One Frame At A Time: Charles Woodson
As always, click the links/stills to open each GIF in a lightbox.
I attended my first Michigan game in 1994, at the tender age of six. One year later, Charles Woodson made his debut in Maize and Blue.
Yesterday, Woodson announced his impending retirement. In the interim, he put together arguably the greatest career by a defensive player in football history. Those of us lucky enough to watch him at Michigan are hardly surprised.
I could talk about how Woodson changed the game of football at the college and NFL level, how he became the archetype and the prototype of a spread-killing defensive back. Today, though, I'd rather remember how he changed the games in my backyard. In my first couple years in Michigan, I'd run through the yard as Tyrone Wheatley or Tim Biakabutuka, scoring touchdowns against imaginary defenders. After seeing so many athletic feats of this ilk, however...
...I spent much more time crouching down, backpedaling, and jumping imaginary hitch routes. Woodson made defense cool. How could you not want to be this guy?
As Woodson's Michigan career wore on, imitating his greatest moments required an increasingly versatile imagination. Doing so also had some unintended consequences. My mother always wondered why we had so much trouble growing a patch-free lawn in the backyard. My attempts to replicate cuts like this didn't help the cause.
Then, of course, there was his most famous moment as a Wolverine.
Throw the ball as high as you can, catch it clean, take off towards the fence, cut up towards the house, cut back to the fence, then make sure not to trample the garden/bench while sprinting up the imaginary sideline. I did that more times than I could count.
With Woodson, though, some moments transcended imitation even by the most imaginative of grade-schoolers. I could not fly 15 feet in the air, so I didn't attempt his Michigan State interception. I could not float for an eternity, so I was content to leave his final collegiate pick as a memory.
20 years after he first arrived in Ann Arbor, Woodson is still making awe-inspiring plays. Just two days ago, the 39-year-old met 220-pound James Starks—ten years his junior—in the open field; while Starks had a full head of steam, Woodson's perfectly placed shoulder jarred the ball loose. I watched the play unfold on my television, and while I didn't head to the nearest park to replay it, the thought crossed my mind.
As I write this, I'm sitting on the couch in my parents' house, the same I house from which I walked to the Big House with my dad on so many football Saturdays growing up, with the very backyard in which I tried with all my might to be Charles Woodson. We're sitting down to dinner soon. While sports are rarely the foremost topic of conversation in the Anbender household, there's no doubt Woodson's retirement will come up; the only question is how long we'll swap stories once it does.
Perhaps, once the food has settled, I'll sprint aside that fence one more time.
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:02 PM ^
So... when does #2 get retired? Penn State or Wisconsin?
EDIT: Or against the #RealRival Illinois for homecoming?
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:05 PM ^
and retire it before the OSU game in 2017...I think that would be fitting...
December 22nd, 2015 at 5:07 PM ^
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December 22nd, 2015 at 8:10 PM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 11:43 PM ^
If he hasn't graduated, he'll need to do that first.
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:03 PM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 6:07 PM ^
So long, and thanks for all the gifs.
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:03 PM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:03 PM ^
I could watch these all day. Thanks Ace
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:04 PM ^
I graduated from Michigan in 1991, and while I loved Desmond, his nickname in his sophomore year was "butterfingers". Des came into his own his last couple of years at Michigan and deserved the Heisman, no doubt.
But Charles was another story. He was one of the greatest players ever to put on a winged helmet, one of the best players bar none from start to finish. I'm not one to follow pro football, but I always kept an ear out for Woodson. He was, is, and will be one of my all time favorite players ever.
Thanks for the tribute.
To Charles....thanks for the memories
December 22nd, 2015 at 11:48 PM ^
Are you sure about that?
As a sophomore in 1990, Desmond had 63 catches for 1,025 yards and 11 TDs. He actually caught one more pass and had 40 more yards than he did as a junior, though he had fewer TDs.
I do remember him being nicknamed the "Magic Man" and "Hocus Pocus" for his abiltiy to disappear from tacklers.
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:08 PM ^
Growing up with a sidewalk that went through our front yard, playing football with buddies meant tightroping that sidewalk just like Woodson and I always tried for that MSU interception. (I always failed that one)
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:10 PM ^
He's got all the stats and all the records to back it up.
It's too bad you can't measure intangibles (by definition), because he'd have a number of records in that category, too.
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:11 PM ^
was one hell of a football player
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:14 PM ^
That man *is* one hell of a football player
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:13 PM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:32 PM ^
... My buddy and I just kept saying, "throw it to Woodson's side, throw it to Woodson's side". We didn't even know where he was or if he even had a "side", we just knew that if it was in his general vicinity, he'd make a play.
