It’s summer, the time when bloggers rack their brains for something — anything — to write about and college football fans count down the seconds until foot meets pigskin. So, welcome to my latest gimmick: The Michigan Football YouTube Bracket. I’m looking high and low for the best Michigan football moments ever captured on YouTube — divided into two categories: Game Performances/Game Winners and Spectacular Plays — and for you, the readers, to vote on the moment that stands out above the rest.

Today, we reach the final first-round matchup in the Michigan Football YouTube Bracket with the 2-seed vs. 7-seed battle in the Spectacular Plays category — I’ll leave the polls open through the end of the weekend, and on Monday the second round will begin. Thanks to everyone who has voted so far, and make sure to keep checking back as the bracket moves forward.

(2) Desmond Howard’s “Hello Heisman” vs. Ohio State, 1991

They say you should never field a punt inside your 10-yard line.

The rules, apparently, do not apply to Desmond Howard.

With 19 receiving touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, and a kick return for a score already in the books entering the Ohio State game, Howard has already made a very strong case for the Heisman Trophy before the regular season’s final game. With the Wolverines holding on to a comfortable 17-3 lead late in the second quarter, he would secure his spot in college football history. Awaiting an Ohio State punt at his 10-yard line, Howard would be forced to backpedal to his own seven to field the kick, and upon catching the ball, it appeared that Desmond was launched forward by an invisible slingshot as he dusted the Ohio State punt coverage. A 93-yard dash down the sideline later (still the longest punt return in school history), and Desmond appropriately struck the famous Heisman pose as legendary announcer Keith Jackson proclaimed, “Hello, Heisman!” Indeed, Keith Jackson. Indeed.

(7) Jason Avant’s one-handed grab vs. Northwestern, 2003

Up 24-3 in the second quarter and driving down the field, fifth-ranked Michigan was in the middle of a ho-hum slaughtering of Northwestern in Evanston late in the 2003 season. That’s when Jason Avant, a Chicago native playing in front of his hometown crowd, decided to spice things up a bit. On first down from the Wildcat 22-yard line, John Navarre fired a play-action pass to the left that appeared destined to sail over the head of an open Avant. Reaching up with his right hand, Avant managed to secure the ball and roll into the end zone… without putting his left hand on the ball until he hit the ground. The play resulted in a relatively meaningless touchdown in a late-season blowout, but Avant’s spectacular catch still managed to become one of the most memorable moments from a 10-3 Rose Bowl season.

For the rest of the Michigan Football YouTube Bracket, click here or see below for individual posts.

Recap:

• Game Performances/Winners 1-seed vs. 8-seed: Anthony Carter vs. Indiana against Mario Manningham vs. Michigan State
• Game Performances/Winners 4-seed vs. 5-seed: Mario Manningham vs. Penn State against Remy Hamilton vs. Notre Dame
• Game Performances/Winners 3-seed vs. 6-seed: Tim Biakabutuka vs. Ohio State against Mario Manningham vs. Notre Dame
• Game Performances/Winners 2-seed vs. 7-seed: The Braylon Game vs. Michigan State against Phil Brabbs vs. Washington
• Spectacular Plays 1-seed vs. 8-seed: Charles Woodson vs. Michigan State against Daydrion Taylor vs. Penn State
• Spectacular Plays 4-seed vs. 5-seed: Charles Woodson vs. Ohio State against Tom Harmon vs. Cal
• Spectacular Plays 3-seed vs. 6-seed: Desmond Howard vs. Notre Dame against Marquise Walker vs. Iowa
• Honorable Mentions

Similar Posts:

• Your M Football YouTube Bracket Winner: Desmond Howard
• M Football YouTube Bracket Quarterfinal: Desmond vs. Desmond
• Michigan Football YouTube Bracket: Spectacular Plays 4 vs. 5
• M Football YouTube Bracket Semifinal: Desmond vs. Woodson
• Michigan Football YouTube Bracket: Spectacular Plays 3 vs. 6

It’s summer, the time when bloggers rack their brains for something — anything — to write about and college football fans count down the seconds until foot meets pigskin. So, welcome to my latest gimmick: The Michigan Football YouTube Bracket. I’m looking high and low for the best Michigan football moments ever captured on YouTube — divided into two categories: Game Performances/Game Winners and Spectacular Plays — and for you, the readers, to vote on the moment that stands out above the rest.

Welcome back — I hope you all had a great Fourth of July weekend. Today, we kick off “beer/burger hangover week” with amazing touchdown catches by two great Michigan receivers.

