April 24, 2008

Not Your Average Day in the Field

Brent Harris - Brock Graham has been involved in many interesting projects during his two years at Wabash. The 2007 Wabash Freshman of the Year traveled to Botswana with 20 of his fellow students, each paying $3,000 to make the trip to serve as missionaries to the people of Maun during spring break. He's been a force on the football field as a starting J-Back, helping the Little Giants win back-to-back North Coast Athletic Conference titles and a berth in the 2007 NCAA Division III football playoffs. He's worked so hard in the classroom as a religion major that he will be able to graduate in December, a full 17 months ahead of the remaining members of his freshmen class.

Wednesday afternoon, however, he spent the day in a different field --- a corn field.

Graham will be featured in the third issue of Champion, the new magazine produced by the NCAA. The magazine tells the stories of the many student-athletes competing at the collegiate level in addition to providing information about various events and happenings throughout the members of the NCAA. When Champion editor Gary Brown heard the story of Graham's trip to Botswana, he and the rest of his staff at the NCAA office decided to put the Wabash sophomore on the cover of the third edition.

Art director Arnel Reynon from Sport Graphics in Indianapolis, brought an NCAA photographer from Denver, Colorado to Crawfordsville to set up a photo shoot for the cover. The afternoon was spent not only on the main football field at Hollett Little Giant Stadium --- a familiar setting for Wabash's leader in pass receptions in 2007. The crew started the shoot on the train tracks behind the stadium in a tribute to the Monon railway which provided the famous trophy for the annual Monon Bell Classic between the Little Giants and DePauw University. Reynon had one more idea for the final location.

"We saw some great corn fields on the way into campus. Any chance we could find one to use in the photo shoot?"

A quick phone call to Mike Warren, Wabash associate director of alumni and parent relations, and we were on our way to a local farm east of town. The final hour of the shoot must have had the local farmers perplexed as to why a young man was wearing football gear in the middle of corn field about to be tilled for the upcoming planting season.

The day came to and end, just in time for Brock to return to campus to get to the weight room to lift with some of his teammates.

We'll have the full story of the students' trip to Botswana in the next edition of Wabash Magazine. The next quarterly issue of Champion will be sent to NCAA members in late July. You can check out the current issue online at www.ncaachampionmagazine.com.

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February 07, 2008

A Special Visit

Several Wabash football players visited with patients at the Riley Hospital for Children Monday afternoon. Robert Campbell ’10 had a special reason to make the trip --- his sister was a former patient at the hospital. Each time Campbell returns, he sees the impact a few hours spent can make in the lives of the children and their families.

A few years ago my sister was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. The hospital my parents had taken her immediately sent her to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. She is now a junior in high school, but the impact that the people at that hospital had on her and on my family is still felt to this day. Every chance I get to give back somehow to that place, I take it with open arms.

As for my experience with the hospital, fortunately, I have never been there as a patient, however, I have been twice now as a visitor, and I can honestly say that all the enjoyment those kids get from getting to spend some time with a college football player is returned to me ten-fold. Each child I work with when I go there is a blessing to me because it reminds me of how lucky I am personally just to be a health individual. Some of the experiences these children endure I would never wish on my worst enemy, however, these kids just keep moving on with a smile on their face. Secondly, it reminds me of the impact we can all have on the world around us. Most of these kids have no idea where Wabash College is, they have never been to a Wabash football game, they just see a guy wearing a football uniform who wants to spend time with them, and that means all the world to them.

This experience goes beyond the classroom and the football field; way beyond. Anyone could make an impact in a child's life, and to be honest with you, it will have just as much impact on your life as it will on theirs.

Photo - Wabash football players Robert Campbell and Seth Tichenor in the playroom with two patients at the Riley Hospital for Children.

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February 04, 2008

Raeburn a Good Fit for Wabash

Jim Amidon — Wabash President Pat White announced Friday that Erik Raeburn is the Little Giants’ new head football coach.

I applaud the work of the search committee headed by Dean of Students Tom Bambrey for their work in bringing to campus two excellent finalists. The fact that Coe College Coach Raeburn and Whitewater Offensive Coordinator Jim Zebrowski emerged from a field of nearly 100 candidates illustrates the national profile of the position and the Wabash football program in Division III.

I had very little time with both candidates — a 45-minute open forum with members of the Wabash community — but even in those sessions it was clear Wabash couldn’t go wrong with either coach.

Both had Mount Union College pedigrees, offensive coordinator experience, and both had head coaching experience, too.

