Dear Brad;
Great job of telling your story of coming of age (as an 18- to 22-year-old).
I vividly remember your Miami years as I was a part of them. **
I felt your success lay in being so much quicker than the interior offensive lineman. I admired your toughness and strength.
My memories of you are some of the most pleasant of my coaching career.
I really enjoyed reading your story (Unshackled by SOZO) because I thought I knew how it was going to turnout. But I never suspected the inner turmoil that you were going through. I wish that I could have been more aware of what you had to deal with.
You did a magnificent job of defeating the inner beast.
May God continue to bless you and your family.
Ron Corradini
Miami University
Varsity Defensive Line Coach
Head Freshmen Football Coach ‘71
Assistant Coach 1969 through 1973
PS: Brad, something you don’t know… is how many times at the University of Colorado we (as a coaching staff) openly wished we could find a “Cousino”.
** For context from Brad Cousino’s perspective: Coach Ron Corradini was my freshmen ‘head coach’ in 1971. In my Sophomore & Junior years (1972 & 1973) he was the defensive line coach for the interior line (defensive tackles and middle guards). When Coach Mallory got the head coaching job at the University of Colorado Buffaloes (Big Eight Conference) in 1974, Coach Corradini was selected to go to Colorado with the rest of the Miami football staff (except for Coach Dick Crum, who became Miami’s new head coach).
Coach Corradini was also the Head Wrestling Coach for Miami University in 1969 thru 1973. During the off-seasons, I spent hundreds of hours practicing with his wrestling team. Why? I wrestled in high school, and I knew it would help me become a better football player. He was a phenomenal football & wrestling coach and he helped me learn to be a difference maker on and off the football field. Coach Corradini was a great role model for me to learn how to become a better ‘man’.
Appendix #5C – Miami Coach Dick Crum
Defensive Coordinator 1969 – 1973 / Head Coach 1974 – 1977
To: The readers of Brad Cousino’s memoir “Unshackled by SOZO”
From: Former Miami Head Coach Dick Crum
Re: Brad Cousino as a player for Miami’s 1973 & 1974 undefeated seasons **
Date: July 2, 2022
Brad’s story is one of pure determination… and what that character trait can do for a person — and for a team. He NEVER GAVE UP, no matter the odds! The men who played at Miami University with Brad can attest to this fact.
His leadership, attitude and example were never more evident than Miami’s 1974 football season. The entire 1973 Miami football coaching staff moved to University of Colorado with Coach Mallory after Miami’s stellar 1973 undefeated season. Even more challenging was that seven of the 1973 top defensive starters were graduating seniors.
Brad was the returning All MAC 1st team middle guard and the 1973 defensive MVP of the Mid-American Conference. As a key returning defensive player, it fell on Brad’s shoulders to take the responsibility for helping lead the 1974 defensive unit. Brad rose to the challenge and did an outstanding job. He repeated as the defensive MVP of the Mid-American Conference for 1974 and was named to most every All-American team. But I later learned that Brad was most humbled and proud to be chosen by the Miami coaching staff and his teammates as Miami’s 1974 Most Valuable Player. He considers it his highest achievement. All the great plays, recognition, and success at Miami had been a direct result of Brad’s determination to be a ‘Difference-Maker’ for his team… and to keep the winning streak intact thru out his senior year. Dick Crum
** For context from Brad Cousino’s perspective: Miami’s 1973 team was undefeated at 11-0. They had the #1 ranked defense and 15th ranked team in the country. In 1973 Miami beat Purdue University (Big 10), South Carolina (SEC), University of Cincinnati, and the University of Florida Gators (SEC) in 1973 Tangerine Bowl, (now it’s the Citrus Bowl). The 1974 schedule was even more intimidating which included a rematch with Purdue University (Big 10), University of Kentucky (SEC), Cincinnati Bearcats, University of Georgia Bulldogs (SEC) in the 1974 Tangerine bowl. Despite the daunting schedule and loss of coaching staff and key players from the 1973 team, the 1974 Miami team continued to have the longest unbeaten streak in the country, finishing #10 in the country, the highest finish for any Miami team… ever! And that top 10 finish was also the highest finish for any Mid-American Conference (MAC) team…ever! The 1974 Miami Redskins team is considered by many to be Miami’s and the MAC’s G.O.A.T. – the Greatest Of All Time!
Coach Crum was a very smart football coach. He was Miami’s defensive coordinator for my Sophomore & Junior years. He was a defensive genius. We finished #1 defense in the country in 1973 and #3 in 1974. Coach Crum knew how to get the most out of each player. I was very happy that Coach Crum was named Miami’s new head coach for my Senior Year… Coach Mallory won MAC coach of the year in 1973 and Coach Crum won MAC coach of the year in 1974… both coaches were the best of the best!
