• by David Goetzl , March 4, 2010

Keith Jackson, whose voice was synonymous with college football, is coming out of retirement to host a series on the Big Ten Network. Jackson's avuncular style was a staple of Saturday afternoons during his 40-year tenure at ABC.

He signed off in 2006, and his return marks a coup for the growing BTN. Many of the games Jackson called involved the Big Ten, including 15 Rose Bowl games with conference teams.

The 20-episode series "Big Ten Icons" will count down the greats who played for a school in the conference, drawing from all sports. Narrowing a list to 20 -- never mind, naming a No. 1 -- is ambitious, since the pool is so expansive, with Ohio State runner Jesse Owens; Indiana basketball star Steve Alford; Michigan football legend Charles Woodson; and Minnesota baseball great Dave Winfield just four potential nominees. The conference has roots in the late 1890s.

The weekly series debuts Sept. 18 following a football game on three-year-old BTN, now in 75 million homes. The countdown will actually include a top 50, with numbers 50 through 21 being revealed daily on BTN's Web presence -- leading up to the series' on-air launch. The series also has a VOD and mobile component.

A representative for BTN said the network is in the early stages of selling the multiplatform event and would consider a name sponsor. The series will run through March 2011 when the top "icon" will be revealed -- around the time of the Big Ten's 2011 men's basketball tournament.

"What will make 'Big Ten Icons' stand out is the depth of the storytelling, focusing on collegiate rather than pro careers," BTN president Mark Silverman stated, "and highlighting previously unknown stories behind the success of these student athletes. The rankings themselves are sure to generate quite a bit of discussion."

A group of BTN on-air talent, executives from the network and conference officials will form a selection committee, along with others.

BTN will begin marketing the series next week at the Big Ten men's basketball tournament in Indianapolis with eight-foot bobbleheads of Big Ten greats on site, that includes Owens and Alford.

BTN has distribution deals with DirecTV and Dish Network as well as the five largest cable operators.