1931-1935 Ford attends the University of Michigan

1931-1935 Ford attends the University of Michigan and graduates with a B.A.
in Economics.
Ford was involved in The Boy Scouts of America, and attained that program's
highest rank, Eagle Scout. In subsequent years, Ford received the
Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in May 1970 and Silver Buffalo Award from
the Boy Scouts of America. He is the only US president who was an Eagle
Scout. Scouting was so important to Ford that his family asked that Scouts
participate in his funeral. About 400 Eagle Scouts were part of the funeral
procession, where they formed an honor guard as the casket went by in front
of the museum. A few selected scouts served as ushers inside the National
Cathedral.
Ford attended Grand Rapids South High School and was a star athlete and
captain of his football team. In 1930, he was selected to the All-City team of
the Grand Rapids City League. He also attracted the attention of college
recruiters.
Attending the University of Michigan as an undergraduate, Ford played center
and linebacker for the school’s football team and helped the Wolverines to
undefeated seasons and national titles in 1932 and 1933. The team suffered a
steep decline in his 1934 senior year, however, winning only one game. Ford
was the team’s star nonetheless, and after a game during which Michigan held
heavily favored Minnesota (the eventual national champion) to a scoreless tie
in the first half, assistant coach Bennie Oosterbaan later said, “When I walked
into the dressing room at half time, I had tears in my eyes I was so proud of
them. Ford and [Cedric] Sweet played their hearts out. They were everywhere
on defense.” Ford himself later recalled, “During 25 years in the rough-and-
tumble world of politics, I often thought of the experiences before, during, and
after that game in 1934. Remembering them has helped me many times to
face a tough situation, take action, and make every effort possible despite
adverse odds.” His teammates later voted Ford their most valuable player, with
one assistant coach noting, “They felt Jerry was one guy who would stay and
fight in a losing cause.”
During the same season, in a game against the University of Chicago, Ford
“became the only future U.S. president to tackle a future Heisman Trophy
winner when he brought down running back Jay Berwanger, who would win
the first Heisman the following year.” In 1934 Gerald Ford was selected for the
Eastern Team on the Shriner’s East West Crippled Children game at San
Francisco (a benefit for crippled children), played on January 1, 1935. As part
of the 1935 Collegiate All-Star football team, Ford played against the Chicago
Bears in an exhibition game at Soldier Field. The University of Michigan retired
Ford's #48 jersey in 1994.