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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/The_Stratman on 2026-03-24 15:18:33+00:00.
Original Title: General of the Army George C. Marshall, who played for VMI in 1900, would later write a letter in support of Hunter Carpenter’s bid to be inducted into the National Football Hall of Fame, 56 years after Carpenter played for him when he was at VPI
The letter reads:
My dear Streit:
I learn that there is a movement to nominate Hunter Carpenter for the National Football Hall of Fame.
I saw Carpenter play one game; in fact, I played against his team. I also followed his career later on.
He was a magnificent back field player of his day and I thought at the time, had he been associated with teams of the top football world, he would easily have been an outstanding All American selection.
Faithfully yours,
G. C. Marshall
The letter was just one of many from the men who played against VPI in the early 1900s. From West Point to South Carolina, former players who were previously opponents wrote to have Carpenter inducted in the hall’s sixth year of inductions. Of these, Marshall is the most famous, but other writers include Charles Daly, who himself preceded Carpenter in being inducted into the hall of fame, and numerous general officers, who were primarily VMI and VPI alumni.
It is an interesting era to look at, as because these games pre-existed television, and southern football of this era being considered inferior, these are some of the best recollections we have for the early 1900s VPI football teams outside of the newspaper coverage.
The scan can be seen here: