Wabash Gridmen Welcomed Like Heroes

The team gathers before the start of the 2002 Crawfordsville Christmas Parade

Coaches and players from the 2002 Wabash College football team were still hurting from Saturday's loss to two-time defending national champs Mount Union in the national quarterfinals when they gathered on Sunday.

The occasion was the 2002 Crawfordsville Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade.

But smiles quickly returned to the faces of the Little Giants as they strolled through the streets of Crawfordsville.

Weeks ago, the Chamber asked the football team to serve as Grand Marshals to celebrate the team's perfect 10-0 regular season and 35-7 Monon Bell victory over DePauw.

As it turned out, the timing couldn't have been more perfect. Just hours after the completion of a record-setting 12-1 season, the Little Giant football team was welcomed home and congratulated for their efforts.

A Cub Scout troop waded through a sea of Little Giant players just prior to the start of the parade. The kids passed out high fives and shouted "congratulations" to the players, emphasizing what a remarkable year the team had.

The 2002 football team won more games than any in school history and ripped off 19 straight wins, also a record, before losing in the national quarterfinals. Dozens of season and career records fell as well during the team's North Coast Athletic Conference championship season.

For more information see:

More information on the football team's success