What do ESPN football “analyst” Lee Corso and Arizona Diamondbacks executive (and moneyed WVU booster) Ken Kendrick Jr. have in common?
Neither of them has any idea what he's talking about. Worse, Corso is paid to know what he’s talking about, I would assume.
Let's start with Corso.
I know Corso’s role on ESPN’s College GameDay is buffoon to Kirk Herbstreit’s cool analytics and Chris Fowler’s anchor-with-detachment. But the ESPN brass needs to rein Corso in before he completely embarrasses and discredits himself and the network.
I used to think of Terry Bradshaw as the hard-to-watch NFL buffoon on Fox, but eventually I realized it’s all an act—Bradshaw is a savvy football analyst and he’s just good TV.
Corso, I think, is trying to do Bradshaw, but he’s only got the buffoon part down now.
It would be easy to say that I’m pointing this out now because, prior to the Fiesta Bowl, Corso ranted about how Oklahoma would beat WVU by three touchdowns.
"Three touchdowns!," he yelled.
And you would be partly right. It feels good to point this out now.
But this is only the most recent of his many public humiliations. There’s the mascot heads, the shameless pandering to the crowd on
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But with his sheer wrongness in trying to talk about college football—I don’t know how he remains employed by ESPN.
One of my friends points out that it seems to be Corso’s job, if Herbstreit says so-and-so team will win by two touchdowns, Corso yells, "Three touchdowns!”
I thought Lou Holtz was the embarrassment of ESPN college football broadcasts, what with his pep talks and his oversized hats and his naked Notre Dame boosterism (and East Carolina boosterism, where his son coaches).
But at least Holtz knows his football. The same cannot be said of Corso.
Corso's college coaching record (Louisville, Indiana, Northern Illinois) is 73-85-6. At least Holtz was 249-132-7.
As for Kendrick—the man’s mean-spirited comment about new WVU coach Bill Stewart after his hiring was the worst kind of slur: an ad hominem attack that served no purpose.
Kendrick, a Rodriguez loyalist, said the former WVU coach was the “architect” of the WVU football program, and Stewart was a mere house painter. Kendrick was evidently drunk on the power of his newly forming metaphor and didn’t know when to stop.
This was only a day after WVU boy-president Mike Garrison not only made nice with Kendrick, who bad-mouthed the WVU program for, in his estimation, foolishly letting Rodriguez go, but also coerced a $1 million gift out of him.
Turns out, this was a bad idea.
It seems that Kendrick believed his check gave him another opportunity to take a shot at the program he professes to love. Maybe WVU doesn’t need that kind of money.
I don’t know Kendrick and I don’t know the dynamic, but from the news reports, it appears that he was tight with Rodriguez and Rodriguez felt he, not WVU AD Ed Pastilong, ran the WVU athletic department.
Which doubtless gave Kendrick access and bragging rights.
With his bodyguard gone to Michigan, Kendrick loses his clout at WVU, which stings. So he attempts to buy it back with his cool mil, which he then believes gives him the right to say nasty things about Stewart.
Kendrick may have legitimate concerns with the quick, emotional hiring of Stewart. Stewart may not be the best man for the job. And Kendrick could have said that when the reporter asked him, even though it was after the fact and would not lead to Stewart’s un-hiring.
But he should have said it a classier way. He shouldn't have dumped all over the man who took a program in shambles and delivered the most significant victory in WVU football history.
As it was, Kendrick came across like a petulant, spoiled child used to getting his way who suddenly does not, and lashes out to hurt anyone he can.
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8 months ago
Thanks for saying what many of the WVU fans would like to say. WVU fans appreciate Kendrick's largess, but even his largess could not keep Rick Rod in Mo'town. He may have even been part of the dynamic that made the 'architect' leave, for all we know. WVU fans, and Kendrick too, should realize that the team will work for Stewart, and the team is special. The players are all young and they have a chance for another run. When the chemistry is right, they can beat anyone, but when the chemistry is wrong they can't beat Pitt. RR made bad chemistry and Stewart makes it right.
