Lee Corso spent nearly four decades on the air on ESPN’s “College GameDay.” Retirement has been an adjustment. (Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Some people enjoy retirement and some people can’t stand sitting still after a lifetime of work. Lee Corso appears to fall squarely in the latter category.
The former coach and broadcaster on ESPN’s “College GameDay” gave a blunt answer to WESH’s Daren Stoltzfus in Orlando when asked how he’s been enjoying his first college football season out of work. Corso’s answer:
“Lousy. I hate it. I can’t watch College GameDay. I just can’t get used to it. I’m not working anymore. I used to fly all over. It sucks.”
While he ended the comment with a light chuckle, he sure seemed to be speaking from the heart.
The 90-year-old Corso worked his final episode of “College GameDay” in August, ending a career on the beloved show going back to its inception in 1987. Corso was a central figure of “GameDay” from the start, with his headgear picks becoming the signature moment of the show.
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The numbers from his final episode show he was still quite popular with fans. When his retirement was announced, Corso alluded to ESPN accommodating as he moved further through his 80s:
“ESPN has been exceptionally generous to me, especially these past few years. They accommodated me and supported me, as did my colleagues in the early days of College GameDay. Special thanks to Kirk Herbstreit for his friendship and encouragement. And lest I forget, the fans … truly a blessing to share this with them. ESPN gave me this wonderful opportunity and provided me the support to ensure success. I am genuinely grateful.”
Corso talked to the media as part of an event to honor Lou Holtz, another retired coach-turned-ESPN talent. He didn’t have the “GameDay” platform, but he did make one prediction by saying Indiana would be the team to win the College Football Playoff. Holtz scoffed at the idea — and then said he believed it was Notre Dame’s time.
