14 Years Ago Today: Charles Woodson Punt Return vs. OSU
On this day in 1997, Charles Woodson had his iconic punt return vs. Ohio State. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MijstdtYYhw
And 30 years ago tomorrow will mark Desmond Howard's punt return vs. Ohio State. You can watch Howard's return here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYjjPIsMDlU
Let's get a punt return this weekend too. Go Blue and RIP Keith Jackson!
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:17 PM ^
Also, today I learned I cannot count.
And that I'm way older than I thought I was.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:18 PM ^
And that I'm way older than I thought I was.
Join the club! It's a bitch.
November 22nd, 2021 at 3:21 PM ^
To borrow and paraphrase from one of our greatest poets (Bob Dylan's My Back Pages)
"Ah, but (we) was so much younger then,
(We're) (way) older than that now"
November 22nd, 2021 at 4:05 PM ^
Can't believe it's been 8 years already since JFK was killed.
And join the club my man... can't even try to remember all the times I've done that!
What a great day that was.
(Edit: The Woodson punt return, not the JFK assassination)
November 22nd, 2021 at 8:03 PM ^
It’s hard to believe that Keith Jackson died last year
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:27 AM ^
To think it’s already been two days since Craig James killed 5 hookers
November 22nd, 2021 at 9:27 PM ^
Yeah, I wish it were only 14 years ago.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:19 PM ^
I know I received an Ohio State education and all, but the math doesn’t quite add up here
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:22 PM ^
I like your math. Supports my denial about my age.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:22 PM ^
Uhhh, Charles was a 1998 first round draft choice, so 14 years doesn't add up!!!
Do you know Cardale?
November 22nd, 2021 at 4:04 PM ^
I respect the guy for getting his degree and owning that tweet. 18 year olds say dumb shit? Of course they do.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:25 PM ^
Make OSU QBs Stanley Jackson Again
November 22nd, 2021 at 9:09 PM ^
Sprinkle in a little Herbstreit.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:26 PM ^
LOL, it was 24 years ago, unless, Charlies had some extra eligibility none of us knew about.
Bottom line is the we had some real playmakers in the past. The Timmy B rushing record against OSU comes to mind.
Will there be that special someone wearing the Maize and Blue to go off against OSU this year and steal a win? Time will tell. A real playmaker will be needed to score the big upset of that seemly unbeatable team.
But, they are lacking on defense so OSU is not the total team we might expect.
November 22nd, 2021 at 3:12 PM ^
Donovan Edwards is that man. He'll begin his own 4-year dominance of the Buckeyes, a la Mike Hart and MSU, finishing up his career with an enduring comment about how OSU ain't all that.
November 23rd, 2021 at 2:16 AM ^
a la Mike Hart?? Let's hope not. Hart was 0-4 and owns the stupid Little Brother thing they roll out every year. Edwards won't say an enduring damn comment or anything this week.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:28 PM ^
i was there. i was cold. it was glorious.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:51 PM ^
I was there too. After the game, there was a guy running around the field in his underwear. He was cold. Was that you?
November 22nd, 2021 at 3:23 PM ^
hahaha - no we bolted soon after. it was flurrying if i recall and the people i was with were frozen solid. 97 was my freshman year.. its kinda been all downhill since! until this saturday.
November 22nd, 2021 at 4:17 PM ^
Bastards pepper sprayed the student section to stop them from rushing the field. It only slowed it down a bit. I eventually made it down but kept my clothes on. It was very frigid.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:36 PM ^
14? ok.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:43 PM ^
Keith Jackson just told me he remembers that day well.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:54 PM ^
And I was there for Woodson's trophy run to glory. And everyone screamed Heisman. He caught Michigan's longest pass of the day and he intercepted a ball in the end zone to stop a Buckeye drive. And then he celebrated with a rose in his mouth. It was the best day ever in my Michigan fandom.
November 22nd, 2021 at 3:02 PM ^
These are times when an edit feature is useful.
November 22nd, 2021 at 3:05 PM ^
personally I'd love to have the 10 years back
November 22nd, 2021 at 3:06 PM ^
My 5 all-time favorite Michigan football moments:
- Woodson's miracle interception against Sparty
- Woodson's punt return vs. OSU
- Desmond's amazing game-winner vs ND
- Desmond's Heisman-pose TD against OSU
- AC's game-winner vs. Indiana
Plenty of honorable mentions, but those are the ones I think about instead of counting sheep.
November 22nd, 2021 at 3:39 PM ^
wh-wh-what about that time bobby boucher showed up at half time and the mud dogs won the bourbon bowl!!!??
November 22nd, 2021 at 4:04 PM ^
Harbaugh to Kolesar against OSU.
