2024-09-08 02:40:02
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Saturday’s contest between Michigan and Texas kicked off with an on-field standoff between Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson and actor Matthew McConaughey.
Woodson, who played for the Wolverines from 1995 to 1997, waved the Michigan flag while Texas alum McConaughey represented the Longhorns.
No. 3 Texas is looking to end No. 10 Michigan’s 16-game unbeaten streak Saturday at the Big House.
McConaughey and Woodson were not the only special guests present in Ann Arbor for the Saturday showdown.
New York Yankees icon and Kalamazoo, Michigan-raised Derek Jeter was also present to serve as Michigan’s honorary captain.
Actor Will Ferrell meanwhile was scheduled to make an appearance on ESPN’s “College GameDay,” which is broadcast from the Michigan campus.
This is not the first time McConaughey has attempted to inspire the Longhorns to win an important game.
Former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who played for the Longhorns from 2006 to 2009, said in January on The Pat McAfee Show that McConaughey gave a pep talk to the Texas locker room ahead of the Rose Bowl during his redshirt freshman season. Texas went on to beat USC and claim the national title.
McConaughey earned an official title with UT in December 2018 when the school named him its “Minister of Culture.”
Woodson has reached a similarly important status with Michigan after becoming the program’s third Heisman winner in 1997. The cornerback and wide receiver was the first player in modern college football to win the trophy for his accomplishments on both sides of the ball.
He went on to play 18 NFL campaigns for the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers before retiring following his ninth Pro Bowl season in 2015.
Now the former two-way Wolverines star and the Texas Minister of Culture will look to see who can serve as the better good-luck charm for their team in Saturday’s top-ten battle.
