There will only ever be one Lee Corso.
College football Saturdays didn’t start until Corso put a mascot head on and heard the cheers (or boos) from the thousands of students and onlookers behind him.
For 30 years, the coach turned sports TV icon has donned a mascot head at the end of every College Gameday on ESPN before kickoffs across America.
And on August 30, he will do it one last time.
On Friday morning, ESPN announced that Corso will retire from the College GameDay set, with one last show to kick off next season.
While most saw the writing on the wall for the soon-to-be 90-year-old, the news was still shocking to hear.
“Lee Corso will retire from ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ in August, ending a career with the show that began in 1987,” ESPN said in a statement.
“After 38 incredible years, Lee Corso is retiring.
“For multiple generations, Coach has been the face of our Saturday mornings and the sport we love.
“Our friend, our coach, our heart … LC, you will forever be a College GameDay legend!”
Rarely does one person have an impact on a sport the way that Corso has had on college football.
It’s even more rare for that one person to be as universally liked and beloved as Corso is.
The college football staple released a statement to ESPN, confirming his retirement.
“My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and College GameDay for nearly 40 years,” Corso said.
“I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.”
Upon the announcement that Corso would be retiring at the ripe age of 89, messages of love and thank yous poured in from around the sports world.
Most notably from those with whom he shared a desk for decades.
Kirk Herbstreit, Chris Fowler and Rece Davis all showered Corso with thoughtful and emotional video tributes and messages.
“Love ya Coach-you’ll be missed more than ya know. Been our honor to be with ya all these years,” Herbstreit said.
“All I can really say to him, is thanks LC, you’re the best,” Davis said.
“It’s a bittersweet day, but I can’t stop smiling, I’m thinking about Lee Corso,” Fowler said.
“It’s been an incredible and unprecedented run.”
Even Stephen A. Smith chimed in on First Take.
“He’s absolutely wonderful, and he’s going to be missed,” Smith said.
He sure is.
There will only ever be one Lee Corso.
