Catching Controversy | The Legend of Ethan Woy

[Woy]

Last Battle for the Schwartzwalder


#7 Syracuse Orange (4-0) at #10 West Virginia Mountaineers (3-0)

"And now we're at the game of the night; seems like this Orange team is always in a big game nowadays. One of the best rivalries in the nation right now...Syracuse/West Virginia. Both teams are in the top 10, undefeated and are looking at more than just a Big East title. Fellas, predictions for this one?"

"Should be another great match-up between these two teams," Desmond stated as Kirk and Lee nodded their heads in agreement. "I got to go with Mr. Heisman and the Orange here. They just seem so focused and committed in their quest for a title."

"I'll have to disagree with you, Desmond," Kirk replied to the cheers of the Mountaineer faithful. "West Virginia never knew how it felt to lose to Syracuse before last year. I know that loss still brings a bitter taste in their mouths and they don't want it to happen again. Look for the Mountaineers to take this one on their home field."

"Look at this West Virginia crowd!" Lee said, hyping up the fans even more. "What a great group of kids. I'm sure they want revenge on Syracuse from last year's upset, am I right?" The crowd responded in a loud cheer, chanting 'Beat SU.' Lee flashed a smile and then shot their chant down, "Not so fast my friend! Give me that hat! Go Orange!"

...

We all sat in the visitors' locker room, hearing the yelling and screaming of the drunk Mountaineer fans from the other side of the wall. There was a nervous silence among us all and after Coach Marrone said a few words, he left the stage open for me to speak.

"Are any of you satisfied with beating these pussies just once? Wouldn't you love it if we beat them again? I know I would. Those fags on the other side of this wall would love nothing more than to derail our Big East and national title plans. Are we going to let them do that!?"

The collective answer was an obvious 'no,' as the uproar voiced over the crowd's cheering.

"Title or bust, bitches! Now, who are we!?"

...

After West Virginia opened off the game with a field goal on their first drive, we came out on the field and I immediately got involved. A connection from Brad and I netted 20 yards on the first offensive play, then a receiver option play only gained two yards after Brad pitched the ball too early. But after another hook-up netting 28 yards, we continued to push the ball down the field and eventually scored a touchdown.

The game went back and forth from there, with the Mountaineers taking the lead, 23-13, in the third quarter. Our defense just picked off Geno Smith and we jogged back on the field, going to work on an exhausted 11 men in blue in front of us. Brad hit me twice and we continued to push the ball down their throats before Evan punched it in from a yard out to cut their lead to three.

West Virginia took the ball and pushed it to mid-field, before halting and eventually failing on a fake punt. We took over and after a four-yard run by Evan, the dagger was brought by yours truly on another outstanding play call.

"Empty backfield, Swindell under center...Woy comes in motion and lines up behind Swindell...here's the snap, Woy gets the hand-off on a stretch...looks for a hole, side-steps a tackler, and has daylight! He's to the 20, the 10, touchdown Syracuse and they'll take the lead!"

The Schwartzwalder Trophy was ours once again.

#7 Syracuse 40
#10 West Virginia 26


4 carries, 60 yards, 2 TD, 14 catches, 212 yards, 2 TD

[Woy]

Setting Records and Dinner Plans

We continued our climb up the polls, reaching fourth after our win over West Virginia. As my Heisman hype continued to grow once again - as if it hasn't reached its peak already - I watched a little more of the NFL to see who was shaping up to gain the number one pick in the draft. Right now it was between the Rams and Texans, as both teams we sitting at 0-5.

Saturday, we traveled to Piscataway to face a solid Rutgers team with one big weakness I was trying to exploit; their starting freshman corners. After the Scarlet Knights punted it to our own two-yard line early in the first quarter, I blew past the man covering me on the first play and Brad hit me in stride for a 98 yard touchdown. The final score was 41-7 and I set personal records of 16 catches and 371 yards to go along with my three touchdowns.

Connecticut was a yawner, as I played just the first half, collecting six catches for just 50 yards in a 37-3 win. Pittsburgh scared us, taking the game to double overtime before their quarterback threw a pick. Brad ended up scoring the winning touchdown off a one-yard sneak and we walked into Cincinnati at 8-0 and ranked third in the country behind Alabama and Clemson.

The Bearcats were no slouch, ranked sixth at 6-0. We took control from the start, using our ever improving ground game with Averin and Evan to wear down the Cincinnati defense. A big five-yard touchdown catch by me in which I out-jumped their corner set the halftime score at 28-10. We ended up winning 38-28 and kept our ranking of third going into another big conference match-up against South Florida.

With just one conference loss, the Bulls had a chance to take the Big East title with a win against us and Cincinnati the next week. After being put on the kickoff return team with Evan suffering from cramps, I brought out my first kick from the 30-yard line and ended up in the end zone, tying the score at 36. We scored again with 26 seconds left and it seemed like it was over, but South Florida tied it up with a 68 yard B.J. Daniels touchdown pass. We eventually won in double overtime, 57-50, but it was more of a scare than what we wanted; especially with a trip to Death Valley to face second ranked Clemson next week.

After coming home to a happy campus because we clinched a second-straight Big East title, I checked my Facebook when I got home and noticed a message from the friend that visited a little more than a month ago.

"Ethan,

Hey, how have you been? I see that football's going well...that's great. I'll be in city for a week or so...making a few appearances around the area. Would you want to meet for dinner or something? Let me know. I miss you!"

After closing out of that window, I grabbed my phone and dialed her number. Two rings followed before she picked up and said, "Hello?"

"Hey, what's up?"

"Oh hey! I'm assuming you got my message, huh?"

"Yes I did...how does Wednesday sound?"

"Great! I've ate at the Dinosaur Barbque before and loved it. Would that be a good place?"

I stopped for a few seconds and remembered the last time I was there. The whole awkwardness between Melyssa, Rebecca, Stephen and I led to Rebecca revealing the mistake I made with her to Melyssa, which led to one of the darkest times in my life as she left me. I think about her every day but remembering the negative things that happened in our relationship could put me in a somber mood real quickly. Going back to that restaurant, not only with all the painful memories lingering over me, but with another woman just couldn't happen.

