Long-time college football fan Beano Cook passed away today at the age of 81. A former sportswriter, a former Sports Information Director, a former public relations man with the Miami Dolphins and CBS Sports, he began his TV career on ABC as part of its college football pregame show first hosted by Jack Whitaker and then Jim Lampley. He moved to ESPN in 1986 and was part of College GameDay with Tim Brando and Lee Corso when it began in 1987.
Throughout the years, he showed his love for the sport and was very quick with a quip. One of his most famous quotes was in 1982 after hearing the news that the American hostages from Iran were given lifetime passes to baseball games, Beano said, “Haven’t they suffered enough?”
Cook had sought a spot on CBS’ NCAA Today college football pregame show with Brent Musburger, but when his bosses refused, he went to ABC which snapped him up and put him on its pregame show. Budget cuts at ABC caused Cook to move to ESPN.
In his later tears, Beano moved to Pittsburgh to take clare of his mother which prevented him from being on ESPN’s studio shows, but he remained as a contributor to ESPNews, ESPN Radio and the network’s podcasts.
And while some of his comments could come from way out in left field, there was no doubting of his love for college football.
Here’s an ESPN statement on Beano’s passing.
Legendary College Football Commentator Beano Cook Dies at 81
Longtime ESPN college football commentator Carroll H. “Beano” Cook – known as much for his caustic wit as for his encyclopedic knowledge of college football history – passed away in his sleep overnight at the age of 81 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
One of the sport’s most memorable commentators, Cook had appeared on ESPN as a college football studio analyst since 1985 after four years at ABC Sports. In addition to college football programming, SportsCenter and ESPNEWS on television, Cook was a fixture as a guest on ESPN Radio and had a popular podcast on ESPN.com.
“He was one of a kind,” said George Bodenheimer, ESPN executive chairman. “There never was and never will be another Beano. His combination of humor, passion, love of college football and his engaging personality left an indelible mark on the sport and touched anyone who knew him.”
Prior to ABC, Cook worked in public relations for CBS Sports from 1977-82. From 1974-77, he worked as sportswriter for the St. Petersburg Times, the director of public relations for the Miami Dolphins, public relations director for Mutual Radio Network, and toured with VISTA. From 1966-74, Cook served as ABC Sports NCAA press director.
Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Ivan Maisel – three ESPN personalities who worked closely with Cook over his career at ESPN – provided the following memories:
Fowler: “Cook was an American original. His passion, depth and breadth of knowledge, and humor were unique. He was an invaluable early mentor to me and friend. His imprint can still be seen on GameDay each week.”
Corso: “Beano was a unique human being and he was college football at ESPN. I am indebted to him. Beano was a tremendous help at the start of my television career and I would not be where I am today without him. I am forever grateful to Beano and the time we spent behind the GameDay desk.”
Maisel: “Beano loved college football, and he had the encyclopedic memory to prove it. More than that, he loved people. He collected friends like some people collect ;stamps. People would say they don’t make them like Beano, because of his ability to be so quotable. But Beano was one-of-a-kind in his friendship. I think all of us who valued that quality in him ;are very, very sad.”
Cook will always be remembered for his sense of humor. Over his ESPN years, he gave many memorable quips, such as:
- I’d like to do the last scoreboard show and then go. I don’t want to die in the middle of the football season. ;I have to know who’s No. 1 in the last polls. (1988)
- The three things that mean the most to me in life are my parents, Casablanca and college football – not necessarily in that order. (1987)
- You only have to bat a thousand in two things – flying and heart transplants. Everything else you can go four for five. (1988)
- You’ll never have a 16-team playoff in college football. The most that could happen would be four teams in the next century. ;But after that, I’m dead, so who cares? (1992)
- Colleges spend more money on the promotion of the Heisman than the Pentagon spends on toilets. (1990)
- Argentina invaded the Falklands because they had ESPN and the Argentines wanted to get the late scores. ; (1986)
- ESPN is like your family, it’s always there. The networks are like your mother-in-law. They are there on the weekends. (1988)
- When they list the great thinks of the 20th Century, they’ll say, penicillin, Sophia Loren, jet travel and ESPN. ; (1992)
- Known for his fear of flying, he would often point out that the first word you see at an airport is “terminal.”
Cook was graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1954 with a bachelor of arts degree. He also served 21 months in the Army, and upon his return, became his alma mater’s sports information director from 1956-1966.
Born September 1, 1931, Cook’s family moved from Boston to Pittsburgh when he was seven. One of his new friends gave him his nickname, “Beano.” Never married, he resided in Pittsburgh the rest of his life.
Beano will be missed.
And here’s a video from ESPN with Beano Cook in his own words.
