Magical Woodson makes history as 63rd Heisman winner

John Leroi Out of bounds

NEW YORK - For those who don't believe that history is made anymore, that traditions are broken and that magic can be created with one flick of the wrist, one giant leap, one 78-yard jaunt, I offer to you Charles Woodson.

Michigan's All-American cornerback, All-World athlete and All-Everything superman has done far more in his three seasons on campus than confuse opposing coaches, defy gravity and mesmerize entire stadiums. He has done what most athletes - most people - won't ever accomplish in life: Charles Woodson has made history.

Saturday, Woodson became the first predominantly defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy, given annually to the nation's most outstanding player, in the 63-year history of the award. And it wasn't even close.

Pre-season favorite and media darling Peyton Manning, the Tennessee quarterback who passed up the NFL for a shot at the award and an SEC championship, finished a distant second. Even Friday, most media types felt Manning was still the favorite, conceding the race had tightened after Woodson's stellar performance against Ohio State.

Even Woodson was shocked when his name was announced during the annual presentation of the award at the Downtown Athletic Club. Overwhelmed by emotion, Woodson fell to his knees while making his way to the podium, then diverted his course in order to embrace his mother, Georgia.

"I really didn't think I'd win it," Woodson said. "My body just went limp. I couldn't really move. I just had to sit there to grasp what just happened. I'm not a crier, but I almost broke down."

And while Tennessee fans and sportswriters will be aching for an eternity over Woodson's landslide victory- one article already refereed to him as a "$20 Rolex," - Woodson was the best player in the country.

Woodson may have sealed Manning's fate as he crossed the goal line following a 78-yard punt return in Michigan's 20-14 win over Ohio State, a game in which he also intercepted a Buckeye pass in the end zone and set up a Michigan touchdown with a 37-yard catch.

But, Woodson, a junior, won the award because he is a rare talent, evidenced by his one-handed leaping grab against Michigan State, his knack for timing (see Ohio State) and his athletic dominance. Consider this: Woodson picked off every third pass thrown his way - seven in total, second-most in the nation. He would have had more had opposing quarterbacks not been so weary of Woodson's ability to impact a game.

And his performance peaked at just the right times - when Michigan was on national TV, when the Wolverines needed a lift and when Heisman voters were desperately searching for someone other than a quarterback or a running back to win in order to give the award credence. And Woodson is a spectacular choice, perhaps as worthy as any player ever to win the Heisman Trophy.

He is a throwback to past winners, such as Michigan's Tom Harmon, who won the award in 1940, by playing on both sides of the ball and returning punts, excelling at all three facets of the game, something that Manning never did.

Predominantly a defensive player, Woodson saw limited but significant action on offense. He touched the ball just 14 times on offense, but averaged more than 17.5 yards per touch, scoring three touchdowns. He averaged 8.6 yards per punt return, when other cornerbacks would have just as soon rested up for their next defensive stand.

And while he has made history and opened the door for other defensive players to win the award, even Woodson knows he wouldn't have had a chance without the opportunity to play two ways.

"When I was young, I always dreamed of winning the Heisman some day," Woodson said. "But when I came to Michigan and chose to play defense, I thought it wasn't going to happen. I know that if I didn't play some on offense, I wouldn't even be here today."

A two-way star in high school, Woodson almost became Michigan's next great receiver. When he first stepped onto the field as a freshman, Michigan defensive backs coach Vance Bedford took one look at Woodson's attempt to backpedal and vowed the kid would never play a down of cornerback in the Big Ten. But such a gifted athlete need not rely on technique in high school, and Woodson didn't.

Woodson has always been a fighter. He wore corrective leg braces until he was four years old to correct club feet. His parents have been divorced since he was five. But through it all, Woodson's mother could tell her son was special ever since he and his older brother, Terry, played sock football in the living room. Even then, Woodson was a two-way talent.

"I knew he was special when I took him to play flag football at the YMCA," Georgia Woodson said. "He always wanted to run the ball, but he wanted to pull those flags, too."

And here is where Woodson's impact will be felt. Not only will Heisman voters be more likely to vote for a dominant defensive player in future years, but football players will be begging to play two ways for years to come, just like Woodson did, tugging on Michigan coach Lloyd Carr's sleeve every time he had a spare breath.

It is ironic that Carr was the only coach of the four finalists - Woodson, Manning, Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf and Marshall wide receiver Randy Moss - who was not in attendance. Carr had a previous commitment to entertain recruits. Recruiting has increased in importance exponentially since the reduction to 85 scholarships forced teams to use their best athletes on both sides of the ball.

Although it shouldn't be surprising to anybody that Woodson won, the stomping he inflicted upon the other candidates should be. Woodson garnered 433 first-place votes, 150 more than the Tennessee quarterback received, and won five of the six regions. And while Manning offered Woodson his congratulations, he was visibly upset after the award ceremony and later told reporters he didn't know how he could have lost the Heisman.

As spectacular a player as Manning is, he shouldn't have to apologize to anyone - which he did, saying he was sorry to all the Tennessee fans - he lost to one of the planet's most remarkable specimens. It was Woodson, not Manning, who enjoyed the spoils of winning the Heisman. He signed autographs late into the night and rang the bell to open the American Stock Exchange yesterday morning. After a handful of interviews, Manning slipped out of the Downtown Athletic Club with a throng of Volunteer fans behind him, but not much else.

As for Woodson, he'll be playing on Sundays next year, which means he won't be wearing a Michigan uniform. The Rose Bowl will likely be Woodson's last game as a Wolverine - a chance to complete Michigan's perfect season with its first national championship since 1948.

That leaves just one more game for all of us to catch a glimpse of college football's best player, who - by chance - happens to be a man who just made history.

- Daily Sports Editor John Leroi can be reached at jrleroi@umich.edu

12-16-97