at west point, eisenhower liked the traditions and the sports. in sports, eisenhower later said that "not making the baseball team at west point was one of the greatest disappointments of my life, maybe my greatest". he joined the varsity football team and was a starter as running back and linebacker in 1912. he tackled the legendary jim thorpe of the carlisle indians. eisenhower got a torn knee while being tackled in the next game, which was the last he played; he re-injured his knee on horseback and in the boxing ring, so he turned to fencing and gymnastics.