Best Lee Corso moments: Live animals, F-bombs, Statue of Liberty and more

Over the years, Corso has become the patron saint of college football, with his weekly headgear pick ushering in Saturdays in the fall for nearly four decades.

Per ESPN PR, Corso has made 430 headgear picks and has been correct nearly twice as often as he's whiffed, going 286-144 (.665).

In 2020, Corso discussed where the headgear idea originated from, saying, "I was on the set with Kirk [Herbstreit], and Brutus walked by. I said to Kirk, 'You know what? If I put that head on, everybody will know I pick Ohio State. I won't have to say a word.'

"The crowd went crazy, people at ESPN went crazy. I said, 'I think I got a schtick right here,'" the former Florida State quarterback and 15-year head coach (Louisville, Indiana, Northern Illinois) added.

And what a schtick it was. Let's take a fond look back at some of our favorite Corso headgear moments.

The original

It's only right to start at the beginning. The tradition began on October 5, 1996 in Columbus, Ohio, where "GameDay" broadcast ahead of a top-five showdown between No. 3 Ohio State and No. 4 Penn State.

The Buckeyes would win in a blowout, 38-7.

Celebrating the true meaning of Bedlam

Few outside of Oklahoma have embraced the Bedlam Series as perfectly as Corso. During consecutive "GameDay" appearances in Stillwater for the annual (until the 2024 season) rivalry (2015, 2017), Corso picked Oklahoma State, and he celebrated the occasion by firing guns both times.

The Cowboys lacked the same kind of ammunition, losing to the Sooners both times by a combined score of 120-75.

Lee Corso: When Nature Calls

As much as we enjoyed seeing Corso every Saturday during the fall, it's a shame he never got his own television show on Animal Planet.

Some of his greatest "GameDay" moments involved live animals, including in early October 2019, when he picked No. 10 Florida to defeat No. 7 Auburn (he was right), and held a baby alligator next to Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Florida running back Emmitt Smith.

He had a complicated relationship with Uga, Georgia's live bulldog mascot, calling it ugly on several occasions yet affectionately holding a bulldog puppy in August 2013.

Who can forget his kinship with the Oregon Duck, whom he shared a sweet moment with in 2022, his second-to-last stop in Eugene, which ended with a live duck flying out of Corso's hands?

A true American patriot

Corso was never shy about celebrating his country with some excellent costumes, including this classic Ben Franklin getup at a Penn-Harvard game in November 2002.

In 2015, he celebrated "GameDay's" first appearance at James Madison (then an FCS member) by announcing his pick as America's fourth president before donning the Duke Dog headgear.

Then, two years later, "GameDay" took over Times Square in New York City, where Corso appeared dressed as the Statue of Liberty.

The NFL headgear pick

ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" got in on the festive "GameDay" atmosphere when it traveled to New Orleans for a hyped November 2018 regular-season game between the Rams and Saints.

Corso appeared to make his game pick, correctly choosing New Orleans, which won, 45-35, in front of the French Quarter crowd.

The best moment

Out of all of Corso's memorable headgear picks, his best came during the 2011 season when "GameDay" made its first (and only) appearance at Houston on Nov. 19 ahead of the Cougars' 37-7 win over SMU.

After one of his patented fake-outs, Corso threw down a Mustangs bullhorn while shouting, "Ah, f--- it," as Herbstreit, host Chris Fowler and guest-picker Hakeem Olajuwon burst out in laughter.

Per the Houston Chronicle, Corso apologized for the gaffe later in the day, saying, "Earlier today ... I got a bit excited and used an expletive that I shouldn't have used. I apologize and can promise it won't happen again."

Once was more than enough. Nearly 14 years since his F-bomb slip, it's a gift that keeps giving.