Go Blue Michigan Football | M Go Blue Football | M Go Blue Football History | Michigan Wolverine Football History
Today is a great day to we are going to celebrate the Happy Birthday anniversary of a Michigan legend named Charles Woodson. According to the Wikipedia article linked below, Charles Cameron Woodson was born October 7th, 1976 in Fremont, Ohio. That’s 90 miles from the Big House and 104 miles from the Horseshoe.
(Note - Charles Woodson is shown above near the end of his legendary 77-yard punt return against Ohio State in 1997. Photo courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library at The University of Michigan.)
Charles Woodson arrived in Ann Arbor as a Buckeye in 1995. He left as a Wolverine Heisman Legend in 1997. Any questions? Photo courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library at The University of Michigan.
Charles Woodson was a standout two-way player for Ross High School, and rushed for 2,028 yards as a senior while also starring as a defensive back. He also played basketball and ran track. Following his older brother, he grew up a Wolverine fan. Former Michigan Defensive Coordinator Jim Hermann and Head Coach Lloyd Carr recruited Woodson as a defensive back, and he chose Michigan over several schools to include the buckeyes.
Woodson saw the field early as a true freshman. Michigan played Virginia in the kickoff classic in 1995. The heat was on that ninety-degree day in Ann Arbor had most players needing rest during the difficult playing conditions. Woodson stepped on the field, and never stepped off until he left the Big House in 1997!
Charles Woodson started the next game of the 1995 season and thirty-four more on his path to greatness. The last was the 1998 Rose Bowl, helping Michigan secure a share of the National Championship. In between, Woodson would beat the buckeyes three times in three games. He left Michigan as an All-American with a total of eighteen interceptions. He was the first primarily defensive player to win the Heisman in 1997, and will always be remembered for the his seventy-seven-yard punt return against the buckeyes in 1997. His one handed, leaping, interception against the Spartans in 1997 was also pretty good! Charles Woodson was perfect when throwing the ball (2-2 for 32 yards) and managed five offensive touchdowns while playing both ways.
After leaving Michigan, Woodson played seventeen years in the NFL for the Raiders, Packers, and the Raiders again. His stellar play earned him selections to nine NFL Pro Bowls. Charles Woodson earned a Super Bowl Ring with the Packers in 2011. He is the only Wolverine in the history of Michigan Football to win a Heisman, a National Championship and a Super Bowl! He retired after the 2015 NFL Season, and was a key factor in Michigan moving to Nike/Jordan Brand for the 2016 Season.
Charles Woodson was one of a kind, that’s for sure. In one hundred and forty years, nobody has been better than Woodson in Ann Arbor – NOBODY! Of course, #2 was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018.The Wikipedia article linked below has all the details about the stellar career of Charles Cameron Woodson! Thanks to Charles Woodson for his greatness on the field and at UM’s Children’s Hospital! Go Blue!
To read more about Michigan Legend Charles Woodson, and see him in action, follow the links below.
http://www.theheismanwinners.com/Charles-Woodson.html
http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fballam/aawoodsn.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Woodson