(3) Desmond Howard’s fourth down catch seals it vs. Notre Dame, 1991

In the second game of the 1991 season, #3 Michigan took on #7 Notre Dame in a battle of marquee teams, and — at least for the Wolverine faithful — the game would not disappoint. Up 17-14 in the fourth quarter, Michigan was faced with a fourth down from just inside the Notre Dame 25-yard line, needing just a foot to get a fresh set of downs. Instead of sending a back plunging into the line, Gary Moeller and his staff decided to go for the jugular — you can hear the shock in Brent Musberger’s voice as Elvis Grbac takes a quick three-step drop and lobs a pass to the corner of the end zone. With the ball seemingly hanging in the air forever, Desmond Howard torches two Irish defenders, lays out, and makes a spectacular touchdown catch, giving Michigan a two-score lead that would stand as the final score and launch his 1991 Heisman campaign in earnest.

(6) Marquise Walker’s go-ahead one-hander vs. Iowa, 2001

The 2001 Michigan squad headed to Iowa with a 5-1 record and the #8 ranking in the country to face a pesky Hawkeye squad, and in the third quarter, it appeared an upset was brewing after a Nate Kaeding field goal gave the home team a 20-7 lead. Chris Perry would cut the lead to six on a three-yard touchdown run with just under six minutes to play in the third, however, and with the clock winding down in the quarter the Wolverines were once again driving deep into Iowa territory. Facing a third-and-goal from the six, John Navarre rocketed a pass towards the right corner of the end zone with the sort of touch Michigan fans had come to expect from Navarre. Miraculously, Marquise Walker leaped over double coverage and hauled down Navarre’s throw with his right hand, which was extended above and behind his head, to give Michigan the go-ahead score. The Wolverines would go on to win 32-26, and Walker’s catch would adorn ESPN highlight reels for years to come.

For the rest of the Michigan Football YouTube Bracket, click here or see below for individual posts.

Recap:

• Game Performances/Winners 1-seed vs. 8-seed: Anthony Carter vs. Indiana against Mario Manningham vs. Michigan State
• Game Performances/Winners 4-seed vs. 5-seed: Mario Manningham vs. Penn State against Remy Hamilton vs. Notre Dame
• Game Performances/Winners 3-seed vs. 6-seed: Tim Biakabutuka vs. Ohio State against Mario Manningham vs. Notre Dame
• Game Performances/Winners 2-seed vs. 7-seed: The Braylon Game vs. Michigan State against Phil Brabbs vs. Washington
• Spectacular Plays 1-seed vs. 8-seed: Charles Woodson vs. Michigan State against Daydrion Taylor vs. Penn State
• Spectacular Plays 4-seed vs. 5-seed: Charles Woodson vs. Ohio State against Tom Harmon vs. Cal
• Honorable Mentions

Similar Posts:

• Michigan Football YouTube Bracket: Spectacular Plays 1 vs. 8
• Michigan Football YouTube Bracket: Spectacular Plays 4 vs. 5
• Michigan Football YouTube Bracket: Spectacular Plays 2 vs. 7
• Michigan Football YouTube Bracket: Game Performances/Winners 4 vs. 5
• Michigan Football YouTube Bracket: Game Performances/Winners 3 vs. 6

With Michigan’s 2009 season wrapped up, and the decade coming to a close, I thought I would steal an idea from Dr. Saturday and have my readers vote on a Team of the Decade. So, I’ve come up with a list of nominees for every position, and I’ll be posting two position groups every day for the next week, leaving it up to you to vote for who should make the team. At the end of the month, I’ll tally up the votes and reveal the team of the decade. First up is the quarterbacks:

Michigan’s quarterbacks of the last decade have rewritten the school’s record books, although the fan reception of the team’s signal-callers have varied wildly. Drew Henson was the local high school hero with Heisman aspirations before signing with the Yankees and leaving Ann Arbor prior to his senior season. John Navarre was thrown into the fire with Henson’s departure, and, despite being the most prolific passer in Michigan history to date, was the object of much criticism during his three years as the full-time starter. Chad Henne was the freshman sensation, a five-star prototype who took the reigns from Navarre and wiped his name from atop the record books in a sensational four-year term as the man under center for the Wolverines. Who deserves to be the quarterback of the decade? Let’s take a closer look:

Drew Henson (1998-2000): Henson had by far the shortest career of any of the nominees, but may have also reached the highest heights. After mostly waiting in the wings as a freshman, and splitting time with Tom Brady as a sophomore, Henson took over as the full-time starter in 2000. After missing the first three games with a foot injury, Henson came out and had one of the most lethally efficient season in school history. He completed 146 of 237 passes (61.6%) for 2146 and 18 touchdowns to only four interceptions, posting a passer efficiency rating of 159.4, fifth-best in team history. He led Michigan to a 7-2 record in the games he started, and the two losses (to Northwestern and Purdue, of all teams) came by a combined four points.