"How 'bout I pick a place and surprise you?"

"That would work. So...I'll meet you at your apartment sometime on Wednesday then?"

"Yeah, sounds good to me."

As she said she had to go, I looked at the picture beside my bed of Melyssa and I. I then looked up and felt a hand from above on my shoulder and knew that if I did try to pursue anything, Melyssa would be with me every step of the way.

[Woy]

Opening Up

The next few days went by quickly and before I knew it, the calendar announced that it was Wednesday and I was about to go out on a date for the first time since Melyssa left this world. My stomach was turning and I was getting some butterflies, not because I was nervous to see her again, but I just couldn't pin-point the exact reason. And to top that off, it just felt strange how I used to be so excited to see this girl, but now it's just a chill thing when our eyes meet. It's just so surreal.

The hours past and as I walked into the bathroom to get ready, I received a knock on the door and yelled for them to just come in. I hurried my shower, then put on a towel and saw her sitting on the couch, flipping through channels as I opened the door.

"Sorry," she apologized, blushing. "I didn't know you weren't ready yet."

"It's okay," I replied, walking off into the bedroom. "I'll be ready in a few minutes."

After putting on a button-down shirt and nice jeans, I kissed the picture of Melyssa and asked her for guidance. I then walked back into the living room, took her by the hand and headed out the door to my truck, where we then drove to Pastabilities.

There was a table in the far back where few could see us, so we chose that to avoid annoying autograph and photo seekers. From there, we quickly ordered our food and then started some small talk before our orders eventually came out. A few minutes of quiet eating past, then she spoke up after taking a drink of her lemonade.

"I'm glad we did this, Ethan."

"I'm glad too," I replied, before taking another bite of my lasagna. "It's nice to go out and chill with a friend every once in a while."

"Yeah definitely," she said with a smile. Then her expression turned to one of interest and curiosity as she asked, "is it alright if I ask you a question?"

"Yeah sure," I answered, not sure what she was about to ask. She looked down at her plate, cleared her throat, then picked her head back up and looked me right in the eyes.

"What happened to Melyssa?"

Silence filled the room as I tried to process what exactly I was going to say to her and as the seconds ticked by with still no response, she apologized. "I was just wondering, that's all. You don't have to tell me."

"She was murdered," I revealed, obviously shocking her from the change of facial expression. I stopped for a second because I felt like I was choking up, but I held myself together as she put her hand on my mine and whispered, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," I replied, flipping my hand over to gently hold her's. "You have no clue how much I loved that girl. I couldn't even begin to describe it with words."

"I'd imagine," she said. "You two seemed very happy together."

"We were," I said, reassuringly. "I didn't think anybody, anything could bring us down. Then she took the worst of my own stupid mistake and that's something I'll never be able to forgive myself for."

"Your mistake? What do you mean by that?"

"Well, during my recruiting process, I was approached by Michigan's coach Rich Rodriguez. He sent a booster to keep tabs on me, spice up the process with money gifts and when I decided to go to Syracuse, that pissed them off. He, the booster, said something in the lines of that there would be payback, but I never expected it to happen to my wife, three years after the fact."

"Damn," she slightly gasped, stunned from everything I told her. "I don't know what to say."

"I wouldn't know what to say either," I half-joked. "As much as I love this place, I'll be so happy when I leave it."

"Yeah, I know what you mean." More silence surrounded us for a few minutes, then as I paid the tab, she spoke up once again. "You wanna know what I think?"

"About?"

"You...well mostly you," she said, as I leaned in closer, interested in what she was about to say. "Ethan, you're an amazing person. I haven't known you that long, but I can just tell. You want to do what makes others happy before yourself. Yeah, past mistakes have taken their toll on your life but they haven't brought you down to a serious depression or something harmful."

She placed her other hand on the table and I slowly grasped it as well, still looking into her pretty blue eyes. A smile crept upon both our faces, then she turned it away and continued to speak.

"I know how much you cared for Mel and wanted to establish a very happy, loving family with you, her and your son. I remember you telling me you haven't had a woman around since the death, which makes me worry about Sean Joseph, because he doesn't really have a mother figure in his life."

Now she started to confuse me a bit. I know what she was saying about Sean Joseph not having a mother figure in his life, but she couldn't possibly be hinting that she liked me and wanted to replace Mel...could she?

"I'm going to admit it right now...I like you; more than just this friendship we've had..."

Well my first assumption was right.

"...but I'm not saying that I want to replace Mel."

Wait, what?

"Like I said, I know how much you loved her and cared about her; she's an irreplaceable part of your life. I'm completely fine with that. What I'm saying is that I want to be in your life...or at least give me a chance to hold a bigger role in it. I want to try and be that mother figure for Sean Joseph. I want to be there beside you in the future for all the good times and bad. There's no way I want to see you end up like Ben Roethlisberger in a few years...you know, can't settle down and get accused of rape so many times."

We both laughed at the Big Ben joke, but she was exactly right. I needed someone to be there for me, someone I could turn to, someone to spend the rest of my life with. Whether she would be that girl, I didn't know, but she understood that she wasn't going to be replacing Melyssa but rather, she would be opening a new chapter in my life.

I leaned in and gave her a kiss on the lips and whispered, "I'll give you that chance." A warming feeling then rushed through my body and as our lips loosened, I smiled and knew that Melyssa guided me to the right one.

[Woy]

Dreams Die in Death Valley


#3 Syracuse Orange (10-0) at #2 Clemson Tigers (10-0)

If you had your television on ESPN at all throughout the week, you most likely saw something about the Syracuse/Clemson game this Saturday. It was being hyped as the 'Regular Season National Title Game', which I bet pissed off Alabama because they were still holding the top ranking in the polls. It was probably the most anticipated regular season game since Ohio State/Michigan in 2006.

Predictions were pretty split everywhere I'd look. We had the more talented team overall, they had more star power...we played in a better conference, they were hosting the match-up in one of the toughest places to play; for every advantage one team had, the other had one to equal it. It truly was shaping up to be a classic.

