Latest news with #GameDay
USA Today
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
USC Trojan Marching Band honors college football legend Lee Corso at ESPY Awards
Wednesday night marked the 2025 ESPYs. With the big four professional sports leagues all taking the night off, ESPN rolled out the red carpet in Hollywood for its annual sports awards show. Although he told some hilarious jokes, USC fans likely were not thrilled that the event was hosted by Notre Dame fan Shane Gillis. However, the Trojans had their moment at the ESPYs, too. Later in the night, ESPN rolled out a tribute to legendary College GameDay personality Lee Corso, who is set to retire following one final show in September. After the video rolled, GameDay co-host Pat McAfee, who was on stage with Corso, called out, "USC, please strike the band!" On cue, members of the Trojan Marching Band, including the Drum Major, took the stage playing the iconic College GameDay theme song. In addition, the band presented Corso with a Trojans helmet, which he put on while throwing up a "Fight On." This marked Corso's 18th and final time "picking" the Trojans. Famously, USC went 17-0 when he donned their headgear on GameDay. Corso's final edition of College GameDay will take place on August 30th from Columbus, Ohio ahead of the Ohio State-Texas showdown.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lee Corso receives ESPYS tribute, puts on famous headgear as 'College GameDay' farewell continues
Lee Corso put on his famous headgear during the ESPYS Wednesday night at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Only this time, he wasn't predicting the outcome of a game. The former longtime college football coach was receiving a tribute as his farewell from ESPN's "College GameDay" continued. Corso, who will turn 90 in August, announced earlier this year that his final show for the longstanding pregame broadcast would take place Week 1 of the 2025 college football season. "GameDay" will be in Columbus, Ohio, on Aug. 30 for a highly-anticipated showdown between defending national champion Ohio State and Texas. Corso's send-off location is fitting given he started his headgear segment at Ohio State on Oct. 5, 1996 before the Buckeyes hosted Penn State. "I feel like I've had the best seat really in all in college football for these last 30 years, right next to Coach, right before he'd pull that headgear out or say something that nobody else would say," Herbsteit said Wednesday night at the ESPYS, alongside fellow "GameDay" co-hosts Desmond Howard and Pat McAfee. "There's so many lessons and such a special bond that I'm so lucky to share with one of the great spirits and great minds that college football has ever seen." Howard, who won the Heisman Trophy at Michigan and a Super Bowl MVP with the Green Bay Packers in the '90s, followed Herbstreit's comments. "I've been very fortunate to play for some great coaches: Two Hall of Fame coaches — one in high school, one in college — a Super Bowl-winning coach," Howard said. "But it wasn't until I retired and started doing TV when I ran into the greatest coach anybody doing TV could ever have, Lee Corso. When I came aboard in 2005, Coach Corso opened his arms. He embraced me, he taught me, he coached me. But, more than anything, he made me feel like family." McAfee is one of the newest members of "GameDay," a show that's going on its 39th season this year. But he felt the impact of Corso long before he starting working with him. "I don't think anybody can question what Coach means to GameDay," McAfee said. "Obviously there's a generation of fans from all over the country that love the sport strictly because of Lee, and it's not just because of his knowledge of the game or his résumé, it's because he understands very much that you don't have to take yourself seriously to talk about sports. "That's what makes for good TV. What is his quote actually about how we should view TV?" In response, Herbstreit recited the line from Corso: "We're in the entertainment business, and college football is our vehicle." Following a montage of coaching and "GameDay" clips, Corso took center stage and addressed a crowd that was quick to clap for the sports media icon. "I'm honored to be here tonight. I want to thank ESPN for this tribute and an opportunity to do a job that I've loved for 38 years," Corso said before the first round of loud applause. "My goal on TV was to bring a smile to everybody's face. I hope I have done that. My wife, Betsy, and I have been married for 69 years, and I just wanted to thank her for loving me and allowing me to love her for all those years. Thank you very much ESPN for this honor, tribute, and I appreciate everybody here. Thank you very much." It looked like the tribute was over, but ... not so fast, my friend. That's when McAfee cued the USC marching band, which played the "College GameDay" theme song while Corso headgear was featured in a growing crowd behind him. Corso was given his trusty Trojan helmet and, in return, gave USC's two-fingered "Fight On!" salute.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lee Corso receives ESPYS tribute as 'College GameDay' farewell continues
Lee Corso put on his famous headgear during the ESPYS Wednesday night at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Only this time, he wasn't predicting the outcome of a game. The former longtime college football coach was receiving a tribute as his farewell from ESPN's "College GameDay" continued. Corso, who will turn 90 in August, announced earlier this year that his final show for the longstanding pregame broadcast would take place Week 1 of the 2025 college football season. "GameDay" will be in Columbus, Ohio, on Aug. 30 for a highly-anticipated showdown between defending national champion Ohio State and Texas. Corso's send-off location is fitting given he started his headgear segment at Ohio State on Oct. 5, 1996 before the Buckeyes hosted Penn State. "I feel like I've had the best seat really in all in college football for these last 30 years, right next to Coach, right before he'd pull that headgear out or say something that nobody else would say," Herbsteit said Wednesday night at the ESPYS, alongside fellow "GameDay" co-hosts Desmond Howard and Pat McAfee. "There's so many lessons and such a special bond that I'm so lucky to share with one of the great spirits and great minds that college football has ever seen." Howard, who won the Heisman Trophy at Michigan and a Super Bowl MVP with the Green Bay Packers in the '90s, followed Herbstreit's comments. "I've been very fortunate to play for some great coaches: Two Hall of Fame coaches — one in high school, one in college — a Super Bowl-winning coach," Howard said. "But it wasn't until I retired and