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With Lee Corso’s television farewell on the horizon, his College Gameday cohost Kirk Herbstreit reflected on their decades-long friendship.
Corso, 89, will make his final appearance on the long-running ESPN college football show on August 30, when the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes host the Texas Longhorns in Columbus.
The former University of Indiana head coach has been with the show since its inception in 1987.
Herbstreit, 55, who joined College Gameday in 1996, credited Corso with impacting the way he approaches his life, both on and off set.
“Sometimes you learn more from how people make you feel than what they say,” Herbstreit exclusively told Us Weekly while promoting his partnership with Purina Pro Plan. “He’s the epitome of that.”
Herbstreit explained that it didn’t take long for Corso’s influence to rub off on him.
“From the very first day I met him in my audition when I was terrified at 25 years old until right now, he makes everybody feel special,” he said. “His eyes, his words. He cares. He could have a broken arm, or in his case he’s been dealing with a lot of health issues, he’s always positive. He’s always upbeat. He’s always a guy who is grateful for what he has. Watching him be that way has made me that way.”
Corso suffered a stroke in 2009 that left him partially paralyzed, and his declining health forced him to miss multiple College Gameday appearances last season.
“I try to wake up every day and just be grateful for a new day,” Herbstreit added. “There’s so many life lessons, but I think the one that’s really stood out to me is how he makes me feel when I’m around him, being positive about life. Being upbeat and being thankful and having gratitude.”
As Herbstreit — who also works as the color analyst for Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football NFL broadcasts — gears up for another season, he’s been busy spending time with his four golden retrievers: Peter, Mitch, Theo and Beau.
With his pets — including his beloved late golden retriever Ben — becoming regular presences on College Gameday and at football games over the years, Herbstreit admitted “people see me and they want to talk about their dogs.”
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Given his love of dogs, Herbstreit has partnered with Purina Pro Plan’s “Fueled By” video series, which showcases the bond elite athletes, including NFL tight end George Kittle and soccer star Rose Lavelle, have with their pooches.
“I’ve always had dogs,” Herbstreit said. “I’ve just always been around them. I love the relationship with them. I love how they’re all very different. When Pro Plan approached me about this, it was a no-brainer.”
He added, “It was really fun for me to travel and visit with these folks. I knew them as athletes, but to get to know them as dog owners and how much they care about their dogs — how busy they are in their lives, and yet how much they love getting home and seeing their dog and taking good care of them — it was really fun.”
English (US) ·