Peyton Manning at Michigan? Star QB says he considered being a Wolverine
The 1997 Heisman Trophy race ifamously came down to two players: Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning and Michigan football cornerback Charles Woodson.
Peyton Manning
Woodson eventually won out, but imagine how much more difficult the decision might have been if the two players were part of the same team.
Manning, who recently signed with the Denver Broncos, mentioned during a recent interview with the NFL Network that he had a tough time making a college choice, and Michigan was very much an option.
In the interview, Manning discussed the difficult decision he had to make recently as an NFL free agent, and likened the experience to days as a high school recruit.
"I remember the same feeling when I was in high school," Manning said. "I wanted to go to Ole Miss, I wanted to go to Florida, I wanted to go to Michigan, (but) you have to pick one."
Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
Comments
Jaxon5
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 3:26 a.m.
Ryan Mallett almost went to Michigan too.
timski
Thu, Mar 22, 2012 : 2:42 p.m.
To see the demeaner of carley at last years spring game, him with acouple of his peeeep's, act-Inn like he Deh NT get paid enoughht to be their, I,m siting next to the Faimemed Tunnell, beggin chaley to siign a helment for the 7 yr. old next to Me ,he just stroks a line across the kid's helment.... charly seen the Kid did't have a 50$ bill in his hand....as My brother and Myself found out We were in the wroung section, as I told charly to go sit in the cheep seat's,the real class of MICHIGAN arived, NOT YOU'S" "hart & howard".... What NON-Class were thease 2!!!!! GOD Bless You coach Bearinson and Our Hockey Teame! Rick Leach ,Jim Branster, *Frank Becman, Doug Karch,and a host of Michigan MeN that were truely humbled to be their!!!!! and oufcorce not just as a polatishin, Mr. Dave Branden and His LOVELY Wife had time enough to talk to me about the new llights at the Big House.....{charley ,howyand fumble (hart, 4 times and laught about it....) good luck on you''r new Movie comeing out you THREE, when you,s pee that away MICHIGAN will be here for even YOU'S...... tim +
Psudolus
Thu, Mar 22, 2012 : 2:07 a.m.
Brady is better. nbgf
genetracy
Thu, Mar 22, 2012 : 12:46 a.m.
I always thougth Woodson was a poor choice for Heisman that year. I recall a couple years after his senior year (he did not graduate, imagine), the NCAA wanted to investigate him for taking clothing and money from a booster. However, seeing he was out of school, he was under no legal obligation to talk to NCAA investigators, so that was the end of that.
Steve McQueen
Wed, Mar 21, 2012 : 8:53 p.m.
BTW we also almost had Sean Alexander...but he chose Bama at the last minute...
Steve McQueen
Wed, Mar 21, 2012 : 8:52 p.m.
Yes what Peyton says is true. Michigan was one of his finalists back in 94 when he came out of HS. We recruited him hard and almost landed him. Imagine Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Charles Woodson all on the same team... could 2 QBs play at the same time?
ralph mcgraw
Wed, Mar 21, 2012 : 8:47 p.m.
Geez, if he had come to Michigan, we'd have to listen to him and his family whine even louder when Charles Woodson won the Heisman!
heartbreakM
Wed, Mar 21, 2012 : 6:11 p.m.
Just think. If he had come to Michigan, we would have lost the Rose Bowl, and the rest of our bowl games.
heartbreakM
Thu, Mar 22, 2012 : 1:43 a.m.
Um, Gene: I mean, like during Peyton's years at UT where they went 0-4 in bowl games, Michigan went something like 3-1 in bowls. And let's add in Manning's stellar big game record at Indianapolis. I just don't get why every team is swooning over him. A great regular season performer. A horrible post-season big game performer (except for one super bowl). Let's not forget, he threw the key interception that allowed NO to win the super bowl while little brother beat the unbeatable Pats twice. Michigan has had its struggles, but compared to Manning, they're nothing.
genetracy
Thu, Mar 22, 2012 : 12:43 a.m.
You mean like Michigan always has done? Heck, it is now tradition for them to go the Rose Bowl and lose to a lower ranked team.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Mar 21, 2012 : 4:53 p.m.
The sign says "Join the discussion". I'm not sure what we would discuss. If I had a buck for every great NFL player who once considered more than one college....