While ESPN’s "College GameDay" hasn’t visited Durham under Manny Diaz's tenure as Duke head coach, that didn’t stop the Blue Devils head coach from heaping praise on the man who helped define the show with his iconic headgear picks: Lee Corso.

Corso announced in April 2025 that he would be retiring from ESPN in August, just weeks after his 90th birthday. Corso began his career with the show in 1987, building a legacy that spanned nearly four decades.

“He's just such a huge part," Diaz said when asked about Corso on Aug. 25. "I don't think you can tell the story of the arc of the popularity of college football without Coach Corso.

“I think it's easy to take for granted his impact on College GameDay. GameDay has been such an institution for so long that people forget what it was like befo

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