Our Greatest Legacy is Found In Our True Selves

​It was October 5, 1996. College GameDay was in Columbus, Ohio for the Ohio State vs. Penn State game. At that time, GameDay was relatively new to the "on campus" format. It was near the end of the broadcast that day when it came time for predictions

That's when Lee Corso decided to spice things up.

Instead of saying, "Ohio State will win," he pulled out a Brutus Buckeye mascot head and put it on. In Corso's words, putting on the headgear was his way of entertaining the fans as much as analyzing the game.

That single spur of the moment decision turned into one of the most beloved rituals in college football. Maybe in all of sports. It gave College GameDay a signature moment, it made Corso a cultural icon.

It's important to see, this wasn't some clever ESPN marketing idea. It was just Corso being Corso - playful, unscripted, authentic. I think that's what made it magic.

Yesterday, I watched with millions of college football fans as Corso, now 90 years-old, completed his full circle moment. On the final Saturday of his career, in Columbus Ohio, he used his final prediction to once again put on the Brutus Buckeye mascot head.

And hey, for good measure, he went out with a correct pick!

As I watched college football yesterday, I reflected a lot on Corso. He was exactly my age when he made that spontaneous first headgear pick. And yet, at 61 years old, he didn't add just a little twist to a Saturday morning sports show, he unknowingly launched the tradition that would define his life's work and bring joy to millions.

Corso's final moment reminded me, and maybe it can remind you too; it’s never too late for a new chapter to begin.

Sometimes the moments that define our lives come not when we’re chasing them, but when we’re simply being ourselves. Corso didn’t plan a legacy. He just lived one into existence.

I’ve spent too much of my life believing joy, happiness, and contentment required me to be someone other than me. I’ve hidden my headgear instead of putting it on. Thanks for the reminder, Coach Corso. You’ve shown us that the best parts of our stories may still be waiting to unfold, if only we’ll step into them as ourselves.