In choosing Raeburn, Wabash has selected a head coach who will come to Wabash with a good idea of what it takes to recruit excellent student-athletes to a private liberal arts college. He likes the idea of recruiting young men who embrace challenge and rigor, not shy away from it.

At Coe, though, Coach Raeburn was limited in terms of resources to recruit players, yet he still won almost 70 percent of his games in eight seasons in Cedar Rapids. Because he had only two full-time assistants, Coach Raeburn brought in about 35 freshmen each year. In contrast, Wabash typically attracts about 55-60 new recruits.

But here, Raeburn will have additional assistant coaches to help beat the recruiting trail, strong administration backing, and rabid alumni support. Wabash’s three straight North Coast Athletic Conference championships and two playoff appearances in the last three seasons are also important elements in attracting potential Little Giants.

It’s an exciting time at Wabash. Coach Raeburn will have to get busy right away to make up for a lost month of recruiting, but given his past success and the strength of the Wabash program, he should be able to make up for lost time. Assistant coaches Steve House and Jake Gilbert have been working night and day since former coach Chris Creighton’s departure. Having Raeburn in place is a huge next step.

When I spoke to Wabash’s new coach Friday night, the first thing he mentioned was how impressed he was with the fan support at Wednesday night’s basketball game against Wittenberg. Sitting in the bleachers beneath the WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS motto at the east end of the gym, Raeburn got an immediate sense of what the motto means when the Little Giants came from 15 points down to tie the game late in the second half.

I can hardly wait to see what he thinks of Wabash football fans at the home opener at Little Giant Stadium this fall — having 5,000 fans on their feet screaming and cheering on every play ought to blow his mind!

It’s interesting, though, because in my brief phone conversations with Coach Raeburn, I didn’t get the sense he’s all that interested in simply maintaining Wabash’s proud gridiron tradition. Having been a part of Mount Union’s national championship success in the 90s and helping Coe win its first ever league titles positions him to take Wabash to a new level.

His transition to Wabash ought to be quick and smooth. He already knows what it’s like to recruit student-athletes to an academically challenging school, and in Iowa he’s faced the same daunting competition for good Division III players he’ll face here.

Jumping into the recruiting mix with more support than he’s ever had and selling a program steeped in tradition will make him an even more effective and, perhaps, produce even greater results.

The search committee has found a talented new coach to lead the Little Giants, a great new member of our community. I hope you’ll join me in welcoming Coach Raeburn and his family to Crawfordsville as we look forward to the next era of Wabash College football.

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January 15, 2008

The Last Chapter On Football 2007

Jim Amidon — Saturday night I had the pleasure to attend the banquet honoring the 2007 Wabash football team, which completed the season with an 11-2 record and won a third straight North Coast Athletic Conference championship. At a school where football has been played for 120 years, this past season was one of the all-time greats.

It was not, however, the most dominant team in Wabash history. The Little Giants didn’t really steam-roll the competition; they had their share of nail-biting victories and close calls. They had a real blue-collar work ethic, never getting too high after victory or low when things didn’t go well.

I had a chance to address the team at the banquet, and I told the players, coaches, and their families that I thought the 2007 season was one of the most important seasons ever played at Wabash.

You see, at Wabash, we imagine that participating in intercollegiate athletics goes far, far beyond statistics and wins and losses. We see sports as integral to the development of the whole person. We build on the Greek model of “Sound Mind, Sound Body” and ask our athletes to compete with the objective of achieving the College’s mission.

We see what happens on the playing field as utterly important to our players’ development as critical thinkers, responsible citizens, and leaders as they work toward a goal of becoming men of impact in all aspects of their lives.

I reminded the players that when offensive linemen were dropping like flies in training camp; when starting defensive players were breaking and dislocating bones in a daily effort to keep the training room hopping, it might have been easy to say, “We can’t win the conference. We can’t make the playoffs.”

When All-American quarterback Dustin Huff was carted off the field late in the first game, it would have been easy for the team to say, “Aw, heck with it. Our goals are lost. There’s no way.”

When one of their classmates and fraternity brothers died in a tragic accident, the football players rallied around those who felt his loss most closely. They dedicated themselves to Patrick Woehnker’s memory and to the men who loved him.

I attribute the success of the team to the seniors, who in August climbed Pike’s Peak in record time. Interestingly, the seniors almost didn’t make the summit, let alone set the record.

Guys were hurting, really hurting. They couldn’t breathe. Their bodies ached. Their legs cramped and their heads spun in the high altitude.

But one by one, they picked each other up. Different guys took turns taking the lead and others took the important responsibility of pulling up the rear, making sure no man was left behind.

