By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
If NCAA Division II follows Division I's lead in the near future, college athletes will be granted an extra season of eligibility, having five years to play five seasons.
Washburn Rural product Ty Weber is excited about the possibility of getting to play five seasons for Washburn football. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
If and when that proposal goes into effect, Washburn University senior tight end Ty Weber is likely to jump at the opportunity to play an extra season for the Ichabods.
"The thing is, you don't get to play football much in your life,'' said the 6-foot-4 235-pound Weber, a Washburn team captain. "Once you're done you're done, and this group of guys that we have now has been some of the most fun guys I've ever gotten to play with, so it's just a joy to show up every day and it's like, 'Why would I not want to get one more?' ''
Weber, a former Washburn Rural football and baseball standout, cracked Washburn's starting lineup as a true freshman in 2023, but experienced a devastating tragedy prior to the Ichabods' fifth game of the season when his father, Billy, died suddenly at 55 years old.
Weber fought through the heartbreak to play in nine games with seven starts as a freshman and appeared in all 11 games as a sophomore with eight starts.
Weber suffered another setback last season, missing the Ichabods' first five games after being stricken with amyloidosis, a rare ailment that resulted in Weber suffering full body cramping that resulted in hospitalization.
But Weber, who suffered a broken leg in baseball as a sophomore at Rural, once again showed his resiliency, returning to action for the final six games of the season as Washburn posted a second straight 3-8 season.
"Those things, when they happen, they make you appreciate it more,'' Weber said. "And this maybe being my last one it kind of gives you a different sense of feeling about it.
"I'm looking forward to a year where I don't have to see the doctors much and not see the trainers as much, but also to have more wins in the win column.''
Weber, who has appeared in 26 career games with 16 receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns, is driven by all the support he's received from his hometown.
"When the thing with my father happened early in my life it was a blessing to be here around family and the community's been amazing,'' he said. "There's no better community than Topeka and just everyone being around me, it's been awesome.
"I'm surrounded by amazing people on campus, off campus, family and I wouldn't trade it for the world.''
The Ichabods will open fall camp next week and open the 2026 season on Aug. 29, going on the road to face former MIAA foe Truman State (6 p.m.).
Washburn will make its home debut on Sept. 5 at Yager Stadium with a non-conference tilt against Colorado School of Mines (12 p.m.).
