Jackson,
ABC Get
Their Groove Back
After A Slow Start
This
year's Kickoff Classic kicked off the last season of Keith Jackson
as voice of college football on ABC. Sure, Jackson may not be
as sharp as he was 20 years ago, but the soon-to-be septuagenarian
remains one of the best in the business and his homespun phrases
makes the west Georgia native unique and idiosyncratic in a field
of interchangeable, robot-like announcers.
Last
night, though, it took a little while for the Ol' Hoss (as Griese
called him numerous times through the game) to get warmed up.
Maybe it was the excitement of new season, the need to get through
the Chili's starting lineups or Florida St.'s no-huddle offense,
but it seemed like Jackson was a little verklempt at the beginning.
However,
by the middle of the first quarter, Jackson had gotten his groove
back. I mean he was quoting W.C. Fields. Who else does that?
Unfortunately,
though, it took his partner Bob Griese a little longer to get
going. Griese, usually a solid color analyst, got off to a slow
start and at times seemed to be stumbling and bumbling over words,
points and players' names. Griese got better as the game went
on, but overall, it wasn't one of his better games.
Sideline
reporter Lynn Swann had a very good game. Swann, playing a bigger
role in the telecast than ever before (perhaps to ease any hurt
feelings about being taken off Monday Night), kept up with the
Florida St. injuries and provided quality insight from the sidelines,
such as why FSU was having so much trouble beating the play clock.
It was, though, a little disconcerting at times to just hear his
voice without any introduction or acknowledgment.
Teammates:
Few announcing teams have the tangible camaraderie that Jackson
and Griese do. (Maybe just Fox's Madden and Summerall?) And that
was displayed Monday night at the game's opening when Jackson
kidded Griese about being in the chair next to him for 12 years,
longer than anyone else. Griese, without missing a beat, joked
that was because the Ol' Hoss (Jackson) had chased the others
away.
Huh?:
After Florida State's quarterback Chris Weinke fumbled the ball,
which Texas A&M recovered and returned for a touchdown. Griese
said that "Early in the season, turnovers will get you every
time." As if they don't hurt you later in the year...
Beginning
of the end: Griese made several references
to this being Jackson's last year. The references ofter encouraged
Jackson to talk about his career, which is good because I certainly
enjoy hearing Jackson - a wonderful, old-fashioned storyteller
- to reminisce on the air. However, there is a thin line between
admiration for a friend and self-serving chatter, and Griese is
going to have to walk that line all year.
Snafu:
Jackson starting to lead into the Chili's starting lineups before
the opening kickoff.
Nice
Job: 1. Jackson immediately recognizing the holding/mugging/pass
interference by Florida State's cornerback Troy Saunders on Texas
A&M's second play of the game.
2. A nice camera shot of Texas A&M running back Sirr Parker
being stripped of the bowl in the first quarter.
Jacksonisms:
1. "roller skating in a buffalo herd."
2. "There was nothing between him (Texas A&M linebacker
Dat Nguyen) and the end zone but warm, summer air"
3. "He (Seminole running back Travis Minor) looks like he's
dancing around on black ice"
4. "I would liken playing against this Florida State defense
to having a picnic in a log flat. There isn't anyplace to go."
(At least that's what it sounded like he said!)
Unanswered
Questions: 1. Couldn't Todd Blackledge help out an obviously
ailing John Saunders by reading some of the news at halftime,
such as all that Burger King stuff?
2. Can ABC turn up Keith Jackson's microphone? I don't know if
it was the stadium or a soft-speaking Jackson, but there were
many times that I couldn't hear him clearly.
Grade:
B-. A solid effort, especially for a first game, but plenty of
room for improvement.
By
George Stahl
