Lee Corso facts for kids
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Corso in 2024
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 7, 1935 Cicero, Illinois, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1953–1957 | Florida State |
| Position(s) | Quarterback, cornerback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1958 | Florida State (GA) |
| 1959–1965 | Maryland (QB) |
| 1966–1968 | Navy (DB) |
| 1969–1972 | Louisville |
| 1973–1982 | Indiana |
| 1984 | Northern Illinois |
| 1985 | Orlando Renegades |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 73–85–6 (college) 5–13 (USFL) |
| Bowls | 1–0–1 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2 MVC (1970, 1972) | |
Lee Richard Corso (born August 7, 1935) is a famous American sports broadcaster and college football expert. He used to be a coach. He is best known for being an analyst on ESPN's College GameDay show. He has been on the show since it started in 1987.
Corso was a head football coach at the University of Louisville from 1969 to 1972. He also coached at Indiana University Bloomington from 1973 to 1982. In 1984, he coached at Northern Illinois University. His total college coaching record was 73 wins, 85 losses, and 6 ties. He also coached the Orlando Renegades in the United States Football League in 1985.
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Lee Corso's Early Life and Playing Days
Lee Corso's parents, Alessandro and Irma, came from Italy. His father worked hard laying terrazzo floors. His mother worked in school cafeterias.
Lee was born in Cicero, Illinois, on August 7, 1935. When he was 10, his family moved to Miami. He went to Miami Jackson Senior High School. There, he played quarterback on the football team. He was also a talented baseball player. The Brooklyn Dodgers even offered him $5,000 to play shortstop for them!
However, Lee chose to go to college instead. He played both football and baseball at Florida State University (FSU). While at FSU, he shared a room with future actor Burt Reynolds. He also lived with Ron Fraser, who would become a famous baseball coach. Lee earned the nickname "Sunshine Scooter" because he was so fast on the football field. He set a school record with 14 career interceptions as a defensive player. This record stood for over 20 years! Lee also joined the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He played quarterback in the 1956 Blue Gray Game.
Corso finished college with a degree in physical education in 1957. He earned a master's degree in administration and supervision in 1958.
Lee Corso's Coaching Adventures
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After college, Lee Corso started his coaching career. He became the quarterbacks coach at Maryland. His former FSU coach, Tommy Nugent, was the head coach there. In 1962, Corso helped recruit Darryl Hill. Hill transferred from the Naval Academy. This made him the first African-American football player in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
In 1966, Corso moved to Navy to coach defensive backs. Then, in 1969, he became the head coach at Louisville. One of the players he coached there was Tom Jackson, who later became his colleague at ESPN. In 1970, he led Louisville to only its second-ever bowl game.
After Louisville, Corso became the coach at Indiana in 1972. He coached there from 1973 to 1982. He led the Hoosiers to two winning seasons in 1979 and 1980. The 1979 team even won the 1979 Holiday Bowl against the unbeaten BYU Cougars. This win helped Indiana reach 16th in the UPI poll. This was their first top-20 ranking since 1967. During a game in 1976, Corso famously called a timeout after his team scored a touchdown. He gathered his team for a photo with the scoreboard showing "Indiana 7, Ohio State 6." It was the first time in 25 years Indiana had led Ohio State in a game! Even though Ohio State won that game 47–7, it was a memorable moment. Corso left Indiana after ten years.
Corso then coached at Northern Illinois University for one season in 1984. His record there was 4 wins, 6 losses, and 1 tie. After that, he coached professional football for the Orlando Renegades in the United States Football League (USFL) in 1985. The league stopped playing before the next season began.
Lee Corso's Broadcasting Career
In 1987, Lee Corso joined ESPN. He became an analyst for their Saturday College GameDay show. Since 1993, the show has been broadcast live from the site of a big college football game. Corso is known for his funny personality on the show. He often jokes with his co-hosts, Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit, Pat McAfee, and Nick Saban.
One of his famous sayings is "Not so fast, my friend!" He usually says this to Kirk Herbstreit when he disagrees with Kirk's predictions. He also often calls everyone "sweetheart."
Corso is most famous for his mascot headgear prediction. At the end of each weekly show, he picks the winner of the big game by putting on the mascot head of the team he thinks will win. This tradition started on October 5, 1996. Before an Ohio State-Penn State game, he put on the "Brutus Buckeye" mascot head. On November 1, 2014, he made his 250th headgear pick, wearing TCU's Super Frog head. His 400th headgear pick was Colorado's Chip the Buffalo on September 16, 2023. Teams he picks win about 66.67% of the time!
Corso also appeared in a 2006 Nike commercial. It featured famous football players and coaches. He took off his hawk mascot head as a play happened in slow motion.
He also used to appear in EA Sports' NCAA Football video games. He would make his mascot headgear prediction in the game's pre-show. If a team didn't have a mascot, he would wear their helmet instead.
Other Work and Personal Life
When he's not working on College GameDay, Lee Corso works for Dixon Ticonderoga. This company makes writing and art supplies, like the No. 2 pencils he always holds on the show. In 2001, he helped create a crayon made completely from soybeans.
Corso is the honorary chairman for Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer. This charity raises money for research into childhood cancer. He was also honored with the National College Football Awards Association's Contributions to College Football Award in 2010. This award recognizes people who have made great contributions to college football. Lee also grew up attending his local Boys' Club. He is now in their Alumni Hall of Fame.
On May 16, 2009, Lee Corso had a stroke at his home in Florida. It affected his movement and speech. He spent time in the hospital and then went through a long recovery. He was able to return to College GameDay for the 2009 season. The stroke made it hard for him to speak for a month. Now, he has to prepare and practice what he will say on the show.
Lee Corso and actor Burt Reynolds were roommates and teammates at Florida State. They remained close friends until Reynolds passed away in 2018.
Corso has been married to his wife, Betsy, since 1957. They have four children and ten grandchildren.
Images for kids
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Corso in 2024
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Corso, around 1961
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Corso in 2014