Kirk and Desmond went with us, while Lee decided to put on the Tiger head during College Gameday, obviously getting the approval of the sea of purple. All of the 78,000 Clemson fans would be wearing that color and although it wouldn't be as intimidating as a 'black-out' or 'white-out', it still was going to be a factor.

The time leading up to the game went by slowly and as we walked out onto the field with our arms locked, the boos rained down from the Clemson faithful with their dark purple that sort of blended in with the night sky. As we reached our sidelines, some of us turned around and saw one of the greatest entrances in college football; the touching of Howard's rock followed by running down the hill. A loud roar shook the stadium as the Tigers made their way onto the field, ready to do battle for a shot at the 2013 National Championship Game in Miami.

Brad, Torian and I met Kyle Parker, RoDerick McDowell and Will Brown at mid-field for the coin toss. There was no bad blood or pre-game trash talking between us, so after we won the toss and elected to receive, both sets of captains exchanged some friendly handshakes and went their separate ways to get ready.

"And here's the match-up everyone's been waiting all week for...number three Syracuse versus number two Clemson. Here's the kickoff and this game is under way!"

We came out with a game-plan to get our ground game involved early, riding Averin most of the time and rewarding him with a two yard touchdown to start the game. However, Clemson had the same early game-plan and executed it perfectly, riding their ground game before RoDerick McDowell scored from three yards out.

The highlights got stale from there, until McDowell scored once again in the second quarter, giving Clemson a 14-7 lead. A long drive of ours was halted by an interception by Thorpe finalist Will Brown, but after some three-and-outs, we had the ball with one last chance to score before the half.

With 39 seconds left, Brad threw an incompletion to begin the drive, then we hooked up for a 41 yard gain. That was followed by a 16 yard completion to Matt Clay, then another incompletion and finally another hook-up between Brad and I for 27 yards to take the ball down to the two-yard line. Our fullback John Jones punched it in from there and we went into halftime tied at 14.

The third quarter was pretty uneventful, but we scored late on a quarterback sneak to take a 21-14 lead but Clemson answered with a Kyle Parker touchdown pass to start off the fourth. The game seemed like it would be back and forth and that the last team with the ball would win, but we made our first big mistake of the night.

"Swindell hands the ball off to the younger Woy...he follows his blockers and looks for a hole...but it's punched out by Brown! There's a big scramble for the ball and it looks like Clemson will end up with it! What a turn of events!"

Parker found McDowell the very next play on a screen pass for an 11 yard score and suddenly the Tigers had all the momentum, taking a 28-21 lead. With just four minutes left, we were looking for just a chance to send it to overtime, but things started to really turn in our favor.

"Swindell takes the snap, looks to his right and has Woy in single coverage, lofts it up there....it's caught and it's going to be a touchdown! What a play by the Heisman winner and with the extra point, we'll be tied up once again!"

Sure enough, the extra point was good and if we held Clemson out of the scoring column, we'd get our chance to beat them in overtime. However, that wouldn't be the case as the Tigers punted it back after a three-and-out. The first play was scrimmage was a memorable one, something that Syracuse fans would be talking about for a long time.

"Swindell in the gun, motions Woy across, takes the snap and fakes the handoff to Collier...and here's the option. Swindell is going to be brought down for a...oh wait, he got it out! Woy grabs it with one hand and avoids the first tackler! He's got space now...stops in his tracks and avoids another tackler and will be finally brought down after a huge 39 yard gain! What a play by the two seniors!"

A few runs killed some clock, then Evan was allowed in by the Clemson defense with 18 seconds left, giving us a 35-28 lead. The Tigers then brought the kick-off to the 15 and it seemed like they'd need a miracle to tie the game.

"Parker drops back to pass...looks to his left and just lofts a bomb...it's caught by sophomore stud Chaz Shaw! Shaw is to the 40, the 50, the 40, 30, 20, 10, touchdown Clemson! I don't believe it! The prayer was answered and suddenly an extra point will tie this game and most likely send it to overtime!"

Sterling Minor trotted out for the extra point and the Tigers faithful continued to celebrate the unlikely touchdown. That high decibel level dropped to one so low you can hear a pin-drop as Minor shanked the point after and as the onside kick was recovered by us, the tears were flowing down some of the Clemson players' faces because their dreams of a national title was gone because of a fluke play.

We were still alive and just one more win in my final home game at the Carrier Dome would send us to Miami once again; this time for the BCS National Championship.

#3 Syracuse 35
#2 Clemson 34


3 carries, 45 yards, 7 catches, 179 yards, 1 TD

[Woy]

Senior Day


Louisville Cardinals (4-6) at #1 Syracuse Orange (11-0)

After a huge win against #2 Clemson, we leaped over Alabama in the polls but it wouldn't matter because with just a win, we'd be playing in Miami for the title in January. And with a mediocre Louisville team coming in on Saturday, some fans already were buying their tickets. We didn't want to get over-confident though, because we've seen crazier stuff happen in the past; like when West Virginia was in the exact same situation and fell to Pittsburgh, ending their hopes for a national title.

Sitting in the Syracuse tunnel for the last time as a player, I looked out to the crowd and noticed it was filled more than any other game. The stands were obviously filled to capacity, but the sidelines were also packed with fans and media members. I guess this really was the hottest ticket in the nation as some media outlets said, seeing it was my last game at the Carrier Dome.

"He's only been here for one year, but we still consider him a permanent member of the Syracuse family. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for your quarterback, number four, formerly from the University of Buffalo...Brad Swindell!"

Brad walked out with his parents to a load cheer and received his framed jersey and other miscellaneous items. After speaking for a few minutes, he walked to the sidelines to stand with the rest of the seniors and suddenly everyone stood up. I looked at my proud parents, one standing on each side of me, and gripped their hands tight as I started my walk out.

"And finally...here he is. Coming in as the biggest recruit in recent Syracuse history, this man lived up to and exceeded all expectations. Soon to be a three-time All-American, two-time Biletnikoff winner and two-time Maxwell winner...plus you know he's going to win his second Heisman in a few weeks...no one will wear the number 15 again...please give a loud welcome to the greatest player in Syracuse football history, wide receiver...Ethan Woy!"