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:23 PM ^
Charles Woodson is 95%* the reason I am a Michigan fan today. And 100% why my favorite number has always had a "2" in it.
*I'll accredit my father the remaining 5% due to the fact he kept me interested in Michigan once Woodson left.
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:37 PM ^
I mean, I was 6 or 7 years old. I had better shit to do than watch a football game I didn't understand. And a single player wearing a single digit number jumped off the screen, and dropped my jaw. Time after time, until I couldn't take it anymore. I had to watch him. He is my first football memory. Then it turned to having to watch Michigan.
I was so happy when he got to the Super Bowl the first time. And those damn Raiders lost. And I don't care that it led Brady onto his wonderful career, but THAT WAS A DAMN FUMBLE. When he finally won one with Green Bay, I openly celebrated for a team I hate just because Charles got the ring he deserved.
I'm so damn bummed he is hanging them up.
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:25 PM ^
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December 22nd, 2015 at 4:30 PM ^
Only player in the history of football to win the Heisman Trophy, National Championship, Superbowl and NFL Defensive Player of the year. Undefeated in 3 games vs Ohio State. It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine and Charles Woodson is the one of the biggest reasons why.
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:32 PM ^
I recently watched and captured a Charles Woodson's autograph signing on Periscope. What's cool about Periscope is that you can comment during the live stream. I commented on the live stream that I was at the Rose Bowl in the endzone when Woodson intercepted Leaf. Woodson responded to my comment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItF0eMdHZks
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:32 PM ^
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December 22nd, 2015 at 4:36 PM ^
Charles Woodson and David Boston mixing it up on the sideline.
December 22nd, 2015 at 6:13 PM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:36 PM ^
Thanks Ace - great post & well written.
I can relate to your comments by the times me, family and friends would be playing backyard football, and someone makes an incredible play (incredible by our lowly standards but still great fun) and yells out 'Interception Woodson!" or "Touchdown Woodson!"
It was as if the name "Woodson" became linked with 'incredible' and it was for us to see him play. Beyond being a great player, he outwardly appeared to be a classy individual with integrity and thoughtfulness (i.e. charity). Now, and as years roll on, this part of Charles will resonate with the Michigan football family even louder. With such athletic parity in college football, I'm still amazed at what Charles Woodson accomplished.
As a kid of the 'Bo' era, I desperately wanted Michigan to have that elusive 'perfect season' and after Bo retired, I wanted Michigan to do it in Bo's lifetime... and Woodson delivered time and again all season and on the biggest stages. There would be no heartbreak in 1997.
None of us will probably ever know the feeling of greatness of Tom Harmon (sure we can watch vids and hear stories) however for our living era, our greatest player is Charles Woodson.
Thank you Charles Woodson - you mean so much to Michigan and because of 1997, you are immortal.
The "Immortal" Charles Woodson.
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:37 PM ^
and it still pays respect to the greatest defensive player ever
December 23rd, 2015 at 10:25 AM ^
I still like the idea, just didn't like the execution.
I like seeing the old numbers out there. Seeing ol' 98 on Devin is awesome, and I'd love a QB or RB to continue to wear that number, as I'd like to continue to see 77, 98, 2, 1 out on the field.
Legends patches were not good, and having players earn the number and switch jerseys was not cool in my book. I'd rather have the numbers up on the west boxes and have all the Legends who donned that number assigned below. Obviously the first person to make the number a Legend would get top billing, but the players who wear the number later, would still have a chance to make it special.
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:55 PM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 4:57 PM ^
I was lucky enough to be about ten feet away from the greatest catch I've ever seen when Woodson plucked that pass out of the air, one hand backhanded across his body, like an outfielder with a glove on. Definitely GOAT. Go Blue.
December 22nd, 2015 at 6:26 PM ^
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December 22nd, 2015 at 5:00 PM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 5:07 PM ^
Killer write-up.
December 22nd, 2015 at 5:11 PM ^
My favorite Michigan player.
Retire #2. What a career. GOAT
MGoTailgate in Canton?
December 22nd, 2015 at 5:21 PM ^
Well done, Ace!
I'm a bit older than you, so my throw it in the air and imagine memories are of Anthony Carter, but I have a faintly amusing story for the Woodson tribute.. I was living in Columbus in 95. Kirk Herbstreit had a radio show that was actually pretty good. He was just getting sideline jobs back then and had yet to become an ESPN star. For some reason I called in the week of The Game to tell him that an upset was possible. OSU was an offensive juggernaut that year, but I thought we may be able to run it on them a bit. I then told him about our stud freshman that would shadow Terry Glenn. He knew not of Mr. Woodson yet, but his quote was " If you put a freshman out on an island with Terry Glenn, it will get really ugly, really quick!" ...I made it up for that game, and I remember chants of "Eddie,Eddie,Eddie" everywhere in our Ann Arbor bars the night before the game. Needless to say, the trip back down 23 was so wonderful that year! Biakabutuka was amazing, but I'll always remember that game as the day that Charles became my favorite Wolverine.
