Alvin Wistert

NFL player
Name=Alvin Wistert


number=11
Height_ft=6
Height_in=3
Weight_lbs=223
DateOfBirth=June 26, 1916
Birthplace=Chicago, Illinois
DateOfDeath=death date and age|2005|10|3|1916|06|26
Deathplace=Northville, Michigan
Position=T
College=Boston University University of Michigan
Awards=
Honors=
Retired #s=Michigan Wolverines #11
DatabaseFootball=
years=
teams=
CollegeHOF=40003
HOF=

Alvin "Moose" Wistert (June 26, 1916 – October 3, 2005) was an American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan Wolverines. He was the last of the three Wistert brothers (Francis, Albert (Al)) who were named All-American tackles at Michigan and later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981. The World War II Marine Corps veteran was the oldest college football player ever selected as an All-American at age 33. He and his brothers are three of the seven players who have had their numbers retired by the Michigan Wolverines football program.

College athletics

After dropping out from Schurz High School, Wistert had to pass a series of tests similar to the modern day General Educational Development tests.cite web|url=http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=40003|title=Alvin "Moose" Wistert|accessdate=2007-11-05|publisher=National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame] Wistert used the World War II G.I. Bill to attend college.cite web|url=http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Commentary/Columns/2006/campbell2026.htm|title=Conversation with Al Wistert: An old pro tells it like it was|author=Campbell, Jim|date=2006-04-15|accessdate=2007-11-05|publisher=Pro Football Weekly LLC] He lettered as a 30 year old freshman at Boston University before transferring to the University of Michigan. He was the last of the Wistert brothers to play for Michigan where he wore number 11 like his brothers before him and played from 1947-1949. He was a consensus All-American in both 1948 and 1949.cite book | last = Jones | first = Todd | editor= MacCambridge, Michael | title = ESPN Big Ten College Football Encyclopedia |chapter=Michigan | publisher = ESPN Enterprises | year = 2007 | isbn = 1933060492 ] He was team captain in 1949.cite web|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fballam/aawistav.htm|title=Alvin Wistert|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan|accessdate=2007-11-05|date=2007-02-10] He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981 as the third Wistert Brother so honored. In 1981, he was named to the University of Michigan Hall of Honor in the fourth class of inductees alongside his brothers. Only five Michigan football players earned this honor before him. [cite web|url=http://www.letterwinnersmclub.com/hallofhonor.html|title=Hall of Honor|publisher=M Club|accessdate=2007-11-26]

The 1947, 1948, and 1949 teams were all Big Ten Conference champions. Both the 1947 team, Fritz Crisler's last team, and 1948 team were undefeated and finished the season ranked number 1 in the Associated Press polls. [cite web|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1947fbt.htm|title=1947 Football Team|accessdate=2007-11-05|date=2007-03-31|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan] [cite web|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1948fbt.htm|title=1948 Football Team|accessdate=2007-11-05|date=2007-03-31|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan] The 1947 team referred to as "Michigan's Mad Magicians" is considered to be the greatest University of Michigan football team of all time.

Non-athletics

Wistert was from a Lithuanian family. His father was a Spanish-American War veteran who was later killed in the line of duty while working for the Chicago Police Department. Wistert had not played football in high school before dropping out. He had been a salesman until World War II and then served in the Marine Corps. After football, he worked in the insurance business and later worked in manufacturing.

Notes

ee also

*1947 Michigan Wolverines football team
*1948 Michigan Wolverines football team
*University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor

External links

* [http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=40003 College Football Hall of Fame Bio]
* [http://motownsportsrevival.blogspot.com/2005/08/100-greatest-michigan-football-players.html Top 100 Michigan Football players]

Persondata
NAME=Wistert, Alvin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=College Hall of Fame American Football Player
DATE OF BIRTH=1916-06-26
PLACE OF BIRTH=Chicago, Illinois
DATE OF DEATH=2005-10-03
PLACE OF DEATH=Northville, Michigan