TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— On October 4, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded Coach Lee Corso with the Governor’s Medal of Freedom, one of the highest honors in the state of Florida, in recognition of his impact on college football, sports broadcasting, and his alma mater Florida State University.

“For decades, Lee has been an essential part of the college football experience,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “From his time as the ‘Sunshine Scooter’ at Florida State, to his coaching career, to his iconic headgear picks each Saturday morning, Lee has been a fixture of college football. He has devoted his life to the game he loves, and he has made all Floridians proud.”

The Governor’s Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the state of Florida and its citizens, and Lee Corso has exemplified that achievement and beyond.

Lee Corso moved to Florida at the age of 10 and came to Florida State from Miami in 1953 as one of the most highly recruited players in Florida history. Four years later, he graduated leaving a record for versatility rarely matched in collegiate sports. He starred on both offense and defense on the football field, leading the Seminoles in interceptions in 1954, rushing in 1955, and passing in 1956, He was the FSU career interception leader with 14 until Deion Sanders tied him in the late 1980’s. He was honorable mention All-America (Associated Press) as a senior in 1956 and was selected to play in the Blue-Gray All-Star game. Corso was also an outfielder on the Seminole baseball team.

After graduation, Lee became an assistant football coach at Florida State, Maryland, and Navy before becoming head coach at Louisville and Indiana. He became a household name as an ESPN analyst on the College Football Gameday television show, which he was part of for 38 years, retiring in 2025. He visited Florida State University with College GameDay 11 times and made 19 FSU headgear picks out of 28 games involving Florida State.

The Governor’s Medal of Freedom was established in 2020 under Section 14.35, Florida Statutes, which allows the Governor to recognize any person who has made an especially meritorious contribution to the interests and citizens of the state, its culture, or other significant public or private endeavor.

The legendary Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden was the inaugural recipient of the Governor’s Medal of Freedom on April 7, 2021. Other recipients of the Governor’s Medal of Freedom include Felix I. Rodríguez-Mendigutía, who received the award on September 16, 2021, Barbara Nicklaus, who received the award on February 25, 2022, and Benjamin Ferencz, who received the award on April 7, 2022. In August 2025, Governor DeSantis posthumously awarded the Governor’s Medal of Freedom to Jimmy Buffett, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Bob Graham, Buddy MacKay, and John Thrasher.

Media Release: Office of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

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