Billy Packer gone at 82

[Prestonyte]

Nice video
Grew up watching ACC on JP and Raycom

Longtime Final Four broadcaster Packer dies at 82

Longtime college basketball commentator Billy Packer, the voice of the NCAA tournament for more than 30 years, died Thursday night. He was 82.

www.espn.com

 

[KingWard]

He was really outstanding. I truly don't believe that any color man since has done college basketball any better.

 

[Prestonyte]

He was really outstanding. I truly don't believe that any color man since has done college basketball any better.

Agree, class act and excellent commentary

 

[CockofEarle]

He was really outstanding. I truly don't believe that any color man since has done college basketball any better.

Agree, class act and excellent commentary

Let the pilot lead the way

 

[KingWard]

Let the pilot lead the way

You remember Bones McKinney before him? Now he was a hoot.

 

[CockofEarle]

You remember Bones McKinney before him? Now he was a hoot.

He was the poster boy for walking the floor.
Tell you who was scary good back then Bubas.

 

[Whiterockcock69]

Billy was a super “Tobacco Road” man. From someone who know. Not much good to say about the Gamecocks back when.

 

[KingWard]

Billy was a super “Tobacco Road” man. From someone who know. Not much good to say about the Gamecocks back when.

Well, we weren't in the league when he was announcing unless it was at the very end of our affiliation.

 

[accock]

Nice video
Grew up watching ACC on JP and Raycom

Longtime Final Four broadcaster Packer dies at 82

Longtime college basketball commentator Billy Packer, the voice of the NCAA tournament for more than 30 years, died Thursday night. He was 82.

www.espn.com

Black and White screen

 

[PerchedOnRings]

Nice video
Grew up watching ACC on JP and Raycom

Longtime Final Four broadcaster Packer dies at 82

Longtime college basketball commentator Billy Packer, the voice of the NCAA tournament for more than 30 years, died Thursday night. He was 82.

www.espn.com

His love for Dean Smith/Tarholes during broadcasts, which I always found strange for a Wake guy, kept me from ever appreciating him.

 

[Psycock]

"Sail with the Pilot" I believe it went, for you old-timers. RIP Billy.

 

[Sweetwatergolf]

You remember Bones McKinney before him? Now he was a hoot.

Remember Packer and Thacker. Very early days....ACC games

 

[Cackmandu]

Well, we weren't in the league when he was announcing unless it was at the very end of our affiliation.

Sorry, some are absolutey correct on this, he was pure acc, a bones mckinney disciple and he did not care for gamecocks in yhe least, just like most north carolinian’s! That said he was a great color guy, but partial!

 

[KingWard]

"Sail with the Pilot" I believe it went, for you old-timers. RIP Billy.

"All the way, on a ship sturdy from his mast to its keel..."

 

[KingWard]

Sorry, some are absolutey correct on this, he was pure acc, a bones mckinney disciple and he did not care for gamecocks in yhe least, just like most north carolinian’s! That said he was a great color guy, but partial!

Billy started doing ACC basketball with C.D. Chesley in 1972. 1971 was our final year in the conference. That was my point. If he was biased toward the Big Four and averse to us, he wasn't on the air in time to express it when it would have mattered.

 

[BackinSC]

His love for Dean Smith/Tarholes during broadcasts, which I always found strange for a Wake guy, kept me from ever appreciating him.

Perched, I'm with you 100% on BP.

 

[KingWard]

Remember Packer and Thacker. Very early days....ACC games

Thacker worked with McKinney before he worked with Packer.

 

[Whiterockcock69]

Well, we weren't in the league when he was announcing unless it was at the very end of our affiliation.

He was. I think. Old brain. I don’t watch ACC since we left so I could easily be wrong. But I ain’t wrong on the Tobacco Road attitude. But who can blame him?

 

[KingWard]

He was. I think. Old brain. I don’t watch ACC since we left so I could easily be wrong. But I ain’t wrong on the Tobacco Road attitude. But who can blame him?

What I posted in post #15 reflects some research I did.

 

[atl-cock]

Thacker worked with McKinney before he worked with Packer.

Thacker worked with Woody Durham prior to Bones.

 

[atl-cock]

He was. I think. Old brain. I don’t watch ACC since we left so I could easily be wrong. But I ain’t wrong on the Tobacco Road attitude. But who can blame him?

