ACC commissioner Jim Phillips releases heartfelt statement on passing of Billy Packer

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips released a statement Friday following the passing of college basketball legend Billy Packer.

Packer played in the ACC during his playing days at Wake Forest.

“Billy Packer left an indelible impact on ACC Men’s Basketball — whether it was on the court as a tremendous Wake Forest student-athlete or as a legendary analyst with Jefferson-Pilot, Raycom, NBC and CBS,” Phillips said in a statement. “Billy had an incredible passion for the ACC and college basketball, and was the television voice for a generation, including broadcasting 34 consecutive NCAA Men’s Final Fours. We grieve his passing and send our deepest condolences to the entire Packer family.”

Packer played for the Demon Deacons from 1958 to 1962. He was a key member of two ACC champions and helped Wake Forest to the 1962 Final Four.

Current Demon Deacons head coach Steve Forbes had very kind things to say about Packer as well.

“Billy Packer was a tremendous player at Wake Forest, leading the Demon Deacons to the Final Four in 1962,” Forbes said. “Growing up in the Midwest during the 70’s and 80’s, Billy Packer was the first person I associated Wake Forest basketball with as he became one of the most prominent voices in college basketball on television. For 34-straight years, from John Wooden’s last National Championship in 1975, to a Kansas overtime win over Memphis in 2008, I watched every National Championship game he broadcasted. He had one of the most unprecedented runs in the history of broadcast sports television. Everyone in the Demon Deacon family mourns his passing and we send our heartfelt condolences to Mark and the entire Packer family.”