Meet the Hosts

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Find out everything you need to know about the hosts of Mascot Madness, ESPN college football analyst Lee Corso and wildlife expert Jeff Corwin.

More About Lee Corso
More About Jeff Corwin

Lee Corso
ESPN College Football Analyst

Lee Corso, one of college football's most knowledgeable, opinionated and entertaining analysts, is a key member of ESPN's college football production team. Corso -- who joined ESPN in 1987 after 28 years of football coaching experience at the college and professional levels, including 17 seasons as a head coach -- serves as a game studio analyst for College GameDay and the halftime and scoreboard shows.

Corso was head coach at Louisville from 1969-1972, where he compiled a 28-11-3 record in taking the Cardinals to their first bowl game ever, the Pasadena Bowl. He moved to Indiana in 1973, where in 10 seasons the Hoosiers went 41-68-2. His tenure was highlighted by the school's first bowl victory in 75 years, a 38-37 decision over previously unbeaten Brigham Young in the 1979 Holiday Bowl. He then coached Northern Illinois to a 4-4-1 mark in 1984, before taking over the reins of the Orlando Renegades of the United States Football League (USFL) in 1985 for one season. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach for 11 seasons (1958-1968) at Florida State, Maryland, and Navy. In addition, from January-July 1991, Corso served as general manager of the World League's Orlando Thunder. Also, he began to work in television, serving as an analyst on bowl games for Mizlou (1979-1982) and USFL games for ABC (1983).

He joined ESPN in 1987, and did one season of Arena Football analysis and two years of college football games. He moved to the studio in 1989, and in recent years College GameDay has earned a huge following as the most authoritative and comprehensive college football pregame show. In 1993, the show began traveling to the biggest game most Saturdays, and these visits have taken on the aura of a rock concert on college campuses, complete with huge, chanting crowds. Corso, with his unique combination of daring predictions, self-deprecating humor and penchant for wild hats (or the headpiece of a team mascot), has become a cult figure among students. His "Not so fast my friend," spoken as he begins to counter the prediction given by analyst partner Kirk Herbstreit, has become his trademark catchphrase.

Corso, whose college roommate was actor Burt Reynolds, received four varsity letters in both football and baseball at Florida State, and is a member of the FSU Hall of Fame. He received his bachelor of arts degree in physical education in 1957, and his master's degree in administration and supervision in 1958.

Corso is director of business development for Dixon Ticonderoga in Maitland, Fla., an international diversified manufacturer and marketer of writing and arts products.

Jeff Corwin
Wildlife Expert

Emmy Award winner Jeff Corwin has been working for the conservation of endangered species and ecosystems around the world since he was a teenager. Animal Planet audiences best know Corwin as host of The Jeff Corwin Experience, one of the most popular shows on the network, and for the Discovery Kids series Jeff Corwin Unleashed, which won him an Emmy as "Outstanding Host" and garnered nominations in three other categories. His prime-time limited series, Corwin's Quest,continues to win over fans of the network.

Since 2000, Corwin has partnered with Animal Planet and Discovery Communications as host and executive producer of The Jeff Corwin Experience and Corwin's Quest. He also was host of the first season of King of the Jungle and appeared in Giant Monsters for the network. His first book, Living on the Edge: Amazing Relationships in the Natural World from Rodale Publishing, is now in paperback. Before joining Animal Planet, Corwin was seen on the Disney Channel for three seasons of Going Wild With Jeff Corwin.

When not in the field, Jeff lectures on wildlife, ecology and conservation to audiences across the United States. Jeff also established an interactive museum and environmental education center called the EcoZone. Based in Norwell, Mass., the town where Jeff spent his childhood, the goal of the EcoZone is to build awareness for the wildlife and ecology unique to the wetlands of southeastern Massachusetts.

Now an expert in rainforest animals, Jeff was first introduced to tropical rain forests in 1984, while on an expedition to Belize, which fueled his interest in the study and conservation of these ecological marvels. Jeff has bachelor of science degrees in biology and anthropology from Bridgewater State College, and a master of science degree in wildlife and fisheries conservation from the University of Massachusetts. In 1993, Jeff addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations regarding the need to conserve neotropical rain forests. By 1994, Jeff had served as expedition naturalist for The Jason Project, the acclaimed documentary series produced by National Geographic and EDS under the direction of Robert Ballard.

Jeff's dynamic and humorous personality, combined with his camera-friendly good looks, led editors to choose him as one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" and Entertainment Weekly's highly regarded "It List." Men's Journal magazine called him "the world's greatest animal show host." In October 2003, Jeff made a guest appearance as himself on the popular television series CSI: Miami. Other television appearances featuring Jeff's conservation and on-air work include: Oprah, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Ellen, CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS Morning Show, Access Hollywood and Extra. In 2004, Jeff won an Emmy for "Best Performer in a Children's Series." In September 2005, Jeff was featured in Maxim's fall fashion issue.

Currently, Jeff is working on a variety of projects for Discovery Communications, including two for Animal Planet (Spring Watch USA, Mascot Madness), a major miniseries for Travel Channel (Into Alaska With Jeff Corwin) and a handful of series in development with Discovery Channel and TLC.

When not traveling the world, Jeff can be found at his eclectic home off the coast of Massachusetts, decorated with unique and unusual artifacts from his global travels, with his wife Natasha and daughter Maya Rose.