Michigan was in the process of rebuilding after a period of mediocrity that saw them only go to one Rose Bowl between 1951 and 1968; the program, known for the winning traditions under Fielding H. Yost and Fritz Crisler, had seemingly lost its way.
Fritz Lang | Fritz Leiber | Fritz Kreisler | Fritz Weaver | Fritz Reiner | Fritz Haber | Robert Fritz | Robert C. Fritz | Fritz Gesztesy | Fritz Dreisbach | Chris Fritz | L'amico Fritz | Fritz London | Fritz Laves | Fritz Kranefuss | Fritz Grünbaum | Dennis Fritz | Fritz von Opel | Fritz | Fritz Wunderlich | Fritz Walter | Fritz Vahrenholt | Fritz Todt | Fritz Thyssen | Fritz the Cat (film) | Fritz Stern | Fritz Reuter | Fritz Odemar | Fritz Lenz | Fritz Kraemer |
Only three University of Michigan coaches (Fielding H. Yost, Fritz Crisler and Ray Fisher) were inducted into the Hall of Honor before Keen.
Aigler's contributions included leading Michigan back into the Big Ten Conference, leading the effort to construct Michigan Stadium, Yost Fieldhouse and other facilities, negotiating the Big Ten's exclusive contract with the Rose Bowl starting in 1946, hiring Fritz Crisler as football coach and athletic director, and acting as a spokesman for the University and Big Ten for many years on NCAA rules and eligibility issues.