Chris Babirad is a former college football player for Washington & Jefferson College. During his playing career, he was one of the most prominent NCAA Division III football players, gaining national attention and honors.

Chris Babirad
Washington & Jefferson College – No. 24[1]
PositionRunning back
Class1994[2]
Career history
High schoolBentworth High School
Career highlights and awards
  • Kodak All-American (1992)
  • USA Today Player of the Year (1992)
  • W&J Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 1999)

He owns every major rushing and scoring record in Washington & Jefferson football history.[1]

He is considered to be one of the greatest athletes in Washington & Jefferson athletic history; his name is mentioned among Pete Henry and Dan Towler as candidates for all-time greatest athlete at the college.[3]

He gained 4,419 career regular-season yards, which is the 20th best in NCAA Division III history; his 10.7 points per game are 11th in NCAA history.[2] During his playing career, he was named First Team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference twice and as a Kodak and Champion All-American in 1992.[2] In 1992, he led the W&J team to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl and to the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy and was named USA Today Player of the Year.[2] During the semi-final game versus Rowan University, he led the team to victory by rushing for 81 yards for a touchdown in the game's final minutes.[4] He also played on the baseball team, earning varsity letters three times.[2]

While a student at Bentworth High School in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania, he rushed for 3,000 career yards.[5] A potential scholarship offer to play at Penn State did not come to fruition after he broke an ankle during his senior year.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Individual Records" (PDF). Washington & Jefferson College. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-05-28.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Washington & Jefferson Athletics Hall of Fame - Class of 1999". Athletic Hall of Fame. Washington & Jefferson College. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
  3. ^ "A Mind-Body Connection: Division III Sports at W&J" (PDF). W&J Magazine. Washington & Jefferson College. Spring 2007. Retrieved 2010-07-07.[dead link]
  4. ^ "Run Knocks Rowan Out Of Playoffs". The New York Times. December 6, 1992. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
  5. ^ a b Brewington, Peter (Dec 10, 1992). "Two find big chances at small schools". USA Today. pp. 13.C. Retrieved 2010-07-07.