started doing TV when I ran into the greatest coach anybody doing TV could ever have, Lee Corso. When I came aboard in 2005, Coach Corso opened his arms. He embraced me, he taught me, he coached me. But Pat, more than anything, he made me feel like family." McAfee is one of the newest members of "GameDay," a show that's going on its 39th season this year. But he felt the impact of Corso long before he starting working with him. "I don't think anybody can question what Coach means to GameDay," McAfee said. "Obviously there's a generation of fans from all over the country that love the sport strictly because of Lee, and it's not just because of his knowledge of the game or his résumé, it's because he understands very much that you don't have to take yourself seriously to talk about sports. "That's what makes for good TV. What is his quote actually about how we should view TV?" In response, Herbstreit recited the line from Corso: "We're in the entertainment business, and college football is our vehicle." Following a montage of coaching and "GameDay" clips, Corso took center stage and addressed a crowd that was quick to clap for the sports media icon. "I'm honored to be here tonight. I want to thank ESPN for this tribute and an opportunity to do a job that I've loved for 38 years,"Corso said before the first round of loud applause. "My goal on TV was to bring a smile to everybody's face. I hope I have done that. My wife, Betsy, and I have been married for 69 years, and I just wanted to thank her for loving me and allowing me to love her for all those years. Thank you very much ESPN for this honor, tribute, and I appreciate everybody here. Thank you very much." It looked like the tribute was over, but ... not so fast, my friend. That's when McAfee cued the USC marching band, which played the "College GameDay" theme song while Corso headgear was featured in a growing crowd behind him. Corso was given his trusty Trojan helmet and, in return, gave USC's two-fingered "Fight On!" salute.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kalen DeBoer Was Asked About Nick Saban Potentially Coaching Again
Kalen DeBoer Was Asked About Nick Saban Potentially Coaching Again originally appeared on The Spun. We're probably going to hear rumors that Nick Saban is mulling a return to coaching for the rest of his life. But amid the most recent rumors that the seven-time national champion is eyeing a return to coaching, the man who replaced him at Alabama was asked about it. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer was asked about the prospect of Saban coaching again during the SEC Media Days. DeBoer made it clear that he has no issues with Saban doing whatever he wants as Saban is "the greatest to ever do it" in his eyes. 'He's the greatest to ever do it,' DeBoer said. 'So, he's earned the right to do what he wants.' DeBoer also pointed out that Saban is already very to the game of football through his current media jobs. He recognizes that Saban has a love for football that goes beyond just coaching on the field. DeBoer said he's simply happy for Saban to be doing what he loves. 'I think the best part about what Coach Saban is doing right now is he's still involved in the game. He's growing the game, he brings passion to it. I enjoy, when I get moments on a Saturday morning, maybe when we have a night game, flipping on the TV and not just seeing him but the whole group GameDay and all the different ways they break things down. 'Having a chance to break things down every once in a while, you can just feel that he still has that love for the game. My sense is that he loves doing it in the capacity that he's doing it right now but I think everyone who is close to him… can't help but want him to be happy doing whatever he wants to do.' With seven national titles, six of which came at Alabama, Saban has certainly more than earned the right to choose where and how he coaches football. Though at 73 years of age, you have to imagine that there can't be that many more years where he physically can coach football. That said, all of the things that allegedly caused Saban to leave college football in the first place are still there and are only getting worse. The very things that led to Saban leaving Alabama just over a year ago would probably keep him from coming back - or at least from staying around for a long DeBoer Was Asked About Nick Saban Potentially Coaching Again first appeared on The Spun on Jul 16, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
Lee Corso to be honored at ESPYS as he begins his farewell from 'College GameDay'
The countdown to Lee Corso's final appearance on ESPN's 'College GameDay' will kick off when the longtime analyst and former coach is honored at the ESPYS on Wednesday night. 'This is a unique opportunity we have to weave him into the evening and really begin the process of sending him off with full honors,' ESPN's president of content Burke Magnus said. 'To get him there in person to acknowledge all of his contributions and what he's meant to both the company and sports, but more importantly the fans, we just think it's a fitting way to kick off his departure.' Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and Pat McAfee will give their thoughts about Corso before a video tribute airs. Corso will then have a couple of minutes to be acknowledged by the crowd at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Corso — the lone remaining member of the show's original cast who turns 90 in August — announced earlier this year that his final show would be on the opening week of the season. ESPN last month revealed the 39th season of 'GameDay' would begin in Columbus, Ohio, before defending national champion Ohio State hosts the Texas Longhorns on Aug. 30. Corso's popular headgear segment started at Ohio State on Oct. 5, 1996, before the Buckeyes faced Penn State. Since then, he has gone 286-144 in 430 selections wearing everything from helmets and mascot heads to dressing up as the Fighting Irish leprechaun from Notre Dame, the Stanford tree and historic figures James Madison and Benjamin Franklin. He has worn 69 different school's mascot headgear. His television career withstood a stroke in 2009 that left him unable to speak for a while. Even though his appearances on the road have decreased in recent seasons, he was in Atlanta in January for the College Football Playoff national title game between Ohio State and Notre Dame. 'With the popularity and cultural phenomenon that 'GameDay' became, there's no one more responsible for that than Lee Corso. The way he changed the way the game was covered with the irreverence, the humor, the lack of a filter, all of those things that sort of set the tone and the standard," said 'GameDay' host Rece Davis.
