 Pre-Season All-American B.J. Hammer brings down a Wittenberg runner in the 2002 Playoffs |
The Little Giants, coming off a 12-1 season in 2002, made the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the first time since 1977. Wabash claimed its first North Coast Athletic Conference title since starting conference play in the 2000 season, finishing the season with a 7-0 NCAC mark. The Little Giants won two playoff games before losing 45-16 to eventual national champion Mount Union 45-16 in the quarterfinals.
Sixteen starters return from last year's record-setting team, though three All-Americans—quarterback Jake Knott, tight end Ryan Short, and linebacker Nate Boulais—graduated.
One of the returning starters this year is Street and Smith Pre-Season All-American defensive tackle Blair Hammer of Carmel, Indiana. Hammer had 61 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 8.5 quarterback sacks in his junior season.
Wabash, ranked 20th in last year's publication, finished the 2002 campaign ranked seventh in the final AFCA poll. The Little Giants have won 17 consecutive regular season games dating back to 2001, and are 20-2 under Head Coach Chris Creighton, the AFCA Division III Region V and NCAC Coach of the Year.
The Little Giants also made the "Games To Watch" list for the second consecutive season. The Wittenberg University Tigers, ranked 19th in the Street & Smith's poll, will travel to Byron P. Hollett Little Giant Stadium on October 11 for a Homecoming meeting with Wabash. Last year's game, a 46-43 overtime win by Wabash at Wittenberg, was not only one of the national "Games To Watch," but was noted as the national regular season game of the year.
Mount Union, winners of seven of the last 10 Division III football titles, once again earned the top spot in the annual preseason rankings. St. Johnís of Minnesota is second, and Rowan is third. Wheaton College of Illinois is ranked fifth. Hanover College is the only other Indiana Division III school in the top-25 preseason rankings, coming in at 18th.
Wabash opens the 2003 season on Saturday, September 13 at Kalamazoo College. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. local time.
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