History of Lee Corso in Timeline

Lee Corso is a prominent American sports broadcaster and college football analyst, best known for his role on ESPN's College GameDay since 1987. Before his broadcasting career, Corso was a football coach. He is renowned for his enthusiastic personality, humorous predictions, and signature headgear selections at the end of each show, where he dons the headgear of the team he predicts will win the featured game.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

August 7, 1935: Lee Corso's Birth

On August 7, 1935, Lee Richard Corso was born. He is an American sports broadcaster, college football analyst for ESPN, and former coach.

1956: Blue-Gray Game Appearance

In 1956, Lee Corso was the starting quarterback for the South in the Blue-Gray Game, which his team lost to the North 14-0.

1957: Graduates with Bachelor's Degree

In 1957, Lee Corso graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical education.

1957: Marriage to Betsy

In 1957, Lee Corso married his wife, Betsy.

1958: Earns Master's Degree

In 1958, Lee Corso obtained a master's degree in administration and supervision.

1962: Recruits Darryl Hill

In 1962, Lee Corso, then a quarterbacks coach at Maryland, recruited Darryl Hill to transfer from the Naval Academy, making him the first African-American football player in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

1966: Defensive Backs Coach at Navy

In 1966, Lee Corso became the defensive backs coach at Navy.

1967: First Top-20 Ranking Since 1967

After Indiana's victory over the Cougars in 1979, the team reached 16th in the UPI poll. This marked the Hoosiers' first top-20 ranking since 1967.

1969: Head Football Coach at Louisville

In 1969, Lee Corso became the head football coach at the University of Louisville.

1970: Takes Louisville to Bowl Game

In 1970, Lee Corso coached Louisville to only its second-ever bowl game.

1972: Leaves Louisville, Hired by Indiana

In 1972, Lee Corso departed the University of Louisville and was hired by Indiana University.

1972: Hired by Indiana

In 1972, after taking Louisville to a bowl game in 1970, Lee Corso was hired by Indiana University.

1973: Coaching at Indiana Begins

In 1973, Lee Corso began his tenure as the coach at Indiana.

1973: Becomes Head Coach at Indiana

In 1973, Lee Corso started his tenure as the head football coach at Indiana University Bloomington.

1976: Leading Ohio State

During a game in the 1976 season, Lee Corso called a timeout after his team scored a touchdown early in the second quarter. The entire team took a photo with the scoreboard in the background, showing Indiana leading Ohio State 7-6, the first time in 25 years the Hoosiers had led the Buckeyes.

1979: Winning Season and Holiday Bowl

In 1979, Lee Corso led Indiana to a 7-4 regular season record, earning them a trip to the 1979 Holiday Bowl, where they beat BYU.

1980: Another Winning Season

In 1980, Lee Corso coached Indiana to another winning season.

1982: Departure from Indiana University

In 1982, Lee Corso's coaching tenure at Indiana University Bloomington came to an end.

1982: Fired from Indiana

In 1982, after ten years with an overall record of 41–68–2 at Indiana, Lee Corso was fired.

1984: Head Coach at Northern Illinois University

In 1984, Lee Corso took on the role of head football coach at Northern Illinois University.

1985: Head Coach for Orlando Renegades

In 1985, Lee Corso became the head coach for the Orlando Renegades of the United States Football League (USFL).

1985: Professional Coaching Debut

In 1985, Lee Corso made his professional football coaching debut for the Orlando Renegades of the United States Football League (USFL).

1986: USFL Suspends Operations

In 1986, Lee Corso was scheduled to return to the Renegades, but the United States Football League (USFL) suspended operations before the season began.

1987: Joins ESPN's College GameDay

In 1987, Lee Corso became an analyst on ESPN's College GameDay program, a role he has held since the show's inception.

1987: Hired by ESPN

In 1987, Lee Corso was hired by ESPN as an analyst for its Saturday College GameDay program.

1993: College GameDay Originated On-Site

Since 1993, ESPN's College GameDay program, featuring Lee Corso as an analyst, has originated from the site of one of the day's big games.

October 5, 1996: Inaugural Headgear Prediction

On October 5, 1996, Lee Corso started his mascot headgear prediction segment on College GameDay, beginning with the Ohio State-Penn State game where he donned the OSU "Brutus Buckeye" mascot head to show his pick to win the game.

2001: Spearheads Crayon Project

In 2001, Lee Corso spearheaded an effort to create a crayon completely out of soybeans while serving as Director of Business Development for Dixon Ticonderoga.

2006: Appears in NCAA Football Titles

From 2006, Lee Corso appeared annually in EA Sports' NCAA Football titles along with Kirk Herbstreit and Brad Nessler.

2006: Nike Commercial Cameo

In 2006, Lee Corso made a brief cameo in a Nike commercial featuring the fictional Briscoe High School football team, alongside football icons and coaches.

May 16, 2009: Suffers Stroke

On May 16, 2009, Lee Corso suffered a stroke at his Florida home, resulting in partial paralysis. He spent time in intensive care and underwent rehabilitation.

December 9, 2010: Awarded Contributions to College Football Award

On December 9, 2010, Lee Corso was honored with the National College Football Awards Association's Contributions to College Football Award.

2011: Stops Play-by-Play in NCAA Football

In NCAA Football 11, released in 2011, Lee Corso stopped doing play-by-play commentary.

November 1, 2014: 250th Headgear Pick

On November 1, 2014, Lee Corso made his 250th headgear pick, choosing TCU's Super Frog before the TCU-WVU game in Morgantown, West Virginia.

2018: Death of Burt Reynolds

In 2018, Burt Reynolds, Lee Corso's former roommate and teammate at Florida State, passed away. The two remained close friends until Reynolds's death.

September 16, 2023: 400th Headgear Pick

On September 16, 2023, Lee Corso made his 400th headgear pick, selecting Colorado's Chip the Buffalo before the Buffaloes' game versus the Colorado State Rams in Boulder, Colorado.