December 22nd, 2015 at 5:49 PM ^
I'd love to see the GIF where he beefs with David Boston following a play during The Game. Chuck took his helmet off and said said something to the effect of "let's go. right now. let's go." That was probably my favorite Woodson memory. Sorry this is a repeat - I posted a few weeks ago. But I knew we were winning.
Also love the pic of him standing next to Jabrill during the spring game.
December 22nd, 2015 at 5:58 PM ^
It's sold in a lot of stores around AA:
"Water covers 70% of the Earth. Charles Woodson covers the rest."
Man I get goosebumps watching these GIFs. A master at his profession in every sense of the word.
December 22nd, 2015 at 6:17 PM ^
Also at the MGoStore
December 22nd, 2015 at 6:10 PM ^
of the State play is even more amazing. He starts running to the edge before the QB himself knows he's going to throw it away...
Instincts, speed, quickness, incredible leaping ability, otherwordly ball skills, and apparently unbelievable genetics..
Greatest Of All Time..
Rob
December 22nd, 2015 at 6:25 PM ^
Great tribute.
Great piece Ace
December 22nd, 2015 at 7:06 PM ^
I only got to see Woodson play in person once, the 1997 Homecoming game against Minnesota. And his long reverse TD was scored in the opposite end zone of where I was sitting.
One big memory from that game (other than the students chanting, "bring on Penn State!" since Judgment Day was the following week) was hearing the fans in my section say, "There's Woodson! There's Woodson!" every time he ran on the field.
Those were good times.
December 22nd, 2015 at 7:21 PM ^
I know Charles is the number 1 dude!
December 22nd, 2015 at 8:04 PM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 8:18 PM ^
If I pick anything off and fall to the ground...I always roll and then point in the oppsosite direction.
I can be a roll of toilet paper. I don't care, I ALWAYS do it. It's the Woodson in me.
December 22nd, 2015 at 8:28 PM ^
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December 22nd, 2015 at 8:39 PM ^
I was privileged to get to see both Desmond and Charles play. They are beyond words.
Thank you Charles. Congrats on a GOAT career, and good luck on whatever is next.
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December 22nd, 2015 at 9:07 PM ^
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December 22nd, 2015 at 9:39 PM ^
Difficult to put into words the excitement level I experienced during those plays you, rightfully so, chose as the three most memorable as his days as a Wolverine. I would also like to thank the city of Fremont, OH for giving us two of our all-time greatest some 20 years apart.
These plays caused me to recall two more that he made in the same game his freshman year. Neither as spectacular as these but he introduced himself to the nation that day vs. Ohio State. Any pick by our D is a great thing, but always magnified against the Nuts. The first resulted in the announcers taking notice. It was the second, however, that caused the nation to take notice as he, as was the norm with him, timed the pass perfectly and stepped in front of the OSU receiver to seal the victory for UM. These young men from Ohio certainly get a kick out of beating that team down south and by their actions basically say, "This is why I chose Michigan." As great as the second two were, and the one vs. WSU perhaps the most important, due to the magnitude of the game, I honestly believe the play vs. MSU is the greatest defensive play I have ever seen. A fellow member of the wolverine.com asked once how high he jumped to make that interception. My reply, "Oh, three, four, maybe 10 feet." It seemed, for that few seconds, he was capable of going as high as that ball could have risen. Another poster made the statement of having the privilege of watching Charles and Desmond play and the importance they will always have in our rich history. I also had the privilege of watching AC play and he belongs in this conversation. I think, especially considering we only threw to him on an as needed basis, he was the greatest player to have never won the Heisman. But this is about Charles so I will stay on point. I thought after he won the Heisman that there could have been a possibility they selected him because they thought they would never see a primarily defensive player put together such a year they had better take the opportunity given them just in case one never came along. And if this was their thought process, it proved correct, because there never has been another one that came close to doing what he did that very special year. Now when I think back at the ceremony and see Peyton drop his jaw and shake his head as if he had been robbed, I no longer have any doubts. The only travesty that could have taken place that day would have been if Charles had not won it. Thank you Sir Charles for the wonderful memories, and again, thank you for the great job you did in allowing us all to relive those glorious moments. Well done, Well done indeed.
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