John Navarre (2000-2003): The much-maligned Navarre took over as a sophomore when Henson chose baseball, and proceeded to post numbers never before seen from a Michigan quarterback. He ended his career first on the school’s career leader list in attempts, completions, yards, touchdown passes, and both 150- and 200-yard passing games (the latter a mark he still holds). In his senior season, he led Michigan to a 10-3 record and became the only Wolverine to ever break the 3000-yard passing mark, throwing for 3331 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Chad Henne (2004-2007): The first true freshman to start for Michigan since the legendary Rick Leach, Henne made quick work of the lion’s share of Navarre’s school records. He was named to the freshman All-American team after throwing for 2743 yards and 25 touchdowns in his first collegiate season, leading the team to a conference title and Rose Bowl bid. Although he was criticized as a sophomore after a 3-3 start (it’s not really Henne’s fault that he no longer had Braylon Edwards to throw to), he still put up impressive numbers, throwing for 2526 yards and 23 touchdowns. His finest season came as a junior, when Henne completed 61.9% of his passes, threw for 2508 yards and 22 touchdowns (to only eight interceptions), and posted an efficiency rating of 143.4. Henne struggled with injuries as a senior in 2007, but still finished his career as Michigan’s all-time leader in attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, and 150-yard passing games.

Career Stats:

Similar Posts:

• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Running Backs
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Wide Receivers
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Tight Ends & Fullbacks
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Cornerbacks
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Offense

The countdown ends with two all-time greats, one who fittingly wore the #1 jersey and one who was the first primarily-defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy. Admittedly, there was little suspense as to who these two players were when I started the countdown, but I’ll be damned if that will keep me from writing about them.

Offense: Braylon Edwards, WR, 2001-2004

Other than the blindingly obvious choice for top defensive player, this was by far the easiest pick I made in this entire list. Braylon was a big play waiting to happen, a mind-blowing touchdown waiting in the wings, an “Oh %#!@” moment anticipating the most dramatic time to come forth and raise you out of your seat. Regardless of where I was, as soon as the ball left John Navarre or Chad Henne’s hand and took off on a parabolic arc towards Edwards, I would stand, ready for another SportsCenter moment. Usually, Braylon would come through.

“Our offense is based on getting the ball to our playmakers,” says coach Lloyd Carr, “and that means getting the ball to Braylon.”

The numbers are incredible: Michigan’s all-time leader in receptions (252, Marquise Walker is second with 176), receiving yards (3,541, almost 500 yards ahead of Anthony Carter), and touchdowns (39). He had 38 consecutive games with a reception, and had two different streaks of four games with over 100 yards receiving. He’s the only player in Big Ten history (and the third in Division I) to have three seasons with over 1,000 yards receiving.

“Real n*ggaz do real things,” [Edwards] says. “What I do matters, not what I say. I began coming to every meeting early, every workout early, every practice. Nobody practiced harder. Real things.”

Braylon made John Navarre look like a decent quarterback, freshman Chad Henne look like senior Chad Henne, and collegiate defensive backs look like small, pathetic children. Just throw the ball to Braylon. He’ll come down with it. When a player makes a spectacular catch over a defender, my friends and I say he “Brayloned” somebody. When it comes to Michigan football, all receivers are judged relative to Braylon. I don’t know what other praise to heap on to the man: it has all been said.

I would be remiss to not post highlights from the 2004 Michigan State game, The Braylon Game, when Edwards almost single-handedly lifted Michigan over the Spartans. I would also be remiss to not post highlights from the rest of his career. Cue WolverineHistorian, and be sure to watch this one till the end:

“Braylon became a leader,” [Carr] says. “I have never questioned his character, only his maturity. He did some growing up. I’ve said he’s become the best player in the country. Now all he has to do is prove me right.”

