A Blast From The Past: Vic "The Brick" Jacobs

“. . . and the Lastros, became the Disastros!”

I’m so old that I left town just before Vic arrived.

He definitely was not Mel Pennington.

What’s Joe Rogan doing in that photo with Vic?

I had forgotten about the crazy hats. Loved The Brick!

As I recall, the station said Vick would be leaving after a few weeks. I hated the decision. He was fun and got a lot of sports into his segment.

A few days before he was to leave, he was at the end of his segment and laid aside his script. He motioned for the camera to come in close as he announced, “I have something I have to say here.” He motioned the camera again, and it slowly zoomed in.

One can only imagine the chagrin in the control room. What is this guy going to say?

As the frame closed on Jacobs’ face, he said, “I’ve just got to say this…” pause…“I think the Celtics are going to win the NBA.” (or something to that effect)

You could almost imagine the collective sigh in the control room. I don’t think Vic was allowed on again. It was just too scary.

I loved the guy.

Oh, Tonya the news anchor and Kathie the weather person were dolls back then. I don’t know why more people didn’t watch.

I actually have an original foam Vic Brick that was thrown in my office. Vic was no Joyce Isaacs.

He definitely was not Mel Pennington.

He was no Ben Storey either.

Unquestionably. Fortunately, neither were you.

Thanks for the reminder. I loved The Brick.

I remember, thanks for the call back

I remember Vic the Brick. That means I must be old or something…

“Back to you Ton & Bob”

I remember Vic from Roswell. Frankly, his schtick was already fully-formed, brick and all, in Roswell before he even got to Austin. He used to do his thing at my high school’s pep rallies. Was a hoot then; still is.

Tighter than a Gordon Smith leisure suit!

A photo of Vic from my ‘81-’82 Roswell High School yearbook…

And whatever happened to Willie Kocourek?

Willie’s in heaven seling tires on the installment; “You don’t need money, Lord, just a little bit a month”

Vic used to get a standing O from the student section and the few of us others in attendance at UT basketball games. It wasn’t unusual for him to go out on court and warm up the crowd. He was damned funny and a really nice person. He and a close friend of mine, Rob Balon, a restaurant critic and markeing consultant for KXAN at the time, did an amateur gig at the old comedy clulb next to Texas Chili Parlor one night, and they weren’t too bad. Watching Vic was really fun, and I’m very glad to know that he’s still out there doing his thing—-one of a kind.

“And that’s it, from the Nation’s Capitol”.

“Razorback Revenge!”

Vic was awesome. And as everyone has said, a very nice guy, and very knowledgeable about sports.

On a Darnell Hillman drive," He slices, he dices, he jams."

Seems like the week before the Arkansas game he also had some UT players on the set and they cut up a hog hat. He also had Bevo on the set one time two as I recall. Man, I’m old.

" And in the bottom of the 8th, it’s like a Gordon Smith leisure suit, tight."

Pan to Gordon not smiling.

What made Vic good wasn’t just his schtick, at the time unheard of, it was that he was also equal parts very good guy and he came across as a knowledegeable everyman fan. As over the top as he could be he didn’t attempt to become bigger than the story itself. I had the opportunity to talk to him at the Student Union one night. He was there to judge the “Vic the Brick” soundalike contest. A very nice guy.

I also recall as part of his props he used a big fish tank and a rubber chicken, might’ve been for swimming and diving championships.

Loved Vic – although he found a better fit in LA I’m sure.

Saw him as a judge at Flatonia Czhilispiel on year – definitely fish out of water.

Vic’s reputation as being “out there” preceded him. Ch. 36 decided to have him debut on the Sunday night 10:00 pm newscast (which was their highest rated, thanks to the NBC lineup).

I was working for KTBC at the time and just about everyone in the newsroom went to dinner and then gathered to watch Vic.

When he came on and went into his routine (no buildup just the full monty — stadium hat and all), you could have heard a pin drop. After about 2 minutes of his sportscast, I turned around and everyone in the newsroom was just stunned at what they were seeing.

He was a great guy and really lasted longer that anyone expected. I’m glad he found his niche (LA radio) where he could thrive.

Willie’s in heaven seling tires on the installment; "You don’t need money, Lord, just a little bit a month"

What about Oscar Snowden and his commercial gal with the big hair, Betty Mayfield? “Remember, if you didn’t buy it from The Big O, I KNOW you paid too much!”

“Good EVENING, sports fansssss!!!!!”. I was young but loved me some Vic Jacobs.

@ Blueshorn:

Betty was more than just Oscar’s commercial sidekick and her rack was almost as big as her hair. I don’t know how much she got to have to see Oscar naked, but she wan’t “paid too much”.

I remember once during the waning days of baseball season, he read the scores of the four or five teams still in contention and then scrolled “WHO CARES??” or somesuch in lieu of everything else. Classic. The rubber chicken, “Billy Ray Riff Raff”, the Killer Stags, cracking on Gordon Smith. I know I’m forgetting a bunch of stuff. Man, I miss that.

Anybody remember when he was the color analyst for one of the Texas-ou games? For some reason, the network didn’t pick it up so Channel 36 or somebody threw together a broadcast team at the last minute. It was pretty bad – not really his fault, that just wasn’t his deal and he should have never been put in the booth to begin with. I always thought that was what did him in, but I really don’t know.

Hell Bob! I dated Mel Pennington’s daughter when I was in 7th grade!

Loved Vic! I have tried to describe the meat locker/chain saw scene to many friends… you just had to have seen it. The Arkie-Pig hate was big for that game.

“And whatever happened to Willie Kocourek?” My life-long best friend runs his law practice today and keeps up the find traditions of Willie, who was a great man. My friend got tickets and took me to that Arkie-Pig game as well as OUSUXs that year…

Austin was really cool in those days!