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Kirk Herbstreit sends heartfelt, Happy 90th Birthday wish to Lee Corso

Untitled design (2)by: Sam Gillenwater08/07/25samdg_33

Lee Corso is three weeks away from his final episode of ‘ESPN’s College GameDay’ when the season officially kicks off from Columbus. Today, though, Corso celebrates another personal milestone.

Corso turned 90 years old today, as heavily publicized by ESPN. With that, his ESPN counterpart Kirk Herbstreit was just one to wish him a happy birthday as he reaches another decade of life.

“Happy 90th birthday to the man! Love ya bud!” Herbstreit tweeted out on Thursday morning.

Corso has been at ESPN since 1987, having worked with College GameDay for the duration going back nearly four decades. However, after almost 39 years at the network, Corso is calling it a career at the end of this month with his final edition on air with GameDay for Texas vs. Ohio State at The Shoe.

ESPN has since been preparing for Corso’s last show since the news came back on April 17th. He has earned his flowers over the course of the summer coming into the season as the sport prepares to say goodbye to him, whether from messages by his coworkers on the show and at the network, being honored last month at The ESPY’s, and with ‘College GameDay’ recently asking fans to get involved in his farewell with personal video messages.

Of course, beyond the headgear picks and catchphrases, Corso also has a special relationship on the show with his desk mate, Herbstreit, who has been with him since 1996. There’s the classic moments over those three decades, but also some heartwarming ones over the last few years as Corso has aged. That makes it all the more special as the two are just a few weeks out from sitting alongside one another for the final time.

“Coach, this is Kirk. Just wanted to say I love you. I thank you for so many lessons you taught me. Almost 30 years together. I have enjoyed sitting next to you, watching you do your thing. So much fun. We’ve had so many great moments on the show, off the show,” Herbstreit said upon Corso’s retirement in April. “This is a celebration for everything that you did for the sport, for College GameDay. You’re an icon,” Herbstreit said. “You’re a once-in-a-lifetime person, once-in-a-lifetime broadcaster. It’s been a special time for all of us as college football fans to watch you do your thing and celebrate this sport every Saturday in the fall. And having a chance to be sitting where I sat since 1996 and to look over and watch you, whether it was the headgear or saying something that nobody else would say, you’re brilliant.”

“You and I have a special bond and always will. And I just really wanted to say how much I appreciate you, I love you, and enjoyed being your teammate throughout all these years,” Herbstreit said. “You’ve earned this retirement, man. Congratulations, hope you’ll still be with us and come around in the fall on Saturdays. Take care of yourself. Look forward to seeing you soon. I love you, buddy.”

August of 2025 is a big month in the life of Corso. He has turned 90 today and then, come the 30th, Corso will say farewell to college football as he retires come kickoff of this season.