As Lee Corso prepares to say farewell to ESPN's College GameDay, he received a touching tribute from an unexpected source. It didn't come from ESPN or his colleagues, but rather from a Southwest Airlines crew member.
On his way to Columbus, Ohio, where ESPN's flagship college football program will broadcast this weekend, Corso was honored at the Orlando airport by a Southwest gate agent. The employee, who had clearly formed a personal connection with the broadcaster during his regular travels, took the opportunity to publicly thank Corso for his influence both on and off television.
After reciting Corso's long list of broadcasting achievements, the gate agent presented him with a framed picture from the day they first met on November 18, 2021. At that very same gate, also en route to Columbus. To mark the occasion, Corso was also given a bottle of champagne, with the lighthearted suggestion that he wait until after the flight to open it.
The gesture shows why Corso is unique. He has touched the lives of many and has remained approachable and relatable. While colleagues like Kirk Herbstreit often rely on private travel to accommodate their demanding schedules, Corso is different.
At 90, he has long stuck with commercial flights, traveling out of Orlando just like the thousands of fans who greet him every Saturday. That accessibility mirrors his on-air persona.
For nearly 40 years, Corso has shown his true colors by unpredictability, never more famous than during his "headgear" picks. Since debuting the segment in 1996, he has donned helmets, mascots, and costumes 430 times, allowing for one of college football's most beloved traditions.
His colleagues recognize the depth of his legacy. "Coach Corso has had an iconic run in broadcasting, and we're all lucky to have been around to witness it," Herbstreit said in a statement. "He's been like a second father to me."
For Corso, the moment with the Southwest agent is a reminder of how much he has meant not only to the sport, but to people from all walks of life. The final stop on his storied College GameDay journey will come the way he always preferred by being around people.