Cagle first starred at the
University of Louisiana at Lafayette (then named Southwestern Louisiana Institute or SLI) from 1922 to 1925, where he earned a degree in arts and sciences. In his career at Southwestern Louisiana, he scored 235 points from touchdowns, extra points and field goals, a school record that lasted until 1989. His time at Southwestern Louisiana has him placed among the all-time greats of early
Southern football. Besides being the football captain (1925), he also was a star in
basketball and
track and field sports at Southwestern Louisiana, where he received a degree in arts and sciences. at the
Yale Bowl at
Soldier Field Cagle then played football for four years in the
Army football team at the
United States Military Academy, from 1926 to 1929, but did not graduate because he had secretly married in August 1928 in violation of academy rules. He was forced to resign in May 1930. As the team captain in 1929, he was featured on the September 23 cover of
Time magazine of that same year. Cagle was noted for playing with the chin strap loose from his helmet, and sometimes without helmet. Sportswriters liked to refer to him as "Onward Christian" because of his ability to advance the ball. ==Professional career==