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Whoa,
Nellie! By George Stahl
"I know I still enjoy doing what I do," the 71-year-old said Tuesday. "I love doing college football games. I love being part of college football games." "The one thing that I was tired of was all the traveling," which is why the Los Angeles resident will cover only the Pac-10. "It was a relatively easy decision, and I know it sounds self-serving to retire and resurface," Jackson said. "I guarantee I wouldn't have done it if I couldn't stay in the West." Ironically, his first game will be in Nebraska, where California will visit Sept. 11. Jackson, though, said he was planning to be there anyway for the dedication of the new press box. ABC's "Voice of College Football" for the past 32 years will be reunited with his partner of the past 12, Bob Griese, for 12 to 14 regular-season broadcasts. "Bob does the X's and O's, and I do the shoveling," Jackson said, adding that being reunited with Griese influenced his decision. "No question about it." As for his old post, ABC sports President Howard Katz confirmed the rumors that play-by-play men Brad Nessler and Brent Musberger would split the big games, with one getting the national championship this season in the Sugar Bowl and the other calling the big game next season in the Orange Bowl. Jackson said he has no problems with someone else calling the championship. "I'm staying at home. There'll be other people doing the big games, and that doesn't bother me a bit," said Jackson, who added that he already called a championship game - Tennessee's win over Florida State in last year's Fiesta Bowl, which he said in January was going to be his final game. Musburger, who returns for his 10th season, and Nessler, in his third year with ABC, will start the campaign with the same analysts as last year. Musburger will work with Dan Fouts, and Nessler with Gary Danielson. Fouts and Danielson are both entering their third year. Katz said he plans to mix up the announcing teams to "keep things fresh," although the final pairings should be in place by November. "We are very happy with the announce teams from last season. But we intend to experiment with our announce teams in order to find the best-possible combinations and to keep our approach fresh throughout the season," Katz said, adding that the addition of Jackson gives ABC "unbelievable depth." Other ABC play-by-play men include Tim Brant, Terry Gannon and Roger Twibell. Dean Blevins will split time as a sideline reporter and an analyst, and Lynn Swann returns as a sideline reporter. ABC also announced, although it had been widely rumored for a while, that former Auburn coach Terry Bowden will join John Saunders in the studio. Bowden, son of Florida State coach Bobby, posted the best opening five-year run of any head coach in school history (46-12-1). He also became the first college head coach in 40 years to win his 100th career game at age 40. Bowden replaces Todd Blackledge, who left to be CBS' No. 1 college football game analyst. However, ABC's other announcements Tuesday paled in comparison to the news that Jackson was returning. Jackson said he had received other offers during his retirement, including some "very attractive" ones outside of broadcasting, but they all involved traveling. "I don't need that nonsense," he said. Jackson, though, did dance around a question about rumored talks between him and CBS. Speculation was that the eye network wanted Jackson and Griese to head its college football team beginning in the 2000 season. "That's a story that you should get from them," Jackson said. Clearly, one of the reasons for Jackson's return was his relationship with Katz, whom he has been friends with for 28 years. "I've had a good feeling for a long time that the man who's there should have been there a long time ago," Jackson said, adding that he was vocal in his support for Katz. The 49-year-old Katz replaced Steven Bornstein as president of ABC Sports in late March. Soon after, Katz said he took "a shot in the dark" and asked his old friend, whom he called an "extraordinary man and friend," if he would be willing to return for another year. "From that initial conversation," Katz said. "I got the sense that if we could cut down on the travel, that he was willing to do it." Until that point, Jackson said, no one from ABC had tried to convince him to return. After Katz talked Jackson into it, Jackson then had to persuade his wife of 47 years, Turi Ann. "The eyebrows went up and down a little bit. Initially, she didn't like it," said Jackson. He said it took a few talks, but she finally signed off on it because they realized that the job would probably be his last real professional stimulation. So how long will it be until his next retirement? Katz said Jackson would let him know each year whether he wants to return; however, Jackson already has his own timetable. "Until I wear out, I guess. I'll know that probably before anyone else," said Jackson, who predicted two or three more years. For the record, the Rose Bowl will be the national championship game under the Bowl Championship Series in January 2002, three seasons from now. Jackson retiring after doing a national championship game? To quote another sports wordsmith, Yogi Berra: It would be like deja vu all over again. Photo courtesy of ABCsports.com
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