Green Bay Packers defensive back Charles Woodson is making his second trip to Super Bowl XLV versus the Pittsburg Steelers. Woodson is an oenophile who developed his interest in wine while playing football in Oakland, near the Napa Valley.
Woodson partnered with former Robert Mondavi winemaker Rick Ruiz to develop a signature wine label, “Twenty-four by Charles Woodson.” I will taste my wine while whining. How is Charles Woodson number twenty on the Big Ten icon’s top 50 student-athletes? The list is based on their accomplishments during their collegiate years; there will be no consideration for their professional career, well, maybe a little.
Woodson played college football at the University of Michigan for the Michigan Wolverines. In 1997, Woodson led the Wolverines to a national championship. He is the only player in the history of NCAA Division I-A football to win the Heisman Trophy as a primarily defensive player, edging out the University of Tennessee and current Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. The look of “Are you kidding me?” surprise on Manning’s face is one of the enduring images in the Heisman archives.
Manning was an All-America quarterback at Tennessee, the fresh-faced, well-spoken son of an All-America quarterback Archie Manning at the University of Mississippi, and the older brother of a fresh-faced, well-spoken future All-America University of Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning. With that family tree, and an undeniably impressive four-year body of work that attracted reams of national publicity, Manning’s coronation as the Heisman Trophy winner was almost a foregone conclusion.
Only this time the voters got it right. They didn’t automatically anoint the star quarterback or the top running back from one of a handful of glamour teams. They chose the best player, based on the irrefutable evidence junior Charles Woodson presented as a lockdown cornerback, big-play receiving threat, and dangerous return man for the nation’s best team, the undefeated Michigan Wolverines.
“I used to always tell everybody when I was younger that I would win the Heisman trophy, but when I started my defensive days at the University of Michigan, that dream kind of left,” Woodson stated. “But you guys have brought that dream back, gave me a chance earlier in the season, putting me in the race and allowing me the chance to be here. This is truly the biggest moment in my life so far.”
Michigan has a major rivalry with Ohio State, which is considered one of the fiercest rivalries in American sports. In a pair of ESPN fan polls in 2000 and 2003, the Michigan-Ohio State series was voted the greatest rivalry in sports in America. Woodson was the Ohio Prep Player of the Year as a record-setting running back at Ross High School in Fremont, where he also played basketball and ran track. Was he a lock-in to be a Buckeye? No.
Instead of picking the hot girl, he chose the smart girl named Michigan. When he arrived at Michigan, the coaching staff resolved the offense-or-defense dilemma by using him on both sides of the ball. Woodson started at cornerback in his second game as a true freshman and made five interceptions during a 9-4 season in which the Wolverines went 5-3 in the Big Ten and beat Ohio State, but lost to Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl. Big Ten coaches voted him Freshman of the Year in the conference.
There was no consideration for Woodson’s professional career, ranking him number twenty. After the Green Bay Packers clinched the NFC Championship Game against the Chicago Bears, it was time for someone to step forward and provide some post-game words in the locker room. The identity of that person was surprising; he is an alpha dog. Woodson emerged as the Packers’ soul. Woodson spoke for about a minute, delivering a swagger and rousing talk. The swagger meter was raised when Woodson stated, “President [Barack Obama] doesn’t want to come to watch us play in the Super Bowl? Guess what? Guess what? We’ll see him. White House on three. One, two, three. White House!” Most Packers players were aware that Obama, a noted Chicago Bears fan, said he would attend the Super Bowl if the Bears were playing it.
As a member of the Packers team, Woodson achieved his championship ring in 2011 during Super Bowl XLV. He recorded three tackles in the first half of the Packers’ victory but suffered a collarbone injury shortly before halftime. At that point, he took on the role of an inspirational leader for the remainder of the game.
Woodson turned that perceived slight into part of an inspirational message that sent players and coaches into believers. Charles should bring a bottle of “twenty-four” wine with him for the president. When they sit and talk over the wine, he can ask if he should be ranked higher on the Big Ten icon’s top 50 student-athletes list.
It is noteworthy that only three Heisman Trophy winners have achieved the distinction of winning both a Super Bowl title and a national championship during their collegiate careers. These individuals are Charles Woodson, Tony Dorsett, and Marcus Allen.
Woodson was the last Heisman winner to win a Super Bowl for the 13th straight year currently.
Woodson is the only Heisman Trophy winner to have participated in the Super Bowl with two different teams, having also played for the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXV in 2003.
In his Super Bowl debut with the Raiders, Woodson recorded eight tackles and an interception; however, the team was defeated by Tampa Bay with a final score of 48-21.
Let us have one more glass of wine.
I recently watched “Perfect 10,” a highly anticipated documentary that explores the select group of individuals who have accomplished the remarkable achievement of winning the Heisman Trophy and being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Perfect 10 notes a stunning fact: “More men have walked on the moon” than have earned the Heisman-to-Hall distinction.
A production location in Dallas served as the venue for the first gathering of seven legendary athletes: Roger Staubach, Earl Campbell, Tony Dorsett, Marcus Allen, Barry Sanders, Charles Woodson, and Tim Brown. During this event, the distinguished group shared stories from their playing careers and discussed the perseverance required to achieve remarkable feats in their sport.
Charles Woodson currently works as an analyst for FOX NFL Kickoff.
“I’m so proud that this NFL films documentary will be told by FOX Sports, the network I call home, during Super Bowl week,” Woodson said in a statement. “Ten men, a bronze trophy, and a gold jacket. Yeah, I like the sound of that. Build your legend.”
Raise your glass of wine and toast to that.
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