Clemson Men’s Basketball: Billy Packer was a basketball icon

Clemson Men’s Basketball is off to a record start in ACC play, going 9-1 for the first time in program history. As a long-time fan, this is something I am enjoying thoroughly. I have watched decades of Clemson basketball and have only seen a Tiger team play this well a few times.

When I was a child, a common voice I would hear was that of Billy Packer, who was the color commentator for many games I watched when I was a kid in the ’80s and ’90s. I saw and heard Packer on many big-time regular season college basketball games and NCAA tournament games. Growing up near Charlotte, I also heard Packer on Raycom Sports/Jefferson Pilot broadcast ACC games regionally in my area.

I heard Packer so often that to me, he was the voice of college basketball. There were a few other names that were synonymous with college basketball in my neck of the woods – Len Elmore, Dick Vitale, Dan Bonner – but Packer seemed to be the one they put on “the big game”. If Duke vs North Carolina was on Raycom, Packer was the color guy.

I was saddened to see his son, Mark Packer, post on Twitter about Billy’s passing.

Others have chimed in with their thoughts regarding Packer.

He was part of some of the most iconic calls in college basketball history.

I agree with Jay Bilas’s sentiments here.

Billy Packer was a staple of Clemson Men’s Basketball and ACC basketball broadcasts over the years

Years ago I became a fan of Mark’s local show in Charlotte on WFNZ, and his subsequent ventures on Sirius XM and the ACC Network, and I have enjoyed some of the stories he has told about his father. Mark is a Clemson alum.

Some have reminisced over the years about how gruff Packer could be at times, which was true. He was a guy who wouldn’t hold back his criticism, but that was also one of the qualities that made him memorable. He was more than a color commentator, he was an entertainer.

Rest easy, Billy. Thanks for the memories.