Lee Corso reacts on ‘GameDay’ to National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame induction

Lee Corso had no idea.

On Monday’s College Football Playoff national championship-edition of “College GameDay,” the college football analyst learned he was among four elected to the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame.

Host Rece Davis announced the news as the “GameDay” panel, which included Alabama coach Nick Saban congratulated the 87-year-old Corso.

Corso and “Los Angeles Times” sports columnist Bill Plaschke are joined by two posthumous electees, legendary hockey announcer Dan Kelly and essayist Roger Angell.

The NSMA will honor its award winners and Hall of Fame inductees during the organization’s 63rd awards weekend and national convention, scheduled for June 24-26, 2023, in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Corso joined ESPN in 1987 after a 15-year college head coaching career at Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois. He was also the head coach of the USFL’s Orlando Renegades and general manager of the World League’s Orlando Thunder.

In his 35 years at ESPN, he has become best known as a fixture on the network’s “College GameDay” show, providing analysis of games, choosing the winning team of the weekend’s marquee game, and donning that school’s headgear at the end of the show.

“College GameDay” has won eight Emmy Awards during Corso’s time with the show. Corso is a Cicero, Illinois native who played college football at Florida State.

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.

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