After LeBron James’ tribute to Lee Corso goes viral, Gabrielle Union’s 3-word tribute dominates spotlight

College football fans saw a special weekend that mixed history with emotion. A legendary voice of the game stepped away, and tributes poured in from stars across sports. From heartfelt posts to brief yet powerful words, familiar names made sure to honour the man who had shaped Saturdays for decades.

The reactions showed just how much his presence has meant over the years.

LeBron James and Gabrielle Union join in Lee Corso tributes

On Saturday, August 30, ESPN’s College GameDay aired from Columbus, Ohio, with a farewell spotlight on analyst Lee Corso, who is now 90 years old. Corso first wore Brutus Buckeye’s head on the show in 1996 at Ohio Stadium, and nearly three decades later, his run came to an end in the same city.A flood of tributes marked the moment. One of the first came from LeBron James, the NBA star born in Akron, Ohio.

On his Instagram story, he shared a video tribute to Corso and wrote, “We will all miss you man.” The post went live just as ESPN aired a primetime special on Corso’s career, adding to the emotion.

Not long after, Gabrielle Union, actress and wife of former Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade, joined in. She posted with the Nebraska Huskers on Instagram, calling Corso “Iconic. Thanks for being a staple of our Saturdays Coach Corso!” In the comments, Union added her own three-word tribute: “GO BIG RED.”

ESPN covered the farewell, and the Nebraska Huskers’ official page also highlighted Union’s salute, showing how Corso’s reach stretched far beyond football circles.

How fans, players, and ESPN celebrated Lee Corso’s farewell

The farewell episode in Columbus was filled with emotion. Kirk Herbstreit, Corso’s longtime co-host, called the day “storybook.” Fellow anchor Rece Davis said it was “a real blessing” to honor him while he was “feeling great, doing great, and excited for a game.”Corso’s trademark tradition of picking games by putting on mascot heads was central to the celebration. He wore his first Brutus Buckeye head in 1996, and over the years, he chose 69 different mascots, including Brutus 45 times. His prediction record of 66.5% stood out against his past coaching record of 73-85-6 at Louisville, Indiana, and Northern Illinois.Fans in Columbus cheered loudly as the show closed, knowing it was the last time Corso would slip on Brutus’s head in Ohio Stadium. Social media lit up with highlights of the day, connecting tributes from LeBron James and Gabrielle Union back to the coach who gave Saturdays a unique personality.Also Read:Will Giannis Antetokounmpo play against Cyprus? Greece reveals bold decision ahead of EuroBasket 2025 showdownEven at 90, Corso’s energy brought joy, and the messages showed the wide circle of respect. Stars from basketball to acting joined fans in saying thank you to the man who made College GameDay more than just a football show.