Packer

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Sometimes, that meant pointed commentary on the game or the strategy unfolding in front of him. Other times, it meant controversial opinions — or even an adversarial relationship with some of the fans. At one point or another, fans of most schools likely believed Packer was out to get their favorite team.

Davis says he wasn’t. So, too, do Self and Williams. Though neither Hall of Fame coach actually listened to Packer’s broadcasts in real time, both knew enough about his approach to appreciate his candor.

“I liked him,” Self told the Journal-World earlier this month. “I thought he was fair. I thought when he was complimentary, the reasons why he was were real, and when he was critical, I thought the reasons why were real.”

It wasn’t always that way. Self said he still finds it “neat” that the last game Packer ever called was KU’s 2008 national title game win, but the two butted heads while Self was at Illinois from 2000 to 2003.

“I was not a fan back then,” Self said. “Because he called one of my players a dog, and it became a big deal. He said he was playing like a dog. And he came to me and he was like, ‘Bill, he is.’ And I’m like going, ‘Well, yeah, but he’s a kid.’

“But that was Billy,” Self said. “He was very direct and to the point.”