History of Lee Corso in Timeline
"Lee Corso, a renowned American sports broadcaster and football analyst, is best known for his long-standing presence on ESPN's College GameDay since 1987. Before his successful broadcasting career, Corso garnered considerable experience as a football coach. He held head coach positions at the University of Louisville, Indiana University Bloomington, and Northern Illinois University, amassing a career record of 73-85-6. His coaching journey also included a stint with the Orlando Renegades in the United States Football League, where he achieved a 5-13 record."
August 7, 1935: Lee Corso is Born
Lee Corso was born in Cicero, Illinois on August 7, 1935.
1956: Blue-Gray Game Start
Playing for the South team, Corso started as quarterback in the 1956 Blue-Gray Game.
1957: Bachelor's Degree
Lee Corso graduated from Florida State University in 1957 with a bachelor's degree in physical education.
1957: Marriage
Lee Corso married his wife Betsy in 1957.
1958: Master's Degree
Corso received his master's degree in administration and supervision from FSU in 1958.
1962: Recruiting Darryl Hill
While quarterbacks coach at Maryland, Corso helped recruit Darryl Hill in 1962, who became the first African American football player in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
1966: Defensive Backs Coach
Corso took a position as defensive backs coach at the Naval Academy in 1966.
1967: First Top 20 Ranking Since 1967
Indiana's victory in the 1979 Holiday Bowl propelled them to 16th in the UPI poll, their first top 20 ranking since 1967.
1969: Louisville Head Coach
Corso became the head coach at the University of Louisville in 1969.
1970: Louisville Bowl Game
In 1970, Corso coached Louisville to only their second-ever bowl game appearance.
1972: Move to Indiana
After coaching at Louisville, Corso was hired as head coach by Indiana University in 1972.
1973: Indiana Coaching Tenure Begins
Lee Corso began his time as the Indiana Hoosiers head coach in 1973.
1976: Leading Ohio State
For the first time in 25 years, Indiana held a lead against the Ohio State Buckeyes during a game in the 1976 season.
1979: Holiday Bowl Victory
During the 1979 season, Corso coached Indiana to a victory over the previously undefeated Brigham Young Cougars in the Holiday Bowl.
1980: Second Winning Season at Indiana
In 1980, Indiana finished with a winning record for the second time under Corso's leadership.
1982: Indiana Coaching Tenure Ends
After nearly a decade as head coach, Corso's time with Indiana ended in 1982.
1984: Northern Illinois Head Coach
For the 1984 season, Corso served as the head coach at Northern Illinois University.
1985: Orlando Renegades Head Coach
In 1985, Corso joined the USFL's Orlando Renegades as head coach.
1986: USFL Suspension
The USFL suspended operations before the start of the 1986 season, preventing Corso's return to the Orlando Renegades.
1987: College Gameday Debut
In 1987, Lee Corso joined the inaugural team of ESPN's College GameDay.
1993: Broadcasting From Game Sites
By 1993, College Gameday began broadcasting from the site of one of that day's featured games.
October 5, 1996: First Headgear Pick
On October 5, 1996, Corso donned the Ohio State mascot headgear to signal his prediction for that day's game, beginning his tradition of mascot headgear picks.
2001: Soybean Crayon
While serving as Director of Business Development for Dixon Ticonderoga, Corso spearheaded a project to create a crayon made completely from soybeans in 2001.
2006: Nike Commercial Cameo
Corso made a cameo appearance in a 2006 Nike commercial that featured a fictional high school football team with several famous players and coaches.
2006: NCAA Football 2006
The 2006 edition of the NCAA Football video game series from EA Sports featured Corso making his signature headgear pick at the beginning.
May 16, 2009: Stroke
Corso suffered a stroke at his home on May 16, 2009, impacting his speech and motor functions.
December 9, 2010: Contributions to College Football Award
On December 9, 2010, Corso received the National College Football Awards Association's Contributions to College Football Award.
November 1, 2014: 250th Headgear Pick
Corso made his 250th headgear pick on November 1, 2014, before the TCU-WVU game.
2018: Burt Reynolds Death
Corso's longtime friend and former roommate Burt Reynolds died in 2018.
September 16, 2023: 400th Headgear Pick
Lee Corso put on his 400th mascot head on September 16, 2023, picking the Colorado Buffaloes to win their game.