REST IN PEACE.... Jack Cristil has been the most beloved Bulldog for almost 60 years, by every Mississippi State fan. Even arch rival Ole Miss fans have said wonderful things about Jack for a half century. Jack was the play-by-play voice for 54 years for Mississippi State. He called his own retirement when his health got bad a few years ago. Mississippi State fans really enjoyed Jack when the season was going good, but all MSU fans loved Jack when the season was going bad. Jack cut the Bulldogs no slack. He was brutal & saying things we were saying, but he had airwaves & the largest radio station in the state to back his voice. I had several run-ins with the legend. I first met him in Provo, Utah before a MSU @ BYU football game on ESPNs Thursday Night Football back in the late 90s. For the ones that knew Jack on a more personal level, you know he was a major cut-up & massive character. Jack would tell the dirtiest jokes. Its not often to see an old Jewish man in Mississippi, surrounded by young men of all races (student athletes) & make them laugh. The TV Center at MSU has legendary stories of him & most of them not nice. But they were always funny to hear. In my first few years of TV, I would go anywhere I could to make an extra buck since I was living on peanuts. When Coach Croom was hired at MSU, the traveling cut down as the big boys (ESPN, FOX, ComCast) would want things on MSU. I got a call from ComCast & ESPN they wanted a follow-up story on Croom after he defeated Tulane in his 1st game as a head coach. The next came was the Maine Black Bears, just days after Hurricane Ivan had hit the state (& flooded my apartment). In an odd game, Maine who hadnt done anything all night got in their 2 minute offense & scored a game winning touchdown. I went to the presser after the game, got my story & was leaving as a heavy fog was setting in Starkville. I had to walk over a mile with all my 80+ lbs of TV equipment. I was passing the elevator shaft that went up to the press box in an empty stadium when the bell dinged & the doors opened. Out walks Jack Cristil from the elevator. We were side by side, under the stadium on a foggy night. Jack being a former TV guy himself, started the conversation, much to my delight. He reputation of off color language & jokes proceeded him. (Damn) son that looks heavy, but I would give anything to carry that. I laughed & spoke back. He replied, Son, I would help you out and give you a ride to the media lot, but I dont even know where the hell my car is, then Jack shuffled into deep heavy fog in the dark of night like some kind of dream. I chuckled all the way back to my car that night, drop the stuff off at the station, & then couldnt wait to catch up with friends to the tell the story. I told that story to every State fan I saw over the next few weeks, which much of their & my delight. Jack was a character. He was funny. Almost all Bulldog fans during basketball season would go to their radio if the Bullies got a bad call. Jack would tell you the way it was. Sometimes he agreed with the officials on the call. Other times, Jack would light up a smoke & his words would echo our thoughts. Countless stories from other SEC schools would complain about him smoking in their facilities. Jack didnt care. He would light up, apologize the 1st time, and never miss a beat. The second time they would get on to him, he would cuss them, keep smoking, a never miss a beat calling the action. Jack was more than the voice of Mississippi State. He was the favorite. more than any coach, player, president, donor, or well known alumni. We all referred to him as, Jack. He gave so much to MSU fans, especially in all those lean years & bad seasons. Jack was the reason we kept listening & coming back. Jack Cristil will always be the favorite of all Bulldog fans as long as the generations of Mississippi State fans & alums are alive. No one will ever be as loved & cherished as Jack Cristil, who wrapped so many memories for us in Maroon & White. Farewell, Jack & thank you.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 12:45:49 +0000
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