Former Washburn Ichabods offensive tackle Brian Folkerts announced via Twitter Sunday that he has signed a free agent contract with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.
For collegiate athletes, there are many cases where realizations come that playing days will end after the final game of senior season.
All great achievements require time. This saying truly reflects the amazing run Dane Simoneau, senior quarterback has had here at Washburn University.
From a star quarterback who soared to new heights to a team that finally broke through while elevating an already accomplished program to a new level, the 2011 season for Washburn Football was nothing short of impressive.
Ichabods dominated on the ground by Gorillas
Washburn had no answer for Pitt State's running attack as the Gorillas vanquish the Ichabods to end WU's season.
Ichabods advance past the first round for first time under Schurig
Washburn entered the postseason looking to get off the losing slide they were on while avenging last year's regular season loss to Abilene Christian...
Although it was a sunny day, strong winds blew the Ichabods completely off balance as they were served their second defeat of the season, 39-21, by the University of Central Missouri Mules, who knocked WU out of first place contention.
Senior free safety Casey Curran holds the No. 7 spot in the MIAA for total individual tackles on the season and has no problem showing his pride.
After action back and forth filled with offensive drives and defensive stands, it was the second and fourth quarter that were really the difference makers in helping the Ichabods come away with the upset win, 43-25.
After a painful loss last week against Northwest Missouri, the Ichabods bounced back in a 45-20 victory over the Fort Hays State Tigers, improving their overall record to 8-1 on Saturday afternoon.
When one thinks to defensive superstars in professional football today, typically names of linebackers and defensive backs will be brought up. However, not many names of defensive linemen would be.
It's been said that all good things must come to an end.Unfortunately, the Washburn Ichabods were witness to that this past Saturday when they dished their first loss of the season against the Northwest Missouri Bearcats, 52-28.
Sophomore receiver Ronnell Garner first began his football career during the fifth grade, in junior high school.
Typically, the defensive linemen are lined up across from the ball, with the defensive linebackers right behind them. However, it is the defensive backs that start 5-10 yards back from the football.
One of Washburn University's three starting receivers, Matt Kobbeman, a sophomore majoring in criminal justice, has proven himself worthy to his coaches already, after only two games this season.
Another team fell victim Saturday to the momentum of the Washburn Ichabods as they toppled the Truman State University Bulldogs, 42-14.
The Ichabods climbed three spots to No. 5 in the nation in this week's AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll released Monday.
Despite the Griffons' best efforts to take Washburn out of their game, the Ichabods would not be denied as they scored 17 points in the final period off of a three yard pass to Ronnell Garner, sophomore wide receiver and a 30 yard pass to Tore Hurst, sophomore tight end from Simoneau respectively, finishing off the game 41-20.
Fortunately for the Ichabods the late start brought good news as they extended their winning streak to 3-0 against the Missouri Southern State University Lions with a final score of 30-14.
Growing up in the small town of Salina, Kan., with a population of a little more than 45,000, the first encounter with a football for Washburn senior quarterback Dane Simoneau was during a game of flag football as a second grader.
Touchdown after touchdown, the Washburn Ichabods took control last Thursday night at home against the Lincoln University Tigers—senior running back Justin Cooper and redshirt-freshman running back Sean McPherson made sure of that.
The Washburn Ichabods traveled to South Dakota this past Thursday night and received their first victory of the season against the University of South Dakota Sioux Falls Cougars, 33-17.
Quarterback Dane Simoneau breaks school record with 453 yards, throws 5 TD's
Senior quarterback wracked up a school record 453 passing yards for Washburn University en route to a 33-17 victory against Division II newcomer University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) Thursday night. Simoneau went 27-40 and threw five touchdowns in the victory, four of which came in the first quarter.
Ichabods to take on Cougars at 6 p.m., live chat begins at 5:45 p.m.
The Washburn Ichabods are set to kickoff the season Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. against the Sioux Falls Cougars. Washburn has lost several key players this offseason and looks to rely heavily on the passing attack, led by senior quarterback Dane Simoneau. Senior running back Justin Cooper will also look to get some carries and become the featured back for the Ichabods.
The Ichabods went 8-4 last season, concluding the year with a Kanza Bowl victory.
Desir, who earned all-conference and All-American honors during his two years as starting cornerback for Washburn, accumulated 12 interceptions during his career and was a key defensive returner for the Ichabods.
When the Washburn Ichabods football team takes the field this season, it will be without two of their expected starters for the year—junior running back Vershon Moore and junior defensive back Pierre Desir.
Linebacker’s legacy lives on with team, organ donees
When a young man dies, be it from an accident or other tragedy, the natural inclination is to mourn and to reflect. With one young man this summer, such is the case.
Former All-American cornerback leaves team to deal with 'family obligations'
Head football coach Craig Schurig announced at Saturday's Media Day that the team had lost another player this offseason—junior defensive back Pierre Desir. Desir, who earned all-conference and All-American honors during his two years as starting cornerback for Washburn, accumulated 12 interceptions during his career and was a key returner for the Ichabods' defense.
All conference star booked into Shawnee County jail Tuesday night
Vershon Moore, junior running back was arrested in connection with an aggravated robbery charge stemming from an incident Tuesday afternoon...
Ichabod head football coach Craig Schurig has announced 29 future Washburn student athletes have signed national letter of intents and scholarship agreements to play for Washburn next fall. The 2010 Ichabodsfinshed the season with an 8-4 overall record capping the campaign with a 45-14 win over Midwestern State in the Kanza Bowl in Topeka.
