Former Pitt official, ESPN analyst Beano Cook dies

PITTSBURGH — Carroll H. “Beano” Cook, a colorful sports commentator known by many as the pope of college football, has died. He was 81. His death was announced by the University of Pittsburgh.

Cook grew up in the Chatham Village neighborhood of Duquesne Heights, graduated from Pitt in 1954 and served as the school’s sports information director from 1956-66. From 1966-74, he was ABC Sports’ NCAA press director.

Following stints as a sportswriter for the St. Petersburg Times, public relations director for the Miami Dolphins and the Mutual Radio Network, Cook joined CBS sports and served in a public relations capacity from 1977-82. He was a studio commentator for ABC Sports’ College Football Association telecasts from 1982-85.

In 1986, Cook joined ESPN, where he continued as a college football studio commentator until the time of his death.

This article was written by Channel 11’s news exchange partners at TribLIVE.

WPXI