Bert Carr Bert Mather Carr ( 1870 – April 13 , 1930 ) was an American football player . He played college football at the guard and center positions for Adrian College in 1890 and for the University of Michigan from 1894 to 1896 . In September 1896 , the " Chicago Daily Tribune " called him " the best center in the West . " In 1902 , he was selected as the greatest guard in the history of the Michigan football program . He later worked as a medical doctor in Cedar Springs , Michigan . Early years . Carr was born in New York in approximately 1870 . He moved to Kent County , Michigan , as a boy . At the time of the 1880 United States Census , he was living in Cedar Springs , Michigan with his parents , Jesse A . Carr , a New York native , and Ester Carr , a Pennsylvania native . Carr began his college education as a freshman at Albion College in 1890 . While attending Albion , he played at the left guard position on the varsity football team in 1890 . He played on the 1890 team that lost to the University of Michigan by a score of 16 – 0 . University of Michigan . Carr later enrolled at the University of Michigan where he was a student in the Department of Medicine from 1893 to 1897 . He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity . While attending the University of Michigan , he played college football for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 1894 to 1896 . During Carr ' s three years with the team , the Wolverines compiled a record of 26 – 3 – 1 . During the 1894 season , Carr was a key player on the Michigan team that compiled a 9 – 1 – 1 record and defeated Cornell , marking " the first time in collegiate football history that a western school defeated an established power from the east . " The 1895 team compiled an 8 – 1 record , won seven of their games by shutouts , and outscored their opponents by a combined score of 266 to 14 . Following the 1895 season , the team ' s manager Charles A . Baird wrote : " At center was the broad - shouldered Carr who has not let a man through him this year and who plays always for the success of the team and not for individual glory . " In September 1896 , the " Chicago Daily Tribune " wrote : " Bert Carr , who was easily the best center in the West last year , will be found in his old position this fall . Carr is a large , powerful man , a hard worker , and an invaluable man to the team . " In January 1897 , new rules were adopted limited players to four years of college football . Carr was the one player on the Michigan team to be debarred as a result of the rule change . Having already played four years of varsity football at Michigan , and having also played even earlier at Albion , he was ineligible to play another year of college football . May 1897 , Carr was hired as one of three new coaches for the 1897 football team : Gustave Ferbert as head coach and Carr and Frederick W . Henninger as assistants . He instead completed his medical education in Chicago during the 1897 – 1898 academic year . He attended the University of Illinois College of Physicians and Surgeons and received the degree of Doctor of Medicine and Surgery in 1898 . In 1902 , he was selected as the greatest guard in Michigan history and a member of Michigan ' s all - time football team . In announcing its all - time Michigan team , " The Michigan Alumnus " concluded that Carr was probably also the best center the Wolverines ever had and noted : " The part of the line which Carr guarded , whether at center or alongside the center , was always impregnable . His broad shoulders and powerful frame were the admiration of the team ' s supporters and a stumbling block for its opponents . His playing was steady and consistent , and I should give him first place among Michigan ' s guards . . . . Carr could always be counted on for the best that was in him , and steadiness clothed him like a mantle . " Later years . After completing his medical studies , Carr returned to his hometown of Cedar Springs where he established a medical practice . At the time of the 1910 United States Census , Carr was living with his father , Jesse A . Carr , on the family farm in Nelson Township , Michigan . At the time of the 1930 United States Census , Carr was living in Cedar Springs and was listed as having no employment . In April 1930 , he died at St . Mary ' s Hospital in Grand Rapids , Michigan . The cause of death was listed as erysipelas of the face and scalp and myocarditis . He was 60 years old at the time of his death .