There’s no questioning Braylon’s talent, character, or maturity anymore. That magical 2004 season answered all questions about talent. As for his character and maturity, well, the Braylon Edwards Foundation endowed the Athletic Department a scholarship for the player who wears the #1 jersey, and Edwards has spent a ton of time and money giving back to the University and the Detroit community.

“The program will be here long after I’m gone,” Edwards says. “It’s bigger than me or any other player. You can’t fight it.”

The program will always remember Braylon Edwards, both for his contributions on the field and his generosity off of it.

Quotes taken from “The Real Thing” by Karl Taro Greenfield from Sports Illustrated’s Oct. 25, 2004 issue.

Defense: Charles Woodson, CB, 1995-1997

Charles Woodson probably could have made this list as a wideout if he so desired, or possibly even running back, the position he played in high school. Luckily for Michigan fans, he decided to play cornerback, and he decided he was going to be the best cornerback in school, if not collegiate, history.

Woodson does not hold a single season or career record at Michigan. Not one. His 18 career interceptions fall short of Tom Curtis’ 25. His 30 career pass breakups don’t come close to Leon Hall’s 43. Curtis’ 10 interceptions in 1968 bests Woodson’s 1997 mark by two. Leon Hall and Marlin Jackson both recorded three more pass breakups in a season than the 15 Woodson had his sophomore year. However, there is no doubt who is the best defensive player in school history.

All-Big Ten as a freshman, with two of his five interceptions against Ohio State in the season’s biggest game. All-American as a sophomore, with five more picks as well as a newfound penchant for offense (13 catches, 164 yards, one receiving touchdown; 6 carries, 152 yards, one rushing touchdown). Then, of course, came his junior season: unanimous, consensus All-American, Jim Thorpe Award, Bronko Nagurski Award, Heisman Trophy, National Championship.

Just in case you want to see that Michigan State pick one more time:

“…he has no idea that Charles Woodson can jump 15 feet in the air…”

Woodson reached mythical status that season, and it honestly wouldn’t have shocked me to see him jump 15 feet in the air, or intercept a pass thrown 70 yards away from him, or break the sound barrier while jogging. He was Superman in cleats, and he could do no wrong on the football field. The final image of his career, that majestic, leaping interception of Ryan Leaf’s pass in the end zone in the 1998 Rose Bowl, is perfect:

Everyone — Michigan players, Washington State players, referees, coaches, fans — stand and watch in awe of Woodson as he seemingly levitates to make a picture-perfect interception and the biggest possible moment.

Braylon Edwards and Charles Woodson share the same characteristic: their careers could easily, and appropriately, be described as awe-inspiring, and even at the age of 21 I wonder whether or not I will see another Wolverine of their talent at their positions in my lifetime. There was never a question of which two players would take the one-spot on this list. These are once-in-a-generation players. I’m just glad I was part of that generation.

Agree? Disagree? Want to share your favorite Edwards and Woodson moments? Be sure to drop a comment, and remember that I’ll be taking submissions for your top 15 offensive and defensive players (and top five special teamers) until I’m done with the list. Post your lists in the comments, or shoot me an email at ace@thewolverineblog.com, and I’ll compile the lists for the final post alongside the lists of members of The Wolverine staff. Make sure to check back every weekday: next I post the honorable mentions and other people’s lists.

Link to all Top 15 of the Last 15 posts

The list:

Offense:
15. Marquise Walker
14. Chris Perry
13. Chad Henne
12. Jerame Tuman
11. Brian Griese
10. Anthony Thomas
9. Tom Brady
8. Mario Manningham
7. Steve Hutchinson
6. Jake Long
5. Mike Hart
4. David Terrell
3. Tyrone Wheatley
2. Tshimanga Biakabutuka
1. Braylon Edwards

Defense:
15. William Carr
14. Leon Hall
13. Ian Gold
12. James Hall
11. Rob Renes
10. Alan Branch
9. Marcus Ray
8. Dhani Jones
7. Jarrett Irons
6. Marlin Jackson
5. Glen Steele
4. David Harris
3. LaMarr Woodley
2. Ty Law
1. Charles Woodson

Special Teams:
5. Zoltan Mesko
4. Marquise Walker
3. Garrett Rivas
2. Steve Breaston
1. Remy Hamilton

Similar Posts:

• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Quarterback
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Wide Receivers
• M Football YouTube Bracket Quarterfinal: Braylon vs. Biakabutuka
• M Football YouTube Bracket Quarterfinal: Woodson vs. Woodson
• M Football YouTube Bracket Semifinal: Desmond vs. Woodson