Wolverine Digest

Desmond Howard Shares How The Most Iconic Michigan Football Pose Almost Never Took Place

If you're a college football fan, you know all about the iconic Heisman pose Desmond Howard did back in 1991 against Ohio State. However, Howard shared that it almost never happened.

Trent Knoop

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If you're a Michigan fan -- or college football fan in general -- you know all about the iconic Heisman pose that Wolverines' legend Desmond Howard performed back in 1991 against Ohio State. 

Michigan was up 17-3 and after Howard took a punt return 93 yards to the house, the Wolverines defeated the Buckeyes, clinched the Big Ten, and Howard all but officially won the Heisman Trophy that season. 

But did you know that Howard had other thoughts other than striking the famous pose?

During Monday Night Football, the Michigan legend had a guest appearance on the Manning Cast -- which is hosted by Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. Howard was asked about his 99-yard kick return for a touchdown with the Green Bay Packers, but it quickly turned into his famous punt return as a Michigan Wolverine. 

That summer, Howard was dating a gymnast and that unknown gymnast taught Howard how to backflip. So Howard thought his shining moment would be to backflip his way into the end zone against the Buckeyes, but he quickly decided against it in case his backflip failed him. 

"The backstory of that pose -- that summer I was actually dating a gymnast, right," stated Howard on the Manning Cast. "You should always date a gymnast -- they are very smart. So she taught me how to do a backflip. I thought 'This would be the coolest thing to do'. If I break out in the open and stop on the one-yard line and do a backflip into the end zone."

"So here we are: Michigan, Ohio State, The Game. The biggest game in college football. This was my opportunity, but as I was running down the field, I was second-guessing myself. Should I do it? Yes? No? If you do it, and mess up, you will be on Sports Center for the wrong thing. So at about the eight-yard line I chickened out. Then I crossed the goal line and I was like 'okay...' -- boom I did that [stuck the famous pose] and the rest as they say is history."

And that's the story of how Desmond Howard decided to strike the most iconic pose in all of football. 

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Trent Knoop
TRENT KNOOP

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