The Miracle at Michigan
Encyclopedia
The Miracle at Michigan refers to the final play that occurred during the American football
game played on September 24, 1994 between the Colorado Buffaloes
and the Michigan Wolverines
at Michigan Stadium
in Ann Arbor, Michigan
. The game was decided on Colorado quarterback
Kordell Stewart
's 64-yard Hail Mary pass
to Michael Westbrook
, the second touchdown by the Buffalos in the last 2:16. The game was described as one of the two wildest finishes in Michigan football history.
Colorado trailed Michigan 26–21 with six seconds left when Stewart heaved the ball more than 70 yards in the air into the end zone where Westbrook caught it on a planned deflection from Blake Anderson for the game-winning touchdown. The play, which was named "Rocket Left", was called by Bill McCartney
, Colorado coach and former Michigan assistant coach. Westbrook, Blake Anderson and Rae Carruth
lined up wide left and James Kidd lined up wide right. The same play had been called to end the first half, resulting in a Chuck Winters
interception.
Before the 1994 season, running back Rashaan Salaam
was quoted in the Colorado Media Guide on what would be his favorite SportsCenter
highlight. "It's fourth and 15 late in the game at Michigan Stadium
. We're on our 2 yard line, and with 2 seconds to go, Kordell pitches me the ball. I throw a 98-yard touchdown pass to Michael Westbrook
and the Buffs win the game." Salaam almost nailed the scenario, but it was Kordell Stewart who completed the legendary play.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
game played on September 24, 1994 between the Colorado Buffaloes
1994 Colorado Buffaloes football team
The 1994 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 1994 college football season. The Buffaloes offense scored 439 points while the defense allowed 235 points. The team was led by head coach Bill McCartney....
and the Michigan Wolverines
1994 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1994 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1994 college football season. Led by Gary Moeller in his last season as head coach, the Wolverines participated in the Holiday Bowl.-Schedule:...
at Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan Stadium was built in 1927 at a cost of $950,000 and had an original capacity of 72,000. Before playing football at the stadium, the Wolverines played on Ferry Field...
in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. The game was decided on Colorado quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Kordell Stewart
Kordell Stewart
Kordell Stewart, nicknamed "Slash" , is a former American NFL quarterback. Stewart attended the University of Colorado and was drafted 60th in the 1995 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers...
's 64-yard Hail Mary pass
Hail Mary pass
A Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary route in American football refers to any very long forward pass made in desperation with only a small chance of success, especially at or near the end of a half....
to Michael Westbrook
Michael Westbrook
Michael Deanailo Westbrook is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. Westbrook spent 7 seasons with the Washington Redskins from 1995 to 2001 and the 2002 season with the Cincinnati Bengals before retiring...
, the second touchdown by the Buffalos in the last 2:16. The game was described as one of the two wildest finishes in Michigan football history.
Colorado trailed Michigan 26–21 with six seconds left when Stewart heaved the ball more than 70 yards in the air into the end zone where Westbrook caught it on a planned deflection from Blake Anderson for the game-winning touchdown. The play, which was named "Rocket Left", was called by Bill McCartney
Bill McCartney
William Paul McCartney is a former American football player and coach and the founder of the Promise Keepers men's ministry. He was the head coach at the University of Colorado from 1982 to 1994, where he compiled a record of 93–55–5 and won three consecutive Big Eight Conference...
, Colorado coach and former Michigan assistant coach. Westbrook, Blake Anderson and Rae Carruth
Rae Carruth
Rae Carruth is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL for the Carolina Panthers...
lined up wide left and James Kidd lined up wide right. The same play had been called to end the first half, resulting in a Chuck Winters
Chuck Winters
Charles "Chuck" Winters is a former Canadian Football League linebacker and defensive back who played for the Toronto Argonauts....
interception.
Before the 1994 season, running back Rashaan Salaam
Rashaan Salaam
Rashaan Iman Salaam is a former professional American football player. Salaam won the 1994 Heisman Trophy as a running back for the University of Colorado at Boulder, rushing for 2,055 yards by the end of the season. Salaam is the fourth major college football player to rush for over 2,000 yards...
was quoted in the Colorado Media Guide on what would be his favorite SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
highlight. "It's fourth and 15 late in the game at Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan Stadium was built in 1927 at a cost of $950,000 and had an original capacity of 72,000. Before playing football at the stadium, the Wolverines played on Ferry Field...
. We're on our 2 yard line, and with 2 seconds to go, Kordell pitches me the ball. I throw a 98-yard touchdown pass to Michael Westbrook
Michael Westbrook
Michael Deanailo Westbrook is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. Westbrook spent 7 seasons with the Washington Redskins from 1995 to 2001 and the 2002 season with the Cincinnati Bengals before retiring...
and the Buffs win the game." Salaam almost nailed the scenario, but it was Kordell Stewart who completed the legendary play.