This feature originally appeared in Kickoff 2015, our exclusive subscription-based publication every preseason. Following Wabash's second-round win, running back Mason Zurek cited this story as part of Wabash's motivation: "The second big thing was a D3football article this year in the preseason, "Can Wabash Join the Elite? That was bulletin board material and still is. That's something that pushed us. We have a chance to make a really deep run this year."

Wabash defensive back Jeff Houston couldn't quite slow down UW-Whitewater's Jake Kumerow last season, signifying where the Little Giants compare to Division III's powerhouses. Photo by Larry Radloff, d3photography.com

Here's the story, originally published Aug. 25:

By Joe Sager
D3sports.com 

However, they want even more.

Reaching the playoffs seven times since 2002, including five appearances since 2007, Wabash wants to elevate its program. While it enjoys battling atop the NCAC standings each year and reaching the postseason, the Little Giants believe another level can be reached.

“It is a challenge. We talk to our players all the time about winning the conference and about making a run in the playoffs as well. I think it’s easier to go from last to second than it is from second to first,” Wabash coach Erik Raeburn said. “Trying to win two or three games in the playoffs or make it to the semifinals or championship, it feels like that is incredibly difficult. There are so many good football programs out there.

“I think we are one of many teams in that range where we’ve been pretty consistent, but we’re trying to figure out a way to improve and take the next steps, so to speak.”

Raeburn, who heads into his eighth season, owns a 66-12 overall record, including a 45-6 NCAC record at Wabash. The Little Giants have reached the playoffs four times in the past seven seasons and lost their main rival, DePauw, only once in that span – Raeburn’s first year, 2008.

“We haven’t reached our goals, by any stretch, but I think our guys have made improvements,” he said. “Every year I have been at Wabash, I feel our guys have been pretty driven and goal-oriented. I think they are excited for the season and have lofty expectations for our team.”

Wabash ended a two-year playoff drought last season when it beat Franklin, 33-14, but fell to UW-Whitewater, 38-14, in the second round. The Little Giants trailed, 10-7, at halftime but saw the hosts pull away in the third quarter.

“The playoffs haven’t been successful for us, but I think they’ve been a good experience. You realize just how well you have to play,” Raeburn said. “Last year, we played Whitewater and in 2011 Mount Union knocked us out. Getting to play those teams, it’s tough to beat them obviously, but it’s a good measuring stick. This is how good you have to play if you want to be able to win it all.”

Steve Hoffman, who quarterbacked Wabash in the early 1980s and was an assistant from 1991-97, is in his fifth season as a video broadcaster for Little Giants football. He’s witnessed the program’s evolution and thinks it is trending upward.

“We’re definitely taking those next steps, but they are very small steps. I think a lot of it here, taking that small step is a belief from our kids that they can play with these elite teams,” he said. “I think Coach Raeburn brings a lot of that belief. He played and coached at Mount Union and the kids understand that, while Mount Union and Whitewater are really, really good, it’s not an unattainable plateau.

“Coach Raeburn has been at a program where expectations to win a national championship are realistic to put on the bulletin board every year. We are at a point now where we can be a team to win it, realistically, although things will have to go really well for us. If we have a year with no injuries, which is rare in football, and are healthy in the postseason and continue that, that’s what would need to happen. Injuries have more of an effect on us than the top programs.”

Injuries are a concern for any team. Raeburn hopes to combat that with increased quality of depth in the program.

“Unfortunately, the only thing you can guarantee during the season is that someone is getting hurt. It happens every year. I think that the top programs at our level have another guy who can go in there and play at a pretty high level. We, and most other schools, feel like we can’t afford to lose a really good player because we don’t have that depth like a Mount Union or a Whitewater,” he said. “We have to improve our depth. We have to improve our recruiting and do a better job of developing our younger guys.

“I think our depth has improved. There have been guys who have stepped up for us. I think our guys have done a better job the last couple years with the weight program during the season, too. If you want to be an elite program, you have to be able to play great football at the end of the year.”

While Wabash has its sights set on long postseason runs, it is aware that one or two bad performances in the regular season can erase those aspirations. It happened to the team in 2010, ’12 and ’13, when it won at least eight games but missed the playoffs.

“Everybody, I think, strives to reach those same goals that our guys strive towards. You can’t overlook anybody. You have to be at you best every Saturday or you’ll get beat,” Raeburn said. “We do have a lot of guys returning who have gotten to play in the past. Hopefully, that maturity or experience will be good for our younger guys.”