Two Ichabods are Playing in the Super Bowl

Something very rare will happen next week. Two players in the Super Bowl are from the same Division II school. Both are on defense so they shouldn't be on the field at the same time. Washburn University was a city college until recent times. Topeka, Kansas is the home of the Ichabods, who are named for the school's founder, Ichabod Washburn.

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TOPEKA, Kan. -- January 20 was a historic day for the Washburn football program, as two of its former players, Baltimore's Cary Williams and San Francisco's Michael Wilhoite, advanced to Super Bowl XLVII to be played on Feb. 3 in New Orleans, La. They are the first former Ichabods to play in the Super Bowl.

Washburn will have more former players in the game than Notre Dame, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State and Texas A&M, who will each have one. The Ichabods will have the same number of former players as Georgia, Florida, Auburn and Alabama.

"We are obviously very proud of both players and what they have been able to accomplish and the way they both represent Washburn University," Washburn head coach Craig Schurig said.

Williams is in his sixth season in the NFL and fourth with the Ravens, who advanced to the Super Bowl after defeating New England 28-13 in Foxboro, Mass.

Williams had six tackles in the game and the clinching interception in the end zone. This season, Williams has recorded 75 tackles, which is fourth on the team, and six interceptions, including two in the postseason.

"Cary is a tremendously talented player," Schurig said. "He's very determined and had a strong faith that he could make it to that level, and he was driven to reach the NFL. Coming from a NCAA Division II school, you have to have to be really strong-willed because you're told a lot you can't do it, and he's overcome a lot.

“He's overcome the adversity of being on a practice squad to playing on special teams to being a top-level starting cornerback in the NFL, and we're very proud of what he's accomplished and the way he has gone about accomplishing it. His faith is one of the reasons why he is where he is at."

Wilhoite, who is in his first season on the active roster for the 49ers after spending the 2011 season on the practice squad, and San Francisco topped the Atlanta Falcons 28-24 on the road to reach the Super Bowl.

Wilhoite, a special teams captain for the 49ers in the NFC Championship game, had two special teams tackles to lead the squad. This season, Wilhoite has seven tackles, all on special teams.

"Michael is a lot alike Cary," Schurig said. "He's had a lot of faith in his abilities and drive to get to the NFL level coming from an undrafted free agent to a year trying to get in the NFL and then a year on the practice squad, and has really developed into one of their leaders on special teams.

“He has such a tremendous work ethic and desire to get to that level. And very similar to Cary, his faith is a major factor in what he does, and we're very proud of his accomplishments as well."

"It's really unique," Schurig said of having two players in the Super Bowl. "We've had several players who have played in the NFL, starting with Trey Lewis, and Cary followed him through the draft.

“We've had others who have had opportunities, but it's very tough to get to that level - especially from a Division II school - but the fact that both players have made it to the ultimate game is a real testament to their work ethic and their faith in themselves and their faith in God. At Washburn, we're so proud of them.

“It's rare enough to have one player reach the Super Bowl, but we've had a gift in having two reach the Super Bowl, and they are both key contributors to their teams. It shows that you can overcome and there are not any limits that players can put on themselves, and that they can make it to the highest level from Washburn.

Washburn also will become the first school in 11 seasons to have two players from the same non-Division I program, including Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), play in the game. In Super Bowl XXXVI, New England's Adam Vinatieri and St. Louis' Adam Timmerman, who played together at South Dakota State when the school was in Division II, faced each other on Feb. 3, 2002. Those two also played against each other in Super Bowl XXXI played on Jan. 26, 1997. In Super Bowl XXXIII, Valdosta State had two players in Jessie Tuggle and Antonio Edwards who both played for the Atlanta Falcons on Jan. 31, 1999. West Chester's Ralph Tamm and Lee Woodall each played for San Francisco in Super Bowl XXIX on Jan. 29, 1995.

Cary Williams Washburn playing history
Williams was named to the AP Little All-American Team as well as the Daktronics All-American team his senior season. Williams was named unanimous first team All-MIAA at defensive back after recording 7 INT's. Williams was also named first team Daktronics All-Region as a senior and to the AFCA All-American team. He returned one interception for TD. He lead the MIAA in interceptions. He ranked fifth in NCAA D2 in interceptions per game as a senior. His seven INT's is the second most in WU single-season history. He returned two kickoffs for TD's which tied a WU single-season record and is WU career record as well. Williams ranked third in the NCAA with 29.2 yards per kickoff return earning first team All-MIAA kick returner honors as a senior. His 30.0 average per kick return is a Washburn career record and his 40.6 kick return average as a senior is the second-highest single-season total in school history. His 100-yard return is tied for the longest return in school history. He finished his career with 94 tackles including 67 solo stops with 11 interceptions.

Michael Wilhoite Washburn playing history
Wilhoite was a three-year captain at Washburn University, where he earned honorable mention all-MIAA honors as a senior after recording 81 tackles. He finished his Washburn career with 203 total tackles which is 20th on the all-time Washburn chart. He had 109 career solo stops at Washburn. He participated in the 2010 Cactus Bowl all-star game. As a junior he was also selected an honorable mention all-MIAA linebacker after recording 58 tackles with six for loss.