Big Ten Icons- Charles Woodson on BTN
September 16th, 2010 at 4:52 PM ^
No. 50 Tom Brands, Iowa wrestling (1989-92)
<br>No. 49 Megan Hodge, Penn State volleyball (2006-09)
<br>No. 48 Drew Brees, Purdue football (1997-2000)
<br>No. 47 Chris Spielman, Ohio State football (1984-87)
<br>No. 46 LaVar Arrington, Penn State football (1997-99)
<br>No. 45 Rod Woodson, Purdue football (1983-86)
<br>No. 44 George Halas, Illinois football (1916-18)
<br>No. 43 Chuck Long, Iowa football (1981-85)
<br>No. 42 Curt Warner, Penn State football (1979-82)
<br>No. 41 Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern football (1993-96)
<br>No. 40 Bobby Bell, Minnesota football (1960-62)
<br>No. 39 Howard “Hopalong” Cassady, Ohio State football (1953-55)
<br>No. 38 Calbert Cheaney, Indiana basketball (1989-93)
<br>No. 37 Leroy Keyes, Purdue football (1966-68)
<br>No. 36 Jim Abbott, Michigan baseball (1985-88)
<br>No. 35 Glenn Robinson, Purdue basketball (1992-94)
<br>No. 34 Desmond Howard, Michigan football (1989-91)
<br>No. 33 Alex Karras, Iowa football (1955-57)
<br>No. 32 Scott May, Indiana basketball (1973-76)
<br>No. 31 Neal Broten, Minnesota hockey (1979-81)
<br>No. 30 Alan Ameche, Wisconsin football (1951-54)
<br>No. 29 Cazzie Russell, Michigan basketball (1964-66)
<br>No. 28 Quinn Buckner, Indiana basketball (1972-76)
<br>No. 27 Glen Rice, Michigan basketball (1986-89)
<br>No. 26 Bubba Smith, Michigan State football (1964-66)
<br>No. 25 Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch, Michigan and Wisconsin football (1942-46)
<br>No. 24 Anthony Carter, Michigan football (1979-82)
<br>No. 23 Bob Griese, Purdue football (1964-66)
<br>No. 22 Jack Ham, Penn State football (1968-70)
<br>No. 21 Bronko Nagurski, Minnesota football (1927-29)
<br>No. 20 Charles Woodson, Michigan football (1995-97)
<br>No. 19 Announced Saturday at the conclusion of Big Ten Icons No. 20 episode
September 16th, 2010 at 4:59 PM ^
For those of you who did not have the pleasure of watching Charles play, he was truly the most electric player that I can remember playing for Michigan (I started rooting in 1990). Braylon was the man, I harted Hart, Henne was a scary Robot and Anthony Carter was a beast, but none compare to Woodson. He literally shut down an entire half of the field. Loved watching the look of pure frustration on the faces of opposing receivers (hello David Boston).
Plus, he was as good of a return man as Breaston or Des. If felt like we were consistently starting from great field position.
Oh, and he was a hell of a receiver.
Not sure who the other 19 are going to be, but I would bet that you could make a case that Woodson is ahead of several of them.
September 16th, 2010 at 8:57 PM ^
I was a sophmore during the '97 season and Woodson is my alltime favorite player, but he wasn't "as good a return man as Breaston or Des." He had one of the most iconic returns in team history when he took that punt back for a TD during the '97 OSU game (my single favorite moment ever in Michigan stadium), but he was a rather pedestrial punt returner that season. Not that it was a weakness in his game, but it paled in comparison to his defensive and receiving skills.
All that being said, he's still the absolute best. I feel horrible even thinking the above, let alone writing it.
September 16th, 2010 at 9:13 PM ^
a saturday with my dad free tickets on the fourth row (the school from the butthole of america side) watching UM stand toe to toe and come up with our hand raised. Big Ten champions eventual national champs and the scuffle between Mr. Woodson and boston was literally right in front of me! what a game, what a career at M and a studly career in the NFL! here is to you Mr. Woodson!!
September 16th, 2010 at 4:59 PM ^
Does anyone else find this to be an insult?
