https://www.cbssports.com/college-baske ... ies-at-82/

Basketball analyst Billy Packer dies at 82. I’m sure many of us remember watching Packer and Thacker back in the day.

He had a tendency to come across as an A hole at times later in his career but overall he knew the game and those 2 guys were pretty good. My dad was at Wake a few years ahead of him.

MAD Doctor wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:09 am

https://www.cbssports.com/college-baske ... ies-at-82/

Basketball analyst Billy Packer dies at 82. I’m sure many of us remember watching Packer and Thacker back in the day.

If you liked NC State, you couldn't help but like Packer.

For many of us growing up, they introduced us to ACC basketball. I wasn't as a big a fan when he went national but his impact can't be denied.

Jim Thacker .If I had a quarter for every game ...then along comes Billy .Iconic duo in NC sports history. Together again .RIP .

"Sail with the Pilot". I lived for Saturdays with Thacker, Packer and Bones.

Man, I loved Billy Packer! RIP

Thacker and Packer calling ACC basketball on Raycom with Jefferson Pilot as the sponsor. What memories that brings back . Used to see Billy at the grocery store and drug store when he lived in our area. His daughter Liz was about a year ahead of me in high school. Mark was a little bit older so I don’t remember him in school. I would rather hear Packer call a game any day instead of Vitale.

appstate77 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 27, 2023 12:31 pm

"Sail with the Pilot". I lived for Saturdays with Thacker, Packer and Bones.

Don't forget Woody Durham before he went to the uncheat dark side.

Was it his son that did the Southern Fried Football page back in the day?

/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 27, 2023 4:40 pm

Was it his son that did the Southern Fried Football page back in the day?

Yes - Prime Time with the PackMan - he has a show on the ACC network - used to have a morning show with Mark and Wes Durham - really outstanding --- never understood or heard why ESPN took it off ---

Bones McKinney (reared in the marshlands of Goose Creek Island) provided great color, great stories. I remember him telling a story about when he was a high school coach in the mid-50s and having to play in an opponent’s L-shaped gym and only being able to see 1/2 the court. He put a manager at the bend to holler “Here they come, Coach” so he’d know to pay attention, and “here they’d come around the bend.” That’s was his version of it.

My father and mother were very good players back in their high school days. Even my sister made some sort of all star team back in the 60's. Me, not so much. Average at best. Anyway, my father played against Bones in some sort of industrial league. I have been told by people that witnessed their games that my father could hold his own against him.

As a side note, I went to school with his son Kinney in the 7th grade. That was the last time I saw him.

They are sailing with the pilot now for sure.

Used to come home from Sunday church and tune in to Billy Packer calling actual Putt-Putt tournaments. How crazy is that!? Had to be mid-80s or so..

AppStateDDS wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 28, 2023 8:19 am

Used to come home from Sunday church and tune in to Billy Packer calling actual Putt-Putt tournaments. How crazy is that!? Had to be mid-80s or so..

Ha, I loved to watch that too. Those were the days!

I had forgotten the Putt Putt ...yes ,Sunday afternoons.

Stonewall wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 28, 2023 8:19 pm

I had forgotten the Putt Putt ...yes ,Sunday afternoons.

Speaking of Putt Putt's. Has anyone seen a true Putt Putt franchise in recent years? A carpet golf course in my town still has golf balls marked Putt Putt but that is all. The course opened as a Putt Putt in the mid '60's.