The standing ovation lasted for a good ten minutes and as I got my plaque and framed jersey, we all watched as my number 15 banner was lifted up to the rafters above. Then as we all enjoyed the spectacle, a few people walked up towards me, one holding a mic in his hand.

"Everyone please welcome former Syracuse greats Jim Brown, Donovan McNabb and Marvin Harrison!"

The three shook my parents and I's hands, then Donovan spoke up. "Ethan, as alumni of Syracuse University, we're extremely proud of you for setting all sorts of records and taking this program to a completely different level. It's an honor for all of us to give you this plaque as the greatest athlete in Syracuse history. Congratulations."

Jim handed me the plaque and I received an even louder ovation from everyone, including my teammates. I took a bow and as the cheering eventually faded away, I had my stuff taken to the locker-room as we got ready for the actual game.

We were clicking right off the bat, taking the ball from the start and coming out with an 11 play drive that ended in a touchdown run by Averin. Louisville punted it back to us after five plays, then Brad and I hooked up on a 50 yard touchdown to quickly make it 14-0. Brad threw another touchdown, this time to freshman tight end Matt Clay on our third drive, and on our fourth drive, I left the Carrier Dome with a bang.

"Swindell drops back, looks to the right, pump-fakes and got the corner to bite! He throws to a wide-open Woy and it'll be an easy touchdown! Syracuse continues their dominance, leading 28-0, and that might be the last play we see Woy in uniform here at the Loud House."

That was my final play, as I came out in street clothes for the second half because Coach Marrone decided to pull the starters. Charley finally got some time and was impressive in the final 30 minutes, throwing for a touchdown, but Evan got most of the attention with 16 carries and responded with his first 100 yard day.

Miami, here we come.

#1 Syracuse 45
Louisville 10


2 carries, 32 yards, 10 catches, 204 yards, 2 TD

[Woy]

Griffin, Tebow...Meet Mr. Woy

Locking in our spot to Miami, we awaited our opponent and watched a fun few weeks of college football unfold. Alabama defeated rival Auburn to clinch their spot in the SEC championship where they would face Georgia, and their win moved them up to the top spot in the polls ahead of us. Texas A&M and Boise State were each sitting at 11-1 behind us in the polls, hoping to take advantage of a possible Crimson Tide loss. However, that didn't happen, as Alabama easily defeated the Bulldogs, 38-13, and Texas A&M was upset by Nebraska, 32-17. Alabama/Syracuse was already being hyped as much as the epic game between USC/Texas almost 10 years ago.

Before that, I made a trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation again. But unlike last year, I had someone to join me in the Big Apple as Brad got invited as a finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award and the Heisman. Along with us, two more quarterbacks in Clemson's Kyle Parker and Alabama's Star Jackson were invited. They all knew it was mine to lose though.

"Your 2012 Maxwell Award winner is...senior receiver from Syracuse, Ethan Woy!"

"The winner of the 2012 Fred Biletnikoff Award is Syracuse's Ethan Woy! What a surprise."

After going back to the hotel with my hands full, I arrived at Radio City Music Hall with Brad to meet the other two finalists. Kyle, I already knew from the Clemson game, but I didn't know Star.

"What's good fellas?" I greeted the other two players as we walked into the room.

"Ready to lose your trophy tonight?" Kyle asked me, jokingly. Unlike last year, everyone knew that it was my trophy to lose and that I would possibly set a record for the biggest margin of victory.

"You wish," I replied. "Glad to see you guys beat Tech though...I'll be rooting for you in the Orange Bowl."

"Yeah, it makes up for the tough loss against you guys, that's for sure."

"And how about my competition in the title game?" I turned to Star, who was grabbing some punch from the table. "You ready?"

"Always ready, son," he replied before shaking my hand. "It's definitely going to be a great one, but I'm pretty sure we'll come out on top."

"We'll just have to wait and see," I chuckled.

...

"And your 2012 Heisman Trophy winner will join Archie Griffin and Tim Tebow as the only two-time winners of the award...senior receiver from Syracuse, Ethan Woy!"

I shook all my competitors' hands, unlike the little scuffle with Terrelle Pryor last year, and hugged my parents before walking up to accept my award.

"It's an honor just to win this once," I stated, arms locked on the bronze beauty. "But I'm so thrilled to take home another one of these. I want to thank God, my family, my teammates, coaching staff, friends and everyone who has been there for me over this last season. It's been an extremely tough one for me emotionally and I know if I was any other team or was surrounded by any other people, then I wouldn't have been able to make it. I dedicate this to my fallen soldier, the love of my life, Melyssa. Thank you all and God bless."

After talking and getting some pictures with Griffin and Tebow, the rest of the finalists and I went into the back where they were hosting the after-party, where my favorite artist J. Cole was performing.

Hopefully my result over Jackson in the voting would resemble the result of the BCS National Championship in less than a month.

[Woy]

Curtains Close


#2 Syracuse Orange (12-0) vs. #1 Alabama Crimson Tide (13-0)

Sitting in the locker-room of Sun Life Stadium, I stared in the mirror of the locker in front of me and smiled. There wasn't an ounce of nervousness in my body. After all the hell I've been through during my four years at Syracuse, I was extremely thankful to be in this type of position to end my career. Win or lose, I was going to go out with a bang.

"Guys, we've made it. Look to the person on the left and right of you and remember all the times we've had together as a team. We fucking deserve this, we really do. A lot of the perception of this game is that Alabama will smoke us because they play in the almighty SEC. I laugh at that bullshit, look at the teams we've beaten! USC, Clemson, Notre Dame, West Virginia...Bama's schedule doesn't even compare."

I got up from the bench and slowly walked to the center of the locker-room, all eyes locked on me just like they've been my whole career. I cleared my throat and looked back at 85 men wearing all orange, then resumed my speech.

"We've been through a lot, especially this senior class. This team has gone from Big East cellar-dweller to national power throughout our time here. I want to let you know that I love each and every one of you and couldn't ask for better teammates. But enough of that corny shit. Go out there tonight and give it all, don't play for the name on the back of your jersey but play for every single student, faculty member and alumni of Syracuse University. This is our time fellas! Now, who we are!?"

