ESPN broadcaster Kirk Herbstreit has given an update on former College GameDay host Lee Corso after visiting him in Orlando, Florida.
Corso, 91, retired from the iconic ESPN pregame show at the end of last season, ending a television career on the network dating back to 1987. Herbstreit revealed that Corso is dealing with physical ailments but confirmed that his mental acuity remains sharp.
The reunion took place several weeks ago when Herbstreit traveled to Florida for a speaking appearance in Orlando. Corso, who hosted the same annual event for 25 years, requested to meet Herbstreit after learning he would be in town.
When Herbstreit arrived at the airport, Corso was already waiting to pick him up. The two colleagues spent 20 to 30 minutes catching up during an emotional reunion.
Herbstreit told Us Magazine that seeing his longtime colleague moved both of them to tears. "By the time I landed, there he is. We hugged, embraced. He was emotional because we haven't seen each other in a while," Herbstreit said. "When he cried, it made me cry. Because he's my guy. We were able to hang out for probably 20 or 30 minutes and just kind of get caught up."
Corso Dealing With Physical Health Challenges
Herbstreit explained that Corso faces physical difficulties but remains mentally focused and engaged with college football. He noted that Corso is going through physical challenges that make daily routines tougher for him.
"He's got a lot of physical ailments that he's been dealing with, but his mind is incredible," Herbstreit said. "We'd all be lucky to have such cognitive thinking at 91. His eyes are sharp. He's dialed in. He's just going through some stuff that makes it tough on him."
Herbstreit added that Corso continues to follow teams and players across the country with strong opinions on the sport. "But he knows about teams. He knows about players. He's got opinions. I just sat there and listened and loved hearing him talk about that. He's great. I told him that everybody loves him, everybody misses him. He feels that love, so it's always good to see him," Herbstreit said.
Decades on College GameDay and Prior Health Issues
College GameDay is ESPN's premier college football pregame show, broadcasting live from university campuses and stadium sites each Saturday during the college football season. Corso became a central figure on the broadcast starting in 1987, winning over viewers with his signature headgear pick segment, where he puts on the mascot head of the team he predicts to win.
Herbstreit joined the College GameDay desk as an analyst in 1996, forming a close partnership with Corso over nearly three decades. Herbstreit also serves as the lead analyst for college football games on ESPN and calls Thursday Night Football games for Amazon Prime Video.
Corso suffered a stroke in 2009 that affected his speech and cognitive abilities. Health issues forced him to miss five shows during the 2022 season, and producers had gradually reduced his airtime so that he was no longer appearing across the full three hours of the broadcast in recent years.
Absence From Season Opener and Championship Game
Corso was absent from the season premiere of College GameDay last week, which broadcast live from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His absence marked the first season opener following his departure at the conclusion of last season.
Travel difficulties also kept Corso from attending the College Football Playoff National Championship game in January. He chose to watch the contest from home as his beloved Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Miami Hurricanes to win the national title.
Corso previously coached the Indiana Hoosiers football team during his coaching career prior to his transition into television broadcasting. Although health challenges have limited his travel, Herbstreit emphasized that Corso remains touched by the ongoing support and affection from fans across the nation.
