clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Charles Woodson to be honorary captain for the Ohio State game

Jim Harbaugh to Charles Woodson on the upcoming Ohio State game, “We gotta beat those guys.”

NCAA Football: Hawaii at Michigan Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Back in early August, Jim Harbaugh made a phone call to ask Charles Woodson about being the honorary captain for The Game. For Woodson, it was a no-brainer. He responded, “You had me at hello.”

Anyone who was alive when Woodson was playing in The Big House on November 22, 1997 probably remembers the iconic photo of him holding a rose in his mouth after beating Ohio State 20-14. His accomplishments while playing at Michigan and being part of the 1997 National Championship team may never be matched:

  • Big Ten Freshman Player of the Year (1995)
  • 2x First-Team All-American (1996-1997)
  • Big Ten Player of the Year (1997)
  • Winner of Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award, Bronko Nagurski Award, Jim Thorpe Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, and Sporting News Player of the Year (1997)

I would love to be a fly on the wall when he speaks to the team later this week, which is sure to be a moment these young men will never forget. His message may just be what propels the players to play their best game of the season in this huge rivalry matchup.