"SU!"

"And what we do?"

"Stomp on you!"

"I said, what we do?"

"Stomp on you!"

"Break it down baby! One, two, three..."

"SU will rock you!"

...

Thousands of flash-bulbs went off as Adam Gray lined up for the opening kickoff. I stood on the sideline and watched Adam boot the ball out of the end zone, officially starting the 2013 BCS National Championship Game.

O'Brien winning quarterback Star Jackson took the field, along with All-SEC runningback Trent Richardson but our defense was ready for their explosiveness. Richardson took two carries for only four yards total, then our stud freshman defensive tackle Ryan Markey brought down Jackson for a 10 yard loss, forcing them to punt after their first drive.

We were much better on our opening drive, slowly but consistently moving the ball. Averin got the first carry for three yards, then after an incompletion, Brad hit Matt on a 10 yard gain. After missing me with a low throw, Brad hit me for eight yards on a hitch, then Evan came into the game and took a hand-off for six yards. Robbie then caught a pass on a wide-open seam route and rumbled 30 yards downfield, which set up the first score of the night.

"Swindell motions Woy...fakes the hand-off to Collier and it'll be the option...he pitches it to the Heisman winner and he's got a little hole! Touchdown Syracuse! The Heisman winner strikes again, scoring early in this first quarter to give the Orange a 6-0 lead!"

However, Alabama came back behind the legs of Richardson. Three, eight, and 11 yard runs coupled by a personal foul penalty moved the Crimson Tide into scoring position. Then a Jackson quarterback draw gained 13 yards, before Richardson took two more hand-offs and got into the end zone, sending the game into the second quarter with the score knotted up at seven.

"Swindell drops back to pass, looks to his right, fires in Woy's direction...it's picked off by Nico Johnson! Johnson's to the 40, the 30, the 20 and is brought down at the 16-yard line! What a shift in momentum!"

The second quarter obviously started horrible for us, with Brad almost throwing a pick-six on the opening play. Three plays later, Richardson was celebrating with the mascot in the end zone as Alabama took a 14-7 lead. Things got stale after that, as both teams traded three-and-outs, but we had one last opportunity before halftime and made the most of it.

"Third down and goal from the 15 with just 11 seconds left before halftime. Swindell takes the snap and drops back...fires a screen to Woy...Woy makes a move on the corner and only has to get by the safety! He drags him into the end zone for another Syracuse touchdown!"

Coming out for the third quarter, we received the kickoff and went right to work. We started running the ball with Evan instead of Averin and although he got one yard on his first carry, his big break was still to come. A false start moved the ball back 10 yards, but Justin Roberts gained those yards back with a deep slant. Then on third and nine, Evan made the play of his career and really shifted all the momentum in our corner.

"Swindell drops back to pass...looks like he's going to set up the screen to the younger Woy. Evan catches it and has blockers in front of him...makes one man miss, he might have something here! To the 50, the 40, the 30, 20, 10...touchdown Syracuse! The Woys are putting a hurting on the Crimson Tide defense, both of them combining for all three touchdowns!"

Alabama went three-and-out once again and we got the ball back at our own 28-yard line. Brad scrambled twice for six and eight yards, then found me on an out pattern for 11 yards. A timeout was called by Alabama because of an injury to one of their defensive lineman, which set the stage for the play of the year and one that any college football fan would remember for a long time.

"First down and 10, ball is on the Alabama 48-yard line. Swindell is in the gun, four receivers spread out. Here's the snap...Alabama's bringing the heat but Swindell will scramble to his right...here comes the defensive end...he side-steps him and throws up a prayer! Woy looks for it, leaps up and grabs it with the corner on his back! It looks like he's going to be downed at the two...no, wait! He's going to drag him into the end zone, touchdown Syracuse! What a play by Mr. Heisman and his best friend and that gives the Orange a two score lead!"

Alabama tacked on a field goal to end the third quarter, but the momentum was still completely in our favor. We started the fourth quarter with a six play drive, but punted it back to the Crimson Tide after falling just short of field goal range. Alabama fell victim to another three-and-out and we took the ball on a long, ten play drive which ended in a field goal.

The hats and shirts started to come out and with one minute left, Brad and I found the Gatorade coolers and the coaches, dumping them as Richardson ran in for another touchdown. The coaches seemed pissed because it was just a one score game, but we insisted it was over.

"Hang on a second folks, we're not done yet! Alabama recovers the onside kick and has 51 seconds to score another touchdown and send it to overtime!"

I swear I received the longest death stare from Coach Marrone when the Crimson Tide offensive excitedly trotted back onto the field. Things just got worse as Star Jackson led them down to the 24 yard line of ours and with one second left, all their title hopes relied on one last miracle.

"Jackson takes the snap...looks to his left...throws it...it's batted down at the line by Markey! The former Big East bottom-feeder has reached the pinnacle of college football as Syracuse wins the National Championship!"

I gave Coach Marrone a big hug as he whispered, "you're lucky," then ran onto the field with the rest of my teammates to celebrate. I found Star and Trent, told them to keep their heads up as Evan threw a shirt over my shoulder and put a hat on my head. After celebrating a little more, the BCS representatives finally showed up with the trophy.

"Congratulations, Coach Doug Marrone and the Syracuse Orange! You were the best team all year and capped it off with a fantastic win over Alabama tonight. And now, it's time to present the Chevrolet Player of the Game Award and it's no surprise. He came back after winning the Orange Bowl MVP last year and capped his historic career with 11 catches and three total touchdowns. Ladies and gentlemen, Ethan Woy!"

I held that trophy high and proud, a tear falling down my face as I soaked in the moment. Just like last year, chants of "Heisman" and "Spider-Man" filled the stadium, but instead of ending my collegiate career on a BCS bowl game win like I thought I would, the curtains closed on it in the best way possible; as a national champion.

