Indiana University Athletics
Attitude, Having Fun Key for Corsaro
5/29/2015 3:59:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
Anthony Corsaro likes the versatility he and his fellow Hoosier tight ends have.
Whether head coach Kevin Wilson calls for run blocking, pass blocking or route running, Corsaro said he's confident IU's roster of tight ends has the talent to be able to make the plays they're asked to make.
But Corsaro is quick to say there's a difference between having the ability to make plays and the attitude of wanting to make them. He said he believes that difference is oftentimes what separates the good teams from the great teams.
Naturally, Corsaro wants his tight ends to be great, especially now. The rising senior's time in Bloomington is running out, and he wants to end his collegiate career on a high note.
Now a leader in the locker room, Corsaro has made it a point to stress having the proper attitude in training. He wants his teammates to work hard while not forgetting to have fun and enjoy the process of strengthening as a team.
"To say this game is hard is an understatement," Corsaro said. "As a leader on this team, I think the most important thing is to learn how to work smart and hard at the same time while enjoying it. If you don't enjoy it, you're not going to get better. I want our guys enjoying it."
Corsaro admits that's easier said than done. He still hasn't forgotten the frustrations he felt as a walk-on his freshman year from being pushed around by guys like Jason Spriggs and being awed by former Hoosiers tight end Ted Bolser.
"I remember seeing Ted Bolser and looking at myself and just thinking, `Oh my god. How am I ever going to do that?" Corsaro said.
For one of the first times in his life, Corsaro was undersized lined up against teammates.
Things have radically changed for Corsaro since then. He went from being named Indiana's Outstanding Walk-On Player of the Year in 2012 to earning a scholarship twice as a regular tight end in the Hoosier offense.
Reaching that point meant going through what he called "unexpected growing pains" as a younger player. He said it isn't uncommon for younger players to experience setbacks when transitioning the first year or two from high school to college football because of how much tougher the game is.
Now one of two senior tight ends that knows firsthand how tough the transition can be, Corsaro is doing his best to keep practices as light as he can without sacrificing effort.
During monotonous practice drills, Corsaro will go around screaming and yelling to keep teammates engaged. He'll push other players while joking around with them and make a point to have conversations with as many players as he can.
"It's kind of our job as players to keep the attitude up and moral high," Corsaro said. "It's all about buying in. That's why football is the best team sport there ever was because you really need all 11 guys to buy in and do their job or it's not going to work. I think the more fun you're having at practice, the easier that is."
As far as Corsaro can tell, his efforts to keep teammates engaged are working.
IU's 2015 spring practice had the best energy Corsaro said he's ever seen in his time in Bloomington. He said players came into practice every day excited to get to work, rather than dreading the physical demands of early morning workouts.
Corsaro said that type of energy is contagious, but warned that it's easy to fall right back into a rut. That's why even during the summer, he's doing all he can to stay in touch with teammates through social media or texting to make sure each individual player is still putting in his own work and having fun doing it.
"Stuff like that is actually really good for the team," Corsaro said. "It shows how tight we are, and I think that's going to be a big key to our success this year not only as tight ends but as a team."
Corsaro said he senses an increased energy and excitement in the team already. He said he's already counting down the days until everyone's back in camp together. He's excited to take on the challenges as a senior leader and wants to keep the high energy from the spring going this fall.
"As leaders, we're all going out there and we're making it fun," Corsaro said. "Football is fun. We're all better when we're enjoying it and that's how you win. All that has already started. We've just got to make sure we put it together when the time comes."
