Lee Corso is set to put a bow on his illustrious broadcasting career next month on what will be his final appearance as a full-time cast member of ESPN’s College GameDay on August 30 in Columbus, Ohio. But ahead of that, he was honored by three of his College GameDay castmates at the 2025 ESPYS, which was followed by a touching speech from Corso about his time in the spotlight.
Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, and Pat McAfee took the stage during the first hour of the 2025 ESPYS to offer thoughts on how Corso has impacted their own journey in TV, eating taking the time to thank Corso for all he has done for them.
“Good evening,” said Kirk Herbstreit. “The three of us are here to make sure that on a night while we are saluting the best in sports, we salute the best characters that sports has ever seen. The one and only Lee Corso. His final College GameDay will be next month, at the Texas-Ohio State game, to open the season. I feel like I have had the best seat in college football for the last 30 years, right next to coach, right before he pulled that headgear out or say something nobody else would say. There are so many lessons and such a special bond that I am so lucky to share with one the great spirits and great minds that college football has ever seen.”
“I have been very fortunate to play for some great coaches,” said Desmond Howard. “Two Hall of Fame coaches, one in high school and one in college, a Super Bowl-winning coach. But it wasn’t until I retired and starting doing TV that I ran into the greatest coach anybody doing TV could ever have, Lee Corso. When I came aboard in 2005, Coach Corso opened his arms, he embraced me. He taught me, he coached me. But Pat, more than anything, he made me feel like family.”
“If you watched College GameDay every Saturday like Shane (Gillis) mentioned, I don’t think anybody can question what Coach means to GameDay,” said Pat McAfee. “Obviously, there is a generation of fans all over the country that love the sport strictly because of Lee. It’s not just because of his knowledge of the game or his resume. It’s because he understands very much that you don’t have to take yourself too seriously to talk about sports. That’s what makes for good TV. I’ve been very lucky the last few years to join the absolute wagon that is College GameDay. Lee Corso is a sports icon, a TV icon, and he created a lot of great television. And we’ve got the proof.”
A compilation of Corso’s best moments on College GameDay was then shown on the ESPN broadcast, which was followed by Corso coming on stage and offering a speech about what his illustrious career has meant to him, in addition to him thanking everyone who put together this tribute for him.
“I want to thank ESPN for this tribute and the opportunity to do a job that I have loved for 38 years,” said Corso. “My goal on TV was to bring a smile to everybody’s face. I hope I have done that. My wife and I, Betsy, have been married for 69 years. And I just wanted to thank her for loving me and allowing me to love her for all of those years. Thank you very much, ESPN, for this honor. I appreciate everybody here. Thank you very much.”
Fittingly, after Corso’s speech was done, Pat McAfee gave way to a surprise in Corso’s honor, the USC Trojans’ marching band and mascot, who joined him on stage.
Additionally, Corso was able to put on the Trojan headgear one last time.
Corso has been as important to the state of college football coverage on ESPN as perhaps any personality covering any sport on any network. So it’s not all that surprising to see this kind of tribute dedicated to all of the great moments he has given fans watching College GameDay over the years at home.
And as you would likely expect, there were countless personalities in the sports media industry who were overwhelmingly pleased with ESPN’s decision to give Corso his flowers at Wednesday’s ESPYS.
“Lee Corso is a legend,” wrote Mitch Sherman, who covers the Nebraska Cornhuskers for The Athletic. “Touching tribute at the ESPYs.”
“Lee Corso is the best… Gonna miss him so damn much,” wrote ESPN Cleveland producer Nick Paulus.
“Phenomenal tribute to Lee Corso at the ESPYs,” wrote Miami Dolphins beat reporter for the Sun Sentinel, David Furones.
“Lee Corso is the best!! What a well-deserved moment for an absolute legend,” wrote Mike Uva of GamecockCentral.com.