Every single senior made the summit and they set the record, and they did so because they gave themselves over to their teammates.

That event was really a harbinger of things to come. Throughout the 2007 season, there were obstacles that seemed far too large to overcome, but each time a different Little Giant stepped up. Someone led and others followed. Someone was the cheerleader and someone else got busy cracking concrete with the sledgehammer.

The Little Giants persevered through so many hardships and they emerged as champions — champions of the North Coast Athletic Conference and champions of our hearts.

Those of us who don’t compete, who lived vicariously through the 110 players on the team this past autumn, are grateful to have shared in both their hardships and successes.

So that’s what I mean when I say it was, perhaps, the most important season in Wabash football history. The team created a legend. The players taught us all so much about what it takes to overcome, to persevere, to reach higher than you ever imagined you could, and they did all of those things with class, integrity, and pride.

All of us in this community who love Wabash football are grateful to the Little Giants for taking us along for the ride.

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December 21, 2007

The Best Seven Years of My Life

Chris Creighton — Seven years ago to the day I became the Head Football Coach at Wabash College. It is one of the best things to have ever happened to me. I was at Ottawa University in Kansas when I got a call from Wabash. At first, I didn’t have interest in Wabash or in leaving Ottawa. After a meeting with Dean Bambrey, Dean Ditzler and Vernon Mummert something inside me told me that I was supposed to be at Wabash. I was scared to death but the knowing inside me grew so strong that I made the decision to go to Wabash. Thank God I did.

So many incredible things have happened in my life in these past seven years. Heather and I were married in the summer of 2001. We now have three beautiful children. Wabash has given us so much. The Wabash Family is as tight as they come and we have felt welcomed into this extremely special family and we will always be grateful.

I have had a vision for what Wabash Football could and should be — we have tried to make playing football at Wabash one of the most incredible experiences of a person’s life. I don’t claim complete success in realizing this vision for each and every person but I can honestly tell you that our staff has given everything we have to make this vision a reality. I thank the administration for making it possible for us to pursue this vision. The support we have had has been off the chart.

Wabash Football is so special for so many reasons. You alumni make football at Wabash so important. Your passion for the college, and for the teams who represent it make the game day environment the best in the country.

For those of you who I had the privilege of coaching and who are now out making an impact on this world — thank you for believing in the program and for the intense commitment you made while at Wabash. You made coaching an absolute joy. My prayer is that our relationships will only grow stronger in the years to come. I will always be in your corner and will always do anything I can to help you.

To the incoming freshmen class of football players: Fellas, have the courage and self- confidence to make one of the greatest decisions of your life. Wabash is more than an education and it is more than playing championship football. It is literally a life changing experience. I know this for a fact because Wabash has changed my life. Wabash Football has been special for over 120 years and Wabash will continue to be special for the next 120 years. It is a hard decision for nearly everyone to make but if you know deep down that it is where you are supposed to be I challenge you to be strong enough to do the right thing and the best thing. You will never, ever regret it.

A couple of weeks ago I got a call asking if I would be willing to talk about being the Head Football Coach at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. What transpired in the past couple of weeks is eerily similar to what happened seven years ago. I was not looking to leave Wabash and didn’t want to leave Wabash. I have said a million of times that it is not about “stepping up” or going to a “higher level.” There is no higher level than Wabash.

I have always been committed to being where I believe God wants me to be. I have screwed up many parts of my life many times but this is an area where I truly want to be 100% on the mark. I want to be where God wants me to be and although leaving Wabash is going to be extremely painful for my family and I, we are convinced that we are supposed to go to Drake University. We believe that God has special things in store for Drake and we are excited about being a part of that.

We will always be grateful for our time here at Wabash and in Crawfordsville. Thank you again for being so good to us. May God bless you and yours.

Wabash Always Fights,

Chris Creighton and Family

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November 28, 2007

Bashbacker Backs the Little Giants

Kelley House ’90 — I have been fortunate to be around Wabash College football since I was in grade school. My dad first joined the coaching staff in 1983 under Coach Carlson and after laying out three years ('87-'89) during my sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, Dad has been there ever since. Now in his 22nd season, I have countless memories through the years and a deep appreciation for what our program has become.

Through my dad, Coach House, I have had firsthand knowledge of the blood, sweat, and tears that have been characteristics of Wabash football. I value my personal friendship with Chris & Heather Creighton.