Though Washburn's football season is over, the work of putting together a team capable of competing in the MIAA conference continues for the Ichabods. With the end of play on the gridiron comes the challenge of getting a team put together for the coming fall of 2011. That task falls to Washburn head coach Craig Schurig and his coaching staff.
Former graduate assistant returns to coach Ichabod defense
Washburn, until recently has had a coaching staff that has stayed intact. With the recent departure of Chris Brown a familiar face is coming back to Topeka to helm the defense.
Brown has guided two players to the NFL during his tenure
Washburn defensive coordinator Chris Brown has accepted the head coaching position at Fort Hays State as announced at a press conference earlier today. Brown has spent the past nine seasons leading the Ichabod defense and spent the last as assistant head coach.
In a season that has at times been a struggle and at times has unfolded with ease, Washburn put a final punctuation on a successful season. Coming into the Lower, Inc. Kanza Bowl, Washburn's offense had been hitting on all cylinders, winning their regular season finale 23-7 over Missouri Southern. Their opponent in the bowl game, Midwestern State, came in with the better record at 8-3 having just finished off their season with a 28-8 win over Northeastern State.
Official announcement set for Monday, Nov. 15
Pittsburg State opened a can of worms Saturday when its official athletics Twitter account announced the school accepted an invitation to play Concordia-St. Paul in the Dec. 4 Mineral Water Bowl. If true, the school skipped over three other schools to take Pittsburg State, including Washburn.
Ichabods expected to play in Dec. 4 Kanza Bowl
The NCAA announced Sunday that MIAA champion Northwest Missouri, Central Missouri and Missouri Western all earned NCAA Division II Football playoff berths in the South Central region. Northwest Missouri, the No. 3 seed, will host Missouri Western, the No. 6 seed, Saturday, Nov. 20, at noon in the first round of the playofffs. Central Missouri, the No. 4 seed, will host West Texas A&M, the No. 5 seed, Saturday at 1 p.m.
In Washburn's final home game of the season last Saturday against the Emporia State Hornets, the Ichabods did something they haven't done since 1976 - they held the Hornets scoreless for four quarters.
Sometimes a career change can result in life-changing opportunities for those willing to sacrifice the most and work the hardest for what they strive for. Scott Aligo is a graduate assistant, or a GA, with Washburn University's football team. His journey to Washburn is quite unique. He had aspirations of playing collegiate athletics, but was injured early on. Recognizing he would not be able to compete at the collegiate level, he took stock of the situation and decided he wanted to be around sports any way he could.
For redshirt senior punter Austin Hills, sometimes being the man behind the scenes is just as exciting as being the star athlete. In his five years at Washburn, Hills has made quite an impact with his leg, kicking the ball a total of 5,356 yards, just over three miles. While he has never had the opportunity to individually score, he has set up a handful of safeties and touchdowns by positioning the ball near the goal line.
Washburn defense must play strong for Ichabod bowl-bid
Much like U.S. President Harry S. Truman's famous saying, "the buck stops here," Washburn's defense knows they are responsible for keeping Washburn in the hunt for a bowl game this postseason as they take on Truman State this Saturday in Kirksville, Mo. Washburn has already been eliminated from the playoffs with its 41-40 Homecoming loss to No. 5 Northwest Missouri State in last weekend's game in which the highly-touted Ichabod defense gave up 451 total yards, including 343 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
Large obstacle ahead in homecoming
Two weeks after breaking its three-game losing streak and one week after beating Nebraska-Omaha for the first time since 1966, Washburn beat Pittsburg State in Pittsburg for the first time since 1977.
The Washburn Ichabod football team jumped out early and held on late as they won their third straight game in a 35-34 double overtime win in Carnie Smith Stadium. The win snapped a 17-game losing streak to the Gorillas in Pittsburg. The Ichabods will be back in action next weeked for Washburn's Homecoming on Saturday hosting Northwest Missouri.
Bye week not enough to get Washburn back on winning track
Washburn went into Saturday night's game looking to correct mistakes from its disappointing loss last week to Abilene Christian. Unfortunately in the first half, the demons of the season thus far, came back to haunt them. Washburn struck with what was hoped to be an early big play from Ichabod Ronnell Garner, punt returner. Garner took advantage of a bad punt by Missouri Western State University and ran it back for a touchdown.
The shouts of coaches and crash of pads ring out through the confines of Yager stadium as Washburn goes through the motions of a Tuesday afternoon practice. In the case of Eric Eisenbarth, offensive line coach, the day is another opportunity to pursue his dream. Eisenbarth starts out practice getting equipment set up for his cadre of workhorse offensive lineman that man the trenches on gameday. As practice breaks into individual units, Eisenbarth barks out instructions to the linemen. "Win today gentlemen! Otherwise stay home on Saturday," said Eisenbarth.
Having already been named All-American, Pierre Desir hopes to make the same impact in his second season, but even talented players have to start somewhere.
Penalties, sloppy play undo the Ichabods
After barely escaping Colorado School of Mines last week on the road, Washburn's mental errors finally caught up to them.
Bods nab road victory thanks to strong rushing attack
Washburn sophomore running back Vershon Moore led the Ichabods to victory in their season opener Saturday against the Colorado School of Mines, rushing for 218 yards and a touchdown in the 34-29 road win in Golden, Colo.
is a member of the 
