See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode: Chris Fowler & David Pollack Celebrate Lee Corso | College Football Week 1 Predictions

Date: August 28, 2025

Overview

This episode dives into the exhilarating kickoff of 2025’s college football season. Host David Pollack, alongside co-host Brent Rollins, breaks down week one’s most anticipated matchups, discusses the stories and personalities shaping the sport, and welcomes ESPN legend Chris Fowler for an insider’s perspective. A heartfelt tribute to Lee Corso's legacy on College GameDay weaves through the show, celebrating the coach’s unique impact as he nears retirement.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. New Segment: Podium Kings – Sounds from the Week

(03:25 – 10:06)

• Concept Introduction: Each week, the team spotlights the most compelling, humorous, or revealing comments from coaches and players, using their direct quotes to set the stage for analysis.

  • “It’s called Podium Kings. It’s the sounds from the weekend, the week of… like, the different things that they said; something we’re like, oh, that caught my eye.” – David Pollack (01:25)

• Kirby Smart on Colbie Young (Georgia WR):

  • Smart’s emphasis on leadership, toughness, and physicality as key traits for WR1.
  • Pollack’s analysis: “If you don’t block, you can’t play at Georgia. No block, no rock.” (05:19)

• Texas A&M RB Leon Moss’s Mentality:

  • “Running out of bounds is like running from a fight.” – Leon Moss (06:06)
  • “I could not love this anymore… that guy’s on my team, I’m glad he’s on my team.” – Pollack (06:08)
  • Noted stat: Moss averaged 4.4 yards per attempt after contact last year.

• Coach Fran Brown’s Authenticity & Approach to Scholarships (Georgia Alum):

  • “I got money… I’m gonna pay his way and I got another scholarship.” (07:22)

• Arch Manning on the Season’s Pressure (Texas):

  • “We're not the hunted, we're the hunter. We have the red dot on everyone else.” – Arch Manning (08:24)
  • Pollack: "When you're a QB, you gotta have a level of swag… you want that from your QB..." (09:06)

2. Week 1 Matchup and Predictions

(12:07 – 33:35)

Georgia Tech vs. Colorado

• Both co-hosts pick Georgia Tech due to known strengths and consistency, but express intrigue about Colorado’s new identity post-Sanders era.
• Fun Fact: Colorado’s live mascot, Ralphie, is retiring due to “an indifference to running” (16:34).
  • “Count me on the list… I have an indifference to running, too. Who the heck likes running?” – Pollack (16:38)

Boise State at USF

• Boise favored, but questions raised about a cross-country trip and team adjustments post-NFL departures.

Nebraska vs. Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium

• Both pick Nebraska, citing improved roster and must-win status for a program seeking to take the next step.
• Brent highlights DL transfer Williams Nwaneri and Nebraska’s new offensive weapons.

Auburn at Baylor

• A pivotal contest for Auburn’s program identity.
• “Auburn fans are like this right now… they’re trying to figure out who they are. Are they a seven [win team] or are they a two or a three?” – Pollack (22:31)
• Both believe Auburn’s elite WR duo and strong OL give them an edge, if the QB play holds up.

Tennessee vs. Syracuse (Neutral Site, Atlanta)

• Tennessee’s defense is viewed as the key.
• Discussion of fit and risk in Hypel’s offense; concern for turnover propensity of new Syracuse QB Steve Angeli (from Notre Dame).
• “You gotta trust Hypel… he finds a way to get it done.” – Pollack (29:39)

Alabama at Florida State (Doak Campbell Stadium)

• High focus on QB play and Alabama’s ability to contain FSU’s dynamic dual-threat QB Thomas Castellanos.
• “The running quarterback’s been an issue for Bama… you could play touch football on an elevator and lose to Tommy [Castellanos].” – Pollack (30:49)
• Brent flags rising FSU RB Arelious Crum—curiosity if he’ll make an impact as a true freshman.

