Alex Sarkisian commanded the gridiron for the Northwestern Wildcats, combining fierce leadership with relentless two-way play. As the captain of the 1949 Rose Bowl champions, he dominated opponents at both center and linebacker, never leaving the field when his team needed him most. Discover the inspiring journey of an immigrant who fought his way to the pinnacle of college football.
Football Bio
July 13, 1922 – Istanbul, Turkey – Alex Sarkisian, a two-way player from Northwestern at center and at linebacker during the football era of 1946 to 1948, was born.
According to his bio on FootballFoundation.org, βSorkyβsβ coach for the Wildcats, Bob Voigts, remembers Sarkisian’s great leadership with this story: βWe were playing Minnesota and got behind 16-0. Alex called the players together and said, ‘We are going to win. Anyone who doesn’t think so can get off the field right now.’ We won 19-16.”
The 1948 Northwestern team went to the Rose Bowl and beat California 20-14. In 1948, Mr Sarkisian was voted as a 1st Team All-American at linebacker and 2nd Team All-American at center. His fine play earned him a place in the College Football Hall of Fame in the 1998 induction class.
After his playing eligibility ended, Sarkisian stayed on at Northwestern as an assistant coach, and then, after earning his Master’s Degree from the University, he went on to teach and coach at the high school level.
Alex Sarkisian set an enduring standard of excellence and mental toughness for the Northwestern football program. By leading the Wildcats to a historic Rose Bowl victory and earning All-American honors on both sides of the ball, he proved that true grit and determination can overcome any deficit. He stands proudly in the College Football Hall of Fame, representing a golden era of versatile, ironman athletes.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1998.
- First-Team All-American: Selected as a top-tier linebacker in 1948.
- Second-Team All-American: Honored for his play at the center position in 1948.
- First-Team All-Big Nine: Recognized as an all-conference standout in 1948.
- Rose Bowl Champion: Captained the Northwestern Wildcats to a 20-14 victory over California in the 1949 Rose Bowl.
- Ironman Stats: Averaged 59 minutes of playing time per game during the 1948 season.
- Drafted Prospect: Selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1947 NFL Draft and by the Cleveland Browns in the 1948 AAFC Draft.
- Northwestern University Hall of Fame: Enshrined for his collegiate contributions.