If you follow college football there is no doubt you know who Lee Corso is. The 90-year-old is best known for picking the team he believes will win by putting on the team’s mascot head just before kickoff on ESPN College GameDay.
At Orlando International Airport, a Southwest Airlines gate agent gave Corso, also known as Coach, a touching sendoff. Knowing Corso would be on his flight, the agent prepared a heartfelt speech and brought a bottle of champagne to mark the moment.
@fishsauce0515 We love you Coach!! Shout out to @Southwest Airlines for honoring this legend! @College GameDay @Kirk Herbstreit @Barstool Sports @Ohio State Football #leecorso #coach #collegegameday #ohiostatefootball ♬ original sound – Felicia Homish
The video of the tribute (embedded above) missed the first line of the speech, but here is the transcript:
“And put a gentleman on this flight that is retiring on Saturday. On November 18, 2021, I saw a coach sitting in the Southwest gate area and I asked him to give me this picture, and I have it right here. And I am going to present this to him so he always has it as a remembrance that he is boarding his last flight on Southwest to Columbus to see you guys at College GameDay. Coach started ESPN College GameDay with his debut in 1987. In October 1996, Lee Corso made his first headgear pick, a tradition he is famous for, at a game in Ohio Stadium. Coach has been married to his wife Betsy since 1957. He has four kids and 10 grandchildren. Coach’s words on College GameDay are ‘not so fast, my friend.’ On behalf of us here at Southwest, we would like to recognize Coach if everyone could please stand and give him a round of applause for everything he has done for us.”
The gate agent then handed him the champagne and joked that he could not drink it on the plane since passengers are not allowed to consume their own alcohol on board.
It was a sweet moment for a coach who has been part of college football for decades. For perspective, Corso has a 286-144 record, including his most recent underdog pick (embedded above) when number three Ohio State upset number one ranked Texas 14-7. Fittingly, according to ESPN, Ohio State has been his top choice over the years with 46 total picks.