Note that there will be a Harbaugh and a Kolesar in this upcoming OSU game too.
I'm just saying.
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:45 PM ^
I was a senior for that 1985 game - played also on November 23rd. Watched from my seats with a fellow UM grad who died 2 years ago of ALS/Lou Gehrigs in section 25, strattling the 40 when JK caught the ball. The pass to Kolesar and the resulting celebration was as large at the DH and CW punt returns.
Crazy but great times!
November 22nd, 2021 at 8:05 PM ^
The interception in the rose bowl was pretty good
November 22nd, 2021 at 9:39 PM ^
And timely...!
November 22nd, 2021 at 3:24 PM ^
https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/1991-11-Michigan.pdf
I looked up the box score for the 31-3 win in 1991. I was curious when in the game Howard broke the punt return (give them a 3 TD lead just before half)
- Michigan 1/11 on 3rd down
- OSU 19 first downs, UM 13
- Michigan attempted 15 passes all game ... and lost the TOP battle by nearly 8 minutes
November 22nd, 2021 at 3:37 PM ^
Who will ever forget Woodson’s punt return in 2007? It feels like it’s been longer since it happened.
November 22nd, 2021 at 3:42 PM ^
That must've been our one win against OSU in the last 15 years.
November 22nd, 2021 at 4:06 PM ^
Came for "What, did something happen to Keith Jackson?"
Left disappointed.
November 22nd, 2021 at 6:23 PM ^
I understand. Keith Jackson hasn't made a memorable call in years.
November 22nd, 2021 at 4:19 PM ^
Second row right behind the OSU band at about the 20 yard line at the south end as Woodson ran by us to the end zone. Looking down the field as the blocks were made you could see Woodson evading people and then just burst free and head to the sideline. There was one last perfect block by someone I've never been able to identify in the replay and then it was just a sprint to the endzone. I saw Desmond's return and I saw AC's touchdown against Indiana but that play is my all-time favorite. Perfect blocking and perfect vision and running by #2.
November 22nd, 2021 at 6:18 PM ^
I believe the block was by LeAundre Brown.
November 22nd, 2021 at 4:21 PM ^
I was at the game and went on to the field after. It was great. If only John Cooper could take over again.
November 22nd, 2021 at 4:24 PM ^
Three thoughts:
Both those returns were in Michigan Stadium, good omen for Saturday.
I watched the Howard return in a sports bar in San Diego with a bunch of my Navy buddies. We were chanting "Heisman, Heisman..." after that play. Good times.
The subsequent Rose Bowl against Washington (the only one I've attended), not so much. But, at least I got the section where I was sitting hollering "who cares" after each of the Washington starters was announced. Highlight of the whole day.
November 22nd, 2021 at 4:30 PM ^
I was there. I was also on the field after the game - there's a good chance some of you bumped into me before I was the aging asshole that I am now.
November 22nd, 2021 at 5:02 PM ^
That play had everything:
- HOF centerpiece (Woodson)
- High impact (part of an important win against a very good team in a national championship year)
- Outstanding individual effort
Boggles that my mind that some other plays lacking one or more of those points are as highly regarded ...
November 22nd, 2021 at 5:02 PM ^
I was at the game with the Woodson punt return. If only it was 14 years ago. :(
November 22nd, 2021 at 5:15 PM ^
Yea It was a long time ago whether the math is right or not, the real math makes it worse. It's time for some new these types of memories. I am a bears fan, and am sick of the 85 bears stuff. It is a constant reminder of how long we have just not been good. Same here.
November 22nd, 2021 at 5:25 PM ^
The last ten years have been a blast and I was hoping to do it all over again. Dang.
November 22nd, 2021 at 5:27 PM ^
I know that one is not allowed to critique Keith Jackson, but I thought his call on it sucked. He was as excited about the punt as he was the return.
Beckmann’s call on the radio, on the other hand, was awesome. I literally get chills every time he yells “and there he goes!” I watch it (with his radio call) at least once every few months.
November 22nd, 2021 at 7:41 PM ^
To be fair, six years earlier Jackson had a classic call for Desmond's punt return : "Goodbye . . . Hello, Heisman!”
But yes, Beckmann’s call was epic.
November 22nd, 2021 at 8:00 PM ^
Exactly! That shows that he wasn’t always devoid of excitement and emotion thus making the Woodson call all the more disappointing.
November 22nd, 2021 at 5:34 PM ^
Those clips never get old. Let's make some new highlight clips on Saturday.
Go Blue.
November 22nd, 2021 at 6:00 PM ^
Tell me the OP is old, without telling me the OP is old.