After four decades of bringing chaos, charm, and even mascot heads to Saturday mornings, Lee Corso is finally hanging up the headgear. The iconic “College GameDay” analyst will step away after one final broadcast on August 30. ESPN plans to honor his legacy in the lead-up to that weekend.
The “Sunshine Scooter” will be putting on the mascot head one last time.
Desmond Howard Recalls Iconic Lee Corso Moment
Desmond Howard, one of Corso’s co-hosts on College GameDay, has gone on record to reveal his favorite Lee Corso moments. Picking one favorite Corso memory was not easy, but the “f-bomb moment” is one that lives rent-free in his head.
In honor of Lee Corso announcing his retirement, relive @DesmondHoward‘s favorite @CollegeGameDay memory with coach. 😂 https://t.co/re482sFt4J
— sling (@Sling) April 17, 2025
As Howard himself puts it, “My favorite Lee Corso moment was when Lee Corso dropped an F-bomb on live television. Coach likes to play cat and mouse with the crowd. I think he kind of got caught up in the moment,” Corso explained.
“And then he said, ‘F*** it’ and threw [the mascot head] over the desk. And then asked for the mascot head that he was actually going to put on. And he put it on as if he said nothing wrong.”
So what was really happening during this moment?
It was 2011, and College GameDay had arrived at Houston. It was SMU taking on the Kevin Sumlin-led Houston Cougars, and Olympic legend Carl Lewis was the guest picker. Corso, clearly feeling the hype, tried to drag out the suspense. But then he snapped.
NSFW Warning: The following video contains profanity. Viewer discretion is advised.
Never forget when Lee Corso dropped his ‘ehh fuck it’ live on air
CFB >>> pic.twitter.com/Un4zpl2KRC
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) July 20, 2021
All of a sudden, he dropped the legendary “f*** it.” Chris Fowler lost it. Kirk Herbstreit facepalmed. Carl Lewis blinked in disbelief. Meanwhile, Corso went on to put on the Cougar mascot head like nothing happened. But that was just one of many Corso moments. He is, after all, the man who was as unpredictable as they come.
Remembering Lee Corso’s Iconic College GameDay Moments
Lee Corso’s very first headgear pick occurred all the way back in 1993. He decided to choose his alma mater, Florida State, over Notre Dame on campus in South Bend. That move lit the fuse on what would become a decades-long tradition. But that’s not all.
For Indiana’s homecoming in 2024, GameDay rolled into Bloomington for the first time ever, and Corso, who was the coach at Indiana for almost a decade, got to make his pick from the place that shaped his career. The Hoosiers beat Washington that day.
RELATED: How Old Is Lee Corso? A Look at the Legend’s Age, Career Timeline, and More at ESPN
Oh, and let’s not forget the Katy Perry moment. Lee Corso’s showdown with the famous singer in 2014, when she pelted corn dogs at the camera after disagreeing with his Alabama pick. Interestingly, Perry was right. Ole Miss won.
Of course, not every Corso moment was smooth or fun. There’s also the infamous “not so fast, midget” line.
Still, through all the laughs, gaffes, and sideline showdowns, Corso has always been the heart of College GameDay. As the curtain closes on a truly legendary run, it comes as no surprise that Desmond Howard remembered one of the most hilarious moments.
So after week 1 of the playoffs, Lee Corso will be off the air. This time, goodbye really means goodbye.
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