Wilhelm played two more seasons for the Bears (the 1938 team went 10-1 and finished with a No. 14 ranking), and in 1939, he was on the field at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum against a UCLA team making history. At a time when African American players were scarce in the major programs, the Bruins had four in prominent roles, with Robinson, Kenny Washington and Woody Strode (later a Hollywood actor) all key offensive starters.
“Yes, I can see Jackie Robinson coming at me (in a 20-7 UCLA win),” Wilhelm recalled. “I remember trying to bring him down.