Beano Cook dies at age 81: College football broadcaster passed away in his sleep

As the college football world, and the sports world as a whole, mourns the death of ESPN college football analyst Beano Cook, we take some time to look at the words being said about a man who spent his life watching, loving and discussing college football. Cook died overnight at the age of 81.

ESPN’s Ivan Maisel wrote a touching story about the friendship he built with Cook as the pair conducted the ESPNU College Football Podcast together for the past six years:

Legendary college football broadcaster Beano Cook died Thursday at the age of 81. He’s been widely praised and remembered fondly all across the country Thursday, and longtime employer ESPN has released a five-minute video of some of his most memorable pronouncements over the years and parts of a latter-years conversation on the state of the game.

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College football commentator and historian Carroll “Beano” Cook, 81, died in his sleep Thursday, ESPN colleague and podcast partner Ivan Maisel revealed. In his last post at his blog, Cook lamented that, “health issues hit me at the worst time - start of College Football Season.”

Cook, the former Pitt SID who joined ESPN in 1986, was known for his ability to conjure endless trivia about classic college football matchups and has long been one of the most widely popular national college football television and radio analysts. He favored throwback football, always seemed to feel the next great Notre Dame resurgence was just around the corner, and was rarely afraid to make the boldest of predictions (like his famous claim that Irish blue chipper Ron Powlus was set to win two Heismans).