Tobacco Road showed extra disdain for USC not due to our success on the court (remember, Maryland won the 1958 tournament and there was no bad blood) but because of McGuire's chip-on-the-shoulder us-against-the-world attitude.

 

[KingWard]

Thacker worked with Woody Durham prior to Bones.

I remember, and Charlie Harville, who was legendary in N.C. broadcasting circles had a role in those early ACC telecasts also.

 

[Whiterockcock69]

Tobacco Road showed extra disdain for USC not due to our success on the court (remember, Maryland won the 1958 tournament and there was no bad blood) but because of McGuire's chip-on-the-shoulder us-against-the-world attitude.

Where do you think that came from? Any incidents or issues that might have caused that?

 

[atl-cock]

Where do you think that came from? Any incidents or issues that might have caused that?

The Mike Grosso incident comes to mind. While McGuire technically stayed within the letter of ACC guidelines in recruiting Mike, he most certainly violated the spirit of what the guidelines represented.

But McGuire showed some of that while at UnCarolina as well.

 

[Whiterockcock69]

The Mike Grosso incident comes to mind. While McGuire technically stayed within the letter of ACC guidelines in recruiting Mike, he most certainly violated the spirit of what the guidelines represented.

But McGuire showed some of that while at UnCarolina as well.

Thank you.

 

[Section2Cock]

The Packer and Thacker ACC basketball broadcast team was iconic back in the day. They did NOT like McGuire. Nonetheless, RIP Billy.

 

[atl-cock]

The Packer and Thacker ACC basketball broadcast team was iconic back in the day. They did NOT like McGuire. Nonetheless, RIP Billy.

McGuire was who he was. Nothing fake about him. Take it or leave it.

Food for thought. Why, after being forced to resign from UnCarolina, would he take a position at another school in the same conference whose policies he loathed? I'm thinking mostly about the postseason tournament winner going to the dance. The ACC passed the "800 rule" in 1964. The Grosso incident prompted the ACC to close the eligibility loophole McGuire found.

Notwithstanding the chip on the shoulder and "us against the world" mentality, McGuire valued loyalty and consistency, two very admirable traits.

 

[Prestonyte]

McGuire was who he was. Nothing fake about him. Take it or leave it.

Food for thought. Why, after being forced to resign from UnCarolina, would he take a position at another school in the same conference whose policies he loathed? I'm thinking mostly about the postseason tournament winner going to the dance. The ACC passed the "800 rule" in 1964. The Grosso incident prompted the ACC to close the eligibility loophole McGuire found.

Notwithstanding the chip on the shoulder and "us against the world" mentality, McGuire valued loyalty and consistency, two very admirable traits.

Loyalty was big, just look at who sat with with him on the bench.

 

[KingWard]

Thank you.

North Carolina received a one-year probation in 1961 for infractions during Frank's North Carolina tenure. I can't remember the extent of the penalties. This is why Tom McMillan, who badly wanted to go to Chapel Hill, later signed with Maryland instead of North Carolina. McMillan's mama did not want hit to sign with any school that had ever been placed on sanctions by the NCAA.

 

[HillsToSea]

You remember Bones McKinney before him? Now he was a hoot.

If you can get it watch the history of ACCbasketball on the ACC channel. Great multi part series with Packer, McKinney, Crimens and others

 

[atl-cock]

If you can get it watch the history of ACCbasketball on the ACC channel. Great multi part series with Packer, McKinney, Cremins and others

And again, for those who missed previous postings, my "required reading" list:

• Roundball Culture by Dan Klores
• ACC Basketball: The Story of the Rivalries, Traditions, and Scandals of the First Two Decades of the Atlantic Coast Conference by J. Samuel Walker

 

[atl-cock]

North Carolina received a one-year probation in 1961 for infractions during Frank's North Carolina tenure. I can't remember the extent of the penalties. This is why Tom McMillan, who badly wanted to go to Chapel Hill, later signed with Maryland instead of North Carolina. McMillan's mama did not want hit to sign with any school that had ever been placed on sanctions by the NCAA.

And also, College Park is closer to his Pennsylvania home town than is Chapel Hill.

 

[Dod Rangerfield]

Hate it when anyone loses a loved one. That said............

 

[john79]

I remember the days of Jim Thacker and Billy Packer, Sail with the pilot, Piedmont airlines.