Ashby Woodson was the professor of Manuel Training, and it was into his hands that the first football team was entrusted.

As the Manuel Training Professor Ashby Woodson was also the hands on guy for the iron works school, as part of his duties he taught forging. A forge is a workshop where pig iron is transformed into wrought iron.

While the connections may be based in verbiage, it is interesting that Professor Woodson was also responsible for getting the boys of the "Gridiron off to possibly the quickest start of any school in history. Professor Woodson loved the game of carrying the pigskin.

Professor Woodson was master of the gridiron . . . doubly so. He taught it, he coached it, and in an era of few rules, he played it. For the 1901 season Professor Woodson played the game of football at the University of Louisiana (SLII)