It’s no secret that 89-year-old Lee Corso has been powering through his College GameDay appearances in recent years as he deals with various health issues. Even as the show evolves, Corso’s presence continues to keep it connected to the traditions that helped make the ESPN show so special.
Thursday night, Corso had a few struggles that reminded viewers about his fragility and had some wondering about how much longer the iconic coach would be on set.
As everyone on the panel was offering up their picks for that evening’s College Football Playoff semifinal between Notre Dame and Penn State, Corso’s speech sounded stilted and he struggled to get the words out. He also seemingly forgot to mention some of the information written down on his sheet, which Kirk Herbstreit reminded him of afterward.
Kirk Herbstreit reminds Lee Corso to take the under, as it says on the last line of Corso’s notes. 🏈🎙️ #CFP pic.twitter.com/SNHXL4Zm23
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 10, 2025
When it came time for Corso to make his final selection, he picked the Fighting Irish. Normally, he’d don the head of a school’s mascot as part of that process, but with Notre Dame’s mascot being a leprechaun, he instead put on his finest green coat and accompanied the mascot onto the stage to dance a jig. Alas, that went awry and Corso almost fell over mid-dance.
Lee Corso dances with the Notre Dame Leprechaun and almost goes down. 🏈🎙️😬 #CFP pic.twitter.com/GE5upFPRrj
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 10, 2025
Corso’s presence on the show has become controversial for some in recent years, with some critics saying it would be in his best interest to not travel the country each week and meet the demands of a live TV show. Others would say that so long as Corso is willing and able, he should be allowed to go out on his own terms.
In November, ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus said “We’re going to have a conversation with [Corso] after the season, see where things are,” just as they’ve been doing the last few years.
We’d just ask that, if Lee does return next year, maybe we cut down on the dancing from here on out.
