Ideally, every sports fan yearns to be omnipresent at the stadium and rally behind their favorite team in the flesh. Sat amongst their kin, living and breathing every moment as one collective entity. But “ideally’ is the operative word here. Realistically, most fans consume the action vicariously through the television broadcast. So the people with boots on the ground, tasked with permeating the emotions from the stadium through the screen, are extremely important. Underappreciated, even. ESPN’s College GameDay has elevated the college football viewing experience for 4 decades now. It’s etched into the fabric of the sport. Panelists have come and gone, but one person has stood the test of time. Lee Corso has been synonymous with GameDay since ‘87. But his stint is indeed about to cease.

The moniker of icon or legend gets thrown around too loosely at times. But Lee Corso deserves them every bit. Those headgear picks have been a Saturday staple for about 40 years. The game has given Corso a lot, and he’s reciprocated it by being a great ambassador for CFB. First as a head coach and then as an analyst. But at almost 90 years old, Father Time was always catching up to Corso. His retirement was imminent, but it still remains difficult to come to terms with. Ever since it was officially announced a little over a month ago, tributes have been pouring in. From fans, players, and his peers in the media alike. Lee Corso’s swan song continues as we edge closer to his final ever GameDay appearance.

Yes, Lee Corso will indeed get a final farewell in week 1. But while we wait for what will inadvertently be an emotionally charged occasion, ESPN play-by-play commentator Chris Fowler shared a beautiful message with Corso. Relayed to the masses via social media. The two linked up over the weekend, and Fowler took to IG in the aftermath. Sharing a picture of the pair embracing each other, alongside a lovely caption. One that brought about comments and messages from a plethora of other ESPN contemporaries.

“Precious moments. Laughs over brunch and a vigorous hug from my dear friend of almost four decades. Mr Corso looked great and was full of energy! We scrolled through a bunch of vintage @collegegameday pics, reminisced, and talked about his farewell extravaganza 8/30.. Wonderful morning! I love that man,” wrote Chris Fowler. August 30th will see Ohio State take on Texas at the Shoe. GameDay is almost definitely going to be in Columbus for that one. As if the game wasn’t big enough, Lee Corso’s “farewell extravaganza” will only fan the flames of how grand that occasion promises to be. 

As aforementioned, a number of Lee Corso and Chris Fowler’s ESPN running mates took to the comments of this IG post to show their love and reverence. Getting your flowers in the media realm can be hard to come by. So it’s brilliant to see Corso receive his from the people he’s both directly and indirectly inspired.

Lee Corso and Chris Fowler’s ESPN colleagues, and a special individual, show them love

Lee Corso’s impact isn’t limited to the gridiron alone. It resonates with those leveraging their expertise on the hardwood as well. “Yes 2 very special ppl- love you guys !” wrote Dick Vitale, another legendary broadcaster best known for his work in college hoops. Akin to Corso, Vitale also transitioned into media from coaching. You can imagine the two picking each other’s brains at various junctures along their illustrious, parallelly running careers. 

Jessica Simms, the prominent sideline reporter for ESPN, commented, “Love this!!” Lee Corso’s College GameDay co-panelist and partner in crime, Desmond Howard, also chimed in. “Great pic!” he said. The sheer power of social media also came into effect in one of the most heartwarming comments. “Hey Chris, my name is Dr Mark Sutor. I made the last college football play that Lee ever coached when we beat Purdue. That [was] the last college game he ever coached! 😝 love my coach,” commented the proclaiming Mark Sutor. It’s especially pleasing to see this, and it epitomizes just how impactful Lee Corso has been over the years.

August 30th shall be a bittersweet affair. It’ll be sweet to see a legend get the requisite farewell as he bids adieu to a show he helped build and forge. But it’ll be bitter to bid adieu. That final Lee Corso headgear pick is going to signal the end of a defiant era of sports media as a whole.