RIP Billy Packer

[jipops]

This point was made elsewhere on the socials, so I don't want to take credit for it, however I do agree with it. Despite any notions that Packer had some level of dislike for Duke, there was one gratifying advantage to him calling a Duke game... it meant Len Elmore wasn't.

[WV_Iron_Duke]

John Feinstein has a terrific article in today’s Washington Post about Packer.

[dukelifer]

I don't remember the pith helmet at the 1979 game. But it was the first nationally game from Cameron in many years. Billy walked out to a microphone set up at center court before the game and told us all not to do anything that would embarrass our families, our university, or ourselves. Everybody started chanting "Billy s****". I'm told that the national telecast started with "live from Cameron Indoor Stadium" with the chant still going in the background.

Stood in a very long line to get into that game. I don’t recall the speech - but there were lots of antics that were only for those in attendance.