I have to admit, there is nothing like playoff football — especially when it involves the Little Giants. It is safe to say, for the House Family, we eat, sleep, and breathe Wabash football this time of year. This past weekend was about as good as it gets. After spending Thanksgiving at my parents' house on Thursday, my family (wife Debbie, son Owen (10), daughters Lily (7), and Maggie (6), and my mom (Judy) packed up the reliable LandCruiser and headed to Cleveland, OH.

We checked in to the team hotel, the Renaissance, in downtown Cleveland. It was a very nice hotel and far from the "normal" hotels during the regular season — largely due to the NCAA's travel budget for playoff teams. That night, my son and I headed to Case Western to meet the team for its pre-game practice under the lights at a beautiful stadium and complex. It was great to see our guys getting ready for a huge game and yet, you could tell they were having a blast and seemed very confident and loose.

Coach Creighton (above) actually stopped the practice midway through to ensure that they would be "dialed in" and focused — ready to play the next day. He actually told the team, "we will not lose this game tomorrow on this field!" Coach C always has the ability to say what is right, know the perfect time to say it, and know exactly how to deliver it. I was ready to start throwing forearms! I knew right then, we'd beat Case the next day.

While I walked the sidelines and talked to guys wishing them good luck, Owen was off to the side throwing with a guy named Dustin Huff. What was funny was that Owen, at first, didn't realize who he was throwing the ball with. Later when we got in the truck to return to the hotel, he asked me, Dad, was that Dustin Huff? I told him, "yes," and he smiled ear-to-ear and let out this super long "awe------some!"

When we returned to the hotel, there was a group of parents, family, and friends waiting on the team's arrival. My seven year-old daughter, Lily, had spent about two hours on Thanksgiving making cards to wish players good luck. She was so excited to pass them out which surprised me due to her typical shyness. She and Maggie (her "wing-girl") looked like roving reporters trying to get player interviews before the Super Bowl. The guys got a very big kick out of them and each one thanked them sincerely. My favorites were the cards she made for the captain (Adi, Roomes, Deig, and Russell) because of the special insert they had in them noting "Captains" or Ray Green's because she put #15 "Big Play Ray."

Game day was good from the start. We rolled into the stadium around 11 a.m. and it didn't take long to find a lot of the parents, alums, and Wabash fans tailgating in lot close to the stadium. Mr. Finley's 35-foot flag pole makes for an excellent landmark. The game was an absolute blast, a little nerve racking at times, but the team played well, and as expected, we defeated Case 38-23 to advance to the Elite Eight for the second time in six years.

After the game, the team came to the Wabash side of the stands to sing the school song. The entire team and coaches thanked the fans for their support. It was a very nice touch and a classy gesture to close a great day.

Whether you are a former player, a fan, a parent, or a current student — you couldn't help but feel tremendously proud of what this team has accomplished and probably more importantly what Wabash football stands for.

Now we are off to the next week for a stiff challenge at Wisconsin-Whitewater. Travel plans
are underway and we hope for a big following and a lot of RED. This team deserves it! I hope for another perfect weekend like last week's.

Whether we win or lose, I couldn't be prouder to be associated with this staff, this team, and this great college. I can guarantee one thing — guys like Pynenberg, Deig, Russell, Roomes, Green, Hilts, Banach, Bell, Guerrero and Co. will leave everything on the field and give 110%. It's as if they are will be playing with a battle cry of "Burn the Boats" mentality and WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS!!!

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October 25, 2007

Wabash Red Squad

Jake Gilbert - The Wabash College football team is committed to achieving each of our five program goals (Academic Excellence, Win, Fun, Family, and Impact Men) in every area of our program. You can witness the fulfillment of many of these goals on Monday nights during our Red Squad games. 

For starters, our Red Squad maintains the family atmosphere that penetrates every part of our team. Our players truly care about each other and play with the tenacity and passion that is generated from our close relationships as teammates. 

Our Red Squad team is currently undefeated and has a record of 18 wins, 4 losses and 1 tie since 2003. We take winning serious on all levels and our Monday night games closely resemble our Saturday contests. We do everything first class and our fans are very supportive, at home and on the road. Every time we take the field, we compete all out to represent the proud tradition of our football program and the college itself, because Wabash Always Fights!!! 

Lastly, our Red Squad has a blast! We make it our top priority to see that everyone gets to play in every game as a reward for a week’s worth of hard work at practice. We all enjoy the camaraderie that develops during Mondays throughout the season. When we don’t have games, the Red Squad scrimmages each other in a wide variety of contests that allow us to have a great time competing. 

The Red Squad at Wabash is an enormous success, in large part due to our foundation of family and commitment. Come see us on a Monday to witness the current and future stars of Wabash Football.

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