While Stewart is there, those kids will play for him. When its time to leave, he'll go. Let him do his job and let Pastilong and the others do theirs. And maybe Kendrick will quiet down and be a supporter without the baggage of trying to direct the show from the box seats.
from 7 months ago
Why even write an article about Corso??? He is not that news worth, but look everyone knows the guy can't coach and needs a job. He's just the comic relief, I wouldn't take this so seriously. In actuallity we should be paying these analyst to say that "we" can't win the game. It only helps, however, was anyone willing to argue Corso's point prior to the game?
I sat through the Pitt WVU game and certainly had no idea what team would show up in the Fiesta bowl. I was thrilled but wouldn't have put any substantial bet on the outcome. Although I would have taken 3 TD from Corso. ; )
8 months ago
Thank you for your insight. I have written a couple of Emails to ESPN to chide them about the lack of class and knowledge they allow on the air. Speaking mostly about of Corso and Holtz. We can understand Mark May if he wants to "rib" WVU, he is a PITT grad. He has rights. But the others are idiot thugs that just do not want WVU mentioned with their favorite teams. I would have thought that one of these "college educated" (loosely noted) announcers would have jumped on the WVU bandwagon and been the "great see'er" of college football. You see, they are not that smart. As for your Kendrick's comments, you are right on the money. He is a wannabe WVU coach/administrator. We need to start a grass roots organization to raise funds outside the WVU foundation that would catch all of the fans that can give the minimum $400 but would give $ 5,10,50 or even 100 to fund that could be then donate the funds to WVU trough the WVU foundation. Hey, I know at least 50 WVU fans right now that would give. Simple thanks from WVU could be 10 -20 BLUE lot passes for the MOUNTIANEER FAN NATION to setup camp at home games. We loose so much money because WVU forgets about the FAN BASE that doesn't make $150K and up. If we have 4 million fans out there, I bet that they are only getting 40% of the FAN BASE. There's the reason for needing a "grass roots" effort for fundraising. Then WVU could tell Boosters like Kendrick to Go Pound Sand!!!
from 7 months ago
That "grass roots" concept is what started Clemson's IPTAY Club "I pay $10 a year". That was way back, so it might be $1000. a year now, but those numbers can grow exponentially.
from 7 months ago
by Brad
from about 5 hours ago That "grass roots" concept is what started Clemson's IPTAY Club "I pay $10 a year". That was way back, so it might be $1000. a year now, but those numbers can grow exponentially.
I graduated Clemson in 2003, and the IPTAY Club was $30/year. It hasn't grown tremendously over the years, but yea its growing... next thing they'll do will change it to IPFAY and then IPSAY, IPEAY, etc...
......just thought you might like that info. Great article though.
7 months ago
The sign in the pic is HILARIOUS!
7 months ago
Yeah that sign is pretty funny, lol.
Personally, I'm a Corso fan. He's that color guy that every team needs to keep the broadcasts from being so boring. He must know enough about football (record notwithstanding) to have coached for so many years. That's something that can't be said about several other analysts. And you know what, I look forward to the end of college gameday when he puts on the mascot head.
I went to the UK - Florida game when they had College Gameday and everyone HATED him when he put on the Gator head and started doing the Gator Chomp toward the crowd. One thing it did was get the crowd all fired up for the game. The type of stuff Corso does is all for entertainment and good fun - something we could use more of.
As far as his predictions? He did OK in the regular season but horrible in those last couple of games. Picking OSU probably wasn't the smartest thing ever and OU over WVU by three touchdowns was an egregious mistake. But considering WVU's situation after collossally choking against Pitt and losing the coach that built their program, who the hell (outside of West Virginia) would've picked them to win anyways?
So basically, Corso is all entertainment with a little football sprinkled in there - definitely one of those guys you either love or you hate.
As far as Kendrick goes, from what you say he sounds like a dick. But he's also a prominent booster so I guess he's entitled to his own opinion. Good stuff...
7 months ago
You discredit your entire article when you say that Kirk Herbstreit knows what he is talking about. This is a guy that would not know objectivity if it hit him square between the eyes. ESPN should fire this homer.
