views on the current state of college football.

Jackson said he had made plans after retiring in January 1999 to be at the game for halftime dedication of the new Don Bryant media facility. An offer from ABC to broadcast Pac-10 games also gave him an opportunity to cover the game.

Jackson responded to a student’s question about issues facing college football broadcasters.

Saturation is a major problem, Jackson said. TV provides viewers with too many graphics and too much information in general.

The whole country used to stop and watch games like Nebraska versus Oklahoma, he said, but not anymore. Big games and traditional rivalries have lost some of their appeal now that almost every game is broadcast.

The use of humor in sports broadcasting doesn’t amuse Jackson, who thinks it is overused. One of the few great truths of broadcasting, he said, is that the playing field belongs to the players, and broadcasters shouldn’t intrude.

He admitted, however, to helping start the humor trend years ago at a TV station where he was working as a sports broadcaster. Jackson and the news anchorman locked the station’s weatherman outdoors, forcing him to do his report from an alley during a blizzard as punishment for predicting sunny weather.

Jackson who broadcast his first college football game in 1952, talked about some of the most memorable games he’s witnessed in his career and talked of the fun of watching the sons of former players on the field.

He summed up what may be his final visit to Lincoln as a broadcaster with advice to present and future journalists: “Little things add up to wonderful stories,” he said.