With just 40 days left until the Tigers' 2026 season opener, former LSU kicker John Corbello, who made the number 40 his own during a storied college career, sat down for a conversation that bridges two generations of the program.
A Father's Legacy
Corbello recalls his freshman year in 1999, a season that ended with the departure of head coach Gerry Dinardo. The transition period was raw, but it set the stage for the transformation that would soon follow.
Under Nick Saban, the Tigers began to climb the national ranks, and by Corbello's third year the team reached its first SEC Championship Game. The program's ascent was matched by a growing sense of belief among players and fans alike.
The 1999 Transition
Corbello's early experiences were marked by adjustment, but the arrival of Saban brought a new intensity and a clear vision for success. The coach's emphasis on discipline and recruiting reshaped the roster and the team's identity.
The pinnacle came when LSU stunned No. 2 Tennessee 31-20 to capture the SEC Championship, a victory that cemented the program's resurgence and highlighted Corbello's role as a reliable special teams contributor.
A Son's Ascent
Today, Corbello watches proudly as his son, Aidan Corbello, enters his fourth year as a kicker for the same team. The younger Corbello has grown into a key special teams piece, continuing a family tradition that began on the same practice fields decades earlier.
The father-son duo embodies the continuity of LSU football, where each generation builds on the achievements of the last while forging its own path toward the next season's goals.