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As the years have gone by and legendary ESPN College GameDay host Lee Corso has shown more signs of age, he has had no better advocate than co-host Kirk Herbsteit.
The relationship between Corso and Herbstreit goes well beyond that of coworkers, or even friends. Herbstreit cares for Corso as if it were a father-son relationship, and it’s been a beautiful thing to see in the last few years.
On Saturday, Corso was briefly able to repay that care and affection prior to a lovely tribute to Herbstreit’s beloved golden retriever Ben, who passed away on Thursday after a battle with cancer.
Kirk Herbstreit getting emotional after losing his dog Ben.
Incredibly sad.
Touching that Lee Corso is there to comfort Kirk after Kirk has supported Lee through the years. 😢 pic.twitter.com/MVClkRazxv
— Savage (@SavageSports_) November 9, 2024
As host Rece Davis began to speak about Ben and the outpouring of messages of support following his passing, Herbstreit became visibly emotional.
He tried to speak but was too choked up to get much out in the way of words. It was at that point that Corso offered a simple gesture of support, resting a hand on Herbstreit’s shoulder.
It may not look like much, but anybody who has suffered a loss knows how much it can mean.
“Seeing Lee Corso help Kirk Herbstreit, returning the favor, broke my heart,” one fan tweeted.
“Seeing Corso comfort Herbstreit after how Kirk has taken care of him the last few years,” said another.
Touching Corso-Herbstreit Moment Is What Makes ‘College GameDay’ Special
A recent poll conducted by The Athletic showed that College GameDay still reigns supreme as the pregame show in college football.
There are several reasons for that. But perhaps the most predominant one is that viewers feel like they have a real, genuine relationship with the hosts.
“Count me as one who will enjoy Corso on Gameday for as long as he’s able. Really enjoy watching Herbie honor and support him like a son to an aging father,” a subscriber to The Athletic said of the show.
You can’t replicate that. It’s what makes the show, and particularly Saturday’s touching moment so special.