Football: Touchdowns, big hits nostalgic for Schlesinger

LINCOLN — If it were his choice, Cory Schlesinger wouldn't watch fuzzy replays of the two touchdown runs that immortalized him as a legend in Nebraska football history. But his high school students keep pulling the clips up on YouTube.

So Schlesinger will glance over a shoulder or two, and get nostalgic momentarily. Watching the younger version of himself rumble through the Miami defense in the 1995 Orange Bowl can still give the former Husker fullback goosebumps.

He'll quickly remember, though, that these kids are supposed to be learning about computer design, not recounting the career highlights of their muscular instructor.

The former bruising fullback, known for delivering big hits and pancake blocks during a 12-year NFL career in Detroit, now goes by Mr. Schlesinger at Allen Park High School located just outside the Motor City. He's also the school's head strength coach, enjoying his endless chances to impact youngsters' lives.

“It's a great job. I love it,” he said. “Just working with the kids, that's fun in itself. They're a bunch of characters. Hopefully, they can learn something from me.”

Schlesinger was back in Lincoln Friday, serving as the mystery torch lighter at the Cornhusker State Games opening ceremonies. He received a standing ovation from a crowd that filled three-fourths of the Seacrest Field bleachers.

The games, featuring about 13,000 amateur athletes, will continue through July 26. Of course, Schlesinger won't compete, though the former pro looks like he'd have no trouble suiting up for any athletic event.

Known for giving relentless effort, Schlesinger played so hard with the Lions that he routinely broke the facemask on his own helmet, once, sometimes twice each game. By the time a season ended, Schlesinger had mangled more than 20.

A Lions equipment staffer was actually assigned specifically to Schlesinger — his own pit crew, he called it. That way, there would always be a backup facemask ready.

“I always figured that if you hit them before they hit you, it usually hurts a lot less,” Schlesinger said. “You had to go 100 percent because if you're not going 100 percent, you're going to get hurt.”

That's why Schlesinger has a difficult time responding when people ask him to name the NFL linebacker or lineman who hit the hardest. He gets that question often, still unsure of a standard response.

Actually, former NFL players have come up to Schlesinger and confessed that his blows hurt the most. Schlesinger recently heard this story: One hit he delivered rattled the helmet of the opposing player so violently that the ear pad shifted awkwardly and tore a gash in the guy's ear.

“Somebody's going to remember me forever because they have a scar or something,” Schlesinger said. “Those are the things that I love hearing about the most.”

It's not so much about the touchdowns, he said. Those don't really stand out to Schlesinger. His best memories are the times when he laid out an unsuspecting defender with a block, or when he sprinted downfield on a kickoff return and leveled the ball carrier with a crushing tackle.

With Detroit, Schlesinger was selected as an alternate to three Pro Bowls. In 2003, his Lions teammates named him the squad's offensive MVP. He had more special teams tackles (118) than any other Detroit player during the first seven years of his career.

But his performance as a Husker in the 1995 Orange Bowl, touchdowns included, will always be special to Schlesinger, a Duncan, Neb., native. He's reminded every time he returns to his home state.

“When I come back, it's always kind of hard to leave Nebraska.”

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