Lee Corso will leave ESPN “College Gameday” in August and end the show that began in 1987.
“My family and I will forever be indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and College Gameday for almost 40 years,” Corso said in a statement published by ESPN. “I have a treasure of many friends, memories and some unusual experiences that I take with me to retire.”
Corso, who turns 90 August, is generally known for his heads and “not so fast, my friend” when he disagreed with someone on the panel.
The head segment that began in October 1995 in the game of Ohio StateHe saw Corso Go 286-144 in their 430 selections. In addition to wore helmets, mascot heads and other hats, he dressed like a combat Irish Leprechaun z Virgin Mary, Stanford Tree and historical characters James Madison and Benjamin Franklin. His affection for the Oregon duck led to a motorcycle with a mascot. Once held in the hands of a live alligator of the child when choosing Florida Win and take over the pop star Katy Perry in tips from Grove at the University of Mississippi.
Corso held pencil 2 for most segments; In Offseason, Corso was the director of business development for Dixon Ticonderoga, which produces famous yellow pencils.
“Lee Corso has developed a special connection with the generations of fans through his entertaining style and iconic heads,” said ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “Lee is one of the most influential and popular characters in college history and our ESPN team will celebrate his legendary career during his final Gameday college this August.”
Corso’s final broadcast will be 30 August, ESPN announced and said that further programming was planned to celebrate Corso on the days before this weekend.
In 2009, Corso suffered a stroke that let him talk for some time, but later returned this year. His travel has been limited in recent years, but Corso was on the site of last year’s national title game in Atlanta.
“ESPN has been extremely generous for me, especially in the last few years,” Corso said. “They stayed and supported me, just like my colleagues in the first days of College Gameday.
Herbstreit and Corso have been part of the program Together since 1996.
“Coach Corso performed an iconic run in Broadcasting and we are all lucky to be around to witness it,” Herbstreit said in his statement. “He taught me so much all the time of our time and was my second father for me. It was my absolute honor to have the best chair in the house where he watched every week looking at the coach who wore the mascot’s head.”
“College Gameday” won nine Emmys with the program during Corsho’s tenure. The show is nominated for this year for the highest studio show – weekly.
“Lee is a typical entertainer, but he was also a remarkable coach who has established a lifelong connection with his players,” said Davis, host “College Gameday” since 2015.
“Lee was an indelible force in the growth of university football,” said Chris Fowler, who hosted “Gameday” for 25 years. “He’s a born entertainer and a unique TV talent.
Corso spent 28 years as a college and professional football coach, including 15 years as a collegial head coach at Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois. Played a college football Florida Statewhere he was known as a “solar scooter”. For two decades after graduation he graduated and also played Quarterback for Seminols.