#2 Syracuse 31
#1 Alabama 24


3 carries, 8 yards, 11 catches, 178 yards, 3 TD (1 rush)

[Woy]

Finale (Part 1)

Just like last season when I decided to come out, I was the projected number one pick. However, Cleveland missed out because they went 5-11 behind Colt McCoy and currently had the fifth overall pick. Instead, Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams held the first selection and with no weapons still at the former Oklahoma quarterback's disposal, they were certain to take me.

The combine just added to my credentials, as my 4.35 40-yard dash and 40 inch vertical jump had scouts' jaws dropping. I decided not to run or jump at Syracuse's Pro Day, but instead I caught passes from Brad the entire time, showcasing both my hands and route-running ability, but also his big arm and accuracy. Despite his size, there were projections of him being picked as high as the early second.

Trade rumors grabbed everyone's attention during the week of the NFL Draft, as an unnamed team was considering trading two first rounders, a second, and a receiver to St. Louis, just for the number one overall pick. ESPN or any other media outlets wouldn't release the mystery team, but I know they didn't try to get in touch with me, so I was just as clueless...excited, but clueless.

...

"Welcome to the 2013 NFL Draft. The St. Louis Rams are now on the clock."

Minutes passed and it started to seem more and more that the Rams were just bluffing and that they would actually take me, so when I saw Roger Goodell walk up to the podium, I started to imagine myself in a St. Louis uniform.

"And with the first pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams have traded their selection..."

There were some gasps around the arena and as I leaned forward to pay more attention, my phone started to vibrate so I picked it up.

"Ethan, are you ready to become a Tennessee Titan?"

Goosebumps shot up my spine as I listened to Bryan Adams, the owner of the Titans, welcome me to the team. I replied with, "absolutely," then he said he'd talk to me soon and hung up the phone as Goodell finished the selection.

"...to the Tennessee Titans. And with the first overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Titans select...Ethan Woy, wide receiver, Syracuse University."

I hugged my family and friends that were in the green room with me, then walked out to the applause of thousands before receiving the generic #1 jersey and hat. Smiling during the pictures, Goodell whispered, "you're going to be a star, kid" in my ear and I just nodded my head, happy that I already had his approval.

...

"Let's see what the rook's got," Vince whispered to Chris before they both walked into the huddle. It was training camp and I was placed on the first team offense from the beginning since I was replacing Kenny Britt, who was in the draft-day trade, but with media and fans surrounding the practice field, I never made an early impression.

"Red 15, red 15, set...go!"

The ball was snapped and Vince faked the hand-off to Chris. The defense didn't really bite and as I tried to get away from Cortland, Vince lofted it high in my direction. I thought it would be out of my reach, but I sprung up with one hand...

...and brought it down, keeping both feet in bounds as the crowd and sidelines roared in approval.

"Yeah, he legit," Chris chuckled as the offensive players congratulated me when I made it back to the huddle.

...

"The kick is up...and it's good! Nate Kaeding boots home the 35-yard field goal and the Chargers have finally gotten over the hump and will represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLVIII!"

Despite the heartbreak in the AFC Championship Game, I had a very successful rookie season. As Vince's number one target, I had 65 catches, 1023 yards and nine touchdowns while winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. With a nice core nucleus of Vince, Chris, and I representing the offense and Derrick, Stephen, and Cortland representing the defense, we would be Super Bowl contenders for years to come.

However, I had bigger things going in my life after my rookie year...

[Fox1994]

I'm confused as to whether or not you actually played with him on Madden...

And I completely forgot Evan was on the team. In fact, I don't think I ever knew. Very exciting ending, amigo. Looking forward to the final to the finale. XD

:acid:

[Woy]

I'm confused as to whether or not you actually played with him on Madden...

And I completely forgot Evan was on the team. In fact, I don't think I ever knew. Very exciting ending, amigo. Looking forward to the final to the finale. XD

:acid:

Nah, I didn't play this in Madden...didn't have the time.

I'll have the second part of the finale now, then the final part of it will be posted tomorrow hopefully.

[Woy]

Finale (Part 2)

"Daddy, watch me throw through the tire!"

"That's great Sean Joseph. Keep that up and you could play for the Titans someday. Maybe you can be like Vince!"

"I run faster than Vince...watch!"

I chuckled as my four-year old son dropped the ball and started sprinting towards a big tree in our backyard, then slowly panting back as he exhausted all his energy. Then as I lifted him up in my arms, I heard a voice from inside.

"Ethan, come here for a minute!"

I sat Sean Joseph down and told him I'd be right back, then walked into the house where my wife was holding an object in her hand.

"Hun, I'm pregnant."

I sat there with a look of shock, because it wasn't something we planned at all. I always saw myself just having one kid and I obviously already had that with Sean Joseph. I didn't know what to say.

"Babe, how could this happen?" I asked, searching for a reason. She pointed at my wallet on the table and I shrugged my shoulders, still confused.

"You kept it in your wallet, huh?"

"What are you...oh," I stopped myself, finally realizing what she meant. "Yeah. You think that it..."

"Of course it did. There's really no other explanation."

I continued to sit there, trying to find the words to say, but nothing was coming to mind. My mind was racing in a whole bunch of different directions and it was starting to give me a headache from thinking about it so much.

"Well what do you want to do?" I finally blurted out in a concerned tone. "Think we can raise another kid?"

"Yeah I believe so," she said. "I just don't want to...you know, relive the past."

"Yeah, I agree. I'm not making the same mistake, Rebecca."

...

"Congratulations Ethan, here's your son. Do you two have a name picked out for him?"

"Yeah. Welcome to the world, Brandon Lee Woy."

...

"The Jets defeat the Titans, 30-23, and will be going to the Super Bowl!"

"That's it! Cincinnati finally reaches the Super Bowl for the first time since 1989 by beating the Tennessee Titans, 14-13!"

"Four seed San Diego takes down the number one seed Tennessee, 24-21, and will deny the Titans from the Super Bowl once again!"

After making the AFC championship in my rookie season, I surely believed that we were going to be in the Super Bowl within the next three years. However, the next three seasons were full of anguish and heartbreak as we reached the same title game and fell short every single time. We were dubbed the new-era Buffalo Bills by some sports column writers and our fans were getting restless, wondering if we would ever deliver them a Super Bowl.

