[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13314]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     SALUTE TO ``CORM & THE COACH''

  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, it is my privilege today to salute 
Vermont radio personalities Steve Cormier and Tom Brennan, best known 
to Vermonters as the morning team ``Corm & the Coach'' on Champ 101.3.
  Sixteen years ago, University of Vermont basketball coach Tom Brennan 
made a guest radio appearance on Steve Cormier's radio show. The two of 
them hit it off, not only as a duo, but with listeners. What started as 
a guest spot ended up becoming an extremely popular morning radio show 
for 16 years.
  Recently, Coach Brennan decided to go out on top, as he did when he 
retired from the University of Vermont following three consecutive 
America East Conference championships. ``Corm & the Coach'' will air 
for the final time on Wednesday, July 2, 2008. Fortunately for 
Vermonters, Corm will remain on the air, continuing to keep us both 
entertained and informed, and Coach Brennan will continue to provide 
expert college basketball analysis on ESPN.
  I have had the good fortune to appear on ``Corm & the Coach'' many 
times, and thought it important to take this opportunity to extend my 
appreciation to both of them. In honor of a great 16 years of ``Corm & 
the Coach,'' I ask unanimous consent that the article by Mike Donoghue 
of the Burlington Free Press, Corm To Carry On, Without The Coach, be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
The Record as follows:

            [From the Burlington Free Press, June 11, 2008]

                  Corm To Carry on, Without the Coach

                           (By Mike Donoghue)

       ``Corm and the Coach,'' the popular morning drive-time 
     radio show that helped thousands of Champlain Valley 
     listeners wake up for almost 16 years, will sign off July 2.
       Tom Brennan, who retired as the University of Vermont men's 
     basketball coach in 2005, plans to leave local radio next 
     month, he and co-host Steve Cormier said Tuesday.
       ``I'm just really tired. I just don't want to turn into a 
     cranky old man,'' Brennan said.
       ``I tried to make things better for people,'' he said. ``I 
     just knew it was time for me to pack it in. I'm very 
     appreciative of the faithful listeners. It was really nice 
     when you would hear from them that we had helped make their 
     day,'' he said.
       Cormier, who is also program director at WCPV-FM, will 
     continue to do the morning show.
       Cormier said more details will be released this morning on 
     the ``Corm and the Coach'' show, which airs Monday through 
     Friday from 5 to 9 a.m. on Champ 101.3 (WCPV-FM) in 
     Colchester and 102.1 in Randolph. ``The Best of Corm and the 
     Coach'' is part of the Saturday morning broadcasts.
       Brennan will continue to work as an in-studio basketball 
     analyst for ESPN, which he joined in 2005.
       Cormier said Brennan's departure has nothing to do with the 
     pending sale of the station by Clear Channel to Vox 
     Communications this summer. The sale is expected to be 
     completed by midsummer, Cormier said.
       ``He's just tired. Tom said if it was an afternoon show, it 
     would be fine, but getting up at 4 a.m. is not,'' Cormier 
     said. ``I got him 10 more years than I thought I would.''
       ``Corm and the Coach'' began with Brennan stopping by to do 
     morning sports reports, but blossomed into one of the highest 
     rated local shows through the years.
       During the show, Brennan has enjoyed providing wake-up 
     calls to bleary-eyed opposing coaches, members of the media 
     and other newsmakers. He read his poetry about current events 
     over the airwaves and is in demand as a public speaker and 
     master of ceremonies. The show has supported a number of 
     charities, including its own golf tournament.
       Brennan coached the Catamounts for 19 years. The team won 
     the America East championships and made NCAA tournament 
     appearances in his final three seasons. The highlight of his 
     career was UVM's upset of Syracuse in the 2005 NCAAs.
       Cormier said the initial game plan is to continue the show 
     with producer Carolyn ``Burkie'' Lloyd until the new owners 
     take over, at which time discussions will be held. He said 
     guest celebrities might be asked to co-host.
       ``All good things must come to an end,'' Cormier said.

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