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Who is Lee Corso? How a middling college coach became a beloved broadcaster
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- Who is Lee Corso? How a middling college coach became a beloved broadcaster
Former college football coach Lee Corso had what could best be described as a moderately successful career in his chosen profession.
Over 15 seasons as a college head coach and one year in the pros with the short-lived USFL, Corso's teams had an overall record of 78 wins, 98 losses and six ties.
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After such an undistinguished tenure and without a job at age 50, one might think it would be time for Corso to get out of the football business. But ...
"Not so fast, my friend!"
Corso found fame -- and a cult following -- in broadcasting when he was hired in 1987 to be part of ESPN's new "College GameDay" show. His nearly 40-year association with the network will come to an end later this year following Thursday's announcement that Corso is retiring and will make his final "GameDay" appearance on Saturday, August 30, in the program's season premiere.
Wearing an Elvis Presley costume, Lee Corso dons the head of the Memphis Tigers mascot alongside wrestler Jerry Lawler in 2019 on the set of ESPN's College GameDay pregame show from Beale Street in downtown Memphis.
Why is Lee Corso famous?
Corso has become an institution in college football over the 38 seasons "College GameDay" has been on the air. He's the only remaining original cast member on the show, which has won nine Emmy awards for outstanding weekly sports studio program.
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His knowledge of the game as a former coach is apparent. However, Corso's folksy style and his showmanship have helped him form a longstanding bond with television viewers.
Corso's signature catch phrase, "Not so fast, my friend," and his tradition of donning a team's headgear in making his winning pick have become beloved GameDay staples each week.
"My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and 'College GameDay' for nearly 40 years," Corso, 89, said in an ESPN news release . "I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement."
Lee Corso's coaching career
A quarterback and defensive back during his playing career at Florida State from 1953-57, Corso got his first coaching job at his alma mater immediately after his eligibility ran out, serving as a graduate assistant in Tallahassee during the 1958 season.
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From there, he moved on to become quarterbacks coach at Maryland for seven seasons. He coached defensive backs at Navy for three seasons before getting his first head coaching job at the University of Louisville in 1969.
A year after taking over the Cardinals, Corso led the team to an 8-3-1 record, a Missouri Valley Conference title and a berth in the in 1970 Pasadena Bowl -- only the second bowl bid in school history. Two years later, after the Cardinals went 9-1, Corso took the head coaching job at Indiana.
A decided underdog against the traditional Big Ten powers, Corso never enjoyed the success at Indiana that he did at Louisville. The Hoosiers had only two winning seasons over his 10 years in Bloomington -- an 8-4 record and Holiday Bowl win in 1979 and a 6-5 mark the following year.
Corso was fired by Indiana after the 1982 season after compiling an overall record of 41-68-2.
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He returned to coaching after a one-year break, taking over the program at Northern Illinois and going 4-6-1.
In 1985, he jumped to the pro ranks, taking over as head coach of the USFL's Orlando Renegades. His team went 5-13 and the league folded after that season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lee Corso's career: ESPN icon far more successful on air than on field
