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WEEK 7

LEAVE A LEGACY

Del Duduit

October 27, 1979: Michigan 27, Indiana 21

THE GAME WAS TIED AT 21. Lee Corso’s Indiana University Hoosiers had knotted the game with one minute to play in the final quarter. In 1979, there was no overtime rule, and a stalemate would have a negative impact on the University of Michigan team, which was 6–1 overall and 4–0 in conference play. The Wolverines took the ball and drove to the Indiana 45-yard line. They needed a miracle to win.

The choice was clear. There was only one option.

Wide receiver Anthony Carter boldly told quarterback Johnny Wagner that he was going to be open and to hit him with a pass downfield. Carter zigzagged down the middle and reeled in the throw near the Indiana 20-yard line. But there was more to come. He made a cutback move to his left to avoid one tackle and slipped another one at the 5-yard line before romping into the end zone with no time left on the clock.

The play gave him a Big Ten Conference record with thirty-seven touchdown catches over his career, but he will forever be immortalized in Michigan history for his stunning score as time expired to beat Indiana. People in Michigan still talk about the play today, and it is regarded as one of the best efforts ever in Maize and Blue history.

In an interview with AnnArbor.com in 2009, Carter recalled the feat thirty years later as if it happened yesterday. He said the play has meant the world to him and the fans. No matter what happens in Michigan football, no one will ever be able to take away the memory of that exciting last-second touchdown in 1979.

Anthony Carter has long been remembered for this phenomenal play. But it wasn’t the only great thing he did during his time at Michigan, where Coach Bo Schembechler referred to Carter as a human torpedo. During his freshman year, he hauled in seventeen passes and converted seven of these into touchdowns, averaging an incredible 27.2 yards per catch.

The next season, as a sophomore, he was the squad’s MVP. He was a three-time All-American at Michigan and came in third in voting for the Heisman Trophy his senior year. In 2001, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

How will you be remembered? Does your legacy matter to you?

LOOK OVER THE DEFENSE

Is there one act you are best noted for in life? Will your legacy be positive, or will you leave gloomy memories? Perhaps you have done some things in your past you are not proud of. Maybe a bad relationship has left you with a negative image. You are not alone. No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. But you also must realize you have time to redeem yourself and start over if you have messed up in life. The clock is ticking, but there is still time to make a dazzling touchdown and leave a lasting impression.

GO FOR THE PYLON

No matter what you have done or what has happened to you, once you realize there is a better way and a path to redemption, you can have a brighter outlook on life. But in this process you must take responsibility, own up to your mistakes, and manage your missed opportunities. You can either let your regrets hold you down or use them to motivate you and learn from the experience.

Face reality and recognize that every decision has a consequence. Wrong choices may lead to a horrible situation, but you can rise above it when you acknowledge that it happened. Don’t sugarcoat it or pretend it was a dream. Wake up and address the problem head-on. Set your mind right. You must make sure all the negative thoughts are out of your head. A positive mind-set is an important factor in leaving a legacy. You want to do good and make up for some of your past mistakes. It can happen, but you must be patient. Seek out the motivation you need.

Michigan fans held on to hope for the last play against Indiana. The players did, too. If the team had given up and hadn’t tried, then Carter’s famous play would never have happened. Go into each day with the expectation that something good is going to take place.

Carter finished his career at Michigan as a legend. He’d started out as a normal receiver with the same expectations as every other player. He worked hard at his craft and took advantage of opportunities and made the most of his career. He didn’t catch every pass thrown to him and made his share of mistakes. But he had a plan and a positive outlook. When you showcase those attributes, you, too, can make a phenomenal play. Go Blue!

What can you do to make people remember you in a positive way?