A drawn knife, an escape by train, a decorated military figure and Georgia Tech's first win

"Wood's story has all the elements you've come to expect from today's college football melodrama. An experienced transfer, several years older than his teammates. Accusations of roster tampering. Questions of eligibility and flimsy classes. A fast turnaround to glory, followed by hot-blooded allegations from rival fans. College football history may not repeat itself, but to paraphrase an old saying, it does rhyme."

"For all the wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth about the issues threatening the supposed sanctity of the modern game, it's nothing that hadn't happened 130 years earlier. And it happened to ensnare someone who would become Army Chief of Staff and one of the more notable U.S. political and military figures of the 20th century. Wood competed at Georgia Tech for only one season, but he made quite an impact."

Dr. Leonard Wood arrived at Georgia Tech in fall 1893 as a 33-year-old first lieutenant and post surgeon at Fort McPherson. He registered as a "sub-apprentice" in a woodworking course to qualify as a student while residing nearby. Wood became Georgia Tech's first sports star despite being several years older than teammates and facing accusations of roster tampering and eligibility questions tied to flimsy classes. He starred in the school's first win against rival Georgia amid fistfights, thrown rocks and a drawn knife. Wood later became Army Chief of Staff and a prominent U.S. political and military figure.

Read at ESPN.com