I put myself among the league's elite at receiver over those three seasons, improving upon all my statistics and reaching the 100 catch mark in year four of my career. Vince was proving himself to be a top five quarterback in the league and although Chris reached his prime after my second season, his downfall wasn't as bad as much anticipated, because he was still putting up 1300 yard seasons. The defense was starting to get older but we brought some fresh meat into it with the first round selection of Ryan Markey, a former teammate at Syracuse. His explosiveness was unmatched and his strength commanded double teams at all times. Still, with all these pieces, it really gave us little cap room so we needed to win a championship now before the money issue broke up the team.

...

"The kick is up...it's good! The Titans are going to Super Bowl LII!"

Finally we got over the hump in year five. All of my receiving totals mostly dropped, but I hauled in 18 touchdowns and that statistic right there gave me enough votes to bring home my first NFL MVP award. Dallas would be the host to one of the best Super Bowls in history, between the 13-3 Tennessee Titans and the 14-2 Atlanta Falcons.

Matt Ryan, who was dubbed my many as the best quarterback in the NFL, really started off hot and threw two touchdowns in the first quarter. We on the other hand, came out flat, falling victim to three-and-out after three-and-out. It was 24-0 at halftime and our fans again were feeling the same despair that they felt when we fell in the AFC title game over and over.

However, the second half restored our confidence, as a 98 yard kick return touchdown by Marc 'White Lightning' Mariani shifted the entire momentum around. Jason McCourty picked off a pass just three plays after and Vince found Damian Williams for a score, cutting the deficit to just 10 points. A field goal by Atlanta upped it to 13 as the third quarter ended on that note.

At this point I had just three catches and the Falcons were doing a solid job of shadowing me at all times, taking me away from making something big happen. Then their defense bent a little too much as I made a beautiful move on a route, separating myself from the corner, before hauling in a 45 yard touchdown on a simple fly pattern. Back-to-back field goals confirmed the fact that this was not a defensive struggle, then with just 36 seconds remaining, we were facing a fourth down and goal from the eight-yard line when...

"Young from under center, he takes the snap...pumps left, has a little crease open on the right and he'll take it! Touchdown Titans, Superman Vince does it again! Shades of USC/Texas in 2006!"

An extra point would give our franchise our first Super Bowl win in history, but no one would expect what would have happened next.

"Mike Kafka to hold for Bironas...this is for the lead and the win folks. Here's the snap, Kafka bobbles it! He picks it up and scrambles to his right, trying to make something happen! He throws it to the corner of the end zone...where there's an open receiver in Craig Stevens, I don't believe it! The Titans convert and take a two-point lead!"

The biggest fear we could have in that situation turned into an extra insurance point as our back-up quarterback Mike Kafka found third-string tight end Craig Stevens for the two-point conversion. Atlanta tried three Hail Marys and failed on each one, then the confetti dropped and the champagne started popping as we won Super Bowl LII.

Vince won MVP and was handed the keys to his brand new 2018 Corvette, while I held my son in my arms as the confetti continued to fall from the rafters. I finally felt that I reached the pinnacle of my life and that nothing would top it.

[Woy]

Finale (Part 3)

After our Super Bowl win, the salary cap hit us hard as it depleted most of our team. Chris went to Washington, where he played for two more seasons before retiring as one of the best runningbacks in NFL history, while Cortland went to Chicago. Vince stayed and played three more years, then retired as well.

We missed the playoffs two straight seasons, then went 10-6 and lost in the divisional round during Vince's last year, but when he retired, it opened a lot of cap room to build another Super Bowl contending team. My new contract was up in two years and I started to think if I could see myself in a different uniform, if I wanted to finish in Tennessee or even if I wanted to just hang them up.

We landed some notable names in free agency, picking up Pro Bowl runningback Cornelius Davis and stud cornerback Kaleb Rush, but the one piece we were still missing was a quarterback. That changed when after the Philadelphia Eagles drafted UCLA quarterback Dominic Allen in the first round, they released their starting quarterback - a la Steve McNair in 2006 - and sure enough, I was reunited with a college teammate.

"Nassib looks...fires to Woy...touchdown Titans! Welcome to Tennessee, Ryan Nassib, as he throws his first of many touchdowns in two-tone blue!"

We were still one draft away from becoming a favorite and after falling in the divisional once again, we brought in that draft class as our selections in the first four rounds were immediate contributors. Everything was looking real good going into the 2022 season and there wouldn't be anybody that was going to stop us.

"And it's over! Tennessee completes the dream season, going 19-0 and winning Super Bowl LVII over the Detroit Lions, 45-20!"

We were the fourth team to go through the entire regular season undefeated, but were just the second to end it on the highest note. I was approaching my last year in my contract and as contract negotiations started to take place, I noticed that I had to re-think my plans after spending one Thursday night under the lights at a local field.

...

"Sean Joseph Woy throws another touchdown, his fourth of the game!"

After my son's game, I saw him walk off the field with a dejected look on his face and didn't understand why. Once he walked out of the locker-room, I walked out of my car and before I could blurt out a question, he ran up and wrapped his arms around me.

"Dad! Did you see my touchdown throws?"

It hit me right then and there; my job was not letting me be a huge part in my son's life. I couldn't continue contract negotiations...I had to call it quits after this season.

...

"...and so on that note, I'm announcing that I'm retiring, effective at the end of this season."

The team completely understood the reason I was retiring and supported it wholeheartedly. They decided to make it a goal that they wanted to send me out on top with another Super Bowl ring.

"Tennessee will reach the Super Bowl once again, defeating the division rival Indianapolis Colts, 31-27!"

Facing us in Glendale were the 14-2 Seattle Seahawks. We jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, but behind Matt Barkley's arm, they stormed right back and hit us with 17 unanswered points. We followed that up with three straight field goals and with a 19-17 lead with just a minute left in the game, things were looking really good.