7 months ago
Great article and don't forget about Brian Jones from CSTV...this guy made himself and the network look like fools on 2 cases, first with West Virginia and then with LSU. What idiots! If you haven't seen it then here it is
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xMXW9X8rDjQ
7 months ago
I loved this article because even though Corso is hysterical with his antics, he's completely lacking as an analyst. He simply takes one aspect of a team, hypes it up, then says it will be the reason that team wins or loses by 3 touchdowns. I actually really like Herbstreit. I just have to take everything he says about Ohio State with a grain of salt because of his complete bias towards the school.
The best color guy ESPN has right now is Todd Blackledge. Why they pair him with that idiot Mike Patrick is beyond me.
7 months ago
If there were an election held for the biggest buffoon between Corso, Bradshaw and my nomination Dick Vital, it would be interesting to see who comes out on top.
7 months ago
Was you also there when he turned to the UK fans and gave them the 2 handed f**k u fingers. Sounds like a great professional to have represent Disney's channel. My 15 year old son was on the front row along with Jacob Tamme's wife. He has his head so far up Florida's rear-end he can't even find the end of his gator-nose. Kentucky lost to Florida by 8 sucking points after coming off a triple overtime win, beating the NATIONAL CHAMPS, they had a bye week before playing us, we didn't. If we would have, they would have ended up with another loss. We haven't beat Tennessee in over 20 some years, but Florida needed us to win and I was content to wait another year, just to keep them out of the SEC championship game. Whether they needed us to lose to Georgia or Tenn I didn't care as long as that meant they didn't get in. Usually SEC teams root for SEC teams in bowl games just to show how dominate we are, and we are the most dominate, but I took the utmost delight in watching Tebow land on his butt, and that one body slam, man that was nice. Watching them lose, there were no words to describe the joy. The only thing that topped it off more was watching my mountaineers beat Oklahoma after Ratriquez bolt for Michigan, what a worthless piece of crap. Go to Michigan, but don't to that to those guys who have played their hearts out, then you threw that Pitt game. Holding Pat White out made it easier to bolt, when you could have beat Ohio with WV and made history. Then again, thanks for leaving, we got the better man. Now I feel much better.
7 months ago
Corso needs to take some time off and get another face lift.
"Corso, I think, is trying to do Bradshaw, but he’s only got the buffoon part down now."
One of the funnier lines I've read on this site - good job.
7 months ago
Let's face it -- many of ESPNs coach-analysts were quasi-failures as head coaches in Div. IA
Holtz is okay. At least you know his homerisms and he's obvious about it.
Corso, Jim Donnan (regardless of his D1AA Marshall days), Bob Davie, and some others had really mediocre coaching records. Herbstreit at least does his homework and somewhat attempts to
look around the country at more than just what others say, but even he and Mark May continued
to jump on the Oklahoma bandwagon all year. All they'd keep saying is how talented that team is,
and that when they are all ready that they thought they were the best team in the country.
For at least 4 years now that's all we've heard about Okie-homa. Yet, one can consistently see that
Okie-homa gets whacked either heavily or very surprisingly or both in bowl games --
USC, Boise St, West Virginia. Then look at the few times they played on the road this year --
Colorado and Texas Tech. Face it, they weren't ever that good this year, but the idiocy that is ESPN helps promote and place some teams higher in the polls than they ever should be.
7 months ago
Wow. WVU is ANYTHING but a program in shambles. You Mountaineer fans are absolutely irrational.
7 months ago
ESPN is all about capitol gain, it is owned by Disney after all. They won't fire Corso until/unless he does something completely outlandish. Seems to me that Mountaineer fans are secretly happy that Corso picked Oklahoma to win by three TD's simply so they could say they were right. Wow, imagine that, a fan of a team disagreeing with a nationally televised personality. I am more than happy when I get to play the "I told you so" card, so why aren't you?
