Jim Nantz was a Division I athlete. He's also broadcasted the Final Four for CBS since 1991 and been the network's top NFL play-by-play announcer since 2004. But he didn't play basketball or football in college.
Nantz was a golfer. He was overshadowed by two of his University of Houston roommates and future PGA Tour golfers Fred Couples and Blaine McCallister. Of course, Nantz has also called The Masters since 1989 and he got to hand Couples the championship trophy in 1992.
It turns out the three golfers have a connection to the current Houston Cougars basketball team, which is playing in its first NCAA Tournament in eight years: They are paying for a player's education.
"That basketball program, along with my roommates, we endowed the first basketball scholarship in that program's history," Nantz says. "I've got a kid, along with Freddy Couples and Blaine McCallister, that we're putting through school."
Nantz spoke to ThePostGame at Turner Sports/CBS Sports March Madness Media Day in New York City on March 6. It was that weekend that Nantz would actually broadcast Houston at the American Athletic Conference Tournament. Nantz called both Houston games in the tournament semifinals and final, his first two times ever broadcasting his alma mater on CBS (Houston lost in the final to Cincinnati, 56-55).
Earlier this season, Jim Nantz told @UHCougarMBK he'd broadcast them in March. This weekend, he called his alma mater twice at the @American_MBB Championship. #GoCoogs #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/fISBriwfB2
— ThePostGame (@ThePostGame) March 11, 2018
This was far from the first time Nantz was around Houston basketball.
"I was a public address announcer for the basketball team," Nantz says. "I was the host of the coach's TV show. My entrance into television and radio came through the Houston basketball program. I feel indebted to the program from way back when. It's not like I'm some crazed alumni who is proud of his team. I'm particularly proud of that basketball program that Kelvin Sampson is going to take to the NCAA Tournament."
Nantz did not know the identity of the student getting his scholarship at the time of this interview. He hoped to find out at the American Athletic Conference Tournament. Nantz, Couples and McCallister run their own foundation called "Three Amigos." The foundation has also endowed a Houston golf scholarship.
For Rounds 1 and 2, Nantz is slated to be in Charlotte on Friday and Sunday. Houston opens against San Diego State in Wichita at 7:20 p.m. ET on Thursday. Brad Nessler, Steve Lavin and Evan Washburn get that game.
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