Then Barkley started his last march down the field, a la Tom Brady in Super Bowl XXXVI. With all timeouts spent, the former USC quarterback was looking at a third and 10 from his own 49 yard line. The snap was taken out of the shotgun formation and after looking off his first target, he threw it in the direction of his second, who was covered by Kaleb Rush very well. The receiver dropped it and as Kaleb jogged back to the huddle, our sideline started screaming because of the yellow handkerchief on the field.

"Pass interference, number 25 defense. Ball spotted at the spot of the foul, first down Seattle!"

Coach was still screaming at the referee that made that controversial call and couldn't believe a judgment pass interference call was called with less than a minute left in the biggest game of the season. Now at the 24-yard line, Barkley took the snap and moved to the middle of the field, before kneeling down then getting up quickly to spike the ball. Their rookie kicker Roy Johnson trotted out to thousands of flashbulbs, as he was already thrown into the most tense situation in his life with the Super Bowl on the line.

"The snap is clean...the hold's good...the kick's up..."

All eyes turned their focus to the pigskin flying high into the February night. It was long enough and as it hit the back net, one sideline erupted in celebration while the other dropped to their knees.

"...and it's good! Seattle has won Super Bowl LVIII, 20-19!"

As the confetti fell from above, I looked at the celebrating opponents and instead of letting a tear fall from my eye, I cracked a smile. I spent my entire life trying to be perfect and after ending my high school and college career with a title, I started to believe I was perfect...or at least damn close to it. This loss brought me down to reality and really made me thankful for all that I've accomplished in my life.

The trudge towards our locker-room was long and peaceful, till I picked my head up from the ground and saw 80,000 people - both fans and haters of mine - stand up and give me the loudest ovation I've ever heard. I took my helmet off and gave the crowd one last bow, then continued my journey into retirement until I was tapped on the shoulder by a security guard.

"Mr. Woy, you need to stay here for just a little longer."

I shrugged my shoulders and watched as the Vince Lombardi Trophy was handed to Pete Carroll and Matt Barkley. As I stood there confused as of why I was still on the field of University of Phoenix Stadium, one of the Super Bowl representatives pushed me forward back onto the field, where the Seahawks were still celebrating their win.

"Despite defeat, this man was easily the best player on the field tonight. With 10 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown, your Super Bowl LVIII MVP is Tennessee Titans receiver Ethan Woy!"

I shook Goodell's and Carroll's hand, then walked off the field for the last time as a professional...with at least one trophy in hand.

...

"Dad! Guess what?" my son shouted as he threw his bag to the side of the room.

"What's that son?"

"I made varsity as back-up quarterback to Josh!"

Looks like the football world wouldn't be without a Woy making headlines for too long...

---

And that concludes 'Catching Controversy | The Legend of Ethan Woy.' I had a great time writing this and hope you had just as fun of a time reading and following it. I hope you can turn your attention to the continuation of this with the story of Ethan's son, Sean Joseph, in 'Pursuit of Happiness | The Sean Joseph Woy Story.'

Below are collegiate and pro statistics for Ethan, in case you were interested. Thank you.

---

COLLEGE STATISTICS

2009 | 75 catches, 1351 yards, 13 TD
2010 | 110 catches, 1801 yards, 13 TD
2011 | 117 catches, 1875 yards, 21 TD
2012 | 44 carries, 459 yards, 5 TD, 123 catches, 2298 yards, 23 TD, 18 kick returns, 469 yards, 1 TD
Totals | 44 carries, 459 yards, 5 TD, 425 catches, 7325 yards, 70 TD, 18 kick returns, 469 yards, 1 TD

COLLEGE AWARDS

2009 | Freshman All-American, 1st team Big East, Academic All-American
2010 | 1st team Big East, 2nd team All-American, Academic All-American
2011 | 1st team Big East, 1st team All-American, Academic All-American, Maxwell Award, Biletnikoff Award, Heisman Trophy
2012 | 1st team Big East, 1st team All-American, Academic All-American, Maxwell Award, Biletnikoff Award, Heisman Memorial Trophy
Totals | 4-time 1st team Big East, 4-time Academic All-American, 2-time 1st team All-American, 2-time Maxwell Award Winner, 2-time Biletnikoff Award Winner, 2-time Heisman Memorial Trophy Winner, Freshman All-American, 2nd team All-American

PRO STATISTICS

2013 | 65 catches, 1023 yards, 9 TD
2014 | 72 catches, 1181 yards, 10 TD
2015 | 80 catches, 1345 yards, 11 TD
2016 | 101 catches, 1673 yards, 15 TD
2017 | 82 catches, 1367 yards, 18 TD
2018 | 75 catches, 1214 yards, 9 TD
2019 | 81 catches, 1301 yards, 5 TD
2020 | 93 catches, 1459 yards, 12 TD
2021 | 87 catches, 1481 yards, 13 TD
2022 | 112 catches, 1942 yards, 16 TD
2023 | 85 catches, 1386 yards, 13 TD
Totals | 933 catches, 15372 yards, 131 TD

PRO AWARDS

2013 | NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
2014 | None
2015 | Pro Bowl
2016 | NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Pro Bowl
2017 | NFL Offensive Player of the Year, NFL MVP, Pro Bowl
2018 | Pro Bowl
2019 | None
2020 | Pro Bowl
2021 | Pro Bowl
2022 | NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Pro Bowl
2023 | Pro Bowl, Super Bowl LVIII MVP
Totals | 8-time Pro Bowler, 3-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, NFL MVP, Super Bowl LVIII MVP

[Fox1994]

NICE. Fucking amazing dude. Sad to see this end, but I loved it. Your writing was phenomenal, and I can't wait to see how the Sean Joseph Woy story progresses.

[dope]

wait so you married rebecca?!? wtf i thought it'd be breanna (? think thats right)

great job though, keep me entertained at work for the last 3 days haha.

[Woy]

Yeah, I wanted to put in one last twist and figured everyone would assume the main character was finally going to get together with Breann, so I switched it up and put Rebecca back in his life. If you read Pursuit of Happiness - his son's story - you'll see that Rebecca found a way out of Ethan's life and Breann found her way back in.

And I'm glad you enjoyed it, reading this definitely beats doing work, lol.