A lot of people watch College Gameday simply for entertainment and the laughability of it all. The mascot heads, catch phrases and sound effects are part of his persona and what people remember him for. He adds character however good or bad. Their paid to say these things to get people to watch. Everyone on Gameday of CFB Live has their bias opinions. Kirk Herbstreit lost it when an anchor called OSU, "Ohio". The four letter network has their agenda and annoying as they may be, the personalities have their bias thoughts, personas, ideas and opinions. Simple as that and it's never gonna change.
As for Holtz, he just annoys me because it sounds like he has a gallon of saliva in his mouth and says "I remember when........" every chance he gets. Know one cares when you were down 28-3 and came back in the second half and still lost 35-30 and the moral victory was the greatest feeling in the world, Lou.
I am not trying to put down Stewart as a coach, because he's obviously doing something right. But are we really looking at this from a non-objective view? Forming thoughts and opinions on someone none of us even know. Kendricks problem with Stewart doesn't feel that Stewart is the right man for the job so he should be tar and feathered? WVU interviewed a several candidates, but hired Stewart seemingly for his prior performance and winning the Fiesta Bowl. Perhaps we should be criticizing the administration for being so quick to hire someone they didn't even interview. If I'm the AD, president and especially a booster (forking over my hard earned cash) I would want to know what direction the coach plans to take the program. What's his plan for keeping the program in the national spotlight and building a powerhouse (face it your not there yet), recruiting, fund raising etc. etc. Think about this, Stewarts 5 year contract is 800k a year, the same amount they are sueing Rich for. Seems like more of a quick fix when the former coach is paying the new head coaches salary. If I shell out my own money that can be spent on whatever the university feels like and have no say, I'd be a little upset too. Wouldn't you speak your mind? I know I would.
from 7 months ago
Paul, in my opinion Stewart did not need to be "formally" interviewed. His skill level was already known by the athletic department from his many years on the WVU coaching staff. Mr. Kendrick is quite entitled to his opinion(s). I wish though, that he hadn't been so publicly negative about his love of RR and distaste of his former University that he says he dearly loves. I don't know of any booster for any school that is a part of hiring and/or firing of staff. Boosters, to my knowledge, are not an employed member of a school. I resent the comment "... when the former coach is paying the new head coaches salary..." The $4mil is not RR's money. It belongs to the University. The man signed a contract. RR knew full well that he would be legally responsible to pay the $4mil if he broke his contract. I think the $4mil is a little steep - maybe that was to disuade him from year after year threatening to leave for the Alabamas and Michigans ... Again, that is NOT RR's money. He gave us a lot to smile about these past 7 years and I wish him the best at U.M. However, I have never been more excited in my 49 years as I am now about the future of my Mounties. Have a good day.
7 months ago
Mike Tomlin, coach for the Steelers, said they had the best man for the job at WVU. and I'll take his word over Kendrick's anyday. Stewart is about done lining up his staff and he hasn't wasted anytime. The one thing he did right was get a lot of highly qualified guys who have a vested interest in this college, pride in where their from, and want it to succeed. It's going to be a great year, next year. Tomlin's first coaching job was because Stewart gave him a chance.
7 months ago
First of all, Corso doesn't even deserve a comment until he says something that makes sense. As for Holtz, every program he touched was in trouble, probation or under investigation upon his departure. Mark May is a Pitt promoter and his comment about the WVU fans throwing coins.....they threw dimes because they new Pitt didn't know how to make change. Rodriguez raped the WVU athletic department and is trying the same with some of our recruits. We'll see how long he survives at Michigan. It's obvious that he was given the appropriate first name of "RICH", because money is what he is chasing. After Michigans continued defeats vs OSU.........we'll see how long he survives with his pleasant sideline demeanor, language and demands. Time will tell. WVU will be better for his departure. Go Mounties.
WVFan
7 months ago
I've always wantied to make corso sucks shirts to sale in morgantown, I think I would be rich by now. : ) A old friend of mine that just passed away from cancer, told me before, that when he was going to WVU the fans hit Corso with a garbach can when the team was leaving the field after WV kicked his Indiana's teams ass. Guess, maybay thats why he doesn't care to much for us. ha ha
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