Chris Creighton loves the underdog role.

He thrives on the challenge and on surprising people.

And that’s exactly what the former Wabash College football coach intends to do at Division I-AA Drake University as the school’s new head football coach.

He’s already shocked people with the announcement of his hiring during Saturday’s press conference in Des Moines, Iowa.

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“I don’t have any connections in Iowa. I don’t know any high school coaches there,” he said. “People were expecting a hot name coach, one who was coaching in a bowl game - not a no-name from Indiana.”

After seven years at Division III Wabash, Creighton now moves up the coaching ladder - but he still faces plenty of uphill battles.

Creighton’s heading to a school which will have its third coach in three years. He’ll be playing in a conference, the Pioneer Football League, with a busy travel schedule with schools ranging from San Diego to North Carolina to Indiana and Kentucky.

And he’ll be working with no scholarships, as Division I-AA schools don’t give out money for their football programs.

But as long as Creighton follows his five tenets - academic excellence, to win, to become a family, to have fun and for the program to significantly impact the guys’ lives - then success should come, just like it did at Ottawa, Kan., and Wabash.

“The players need some direction,” he said. “They’re missing stability and I think the challenge comes in upping the ante, bringing commitment and stability . . . Just the fact that it’s a non-scholarship program . . . I can’t help think the football players have something to prove.”

Even though he doesn’t start until 2008 begins, Creighton already has a laundry list of tasks to do - which includes introducing himself to the Drake football team.

He still hasn’t met with Bulldogs’ players yet - thanks to the winter weather, which caused his press conference to be delayed by a day (his plane couldn’t fly in Friday because of fog) and then he had to drive back home Saturday night instead of fly.

“I’m very, very proud to (have been) a part of Wabash football,” Creighton said. “It’s the same tenets. I’m drawn to the challenge of creating the kind of program I think can exist.”

WABASH COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Creighton ready for new challenge
By John Groth
Sports Editor
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