Alvin Wistert: The Michigan Wolverines’ #11 Youth College Career Alvin Lawrence “Moose” Wistert was a remarkable figure in the history of the Michigan Wolverines, and his #11 jersey is a symbol of resilience and excellence. Born on June 26, 1916, in Chicago, Illinois, Wistert had a unique path to college football. He began his collegiate football career at the age of 30, following 12 years of working in a factory and serving in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Wistert played college football at the tackle position for Boston University in 1946 before transferring to the University of Michigan, where he played from 1947 to 1949. He played at the defensive tackle position for the undefeated 1947 and 1948 Michigan Wolverines football teams, both of which finished the season ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press poll. Wistert holds the distinction of being the oldest college football player ever selected as a College Football All-American. He was selected to the 1948 College Football All-America Team at age 32 and the 1949 Team at age 33. In 1947, Wistert won the Meyer Morton Award as the most improved player during Michigan’s spring football practice. He was the largest player on the 1947 Michigan team, weighing 230 pounds, and was also the oldest. As a junior, Wistert was selected as a consensus All-American while playing for the undefeated 1948 Michigan team that finished the season ranked #1 in the Associated Press poll. In October 1948, he helped secure Michigan’s 19th consecutive victory with a blocked punt at the 12-yard-line of the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The 1948 team also set a Rose Bowl record by defeating U.S.C. 49-0. After the 1948 season, Wistert was unanimously chosen as the team captain of the 1949 team. He was selected as a consensus All-American for the second straight year in 1949. When Wistert played his final game for Michigan in November 1949, the Detroit Free Press offered to fly his mother, Josephine, to the game to watch her son play. She had never seen one of her sons’ football games in person but listened to the games on the radio. She declined the invitation, noting that she had been ill and would listen to the game on the radio while looking at her sons’ pictures. Wistert was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973 as the third Wistert brother so honored. In 1981, he was also inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in the fourth class of inductees alongside his brothers. The Wistert brothers all wore jersey No. 11 at Michigan and are among the seven players who have had their numbers retired by the Michigan Wolverines football program. Their number was put back into circulation starting on November 10, 2012, before a Michigan home game against Northwestern as part of the Michigan Football Legend program. Alvin Wistert’s youth college career is a testament to his dedication and the impact he had on the Michigan Wolverines. His #11 jersey is not just a piece of clothing; it is a symbol of the legacy he left behind and the high standards he set for future Wolverines. Wistert’s contributions to the Michigan Wolverines and the sport of football will always be remembered and celebrated.