HOUSTON — When his beloved alma mater ran and dunked its way to the 1983 national title game, Jim Nantz couldn’t bear to watch the seemingly inevitable coronation from his couch.
Nantz begged his bosses at a Salt Lake City TV station for permission to take off the following Monday so he could go watch the University of Houston in person.
With no game ticket or media credential, Nantz, then 23, flew to Albuquerque, went straight to Houston’s hotel and secured permission to ride to The Pit on the team bus.