Jason Benetti references Dan Hicks’ iconic call, offers touching tribute to late sports broadcaster
By Mark Kern
Published:
Jason Benetti was on the call for the Notre Dame and Boston College game on Saturday for Dan Hicks, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 64 years old. Before the game kicked off, he delivered a touching tribute to the late sports broadcaster.
“Our broadcast booth feels very hollow right now here at NBC Sports,” Benetti said on the broadcast. “Our colleague of 35 years, Dan Hicks, passed away on Wednesday. And I wish I wasn’t here right now … I wish Dan was here right now, and I know everybody does.”
Benetti was joined in the broadcast booth by Jason Garrett, who had been Hicks’ partner in the booth for three seasons. After he gave his tribute to Hicks, Benetti allowed Garrett to pay his respects.
“Hicksy had some of the most iconic calls in any sporting event in history,” Garrett said. “And what I always loved about Hicksy is it never was about him. It was always about embracing the moment and highlighting the people involved. And that’s how he lived his life. As legendary broadcaster as he was, he was a better guy. A devoted husband, father, and friend.”
Hicks had a legendary broadcasting career, with arguably his most iconic moment being at the 2008 Summer Olympics when he called the United States 4×100 freestyle relay comeback against France. He also broadcast other events such as the NBA, tennis, and golf during his long career with NBC.
There were many tributes across the sports world on Saturday, as Sean McDonough gave a tearful tribute to Hicks before the start of the Georgia and Missouri game.
