Welcome back old friend, farewell Lee Corso

In case you haven’t heard, today is the official start of college football. Sure we had week zero last week in Ireland, some midweek games and MACtion this week, but for all intents and purposes today is the first day of fall and the glorious return of college football. And though we are jazzed to welcome back that old faithful fall friend in college football it’s tinged with a bit of sadness as the football world says goodbye to everyone’s favorite coach, Lee Corso, broadcasting his final show on College GameDay.

I’m aware there are other pregame shows but let’s be honest, ESPN College GameDay is as much an institution for fall Saturdays as keg stands or beer brats. College GameDay has been a part of my life, at least 15 Saturdays or so every fall, for probably 30 years. Each season of my life GameDay has been a part of. Early 20s saw friends over and breakfast and booze. 30s saw background noise as I prepped for the day as a semi professional writer about the sport. And now 40s sees calm Saturdays with the dog. But no matter how it looked or what it led into, GameDay was the anchor. And Lee Corso was the personality that made it all more than a television show or talking heads.

Coach Corso was the humanity of the show and the reason, in my opinion, why GameDay was what it was. There was a genuineness to him. An authenticity. It was like spending time with your wise old grandpa who said less but carried more with what he spoke. And when you can get me to admit that Coach Corso was more integral and endearing than two golden retrievers in Peter and Ben Herbstreit, that’s breaking news.

People will remember Lee for his headgear picks or catchphrases but for me, the relationship between him and Kirk Herbstreit will be what I’ll remember most. If you follow Herbie on socials you get a glimpse of quiet interactions pre show with him and Lee. There’s a simplicity and a quiet authenticity that is just wholesome and heart warming. When Kirk was struggling with getting through a segment about the passing of Ben the golden it was Lee reaching over and patting his hand that sent me. Watching Kirk help Lee as he struggled with post stroke things like speech or movement made it much more than a football show. The modern world we love is sometimes woefully short on compassion and humanity and yet it was on display weekly couched within mascot heads and helmet stickers. How can you not be romantic about that?

So for today we welcome back one old friend in college football and say goodbye to another in Lee Corso. It’s a bittersweet kind of vibe but I’m thankful we get it. Let’s have a good Saturday. Welcome home.