Pete Thamel Digs Into Lee Corso’s Past to Expose a Major Unknown Fact From His Indiana Days

Just a few days back, the storybook return of the legendary Lee Corso to Indiana Hoosiers in the epic throwback pullover must hit you right in the feel if you are an old hat in the college football fandom. The College Game Day set burst into joy, emotion, and nostalgia, all at once getting the prodigy back in his seat after prolonged physical distress. The thick of adrenaline floats in their veins as the veteran coach visibly fights his tears while reminiscing his glorious past with the program and receiving a heartfelt tribute from all the Hosier State associates. But all the whys of the overwhelming celebration came down to a simple truth: the 89-year-old left a lasting legacy to the CFB realm. His well-documented feats, however, include quite a fascinating detail that you might not be aware of.

You may have heard a lot of things about coach Corso and the ESPN analyst Corso being his peculiar self on TV, often catching the crowd with his quirks. You might even have a belly-aching laugh spotting a signature large mascot of Corso on a magazine cover page. But if you’re a young fan (under 40), go easy, my friend. You might have just watched the tip of the glacier. To get into the ice, let’s take you to a breezy evening in the late 70s when Corso led the Hosiers to their second-ever bowl game in history. Adding to his luster, Pete Thamel dug out another badge he proudly wears. ‘‘The face of the little 8”. Sounds unfamiliar? Well, the term stands for a former Big 12 subdivision.

Article continues below this ad

Corso has always been an eerie leader who doesn’t like to follow through and is a little skeptical about his ability to move Indiana to a higher radar too. The former Louisville guy couldn’t even bag more than two wins in a season until his fourth year in 1976. But with his exceptional grit, wisdom, and mysterious philosophy, Corso became a brand. In his peak with the Hosiers, it would be hard to mark even a day when the coach phenom didn’t make a headline.

”Fire ’em. Don’t just slap their wrists, cut off their hands! We demean the profession when we cheat. Coaching’s not a job, it’s a privilege.” Corso’s strong ethic throughout an illustrious career shined through his words.

The coach doesn’t only have a tit-for-tat attitude for the sinners, going against the virtue of football, but he possesses empathy sea into his heart for the less-noticed players and doesn’t back off from hyping them up even if the world turns its back.

Article continues below this ad

Coach Lee Corso has been an outlandish game-changer for IndianaThe coach had an eagle’s eye in spotting talent, even in the most unfavorable outer reality. When a 5’7″ running back, Mike Hark-Rader, got the badge of the first freshman in Big Ten history to rush for 1,000 yards surpassing all the naysayers, coach Corso put on a little smile and said, ”They aren’t small, they’re just short.”

Corso believes it wasn’t just about the typical benchmark that the industry set, rather he looks out for someone curated to fill out the Indiana holes, and his experience and innate sense never lie. When asked how he could be so confident in a 5’9″ defensive back Dale Keneipp, the unconventional visionary said, “We’re not looking for rebounders.” (Corso himself did some lofty quarterbacking as a 5’9″ 150-pounder at Florida State in the ’50s.)

Article continues below this ad

The celebrated personality, often dubbed as a clown (a perceptive clown) might not go down in history as the most successful college football coach, but his dynamism, extreme thoroughness, his ability to sprinkle a marvelous spirit to the feeble Indiana camp remain an unmatched asset in the program’s antiquity.

What’s your take on coach a lesser-known validation about coach Lee Corso’s decade-long career? Let us know in the comments.