September 16th, 2010 at 5:05 PM ^
If he were the #20 football player perhaps but considering all the athletes of all the sports in B10 history hardly a slap in the face IMO.
September 16th, 2010 at 5:09 PM ^
But what other B10 football players could be ahead of him? My guesses are:
- Tom Harmon
- Ron Dayne
- Archie Griffin
I'm probably too young to remember any other players from years past and from other teams, but I guess looking at all the sports involved, and the remaining possibilities for great football players ahead of him, Chuck at #20 isn't so bad.
September 16th, 2010 at 6:05 PM ^
I bet you he is way way up there.
Jesse Owens, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Jack Nicklaus
September 16th, 2010 at 8:01 PM ^
Yes. Ridiculous. The only defensive player to win a Heisman.
How will they be able to justify defensive players ahead of Charles in Big Ten icons? They won't.
September 16th, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^
absurd, im sure there will be other people from big ten that weren't football players but other than archie there is no way anyone should be rated higher than him. the ONLY player ever to win the heisman as a defensive player. he only touched the ball 12 times on offense that year, 12. if there is anyone else rated higher then this list means nothing.
September 16th, 2010 at 10:39 PM ^
I think you could make a case for Dick Butkus. Playing devil's advocate here, but Dick Butkus was just dominant in his time. He finished in the top 10 in Heisman voting in 2 consecutive years.
What will piss me off is if somehow Eddie George finds his way in the top 20 ahead of Woodson.
September 16th, 2010 at 5:12 PM ^
I'll never forget the 1 handed impossible interception that he made against Michigan State the year he won the heisman. Ever since that moment he was my favorite player and was the reason I followed the Raiders for so long. Even today the guy is the best corner in the national football league for what he does on and off the field. Charles Woodson remains, and probably will always remain the only defensive player to ever win the heisman.
September 16th, 2010 at 5:15 PM ^
No. 22 Jack Ham? I don't know if people who played for PSU 20 years before they joined the Big Ten should be included here.
September 16th, 2010 at 5:35 PM ^
It's all athletes so far. Do you think most of the top 10 will be coaches and directors, like Fielding Yost, Fritz Crisler, and Bo? They would be bigger icons, I think, than players that were around for at most 4 years.
September 16th, 2010 at 6:11 PM ^
But if your name is your address, then we're almost neighbors.
September 16th, 2010 at 7:14 PM ^
i thought i heard on one of the ads for the Icons program that it was the Top 50 Student Athletes.
I was thinking it was going to include coaches as well until i heard that.
September 16th, 2010 at 7:12 PM ^
The Woodson! My favorite college football player ever... and i love the fact he's a force in the league in his 13th year... BEAST MODE...
September 16th, 2010 at 7:58 PM ^
Who's the scarlet and gray douchenozzle that put this list together???
September 16th, 2010 at 9:16 PM ^
way awesome. i admitt i laughed!
September 16th, 2010 at 10:51 PM ^
Football
Charles Woodson UM
Dick Butkus ILL
Archie Griffin OSU
Basketball
Magic Johnson MSU
Isiah Thomas IU
Jerry Lucas OSU
Baseball
Dave Winfield Minn
Other Sports
Jesse Owens OSU
Mark Spitz IU
Guys that I feel are on the cusp: Tom Harmon (UM), Red Grange (Ill), Nile Kinnick (IA), John Cappelletti (PSU), John Wooden (PU), Steve Alford (IU), Jack Nicklaus (OSU)
I have a bad feeling they are going to leave Harmon off the list because you know each school will probably be represented and they are going to have some random sports and women on the list as well.
September 16th, 2010 at 9:57 PM ^
Why did I not know he went to Penn State? Wow. Can't believe I didn't know that.
September 16th, 2010 at 10:02 PM ^
Maybe the sarcasm meter isn't calibrated, but you do realize Kurt Warner, former NFL Quarterback, is a different person than Curt Warner, former PSU star, right?
September 16th, 2010 at 10:03 PM ^
The Curt Warner at PSU is not the same as the Kurt Warner of St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals fame. Curt Warner was a RB for the Seahawks in the early 80s.