Article updated: 10/11/2012 4:24 PM

ESPN college football guru Beano Cook dead at 81

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ESPN host Chris Berman, left, and college football commentator Carroll "Beano" Cook are shown discussing the NFL Draft. Cook died in his sleep Thursday, the University of Pittsburgh announced. The 81 year-old commentator had worked for the sports network since 1986 and was the sports information director at his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, from 1956 to 1966.

Associated Press

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Beano Cook, the college football commentator with an encyclopedic knowledge of the sport he dearly loved, has died. The 81-year-old Boston native had worked for ESPN since 1986 and was the sports information director at his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, from 1956 to 1966. The school announced Thursday that Cook had died in his sleep.