3. Chris Fowler Joins: Celebrating Lee Corso, Previewing LSU vs. Clemson

(35:46 – 52:52)

Fowler's Dual Schedule/Football Excitement

• “These are my two favorite sports [football and tennis]… when they converge… I’m pumped up. I use sleep is for October, I guess.” – Chris Fowler (36:09)

Intel from LSU Coaches on Their Opener Against Clemson

• Fowler shares LSU’s optimism after offseason investment in the portal, significant improvement on OL/DL, and confidence in QB Nussmeier.
• “The Bayou Bengal Tigers have a better chance of going in there and winning than I thought… two hours ago.” – Fowler (38:50)

Clemson’s Outlook and Defensive Upgrades

• Fowler notes Klubnik’s growth, defensive improvements under new coordinator Tom Allen (from Penn State), and Clemson’s avoidance of Miami in the ACC schedule.
• “They [LSU] played so much Cover 2 last year… didn’t look like LSU at all. But now they think they are [ready].” – Fowler (39:32, 40:30)
• Both agree it’s a playoff-caliber matchup to open the season.

Lee Corso – Memories, Legacy, and Headgear Tradition

• Fowler paints Corso as much more than an entertainer — a mentor and a coach to all who worked with him.
  • “He made you want to believe in yourself… he showed confidence in you. That’s how he was as a coach and as a colleague.” – Fowler (42:30)
  • Anecdote: “It’s entertainment, sweetheart.” – Lee Corso to Pollack on set, reminding him of the show’s spirit (44:16)
• McDonald's drive-thru story: Corso unwittingly eats a chicken sandwich dropped in a parking lot and reassembled for a halftime skit — a testament to his comic commitment and laid-back nature (45:40).
• Emotional reflection on Corso’s final show at Ohio State, full-circle where he donned his first headgear.
  • “There’s never going to be another one… it should go away [after Corso].” – Pollack on retiring the headgear tradition (48:32)
  • “He would say yes to anything… he would commit 100%.” – Fowler (49:30)

Rapid-Fire Weekend Plotlines and Picks

• Ralphie’s retirement as Colorado mascot bums Fowler out: “That’s the one downer of the weekend.” (50:06)
• Anticipation for Texas–Ohio State: “All six [top 10 teams playing] could make the playoff. This is as deep and strong a week one as I can remember.” – Fowler (41:35, 42:04)
• US Open tennis pick: “Sinner is the easiest pick to make… those two young guys, Sinner and Alcaraz, are in a class by themselves right now.” – Fowler (51:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Arch Manning Q&A:

  • “We’re not the hunted, we’re the hunter. We have the red dot on everyone else.” – Arch Manning (08:24)

• On Bold QB Attitude:

  • “You gotta have a level of swag… you gotta kinda think you’re bulletproof.” – Pollack (09:06)

• On Lee Corso:

  • “He made you want to believe in yourself… he was a wise, experienced voice and resource when you needed that in your life.” – Fowler (42:30)
  • “It’s entertainment, sweetheart.” – Lee Corso via Pollack (44:16)

• On Georgia’s WR Room:

  • “If you don’t block, you can’t play at Georgia. No block, no rock.” – Pollack (05:19)

• On Auburn’s Current Program State:

  • “Auburn fans are like this right now… they’re trying to figure out who they are. Are they a seven or are they a two or a three?” – Pollack (22:31)

• On Ralphie (Mascot) Retirement:

  • “Count me on the list. I have an indifference to running, too.” – Pollack (16:38)
  • “That’s the one downer of the weekend.” – Fowler (50:06)

• On Headgear Tradition:

  • “Do you dare try that [headgear] with someone else? …I think it should go away [with Corso].” – Fowler & Pollack (48:20)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Podium Kings Feature: 03:25 – 10:06
• College Football Week 1 Picks: 12:07 – 33:35
• Chris Fowler Joins (Celebrating Corso, LSU/Clemson Analysis): 35:46 – 52:52
• Corso Stories and Headgear Discussion: 42:04 – 49:30
• Weekend’s Big Games & Tennis Pick: 50:06 – 52:52

Final Thoughts

This episode expertly intertwines in-depth game previews, behind-the-scenes insights, and warm, humorous storytelling about college football’s legends. Pollack and Rollins deliver sharp, honest analysis, while Chris Fowler’s stories remind listeners of the heart and humanity that underpin the sport’s culture. The show ends with a call to savor both the spectacle of Week 1 and to honor Lee Corso’s singular mark on college football.