Matt Hudson will definitely miss Wabash College football coach Chris Creighton next season.
He'll miss his insight, his way of motivating players and, most of all, his teaching.
With Creighton's help and an unlucky injury to fifth-year senior starting quarterback Dustin Huff, the Little Giants' sophomore quarterback went from being an unknown, unproven backup and became a confident, poised starter.
"I'm happy for him," said Hudson, who threw for 2,768 yards and 25 touchdowns this season - his first as a starting quarterback. "I understand he has high aspirations as far as moving up in the ranks of coaching. He gave his heart and soul to this college. I consider him to be Wabash football."
Creighton accepted the head football coaching position at Drake University, a NCAA Division I-AA (non-scholarship) school on Thursday and leaves the program after seven years.
With his tutelage and guidance, Creighton helped turn Hudson into a solid starting quarterback - in less than a year.
He kept Hudson confident and worked with him on skill sets to improve his game.
"I'll miss him from a personal and coaching standpoint," Hudson said. "He's one of the best, if not the best off coordinator in the country. He always maximized his talent. He's a great recruiter. I am going to miss him and wish him the best."
Southmont High School graduate and Wabash College freshman offensive lineman Cody Leatherman enrolled at Wabash because of Creighton - mainly because of his motivational efforts.
Leatherman said Thursday was an emotional day for him, a day when he learned Creighton would be leaving and taking the job at Drake University.
"I thought he was a great guy," said Leatherman, who played at guard. "I loved him as a coach. I hate to see him go. I really do. It was pretty emotional today. As far as a coach, don't think you can get any better. I liked that he made you be your best and he made you want to work hard every day and made you be the best football player you can ever be. That's the greatest thing about him. You liked to play for him. I mean everybody did."
Wabash College offensive line coach Jake Gilbert agreed. Gilbert, a 1998 Wabash graduate, has spent the last two seasons working under Creighton.
He considers him a tremendous friend and mentor - and said it's tough knowing that he's leaving.
"He's been a role model as a strong Christian husband and father and just really taught me the ropes of college coaching in multiple ways," Gilbert said. "His recruiting and the dynamics of his leadership, which is just basically setting expectations extremely high and then just driving guys to that level to meet them (is what sets him apart)."
The Paper of Montgomery County 101 W. Main St. Suite 300 | P.O. Box 272 Crawfordsville, IN 47933 Main: (765) 361-0100 • Classifieds: (765) 361-8888 • Fax: (765) 361-1882
