ESPN College Football Analyst Beano Cook Dead At Age 81

It is a sad day in the sports world as Carroll H. "Beano" Cook, legendary ESPN college football analyst has died at the age of 81 . Cook, who spent four seasons with ABC Sports before joining ESPN in 1985 was best known for his humorous takes on college football and his outlandish prognosticating skills. I will never forget Beano's prediction that Ron Powlus would win two Heisman Trophies and end his career as the greatest quarterback in Notre Dame history. His epic rant with College Gameday's production crew is a permanent staple on ESPN's blooper reel.

When I first started hosting Sportstalk in 1997, Cook was a regular guest on the program. About 10 years ago, Beano changed his home number and we were no longer able to book him as a show guest. That changed last September when ESPN Radio helped us track him down for our last ever show interview.Chad Middleton actually spoke with Beano about three weeks ago about getting him back on the show, but the 81-year old told him that he was not feeling good enough to come on the show. Little did we know that would be the last time any of us would get to speak with Cook. Like Bert Sugar, who died in March, the sports world is mourning the loss of another great character that simply does not exist in today's world of bloggers and social media commentators. Rest in peace, Beano.