Desmond Howard Takes Subtle Jab At 'Big Noon Kickoff'

'No disrespect'

In a recent interview with Barrett Media, Howard opened up about "GameDay's" competition, and he didn't sound too worried at all. In fact, he admitted that he feels the only rival the show will have is one that's coming to its own network.

"They want to compete. I like those guys. To me, our competitor has been the 'NBA on TNT' because we're always battling against them for the Sports Emmy," Howard said. "No disrespect to ['Big Noon Kickoff'], I'm sure they do a fantastic job."

It's certainly hard not to read Desmond's comments as a slight, even if he didn't mean for them to come off that way. But the numbers are definitely in the Worldwide Leader's favor when it comes to CFB pregame coverage.

Saying goodbye to Lee Corso

Later in the sit-down, Howard also talked about the impact of Lee Corso who's set to step away from television after nearly four decades on-air.

"Coach Corso is one of the most influential TV personalities the sport of football has ever seen. Not just college, but the sport of football," Howard explained. "He belongs on the Mount Rushmore with the likes of Keith Jackson and John Madden. They were so influential on the sport of football. To me, that's the type of influence he's had throughout his career."

"This is entertainment and not to take yourself too seriously. That's the most important thing that I learned," Howard continued. "He's done a fantastic job of helping me personally understand what the purpose is."

Corso's final broadcast will take place on Aug. 30 when ESPN travels to Columbus, OH for the season opener between No. 3 Ohio State and No. 1 Texas — the campus where he made his first ever headgear pick back in 1996.