Lee Corso has been one of the most entertaining figures on the face of sports and college football. As a longtime coach turned sports analyst on ESPN’s “College GameDay,” he helped turn the show into an exciting event to start off every Saturday morning for the past 40 years. Since his retirement from regular appearances is finally here, fans are looking back at everything he’s done for the sport and how he has helped make unforgettable memories for the college football community.
Corso’s first appearance on “GameDay” dates back to 1996 in Columbus, Ohio, at Ohio State University’s “The Horseshoe,” which is the home stadium of the Buckeyes. At first, the show was filmed in a studio and was not very popular among college football fans. However, when Corso joined the crew, things started to change. He brought energy, humor and excellent football knowledge. Corso always brought joy and laughter to “GameDay.”
Bailey Faris (11) regularly watches “College GameDay” and has always loved being able to watch Corso.
“I’ve watched ‘College GameDay’ for as long as I can remember, and Lee Corso has always been one of my favorite parts of seeing ‘GameDay.’ I know he’ll be missed in the football community and there’s no other like him,” Faris said.
Maclean Fulmer (10) likes to spend his Saturdays watching football and is also a fan of Corso.
“I like to start off my Saturdays by usually turning on the TV and watching ‘GameDay’. I have watched Lee Corso do his headgear picks for a very long time, and it’s sad to see him go,” Fulmer said.
Before becoming the outstanding sports analyst he was, Corso began his coaching career in 1969 at the University of Louisville before spending 10 seasons at Indiana University, where he led the Hoosiers to their first bowl win in 1979. He also coached briefly at Northern Illinois and served as an assistant at Navy and Florida State. His time coaching gave him strong insight into statistics, which is what made him a fan favorite analyst.
The most famous part of Corso’s time on “GameDay” was his mascot headgear picks. At the end of each show, he would put on the mascot head of the team he thought would win the biggest game of the day. No matter Corso’s headgear pick, fans would wait all morning to see which mascot he would end up choosing. It became a tradition that people looked forward to every week.
Jack Fairey (9) enjoyed being able to watch Corso and his legacy on “GameDay.”
“I think Lee Corso was the best college football sports analyst of all time. He always brought great energy to the show and his ball knowledge is what made him so great,” Fairey said.
As Corso steps away from regular appearances, tributes have poured in from across the country. Players, colleagues and fans have shared stories of how his presence on “GameDay” shaped their love for college football and watching “College GameDay.” His legacy will live on in the traditions he helped create and the joy he brought to millions of viewers.
